Winchester daily bulletin. [volume] (Winchester, Tenn) 1863-1863, 1863-05-15
The Position at Murfreesboro'.

The Murfreesboro' correspondent of the
Cincinnati Gazette, under date of April 2Sd,
gives the following interesting account of the
state.of things at that important point:
What seems a dead quiet here is, In re-
allty, not such. Both upon our side andthat
Of the enemy, there is a restless activity,
which, one acquainted with the chess-play of
the contending armies, finds it difficult to re-
%concile with the almost utterCgpsence Of con-
ficts and battles.
But | am convinced that victories are lost
and won frequently without a sword being
drawn from its scabbard. The attitude Of the
forces of johnson and Rosecrans, for the past
two months, has been that of two practised
swordsmen, who will fence and parry for an
hour together without either receiving a
scratch. Yet, the well-aim6d blow which is
turned, or the dextcrous thrust which is par
ried, is as much an advantage gained or lost rs
though his swords point had reached the body
and drawn blood thercfrom. True, the con-
test between the swordsmen is thus never de-
cided; and by-and-bye each has sufficiently
tested the skill and strength of the other, q
holder and more desperate effort on the part of
one, q concentration ut the decisive moment Of
all his strategy and energy, completes the work
and finishes the contest, either by ~wounding
and disarnling his antagonist, or laying him
dead Mt his feet.
The history Of the Union and rebel armies
In Middle Tennessee for the past two months
is the history of just such a s~leepless trial of
vigilance and skill as that between the two
swordsmen. The rebels seem not to rest even
for an hour. At times q series of demonstrA-
tons will commence ON one of our wings, and
extend entirely round to tho other, rs though
the rebels would examine every portion Of the
charmed circle within which lies the Union
army, and discover, if possible. its vulnerable
point. But wherever he looks he finds himself
confronted by armed men ready, if he desires,
to accept his challenge. and try conclusions
with him. Checked in this manner, he quiet
ly withdraws. and not q gun is fired upon
either side. So. too, the enemy while ne is
making demonstrations upon our lines, sud-
denly discovers that Reynolds or Wider is
threatening his own, and ut once begins a Sc
ries Of Withdrawals or counter movements to
check or battle the supposed design. And thus
the ~ceaseless movement goes on, the observer
constantly beholds bodies Of troops marching
and conference.-the, going this way and that
| without any apparent Object.
~ ny -I1Eu-DN AL IIIhS EItii!illdIf play
will be over, and all Middle Tennessee will
tremble with the tread Of mighty hosts and
the shock Of contending arms. The opposing
generals are well aware Of the magnitude OF
the stake for which they play. The most SUI,
p~ertcial observer can appreciate the leneicen'
results 10 the Union cause which would attend
the expulsion Of the enemy from E.As, Tennes.
see; while the rebels universally Believe, a.
their prisoners say, as their presses indicate
and as their private letters "a large number O
which / have recently ready declare that i
they could only succeed in crushing Rosecrans
It would be equivalent to the triumph Of In
rebellion. Only yesterday I read an epiStle
written by a prominent "sccesh,' which ar
IDENTIFY sighed for peace, and expressed a belief
that Rosecrans and his army we're about III
only obstacles to its attainment. With wha
an absorbing interest win the nation and tn,
world gaze upon the momentous conflict abou
to take place in Middle Tennessee.