Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1863-01-15
ROSECRANS FOREVER !!
Great Battle in Tennessee!

ROSECRANS FOREVER y!
Great Battle in Tennessee!
SIX DAYS OF TERRIFIC FrGHTINGlll
Murfreesboro' Captured!
A Glorious Union Victory y!
Gen. Rosecrans' army has fought
and won the most decisive battle Of
the war. The battle field was contested
for ak days, and on the night Of Sat
urday. the Sd inst, the rebels fed in
great haste, abandoning every thing
to the victorious Union troops. The
rebels were under the command Of the
famous Gen. Braxton Bragg, who was
assisted by Generals Rains, Cheat
ham, Wilder, Breckenridge, Hardee,
Clodson, Adams, Hanson and other
rebel worthless. Rains, Hanson, and
Hardee were killed and Cheatham,
Clodson, Adams, and Breckenridge
were wounded.
On our side, out of 1875 Colonies
engaged we lost 10. The brave Gen.
Sill was killed, and Gen. Which was
taken prisoner. Our entire loss is
put down at from 1000 to 1000 kill
ed, 5000 wounded, and 1000 taken
prisoners. The rebel loss is much
greater than ours. Such obstinate
and desperate fighting was never be-
fore surpassed, if equalled, on this
Continent.
The Federal army, under Rosecrans,
began their march from Nashville
on the 26th of December, in three col.
umns--one under Gen. McCook, one
under Gen. Thomas, and one under
Gen. Crittenden. Their march on
Murfreesboro was holly contested the
whole distance. There was heavy
skirmishing on Monday and battle
in earnest during the succeeding days
till Saturday night.
On Tuesday the rebels attacked
McCook, the right wing, and drove
him in confusion two miles. During
that day the whole army lost some
ground. There was awful fighting
done. On Wednesday morning Rose.
Grams attacked and drove them some
distance with great carnage. The
movements were in charges NJ IN bat
teries and Infantry columns. Rose
Grams massed his batteries into park
of nearly one hundred cannon, and
let them into the enemy's centre. The
latter tried to charge and take them,
and such slaughter of rebels as then
took place is unknown in history.
They failed, and at noon left the glo-
rious Union army and leaders in pos
session Of the battle field. There
was no general fighting in the after.
noon, Gen. Rosecrans keeping the
woods. and roads alive with shells. A
correspondent Of the Chicago Tribune
says:
1.-THE three days. fighting already
done is most awful to be conceived.
Thousands Of men are killed aud des-
perately wounded. The woods and
roads arc lined with exhausted aud
cowardly stragglers from both armies
The forces of each. at the outset, were
estimated at about 10000. Probably
Bragg had 10000 the most. The Ten
nessee and Kentucky rebel troops
fought like tigers. The Union army
were heroes almost to a man.
AT daybreak. on the last day of
December, everything appeared work
ing well. The battle had opened on
the right, and our left wing was on
hand. At I o'clock ominous sounds
indicated that the fire was approach
ing the left. Aids were dispatched
for information, and found the forest
full of flying negroes, with some
struggling soldiers, who reported
whole regiments falling back rapidly.
Meantime, one of McCook's aids
had announced to Rosecrans that Gen.
johnson had permitted the batteries
of his division to be captured by a
sudden attack of the enemy, which
had somewhat demoralized the troops.
This was obvious.
"The brave Gen. Sill, one Of our
best officers, was killed; Gen. Kirk,
severely wounded, and Gen. Which
missing, besides other valuable OFF,
GERS.
General Rosccrans, with splendid
daring, dashed into the furions fire and
sending his staff along the lines, start
ed Beatty's brigade. Some six batter
les opened and sustained magnificent
fire. Directly a tremendous shout
was raised along the whole line. The
enemy began to fall back rapidly.
The General himself urged the troops
forward. The rebels thoroughly pun
ished, were driven kack fully mile.
The same splendid bravery was dis
played in the centre and the whole
line advanced.
About 2 o'clock the battle had
shifted again from the right to the
left. The enemy. discovering the i'm
possibility Of succeeding in their
main design. had suddenly masscd
his forces on the left, crossing the riv-
er, or moving under cover Of high
bluffs from his right !; and for about
two hours the fight ragged with unre-
hitting fury. TO the advantage of the
enemy, for considerable length of
time, when they were checked by our
murderous FIRE of both musketry and
artillery.
"The scene at this period was mag.
nificcntly terrible. The whole battle
was in full view; the enemy dcploy-
ing right and left. bringing up their
batteries in fine style; our own vom-
iting smoke and hurting iron missiles
upon them with awful fury, and our
r. A. Al.