Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1863-05-07
From the Knoxville Register.
Gen. Brsss's Official Report of the Battle at Muir.
HEADQUARTERS Army OF TENNESSEE,
TulIahcma. Dad February, 1862.

freesboro.
HEADQUARTERS Army OF TENNESSEE,
TulIahema, 2Sd February, 1862 !
SIR ON the Goth of December last the enemy ad
vanced in force from Nashville to attack Us at MUIR
eesboro 1t had been well ascertaned that bis strength
was over 10000 effective men, Before night on thai
day the object OF the movent was developed oy our dis
positions in 'front.' and orders were given for the
cary concentration Of our forces then distributed
/ follows:
| Folks corps and three brgades of Breckenridge di
VISION Hardee's corps at Murreesbore. Tie balanct
of Hardee's corps EaglevlIe about 20 miles west
! OF MurfreesbOrO. al. COTau's divi ion (which with
SteveUsons division removed itued Smiths corps
at ReaGyVile, Il miles east o! Murfreesboro'. The
three cavalry brigades OF WheeI:r, Wharton and Pc
occupying the entire front of infaptry aod GOV
cJing aaPproaches to within ten miles of \ Nashville
+ BufGiG small cavalry OF about 600 at McMnnvlle
The bigade5 OF Forre,t end Morgan about 5000 ef
kcti7e cavalry absent special service in West
Tennessee and y or; hern kentucky, will be ful
y noticed hereafter. Jackson small infantry brigade
rear, guarding the railroad from Bridgeport, AL
ALBANIA TO the mountains. On Sunday, tie 18th, our
main force OF Infantry and artillery, eutrattG IL
front Of Nh reesboro whilst the Cavalry, supported by
three brigades Of antry and three batteries Of ar
rY mptdd the advance OF the enemy By constant Skin
misLing and sudden, Unexpected attack. the skill
ful in which the cavalry thus ably supported
handled, aud to the seeding calamity OF it's Off
and n must be attributed the four days time
consumed by the enemy in reaching the battlefield,
dstsn o. Ouiy 20 miles from his enc2mpment fne
Macadla;z- d roads.
Fully aware OF the greatly superior numbers CT the
enemy indicated In my reports from this quarter,
it was our policy to await d tack. The position was
selected AMI line developed with this Intention. Owing
to the conveyance upon depot OF many fine
roads by which the enemy could approach as will ap-
pear from the map marked i, we C0Efned in our
selection to line enough the point of jancure to
enable to successfully them III, until the real
point OF attack should be developed.
IN MO10aV was rtpl
columns moved on both the direct road from Lavergne
ard On the one leading into Lebanon road by way of
jefferson. But Tuesday, the Both it ascertain
ed that the Jefferson pike was abandoned by a coun
termarch and the whole force OF the enemy
trattd and the direct road the OF Stones
river. The dispositions made TOR the unequal contest
viii appear from the enclosed map marked - and the
copy Ct memoranda to General ard staff Ulcers
markt d g.
These arrangements were all completed before the en-
envy crossed Stewards creek nine miles out, and the
Infantry brg6dcs were all at called in and the
cavalry ordered to fall back rapidly having
calamity discharged its duty and fully accomplished the
objects desired. Late on Monday it became apparent
the enemy extending his right, TO flank the
left. McCOwap's division in reserve was promptly
thrown to that ink, and added to the command OF 1t.
Gen. Polk.
The enemy however, not meeting our expectations
OF making an attack on Tuesday, which consumed
in artillery firing and heavy skrmsbiDg, with the
CeptOn o. dash late in the evening the left OF With
ers division, which repuIsed and severely punished
it was determined TO assail him w Wednesday morning
the 3lst. For this purpose Colbornes DIVISION Har
does corps moved from the second line the right
to the corresponding position the LETT, and Lieut..
en-. HadCe ordered 10 that point and assigned
the command OF that and McCowns division. The dis
position the result OF necessity, left but
Breckinrldge's command the right not now threat
ened was regarded source OF supply for any rein
torcments absolutely necessary to other parts of the
field. Stones river at its then low stage, tordabe
nIF,f OH
perfectly pra ctcabe for artillery.
These dispositions completed Lieut.. Gen. Hardee
ordered to asSa the enemy at dayight Wednesday,
the Slst, the attack to be taken by Gen. Polk
made by constant whesY the right on Polk's right
flank a pivot. The object being TO force the enemy
back Stones river, and practicable, by the aid Of
cavalry cut him of from his base of operations and
supplies by the Nashville pike.
TIE lines now bivouackCd at distance in pla-
not than 500 yards the camp Ares OF the two
being within distinct view. Wharton's Cavalry brig
ade had been held left to watch aud check the
movements Of the enemy 10 that direction, aRd to pre-
veht his cavalry from gaining the railroad to
the preservation OF which OF vital Importance. 10
this be aided by Brig. Gen BuiOrd who ha1
small command OF GOO cavalry. The duty was most
ably, CALAMITY and successfully performed.
Gu Monday night, Brig. Gen. Wheeler proceeded
with his cavalry brigade ard regiment from Pc
grams ordered, to gain the enemys By Tues.
day morning moving the Jefferson pike, around the
euemys left Abk be had gained the rear oftheir whole
army, aud attacked the trains their guards, and
the stregglers. He succeeded 10 capturing
seysal hundred prisoners, and destroyed hundreds of
wagons loaded with supplies and baggage After clear
ing the road be made bis way entirely around and Join
cd the cavalry on our left.
The failure of Gen. MCGOWAN TO execute during the
night order for slight change in the line OF his
Division, aud which had to be done the next morning.
caused dely in the general and vigorous assault
by Lieut.. Gen Hardee. But about O'Clock the rattle
of Rusketry and the roar OF artillery announced the be-
ginning OF the conflict BE enemy taken complete
" by surprise; raj and staff officers not mount
ed artillery horses not hitched and infantry not formed
4 o. aud inviting br akfas Of coffee and other luXu
res to which gallant and hardy had long been
strangers, found upon the fire. uuservcd and
left, whilst puzzled on to the enjoyment of more
inviting feast that Of captured artillery lying batal
ions, and hosts OF craven prisoners begging Tor the
lives they had forfeited by their acts Of brutality and
arOcily. " hist thus routing and pushing the enemy
on bis front, Lieut.. Gen Hardee announced to
by ms ssenger, that the movement was lot being as
promptly executed by Maj. Cheathams command Oh
his right the left of Gen Folks corps he expected,
and that his line consequently exposed to an EMIL
ade fire from the enemy's artillery in that front. The
necessary inst uctiors for prompt movement at that
point immC datey dispatched and in a short time
cur whole line, except Breckinridge5 command, WAS
warmly engaged From this time continued TO drive
he C,cmy more or less rapidly ualll lis lite WIS
thrown entirely back right angles to his first posi-
ton and occupied the cut of the railroad along which
be had massed bis reserves and posted very strong bat
tories. A reference to the map No will show mis-
second and strong position
The enemy's loss very heavy in killed and wound
ed far exceeding our own as appeared from critical
examination Of the field, almost entirely in cur
possession. OF artillery alone we had secured more
than % pieces.
Whilst the infantry and artillery were rnoaped in