, 1863-01-05

9Eq: McCooks corps closed In on the lef
on Walkerson's Creek. Negley, Of Thomas
front Of the rebel centre, Rosccran's division
being In reserve. Crittendcn's corps va.
posted on comparatively high ground, OF
the!r LETT; Palmer's and Van Cleye's division:
In front, Woods in reserve.
Ihe battle WAS expected all day Tuesday
Dat the enemy merely skirmishcd and threw
lew shells, one Of which killed Orderly Nc
Donald, 9Th United States cavalry, not ten
feet from Gen. Rosecrans. '
I.at afternoon the Anderson Pennsylvania
cavalry, On McCook's flank, was drawn into
IN nmbuscade, and its two Majors, Roscngar.
ten and Waid, were killed. Crittendcn's corps
lost tour Eilled and twenty-one wounded that
day, including Adjt Elliott, Of the 57th Indi.
ana, severely: McCook's loss WIS about ffty
on the same d4y.
at LaTergne, burnt q few wagons, and cap.
tured thirty-fye prisoners.
Ihat night dispositions were made to at
tack the enemy in the morning. After dark
me enemy was reported moving upon Nc
E1fs T14k, obviously to attack our right wing.
Rosecrans, who Instructed Gen. McCools to
hold him in check stubbornly, while thu left
WING should be thrown into Murirecsboro,
behind the enemy,
At daybreak, on the last day of December.
f'EeTftdhng f's ~ appearea working well. The bat
4
was on hand. At 7 O'Clock ominous sounds
indicated that the fire was approaching the
left. Aids we're dispatched for Information,
and found the forest full Of flying negroes,
WILLS VIII some struggling soldiers, WHO reported
Meantime one T Of Heceoks zee sapay n1ds lad a,
nonneed to Rosecrans that Gen. johnson Lad
permitted the batteries of his division to *.
| captured by sudden attac... of the enemy.
T',is Th1eh nad sonleWat dcmoralzed the troops
The brare General Sill, one Of onr bcst
officers, was killed.; General Kirk, SC.
Serely wounded, and General W:!ic.1
hlIlcd or missing, besides other y..uab1,
officers.
Gen: Rosccrans sent word pressing McCoo,
would all work right. He now gallopcd to
tue front Of Crittenden's left with Els staff, to
order the line Of battle, when the enemy
opened e1 tnll battery and emptied two saddles
y yan cleye's division was sent to the right,
Col. Beatty's brigade In front. The fire con.
f'nued to approach on the right with alarming
rapldity, extending to the centre, and It vas
clear that the right was doubling upon tie
lot. Inc enemy had compelled us to make q
complete eanI change Of front on that wing. and
were pressing the centre. General Rose
Grams, with splendid daring, dashed into tho
furious fire, and sending his staff along the
iines, started Batty's brigade. Some SIX
batteries opened and sustained magnificent
fire.
Directly 2 tremendous shout was rslised
along the whole line. The enemy began to
lall back rapidly. The General himself urged
the troops forward. The rebels, thoroug5iv
punished, were driven back fully u mile Tie
same splendid bravery was displayed in the
eeE1rc, and the whole line advanced.
Ncantimc, the enemy made formidable dc.
honstatlons upon our left, while they pre-
pared for another onslaught on our right. f
Meanwhile orders Lad been issued to move
our left upon the enemy. Before they had
time to execute them, they burst upon our
fsntfe WIZ aTtnl fury and It began to break
M M1nagnltlcently BY their glorious leader, aud
dsese ise enemy again rctreated hasti into the
Again they cssayed our right, and again We
we're driven back. This time the number of |
elrasg!eTs were formidable, md the prospect |
The General, coi!dent Of success, continued |
to visit every point Of the field, and, with the
aid Of Thomas, McCook, Crittc,den, Rousseau, |
Negley and Wood, the tide Of battle was asain |
Early in the day VIC were severely embar~
rassed BY the enterprise Of the rebel cavalry,
who made some serious dashes upon some Of |
McCook's ammunition and subsistence trains, |
capturing. a number Of wagons and artillery |
=. AMMUNITION was alar1ningly scarce. At one !
tl!c ~ "as HHuouuccu Inat NOT . single 4.
wagon lond of 1t could be found. Some of |
onr batteries were quiet on that account.
Ihls misfortune was caused by the capture Of |
McCook's train.
About 2 o'clock the battle had shifted
ngaln from the right to the left. The enemy, /
ing IN their main design, had suddenly
naassed his forces on the left, crossing tho
river, Or moving under cover Of high bluffs
from his right; and for about two hours
tie tie i,Eht RACED With unremitting fury, to
the advantage OF the enemy, for consider
able length Of time when they were checked
by our murderous fire Of both muskctry and
artillery. The scene at this period was
magniacently terrible. Tie whole battle
was In full view; the enemy dep1oying right
style; our own vomiting smoke and iron
missiles upon them with awful fury, and our
gallant fellows moving to the front with u11-
tlinching courage,o or lying fat upon their faces
to escape the rebel fire until the moment for
for action. There was not place on the field
q hot fire. Solid shot, shells and mimic balls
ratified around like hail. Rosccrans himself
was incessantly exposed. It is wonderful
that he escaped. His chief Of staff, the noble
Lieut. Col. Garesche, had his head taken off
" round nd isaot aud the blood spattered the
just behind him, mas lifted clear ont Of his
saddle bya bullet, which shattered his left |
arm. Three Ordcrlcs, and gallant Sergeant |
Of the 4th United States cavalry :,
were killed not ten feet from the General, and I
five orsix horses in the staff and escort were
struck.
Between and o'clock the enemy appar-
emily exhausted by the rapid and inccssant
took mp a position not assai1able
without abundant artillery, and the fire on
dark, the battle having ragged for eleven hours.
The loss on our side is considering the ter
rlhc nature Of the firing, comparatively lin
tied: The whole casualty list that day, en-
eltading captures, did not exceed, perhaps,
500; Of whom not more than one-fourth
were killed. This is attributable to the care
taken to make our men Lie down. The enc
lny's loss must have been more severe. But
omongst our losses We mourn such noble
souls as Gen. sili. Gen; August Willich, Col.
airy: Col. Hawkins, 18th Ohio: Col. Mckee,
Sd Kentucky; Col Farmer, 18th Kentucky;
Col. Kell, Cd Ohio Lieut.. Col. Shepherd, 18th
regu1ars; Major Carpenter, 10Th regulars;
Capt: Edgcrton, lst Ohio battery, and his
lientenan1s, and many more. No other Cen
Gen. Kirk Gen. Van CleYe, so reported; Col.
Moody, 74th Ohio, who established splendid
Col. Larriby, az Lashby, 99th
Ohio: Col. King, 18th regulars; Majors Foot
md Rieksr Of slemmef's 10th regiment;
and York, and Lieut.. McAllister, 18th regu-
lars; Major Townsend, 18th regulars: Capt
Long, 4th rcgu1ar cavalry. Lieufs. Mcclellan,
Nnllcrs and Foster, 9th Ohio.
When the battle closed the enemy occupied
and the advantage is, therefore, in their favor
. The object in attacking was to cut us of
from Nashville. They almost succeeded,
They played their old game. If McCook's
corps had held more firmly against Hardee's
S division, whom liefourht.
111nr IF ha%$1h |