New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-01-05

full force III front OF our army, upon the h'gn
ground bordering the river, with his two
tanks exposed Ia view, but the center masked
BY grove Of cedar. In the course OF the
afternoon McCook moved closely up to the
enemy's left and Thomas worked with great
difficulty to the front of the Rebel center,
while Crttenden took position in comparatively
clear ground on tho left.
During the evening Gen. Rosecrans received
information that tho enemy was massing in
front of our right for the obvious purpose Of
attempting to turn it.
Upon this intelligence, proved true by the
events Of the next morning, he seems to have
based his plan Of battle, which was. as
stated by our correspondent, to await the at
tack on the right and check it, while the loft
was to be thrown into MurfreesborO' to tho
rear of tho enemy.
The plan. however, mscarried owing to the
inability of our right to resist successfully the
attack made upon it with daybreak on We'd
nesday morning by probably the greater portion
of the enemy. It does not appear from our
dispatches whether our right was taken una.
wares, or made to yield precipitately to the
sudden pressure Of overwhelming numbers. but
tho fact seems certain that the division OF Gen.
X. w. Johnson, apparently in front of that
portion of our line, gave way very early in
the day, and fell back in great disorder, toward
the rear of our center, with loss of the three
batteries attached to its three brgades. This
division, the old Second Of tho Army of the
Ohio, had always been looked upon rs one OF
tbs most Trustworthy, and it's discontinue
proved an almost fatal misfortune Is rOut
aoubteSsly arose from the fact that Of the
three brigade commanders, Onc-Gen. Sll-was
killed. and two-C'ens Which and Kirk
wounded.
Gen. RosecrOns, being apprised of The critical
condition of the right, ut once proceeded to
relieve it By au attack with our left. But be-
fore it could be made tho force that had
driven back McCook assaed our center, which.
supported by portion of the left aud what
renamed available of the right, succeeded,
however, in resisting successfully.
Until O'Clock in the afternoon the enemy
persisted in vain attempts to break our centes.
At that time they ceased, but were quickly
followed BY rapid aud powerful demoustra-
ton against our lett. This portion OF the line,
however, not only repealed it, but followed up
tho rcpulse with an attack in its turu, forcing
tho enemy back some distance.
Late in the afternoon the enemy again es-
sayed attacks upon our center and leit without
success. Dark at last closed the action, after
Il had continued almost uninterruptcdy for
eleven hours.
While our right was assaied in the middle
Of the day. the situation on our side became
very precarous, owing to the temporary i'm
possibility to repieniSIi the exhausted smlnuni-
ton OF the artillery Of iho center and right,
as the retrograde movement Of the latter had
given the Rebel cavalry access 10 the ammuni-
ton trains standing on the Nolinsylle pike.
Fortunately, a supply was brought up in time
10 prevent disastrous consequences.
At tho close Of Wednesdays battle, the
enemy occupied the ground held by our forces
in the morning had captured twenty-six and
disabled Blk pieces Of our artillery, and taken
several thousand prisoners. They could then
fairly claim victory.
Tho doubling of our right on the center with
the consequent dsarrangement Of the entire
line, aud mixing up OF the different portions
OF the army, together with the total disorgan-
ization of portion of the right could but
produce confusion in the whole army The
weakness arising from this aud the loss OF
artillery manlfesty compelled Gen. Rosecrans
TO act on the defensive until he could rcorggn.
ize his troops and make up for the loss of
men and material by reenforcements from
Nashville where the fine division OF Gen.
Mitchell, composed largely OF veteran troops.
had remained III garrlsOD. Our dispatches at
least indicate that both Thursday and Friday
tho Rebel, were the assaiiants.
On Thursday morning the enemy again ap
reared to prepare for thanking our right. To
forestail this. cur right was strengthened aud
extended. Finding the wight we'll protected,
the enemy turned TO attack the center, but
was rcpulsed aud severely punished BY the left
of Thomas and the right Of Crlt'euden's.
Later in the dry the right of the center was
again unsucccsslully attacked. TIE greater
portion Of the afternoon both sides spent in
sharp skirmshlng aud mancuvering for posi-
ton.
During Friday night General Rosecrans
lnnnased to throw brigade across Stone
River, on the left. The enemy allowed it to
remain undstarbed until between 3 ond 4
o clock in the afternoon when, simultaneously
with an attack upon our center, greatly SUI