Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1863-01-30
IL RATrE.E AT rEEREREHeRoRo.
HEADQUARTERS PoLK's Army CORPS,
e-.L EE---- y LEAE-- L.unarE % lsa-l

/ TEaE BATTLE AT w q & 4 g EeB GRO.
HEADQUARTERS PoLKs ARsiY CORPS,
SHELBYRII-iE, TENN. January r. 1905.
EDITORS APPEsLs 50 many interesting accounts Of
the late sauguiusry battle Of 1lureesboto have already
appeared not only in your own but other leading jour
mails Of the South ta ii would seem pubic expectation
I'd beer fully met in that particular Acting under this
belief your present CORE ponden would have remained
silent but for the reason that many incidents usual
on ike occasions occurred during this battle that have
not been brought to light by any writer whose CORES
pondence we have seen Every one who goes on or
nsar battle ied sees almost every occurrence in d
fereni Light from that in which presented 10 his
neighbor hence each man Is, in many instances differ
emily impresse by he sams facts This we suppose
explains the conietg statements often found in tie
letters CT different corresp pondents from the local
ity when treating Of the subject The object Of
this communication is, therefore, give you and your
readers brief sketch Of few scenes that arrested fhe
attention of your corespoud durag the progress Of
this terrible and sarng drama enasted she 3lst Of
December amid the usually quiet cedar gades that
round the modest little town IF Murfressboro' The
fierce conflict that crimsoned he s3 Of the volunteer
State with the blood Of her bet and brsvest sons is
over. The booming cannon, whose echo carried sadness
aud gloom to many 8 joyour circle, is hushed The
pent up passions and deadly hsred thar urged On the
So dsrs Of liberty to gTapple with their vandal enemies
has now given place 10 the cal equanimty that marks
the department of the Christian patTiot battling for
rights deBrar thousand times his heart, han his
love of life of slavery, and t9dsy may be stroll
ing istessy about the unpre ending little village,
who, but few days since passed, without qaailing,
through one Of he terrific battles of which the bis
tory Of wars gives any aecoqnt performing deeds Of
valor tha, would have made them heroes in mors
quiet age Of the world.
The Army Of Teanesses, under command Of General
Bragg never was more anxious to meet or more conf
dent Of their ability defeat Tie host Of bold invaders
that was known to be concentrating at Nashville than
when shout the 20th 5f December, the atfrent army
corps were ordered move forward in the direction of
the enemy 50 regulating their movements as TO be able
readily to cooperate with each other snd with our
ter then at AIurfeesbo-o' Everything remained omi.
nously quiet until Saturday the 28h Of December when
we were somewhat startled to learn that advance
piekets stationed at Lavergne, on tie Nashville pike
were being driven back by large force Of the enemy
while at the same time heavy column had advanced
BY way Of Triune and forced the portion of Lieut. Gen
Hardees cerps stationed at that place to withdraw
the direction Of Murfreesboro.
It now became evident that Cen Rosecranz had at
last solved the problem Of whether he wonld stay in
Nashville and sarve march his army out and give us
battle taking the chances Of getting badly whipped as
the result Of the experiment. He chose the latter,
thar portion Of zen bfaggs army had oeeh sent 70
Mssssippi. leaving the Dutch General supposed,
force small that they would fly at bis approach, or
they dared 20 stand against ms ieglons tat ne would be
able crush them by the mere force Of his greatly supe
riar numbers
Thus Thought the proud monarch Of Persia when he
sci ont to itts Greece, and subugate her chv
slrous and patriotic people But handful Of Spartans
animated by that love of freedom which renders armies
uvfucibe met the base tools Of Eastern despOtism
anon the threshold Of their country and taught them Ia
e stern lesson the utter folly Of attempting to conquer
,r,r1n e7a arrrf ed % Nr 81
field where the heroic OF the South have met the
Northern hrelings the same teachings have been re-
when Rosscranz advanced uPon Murfreesboro' with
his fns y- armed aud equipped army Of nearly sixty
few miles ia front Of his column ne would have behsld
sieht which IL he is practical in reading the strange
mvse4iss Of the human heart would have made him
irembie for the safety Of the thousands whose move
u ems depended upon his will
-r,ong The aedsrs aad behind the rocks upon the
hanks of ttle Stone river, stood calmly waiting his
SET Ii tile army, less than thirty thousand neemen,
poorly prepared met the unequal struggle in every
ching except their ini omit able courage, and steadfas
sit ia Tie protecting proviene Of tie great Ruler Of
he uujverse These brave men, badly clad, out
sth long tchng end ceaseles lsbor shveriug in the
cod wind with no riotecon from the sleet aud rain
that had been falling almost neessanty for three days
nsf pre ued spectacle that the world has rarely wit
aes-ed 10 hays seen them thus patiently waiting the
spp oseh al the enemy who veuld have supposed that
thev could for maeat withstand he shock Of Rose
eiazs heavy masses of Te appointed troops and still
more incredible woub j have been 70 suppose that in
few hours they would be driving the immense hosts CT
the opposing army in wild CONFUSION nom the 1eld bear
ing their banners proudly into he very heart Of the
Roseeranz having advanced on Monday within few
mile of aT1rreesborO, early Tuesday morning be
threw ont heavy force Of skirnishers, to bis
Hns dispositions for the approaching conflict and com.
rsenced vigorous csnnonading all along entire
/ front without, however doing Iaueh injury tous
rase in the evening Of this day il ascertainsd
~. -- s,rce ~ he enemy was I,sssine nnon our
extreme left leading 70 the belief that effort was
PEN IS e1r In order fc thvyst this desien. Il
Eaa rara fFH FHHana ante "a f4f 1frrH
Accordingly portion ot Hsrdee's corps, which wss on
or right was ordered move rapidly in that direction
Ia the execution Of This movement there was an erh
biton Of and endurance upon the part OF the
troops referred lnoaily from Tennessee and Arsan
sas1 that ought g render mem inao il me essory
Of this war They had been on constant dy for four
davs with scarcely tme 70 eet or sleep yer, When the
order was given 70 change their position they double
o44eked for six niles lu nrencnng ram ana tnroggh
11d antls deea rushing through tls ST. ets Of Muir
feesboro, stepping as lightly anq WIZ tpelI 2asiisls
waving as pFoloyl q W. a Z 80 " - q fi
bnne may well Be proud 'lst As h aoAopse oy suen "a
army of heroes.
The last day Of The year eighteen hundred and sixty
two dasFned brightly upon I'VE hostile armies drawn ep
IN bsrtle array but a few hundred PAGES apart each
siting with that intsnse expectancy which precedes
the coming of any dreaded event. "a this case me osg-
ming of hat terrible oanat viii b. to many TO be
he st Of earthly Strife Scarcely had the first rays Of
tbs r sTu penetrate Cd the dense shades Of The caser-
ug cedars when fhe clear report Of rife an ont upon
ne 80 frosty air, presently epctheT and ihe1 score
ssf 80 s',se--ssisn lnstsptiv as if by msEc long
Ts AZ worn aud weary-lo0king uen spring ike shaa
avs froo hs ground where ali night they had lain
covered only with te winter frost andmercned calmly
and silently to their aiatted piaees At their heads si.
ting quietly upon his restless charger =
man his eloar flashing eye along the ne thar n~
stands waiting the sigma from anl 70 aaganee = ols
dashng through ne ceaarsi ana iaouifes o4
| General HaTdee He is directed to tbs head oI tne
column where ihe oidYeerau still sits upon his horse a
rhs courier speaks with him for a moment, when the
command is heard passing down the line to move teE-
,-sr5 and engage the enemy Then loud huzsa rang
r