The Portland daily press., 1863-01-06
BY TELEGRAPH.
Portland Daily Press.
Further from the MurfreesbOrO'
Battle.
Another Bloody Fight and Repulse of the
Enemy with Terrible Slaughter.
THE REBEL ARMY RETREATING
TOWARDS TULLAHOMA.
Rebel Canteens Filled with Whiskey and
GunpOwder.
HE REBEL ARMY RErREATING
TOWARDS TULLAHOMA.
Rebel Canteens Filled with Whiskey and
GunpOwder.


| RoSecranS Is IN Murfleesb0r0. He has CAP
tured the rebel trains and is driving the enc
| my. Gen. Rosecrans is unhurt. His Assist
ant Adjutant, Gen. Mcdowell, is wounded in
| the arm.
The Journals dispatches say that fourth
bloody fight occurred last night. During the
storm the rebels charged on us, and were re-
pulsed. Our troops hold Murfreesboro, and
our advantages are decided. Gen. Breckin-
ridges division was cut TO pieces and routed.
Saturday our skirmishers decoyed a large
large number of rebels among our batteries,
and routed them with great slaughter. Capt.
McCulloch, of the I'd Kentucky Federal cav
airy says the rebel General Wilhefs was driven
almost to madness by the slaughter of his
men. Eye witnesses say that the slaughter
exceeds that of Shiloh. Gen. Rosecrans and
his soldiers are in the highest spirits. On Sat
urday Col. Danl McCook engaged Wheeler's
cavalry six miles from Nashville, routing him
completely. Prisoners say that Gen. Kirby
Smith is in the fight. The rebel canteens were
filed with whiskey and gunpowder.
The Murireesboro Rebel of the I'd says the
Federals fought calamity, and admits the rebel
loss to be 5000 The Federal prisoners are
sent to Muriieesboro as fast as taken. Capt.
John Desla OF Kentucky was wounded by a
shell in the head. Adiutant Card, of the same
regiment, was shot by cannon ball.
The following is from the Associated Press
correspondent at nashville 1t is reported
that Gen. Rosecrans shelled Murfreesboro this
morning, but there was no reply, and our
forces would occupy it at noon. The rebels
have undoubtedly left, and our forces, it is re-
ported, are pursuing. McCook attacked
Wharton's cavalry near the Asylum, six miles
from Nashville, killing eight, which were left
on the field, and many wounded. Seven Fed
erals were wounded, and all the commissioned
officers of Cos. G l. and X of the 18th Illinois
are killed or disabled
Private dispatches state that the rebels are
burning the cotton wherever they can get hold
Oft.
The Jews concentrated here and at Cairo
have appointed deputations to proceed to
Washington to demonstrate against Gen.
Grants order expellinC them from the terri
tory occupied by Federal forces.
1t is reported that Frank Ward, of Gen.
Anderson's staff. is killed.
The fight to-day is supposed to be in the
vicinity of Christiana.
The interruptions of the rebel cavalry be-
tween Nashville and Christiana makes it diff
favorable to the ultimate success of the Fed
eral arms.
LOUISVILLE, Jan. ).
Murfreesboro advces represent the Federal
victory as complete. The entire rebel army
is fleeing towards Tullahona in great disorder
HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS.
Department of the Cumberland,
In Front of Murfreesboro' January Sd.
III. w. Haleck, General-in-C Washing
ton On the 26th of December we marched
from Nashville in three columns, Gen McCook
by the Nolansville pike, Gen. Thomas from
the encampme.It on Franklin's pike, via Will
sons pike, and Gen. Crittenden on the main
Murreesboro pike. Our left and centre met
with strong resistance, such as the nature of
Al l
skirted by cedar thickets and farms, and in
tersected by small streams with rocky bluff
blanks, forming serious obstacles. Gen. Nc
Cook drove Gen. Hardee's corps a mile and
half from Nolansvlle, and occupied the place.
Gen. Crittenden reached within mile and a
hall of Savergne. Gen. Thomas reached the
Wilson pike. meeting with no serious oppos-
tiou. On the 29th Gen. McCook drove, Gen.
Hardee from Nolansville, and pushed recon-
noitering division six miles towarcs Shelby
vile, where he found that Gen. Hardee had
retreated towards Murfreesboro. Gen. Crit
tenden fought and drove the enemy before
him, occupying the line of Stewards Greek,
and capturing some prisoners with slight loss.
Gen. Thomas occupied the vicinity OF Nash
vile, when he was partially surprised, thrown
into confusion, and driven back. Gen. Sheri-
dams division had repulsed the enemy four
times and protected the flank Of the centre,
til this untoward event, which compelled me
to retain the left wing to support the right
until it should he rallied and assume new
position. On the LIST the rebels opened by an
attack on us. and were again repulsed. On
the I'd there was skirmishng along the front,
with threats of an attack, until about 3 o'clock
in the afternoon, when the enemy advanced,
throwing small division across Stone river to
occupy the commanding ground there. While
tta ..oI al.
division, which had no artillery, | saw heavy
force emerging from the woods and advancing
in line of battle three lines deep. They drove
our little division before them after a sharp
contest, in which we lost 10 or so killed and
375 wounded, but they were finally repulsed
by Gen. Negley's division and the remaining
troops of the left wing OF Gen. Morton's pion-
eer brigade, and fed far over the field and be-
yond their entertainments. Their officers raj
lied them with great difficulty. They lost
heavily. We occupied the ground with the
left wing last night.
CAMP NEAR MURFREEsDoRo, I
Jan. 4.
Maj. Gen. Halleck, General-in-Ch -Chief:-Fol-
lowing my dispatch of last night, l have to
announce that the enemy are in full retreat.
They left last night. The rain having raised
the river, and the bridge across it, between
the left wing and centre, being incomplete, /
deemed 1t prudent TO withdraw that wing
during the night. This occupied my time
until 4 O'Clock, and fatigued the troops. The
announcement of the retreat was known to
me at Z O'Clock this morning. To-day was
occupied in distributing ammunition, burying
the dead, and collecting the arms from the
field of battle. The pursuit was commenced
by the centre, the two leading brigades arriv
ing at the west side of Stone river this eve
ming. The railroad bridge was saved, but in
what condition is not known. We shall occu-
py the town and push the pursuit tomorrow.
Our medical director estimates the wounded
in the hospitals at $500 and our dead at 1000.
We have to deplore the loss of Lieut.. Col.
Guesche, whose capacity and gentlemanly de-
pertinent had already endeared him to all the
officers of this command, aud whose gallantry
on the field of battle excited admiration
(Signed) w. 5. RoSECRANs,
Major General Commanding.
New YORK, JAN s. ?
The Times has the following special dis
patch
Nashville, Jan. 5.-From persons arriving
from the battlefield l learn that on Saturday
night, during the storm, the rebels attacked
our men in their rifle pits along the whole line
There was heavy fighting in the centre. We
drove the enemy across Stone river. The 77th
Pennsylvania first carried the point On Sum
day morning Stanleys brigade entered Muir
freesboro. The town is much injured by the
shells. Gen. Sll's body was at the Court
House. The rebels buried their own dead and
our officers. Tt9 has been great loss of
Confederate life. I'VE lost about 5000 in killed