Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1863-01-06
GREAT battle
REAR MURFREESBORo.
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Times.

49, 10y o tul IL lhSt reports was rot
decided. 1t rs enc Of the most feroeous
battles Of modern times, sustained by both
sides with splendid determination
Gen R1seCrans marched from Nashville
last Friday. with about As 900 electives
and LOO pieces Of artillery, and skirmished
all the way to the baltic field, the enemy
resisting bitterly. The whole of Tuesday
waF spent by our forces 10 accommodating.
The enemy was fouad strongly posted on a
bend ct Stones River, west side his tanks
resting on Murfreesbsr0, weRt side. The
centre also had the advantage Of high
ground, with dense growth IF cedar
masking completely their position, which
gave them the advantage # cross fire.
Gen. McCook's corps closed in on their
left. on Wa!kerson's Creek. Nepl-v. Of
Thomas corps, worked with great difficult
~ n the tr"ntot the rebel centre. Rose
craCs' division being in reserve. Critten.
deG's coIps was posted on eomrars,ively
high ground, 4 their left: Palmcrs' and
Van C!eYe's divisions in front, Woods in
reserve.
The battle was expected ell Gay Tues
day, bat the enemy merely skirmished and
threw few shells one Of which killed
Orderly McDinald, 4th United States Cav
al7Y, not ten feet from General Rosecrans.
That P. M the Anderson Penn. Cavalry
on NeCoOk's flank, was drawn into an am
buscade, aDd its two Mai RS, Rosengarteu
and Waid, were killed. Criftendep's corrs
lost killed and 2 wounded that day, in
c'udirg Adjt Elliot, of the 57th Ind
severely. McC0ok's loss was about so on
the came day.
The rebel cavalry made dash on our
rear at Lavergne, burnt few wagons, aud
captured IS prisoners.
That night dispositions were made TO at
tack the enemy in the morning. After
dark the enemy was reported moving up-
on McCook, obviously % attack cur right
wing. This corresponded with the wishes
OF Gen Rosecrgns, who instructed Gen.
McCook TO hold him in check stubborrly,
while the LEFT wing should be thrown into
Mrrtefs boro, behind the enemy.
AT daybrake on the last day of Decem-
ber, everything appeared working WE'LL
The battle had opened on the right. and
our inft wirg was on hand. At ! O'Clock
omiaous sounds indicated that the fire was
approaching the left aids were dispatch.
ed for information, ard found the forest
fu'l Of flying negroes, with some struggling
soldiers, who reported whole regiments
falling back rapidly.
Mesntime, one Of licCook's aids. had
announced to Rosecraus that Gen, Johns.
ton had permitted the batteries of his d.
vision to be captured by a cudden attack
of the enemy, which had somewhat demon
allied the troops. This was obvious.
The brave Gen. Sill. one of our best off
cors, was killed; Gen. Kirk severely wound
ed, and Gen. Which killed or missing, be.
sides other valuable officers.
Gen. Rosecrans sent wore! pressing Me-.
Cook 70 hold the front lie would help him
and 1t would all work right. lie ncv
galloped to the front Of Crittendep's ler
with his FtafT, 10 order the line Of battle
wheE the enemy opened . foil battery and
emptied two saddles Of the escort.
Van Cleve's division was sent 10 the rirht
C9i. Beatiey's brigade 10 front. The fir,
continued 10 approach on the right will
alarming randy, extending 10 the centre
and 1t was clear thot the right rag daubI
iHg upon the left. The enemy had com
polIed Us - make COMPLETE change o
iront on that wing, and were pressing th.
centre. Gca RGsecrans. with saiendlt
daring dashed into the furious fire. and
sending his stat along the lines, started
Beatty's brigade. Some six batteries open
ed, sustaining a magnificent fire.
Directly n tremendous shout was raised
along the whole line. The enemy berar
to sally buck rapidly. The General himsel
urged the troops forward The rebels
thoroughly punished. were driven back
frly mile. jhe same splendid broverv
was displayed in the centre, and the Who'll,
line advanced. ''>
Meanume, the enemy made formidable
demonstrations upon our left, while they
prepared for another onslaught on oul
right.
Meanwhile, orders had been issued r.
move our left upon the enemy. Before
they had time to execute them, thew burs,
upon our centre with awful fury, and il
began to break. Rousecran's division was
carried into the bre aeb magnificently bv
their glorious leader, and tie enemy agsi1
retreatsd hastily into the dense cedar
thicket
Again they essayed our right. and anal,
we were driven back. This time the MN.
Der OF stragglecs was formidable, and the
prospect was dlscouraging but there was
no panic. The General, confident Of sue
cess continued to visit every point of the
held and, with the aid Of Thomas, Nc
Cook. CrIitcnden, Rousseau, Neg!y and
Wood. the tide Of battle was again turn.
cd.
Early in the day we were severely EN-.
barrassed by the enterprise of the rebel
cavalry, who made some serious dashes up-
on some of McCook's ammunition and
subsistence trains, capturing a number of
wagons and artillery. Ammunition was
aiarmlugly scarce. At ore time it was
announced that rot a single wagon load of
II could be found. Some of our batteries
were quiet on the account. This mistor-
tune was caused by the capture of Nc
Cooks train.
About 2 O'Clock the battle had shifted
again from the right to the left. The
enemy, discovering the imrossibility of
succeeding in their main design, had sud-
denly massed his forces Oh the left. cross.
ing the river, or moving under cover os
high bluHs from bis right; and for about
two hours the fight rugged with unremit-
ting fury, to the advantage of the enemy
tor a considerable length of time. when
they were checked by our murderous fire
OF both musketry end artillery. The scene
at this period was magnifcently terribla
The whole battle was in full view the
enemy deploying right and left, bringing
up their bltteries in fine style; our own
vomiting smoke and iron missiles unon
them With awful fury. aud cur gallant fel
lows moving to the front With upfinching
Courage, or lying first upon their faces to
escape the rebel fire until the mement for
action. There was not place on the field
that did not give men n satisfac,orv idea or
a bot fire. Solid shot, shells, and MIME
balls ratified around like hail. Rosecrans
himself was necessarily exposed. II il
wonderful that be escaped. Ills CbeIf If
staff, the noble Lieut.. Col. Garescbe. had
bis head taken off by round shot. and the