The Portland daily press., 1863-01-05
BY TELEGRAPH.
TO THE
Portland Daily Press.
The Great Battle near Murrees-
boro.
Gallant Charge Of Gen. Thomas.
DASH OF GEN. ROSECRANS.
Gallant Charge of Gen. Thomas.
DASH OF GEN. ROsECRANs.
TREMENDOUS FIGHTING.

NEW YORK, Jan. 8.
A dispatch TO the Philadelphia Press, dated
battlefield. Murfieesboro, afternoon of the 2d,
says: The fight was renewed this morning
with great ferocity. Gen. Rosecrans collect
ed his scattered troops and reorganized them
last night. To-day we have driven the enemy
nearly two miles. The reserve brigades are
getting in line. As write reinforcements are
arriving, and Gen. Rosecrans is determined to
destroy the rebels at any cost.
About one O'Clock on Wednesday, General
Thomas threw his entire corps dc armee
against the centre of the enemys forces, and
breaking it, drove it back over mile i'm great
confusion. The rebel killed and wounded lay
in heaps upon the ground. Gen. Rosecrans
then ordered an advance OF his army in sup
port OF Gen. Thomas, and we soon engaged
the enemy at close quarters for the first time
in the history of the rebellion.
AT one time Gen. Rosecrans observed his
men wavering, when he dashed rapidly to the
front, followed by his staff. This coup created
a tremendous enthusiasm among The soldiers,
who rallied at every point, and drove the re-
bels for some distance, with excellent results.
The battle OF the lst was a tremendous
bloody fight indeed. The enemy attacked us
at daylight in the morning, believing us to be
terribly crippled. Our right wing was hardly
prepared, and was fearfully cut up Generals
Negley's and Rosecrans' divisions drove the
enemy at every point before them. The enc
nay at one time complely flanked our right,
which was reinforced and regained its position.
We gained no great advantage until Wednes-
day afternoon. The fight lasted until ten
o'clock last night.
LOUISVILLE, KY, Jan. 3.
Telegraphic communication has been res
tored between here and Nashville.
Ii is reported that Gen. Bragg was killed to-
day. There has been fighting all day, but no
particulars are given. Our forces are advanc-
ing and the rebels are falling back across Stone
river. The following officers have been
wounded slightly: Col. Miller Colblack, 4th
Ind, Lieut. Col. Nef Col. Heal and Captain
Pate. 1t has been raining heavily all day in
the vicinity of the battle field.
Second Dispdtch.-There was heavy can
nonading to-day until noon, when the rebels
attacked our left wing, and were terribly re-
pulsed. There was very little fighting yester-
day. Our forces do not yet occupy Murlrees-
boro'. The rebels attacked and destroyed our
hospital building on Thursday. The rebels
are being strongly reinforced from the rebel
army at Richmond.
Third Dispdtch.-There was spirited en-
gagement at Lavergne to-day, between the
mechanics and engineers under Col. Innis and
Gen. Wheaton's rebel cavalry. The latter
were routed with the loss oil thirty-three kill
ed. All contrabands captured by the rebels
on the Federal wagon trains are Immediately
shot Twenty thus killed are lying on the
Murfreesboro' pike. Maj. Skinner and Capt
King, who were being conveyed away in an
ambulance from the battle field, were captured
by the rebels, taken four miles away, and then
parolled and thrown out on the road Gen.
Which is not killed but is wounded and a
prisoner. Yesterday Gen. Rosecrans person.
ally took command of the 4th L. S. cavalry,
and attacked Gen. Wheaton's rebel cavalry,
who were cut to pieces and utterly routed
Capt Mack. chief of artillery on Gen. Thorn
as staff. is mortaly wounded. A dispatch
from Col. Anderson to headquarters here, says
we have whipped the rebels decidedly, and are
at Christiana, nine miles south OF Murirees-
boro' on the railroad.
Fourth Dispatch.-Nashville, Tenn, 3D.
Col. Mckee is reported killed. Our loss of Of
ficers is heartrending. The fighting to-day has
been light. 1t closed last evening with a ter
rible slaughter of the enemy.
Fifth Dispdtch.-The first days fighting
was all our own way. but the right wing of
our army fought itself into bad position.--
The third day we repulsed the rebels with ter
rible slaughter, ourselves sustaining but slight
loss.
New YORK, Jan. 4.
A special dispatch from Murfreesboro, dated
Friday, states that the rebels were twice re-
pulsed on Thursday in their fierce attacks on
our centre and right On Thursday night
Gen. Rosecrans ordered Beatty's brigade to
cross Stones River on the left, which was ac-
complished. On Friday afternoon the rebels
made tremendous attack on our centre, but
were handsomely repulsed. At.the same time,
they threw an immense mass of infantry
against Beatty's brigade, driving it across the
river, when Negley and Davis divisions went
TO their aid. a most desperate struggle en-
sued, and all the artillery of both armies was
brought to bear. Our men suffered terribly
and unfiinchingly. AT last Negley ordered
charge, when the rebels gave way. The eth
Pennsylvania charged home on rebel regi-
ment, capturing its color. Another regiment
charged and seized whole battery. A grand
shout of victory arose along the whole line,
when Gen. Rosecrans advanced his whole line
to the left, establishing itself on the east bank
of the river, the enemys former position, and
the r.ght holding its original position of
Wednesday. The advantage is with us. The
battle will be resumed on Saturday, and all
feel confident of victory.
n r.