The New York herald., 1863-01-04

Vne 0rcat Baltic OF Murfrco> - OkO-Ao0
Report Of the Thard Day.
Our brief report Of the third days operations
in the late desperate and ssnguinasy battle
In West Tennessee, dated "Battle Field. neas
Murfeesboro, January 2-P. M," Is more -
couraging than might have been reasopebly
apprehended from the suggestive details of the
struggle of the two proceeding days.
II appears that our army bivouacked on ~
same ground on the night of the second day
(New Year) which they occupied at the close
of the first day Of the battle (the last day OF
the old Year,, but that although we gained
some advantages on the second day. they were
purchased at heavy cost in killed and wound
cd. Our report further says that the losses On
both sides on this day "can only be described
as absolutely tremendous" and glowing
tribute is paid to the splendid bravery
throughout the days terrific struggle, Of Gene
raj Rosecrans and of his subordinate generals
Negley, Rousseau, McCook and the troops
they respectively commanded
On the third day the battle was renewed
"with great ferocity," and at the hour at which
our aforesaid despatch was sent from the field
(Friday afternoon) the enemy had been "driven
two miles," the reserve brigades Of Gen. Rose
Grams were getting into line and reinforcements
were arriving to support him, and he is declared
as having determined to destroy the rebels at
any cost" This does not look like defeat.
On the contrary, from what follows-viz: that
"all the houses in Murfrsesbore aaA the neigh
boring villages are oecuppa y hcspfAh," and
that 1--WE are sending many wounded men to
Nashville by rail''-we are led to infer that,
while Gen. Rosecrans occupied Marfreesboro
on Friday afternoon, his communication with
Nashville-over thirty miles in his rear-re-
manned intact.
Thus, apparently, the contest Of Friday
terminated. 1t is believed that the rebels
had much larger army than ours. 1t is appa-
rent that the rebel generals handled their troops
skilfully, and that they fought with remarkable
tenacity and it is feared that in falling back on
Friday they may have contrived to entangle the
Union forces on Saturday in an impass-
able network of intrenchments and masked
batteries. That the rebel army had been
in the neighborhood of Murfreesboro
long enough to throw up line
Of defensive works similar to those at Frede-
ricksburg we all know but if they had such
works in their rear we think they would have
fallen back upon them before bringing on
general engagement
The details before us, carefully considered'
do not justify the conclusion that we have
gained great victory; but they do not indi-
locn 1ooy tho sooux in dOuhf
and the news Of yesterdays fight, such as 1t is,
does not still settle the final result, although it
is somewhat discouraging, unsatisfactory and
mysterious
THE Loss OF THE MoNrroR-That invaluable
"cheese box on q raft" the unconquorable lit
tie Monitor in battle, is lost, having gone down
to the bottom in that perilous sea of Cape Hat
teras, with four Of her gallant officers and
twelve of her brave men. Bound upon an
important Southern expedition, the loss of this
fayorite little ship, under the circumstances,
may be said to be equal to the loss of battle
But, while she has done enough to give a glo-
rious Immortality to Ericsson, as one of the
great heroes of the Union, and enough to place
our naval power ahead of that of England
we trust that her loss will not defeat the
objects of the expedition to which she was
attached. When we shall have learned the
particulars Of the laundering of this noble
vessel-the pioneer of our iron-clad navy-we
may perhaps gain some useful instruction from
the misfortune. At all events, her loss is the
loss Of the pet of the people.
TIE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY, THE ALABAMA
AND TIE OCEAN QUEEN-Yesterday we an
nounced the arrival of the Ocean Queen at this
port from Aspinwall, with ST. l,277,7ss in trea-
sure on freight from San Francisco, which in
cludes what had been left behind by the Ariel
Captain Tinklepaugh, taking the responsibility,
knew how to evade the Alabama if she is any
longer on the track of the California steamers
He has been completely successful, and thus
saves the drowsy Secretary of the Navy the ne
cessity Of giving any convoy to the California
treasure ships. Had Semmes fallen in with the
Ocean Queen, the Connecticut would have been
too late to do any service. The probability is
that he had shifted to another cruising ground,
for it is not his game to remain too long in ono
place. The best thing the Secretary Of the
Navy can now do is to send the Connecticut
and other fast ships in pursuit of the Alabama
in a different direction. With ordinary energy
she and her notorious captain and crew might
have been captured long ago; but we fear that
the buccaneers will do vast damage to our ship.
ping interest before their career is cut shsrt by
such an old fssy as Secretary Wellss. Perhaps
the wissst course for the shipowners and insu.
rance Offices would be to Ht ont heavily
armed vessel Of their own and putting on board
Of her an enterprising captain like Tinkle-
paugh, and daring crew, send her after the
Alabama and her ireebooters. The President
could easily give the ne ccssary commission to
legalize the proceeding; and we venture to
say that she would be more likely to succeed
than any ship controlled and hampered by the