Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1863-01-07
Great Battle and Victory.

II fight which was progressing near
MurireesbJro, Tenn, during most of last
week, caused a great deal of anxiety and
apprehension. not only for the success of
Union armies. but also because a large
portion of the soldiers from this vicinity,
were known to have been engaged.
From the following official dispatches,
however, it will be seen that one of the
grandeSt victories of the war has been
achieved. and the impossibility of Western
soldiers being whipped, in a fair and
equal fight, again demonstrated.
II~EADQUARTERs l4TH Army Corps,
DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND.
Front MurfreesbOro, Jan. via Nashville 4th.
To H.. ". HaHeck:
On the Goth of December we marched
from Nashville in three columns. General
McCook by the Nolinsyilie Pike, General
Thomas from his encampment on the
Franklin Pike via Wilson Pike, and Gen.
Crittenden on the main Murfreesboro
Pike. Our left and centre met with q
strong resistance such as the nature of
the country permits, the rolling or hilly
routs skirted by cedar thickets and farms
intercepted by small streams with rocky,
bluff banks, forming serious obstacles.
Gen. McCook drove Gen. Hardee's corps
a mile and a half from Nolinsville, and
occupied the place.
Gen. Crittenden reached within a mile
and a half OF Lavergne. Gen. Thomas
reached Wilson Pike, meeting with no
serious opposition. On the 9th Gen.
McCoOk drove Gen. Iardee from Nolins-
vile and pushed Il accommodating division
six miles towards Shelbyville, which found
that Gen. Hordee had retreated toward
Murfreesbcro. Gen. Crittenden fought
and drove the enemy before him, occupy
ing the line of Stewards Greek, and cap
turing some prisoners with a slight loss.
Gen. Thomas occupied the vicinity of
Nolinsyille, when he was partially sur
prised, thrown into confusion, and driven
back. Gen. Sherdan's division had re-
pulsed the enemy four times and protect
ed the flank of the centre, which not on
ly held its own but advanced until this
untoward event, which compelled me to
retain the left wing to support the right
until it should be rallied and assume a
new position. On the lst the rebels open
ed by an attack on us and were again re-
pulsed. On the I'd inst. there was Skin
mishing along the front with threats of
an attack until 8 o'clock p. NJ, when the
enemy advanced. threw small divisions
across Stone river to occupy the COM
handing ground there. While reconnoi-
tering the ground occupied by this divis-
ion, which had no artillery, | saw q heavy
force coming from the woods and advanc-
ing in line of battle three ines deep.
They drove our little division before them
after a sharp contest, in which we lost 20
or 50 killed, 3I5 wounded. They were
finally repulsed by Gen. Negley's division
and the remaining troops of the left wing
rOf Gen. MortOn's Pioneer Brigade, and
fed far over the filed and beyond their
entertainments.
Their officers r~allying them with great
difficulty, we occupied the ground with
the left wing last night, and the lines
were completed at foUr o'clock in the
morning.
The third was spent in bringing up and
distributing provisions andssammunition.
1t has been raining all day and the
ground is very heavy.
WI. S. ROSECRANS.
CAMP NEAR MURFREEsBoRo.
January 18th.
To Major General HaHeck:
Following my dispatch of last evening
| have to 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 center being incomplete, / deemed
it prudent to withdraw that wing during
the night.
This occupied my time until t o'clock,
and fatigued the troops. The announce
ment of the retreat was known to me at
I o'clock this A. n. Our ammunition train
arrived during the night.
To-day was occupied in distributing
ammunition, hurying the dead, and col
lectIng arms from the field of battle.
Pursuit was commenced by the center,
the two leading brigades arriving at the
west side of Stone river this evening
The railroad bridge was saved, but in
what condition Is not known. We shall
occupy the town and push the pursuit to-
morrow.
Our Medical Director estimates the
wounded in hospital at $500, and our
dead at 1000.
We have to deplOre the loss of 1t. Col.
Garesche, whose capacity and gentleman
" department had already endeared him
to all the officers of this command, and
whose gallantry on the field of battle ex-
cited the admiration of all.
WIN. S. ROSECRANS,
Maj-Gen. Commanding.
LOUISVILLE, Jan; s..
Murfreesboro advices represent the fed
eral victory as complete. The entire rebel
army is fleeing toward Tullahoma in great