Washington telegraph., 1863-02-25
B1vouAc NEAR TULLAHou. Tenn
January 9. 1863.

January y, 1868. (
DEAR TELEGRAPH-Another great battle has
been fought; another glorious victory achieved
by the gallant army of Tennessee. Although
very much exhausted by the constant labors Of
the last few days, L will endeavor to give your
| readers some account of the events of the recent
pass-at-arms.
On sunday. the 18th of December q column
OF 'ne enemy confronted Gen. Hardee's corps
a aTRee' then stationed at Eagle,ille, William
SOU county. some sixteen miles northwest Oh
VI urlreesooro Simultaneous with this move,
'he enemy drove in our advance, at Lavergne
ana made rapid advance on llurfreesboro-
zen: Hardse moved his corps Gown to Muir
Ifeesooro, on the 10Th. Our line of battle was
formed about mile north of the town. On
tuesday morning, the 30th. skirnishlng began
al daylight The day was dark and gloomy.
Masses of leaden clouds shut out the light OF
the sun, and occasionally descended in driving
showers. Our forces were disposed as follows
Right, under Lieut. Gen. Hardee-Breckin-
ridges division in advance supported by Maj.
Gen. Cleburne's. extending from the Lebanon
pike to Stone river. near the crossing of the
Nashville pike. Extreme right flank of Hardse
covered by brigade of cavalry, under Gen.
Pegram Our left. under Gen. Polk-Withers' ;
division in advance-Cheatham's supporting
extending from the railroad crossing on the
Nashville pike to the dirt road leading from
FrankIin TO Triune: our extreme left three
hI1gaaes of Lieut.. Gen. E. Kirby Smiths army
corps, under Maj Gen. McCovn, extending
rom the Triune road TO point near Stone
river. Gen. McCown's left flank being pro-
tected by Wharton's brigade of cavalry.
NheeIer's brigade of cavalry was detached 20
operate on the enemy's flank and rear.
d. me enemy continued cautious y to feel our
10Y rrr,~i1 Ia. 81.
made "a serious demonstration on our left. and
attempted three times to carry Robertson s
battery. but was rs often repulsed. About
> oclock, p. m, Cleburne's div sion was or
tered TO the left. The euemys skirmishers
IeIt our strength AT all points, and at all points
our men stood at their posts bravely. H then
shot and shelled in all rections Our bate
RES, IN the mean time, maintained an ominous
silence. Little orno damage was sustained by
either party, during the day. So much for
Tuesday.
NEDNESDAY,s BATTLE.
On Wednesday morning, the 3lst, our po-
SIuon, as on Tuesday evening: the enemv's
Inc OF battle being within cannon range of our
own, Gen. Wharton began the days work. by
charging battery before it was harnessed,
and while the Infantry supporting it was en-
gagged in cooking breakfast lie triumuhantlv
ors. At daylight "A vigorous advance of our
lei was made 1t was surprise to the enemy
Who was eating his breakfast He flew 70
arms, and, as best he could. formed his lines
10 receive Us. Under the circumstances. he
dld 1t well; but our columns moved with so
much precision and celebrity, that he was driven
rom INT to point, with astonishing rapidly.
Very soon McCown, Cleburnc. Withers. and
Cheatham were bearing down with an i'm
petuosIty and power utterly rcsistless Bat
terry after battery was charged, taken. and
left behind the advancing leEi0us Through
held and wood; over rocks and fences they
swept with the fury of a whiriwiud, pausuc
at nothing, but overcoming everything that
lay IN their way, with the most unyieliiug
courage and determination. 1t required such
heroic pluck to do it. for the enemy generally
maintained his order, and poured torrent. Of
lead and iron into our racks Eut "a. every
stand, and at every volley from them. our
men compounded the interest on the loan. 'lr-
wing them still on and back. b. one o'clock
We had forced their entire right wing back
upon their centre, aud their centre back upJn
the right extremity OF their lef,-thus doubling
their lines upon themselves, and, IN some
measure, massing them in a new position.
1t must be remembered, that all this lighting
and driving was from their right 10 their lett
The battle line extending in general dirsc-
ton from north to south. the pathway + the
battle lay in the same direction. The enemy
was, therefore, not a great way further of
from Murtreesboro, at this point OF time. than
in the morning, when the bly tile opened. That
is to say, he was not driven hack Yves wndly,
upon Nashville. ne seemed to have made a
pivot OF the right Of our centre, and turned
our line upon IT, aud, by the fighting and' dri-
wing, changet il from month aud south. to n
nearly east and wet direction. The battle
opened L. the right, and near The Murfrce5-
borO and Salem pike. and at this period had
passed across the Triune dirt road, the vii
hln>on or Nashville pike. and approached the
Nashville pike and the Nashville and Chatta-
nooga railroad. Up to this time, and tbs
point, our victory Was complete and over
wnulming. We had driven me foe over fyur
miles, captured about five Thousand prisoners,
(lncludins three generals over tHirtv pieces
ot artillery ami inflicted :: loss upon Tine enemy
treble cur own, To say nothing Of the snl u
arms au1 personal ba sgngp, strawu from Dan
to ersueha
Here. however, the enemy raiIiel all his
energies for a desperate struggle Fortune
favored him, tui tie willy EOsercrans ovsiled
AIMsel. 81 5hs favor. ia front Il our right
celtrc-sty a mile distaut-rpse "a naked oval
hIu, commanding iu all directions; not very
high, bias exceedingly available. Upon this
Alil "e placed IL crown of tweaty-tour Of his
besi Gdns, Immediately supporting them h. -
brigade OF regular. and holding an infinite
number as secondary support In addition
to this, ue had ranged other batteries the
slopes, near tge foot of the hill rts!ng the
surrounding plain. Chalmers brigade ot
gallant Mi>sissPPiaus supported by Douel-
son > tennessee hrlgaae, WAS on erred t. take
the position. You can easily imagine the in
Unite danger of the charge nut you can
scarce : imagine the steady heroism with
which these devoted men advanced to it and
made it, The storm that poured upon them
WAS terrible, indeed. Our shattered column.
stood IN the midst OF that swfu tempest, long
enough to bring of two of the batteries.
Gen. Breckenridge. who held our right
north Of Stone river, and who had not heer
engaged, was now ordered across, with a view
of relieving our wearied columns, and taking
| the hIi. the bTigaJes of Adams and jackson
| were formed and sent forward. They initiated
! the courage and coolness of their predecessors
/ gong forward with the utmost alacrity anC
nrmness. They metsthe same tempest of shells
grape, canister, and musketry, and recoile
they again rallied. and, rushing with almos
| superhuman devotion. completely enveiopeC
| by the tornado, reached within perhaps "A hun
dred PAGES of the coveted object. but were agair
| repuised, and compelled 10 retire. Nirht wa
now closing in, and We were CON PEELED to ren
qalsh tue attempt to take this stronghold
| Darkness closed the dav aud ,,o,o 80 t;-.o,,,