Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1863-01-16


read with intenscat interest:
NAsnviLLr, Via. BowIiSo ohrrS, Jan. 4.
@I send you hcrewitha list Of officers killed
and wounded in the great battle of Wednesday
last, which is complete for nearly all the regi-
ments named. The estimated loss for some of
the regiments, especially for those in Johnsons
diyssion, wiIl, think ultimately be found too
large. The division was 90 scattered that IL
was; at the time The estimate was made, almost
impossible to tell who had been killed, who
wounded, who was prisoner, and who had run
away. In these regiments the estimated loss is
generally proceeded by the word about. Where
the word does not occur the losses are almost
exactly as / stated them
THuRspAy's BATTLE. own
"On Thursday morning the sun rose through
mass OF thick mist and fog, and just as he made
his appearance the pickets Of the enemy opened
brisk FIRE upon Palmer's division, which con-
stituted the right wing Of General Crittenden's
command. A few Of our men were wounded,
and our pickets manifested some disposition to
give way. Two batteries, however, moved up
TO their support, and the cannonade was so brisk
that the whole of our forces rushed to arms ex-
pecting an immediate renewed ofthe battle on
grand scale; but the rebels did not seem dlspos-
ed to make the fight general; they brought out
battery or two which attempted to reply 10
ours but which were silenced completely in FIVE
fire. Their pickets were also driven back and
several prisoners taker, and the sounds of battle,
except the occasional dropping of musketry
again ceased. Captain Bradly's battery, Sixth
Indiana and the Eighth Indiana battery, COM
msnded by Lieut. Estepp, were mainly instru-
mental in repulsing this attack. From this
time until half-past one in the afternoon there
was no fighting, With the exception of occasional
skrmishes between the pickets
NAt the time last mentioned an attack was
made upon our right where Dan. McCook's s
command had been mustered together after the
repulss Of "Wednesday. His men, anxious TO re-
deem their character lay close behind some
temporary breastworks Of stone and logs, until
the rebels were within few hundred yards Of
them, Then they opened, and tho butternuts
retired in confusion to the cedar thickets in
which they had been concealed all the morning
of Thursday, leaving number of their dead and
wounded in an intervening field. On the CEN
ter of our left, where a part of General Sheri-
dan ns division was posted, brisk fire was kept
up between the pokets until near night, when
the rebels becoming bold. once more advanced
in considerable force into an open field. This
time our men no longer remained behind their
breastworks, but charged upon the enemy, and
put them to disgraceful flight, single COM
pany of the Twenty-seventh Illinois capturing
$50 prisoners. number of shells from some
of our batteries queted the rebels for the re-
Thursday was at no time on a large scale,
amounting really TO little more than heavy
skirmishing. Both armies seemed inclined to
rest after the dreadful contest of the day before.
Tho weather was cold and clear part Of the day,
but during the night there was an ugly, driz-
cling rain, from which our soldiers, without
shelter Of any kind, suffered severely.
FRIDAYS OPERATIONS.
"There was nothing of Importance occurring
Thursday night, and scarcely shot from either
side was heard Friday morning until nearly 8
o'clock. Then aterrible cannonade commenced
and ragged for half hour all along the center Of
our line. The enemy's shot and shell few thick
and fast up the railroad and turnpike, and all
over the open ground occupied by the center
of our army. One of our batteries was moved
to the front and more than half tho horses killed
and disabled by the rebel fire; but il soon be-
came evident that the enemy's artillery was in
ferior to our own and after Loomis had knocked
to pieces rebel battery of large brass guns,
which was situated near the turnpike, directly
in front of fMurfreesboro, the others hastily drew
off, and there was again lnll in the storm
Our loss in this artillery duel was about one
hundred killed and wounded. From the re-
ports of rebel prisoners, am led to believe that
the enemy's loss was very considerable. There
was nothing more than heavy skirmishing from
this until four o'clock P. N.
sArrRpAy's ENGAGEMENTS.
Bowling Green, KY, Jan. Al returned last
to Nashville from the battlefield at Murfrees-
boro', and after tedious ride on the cars, during
which was engaged in writing out these dis
patches, arrived late this evening at this place
say left the field, but not, thank God, until /
was able 70 report glorious success for the arms
of the Union. The operations up to one o'clock
yesterday had been conducted on a scale of al
most unparalleled grandeur, almost equaling
the sublimest military occurrences during the
days OF Napoleon. The battle of Wednesday
displayed in most striking manner the valor
of our troops, the earnestness of our officers and
the genius of General Rosecrans, but the result,
on the whole, seemed to be against us, and there
was general feeling Of dependency through
out our army. On Thursday there was little
disposition manifested on either side to renew
the battle, and this feeling continued until after
the cannonade OF Friday morning, the result Of
which did much to encourage and inspire our
soldiers, and make them ready for the great
event that took place in the afternoon of that
day. General Van Cleyes division, belonging
to General Crittenden's corps, had been thrown
across Stone river on Thursday, in anticipation
Of an assault upon our left similar to that upon
the right on Wednesday, or for a purpose which
perhaps IT Is not now prudent TO intimate. 1t
was posted upon low eminence, almost over
looking Murfreesboro', and in this situation
iormed. as indeed it had done before, the ex-
RENE left wing of the army. 1t was about
''clock in the evening, when ne one anticipated
renewal of the battle. that the rebels advanced
N overwhelming force, under the command cf
breckenridge, who seems to have been all day
IN charge OF the right wing of their army, and
threw themselves with terrible impetuosity up-
on Van Cleye's division. This portion Of our
forces was in command of Colonel Beatty, of the
18th Ohio, General Van Cleye having been
wounded on Wednesday. The assault Of the
enemy was speedily Announced 10 the rest of
the army by dreadful war OF artillery and
deafening rattle of musketry. Everybody
rushed instantly TO arms; and all seemed anxious
TO engage the enemy at once. For halfan hour
the gallant men Of Van Cleve's division held
heir own against five times their numbers, but
inding il impossible to withstand one-third of
he entire rebel army began to give ground
rwo brigades slowly retired, the enemy follow |
ng with great determination, until at length our
men were pushed into the river, many OF them |
yeing the water with their blood. The third |
'rigade stood its ground somewhat longer and |
ought. il possible, more obstinately; still they
90 were just ON the point Of giving way when |
Iegley's Division, which was near the center |
'hen the battle began came rushing Up to the |
escue, With loud cheers
"The soldiers advanced to the river side, de-
versd . few terrible volleys, which effectually |
heekod therebel onset, and then plunged into |
he stream itself and waded across, all the time |
'ouring their bullets into the face Of the foe
In adjacent hill covered with woods, was Just |
lpon the other side Of the river, and upon as
ending a tolerable steep bank, fence was
'eached, which separated the weeds from the
,pen ground through which the river runs
Here the rebels attempted to make stand and
1onred a loaden hail intoour ranks as they clam
oerod np the river bank; but the soldiers of the |