Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-01-08

nence, almost overlooking Murfrees
boro', and in this situation formed. a
indeed it had done before, the ex
treme left wing Of our army. 1t wa
about 4 O'Clock in the evening, whei
no one anticipated renewal Of the bat
tie. that the rebels advanced in over
vbelming force, under the command o
Breckenridge, who seems to have beer
all dsy in charge of the right wing o
their army, and threw themselves. viii
terrible impetuosity upon Van Cleve''
division. This portion OF our troops
was in command of Colonel Beatty. o.
the 18th Ohio. Gen. Van Cleye having
been wounded on Wednesday. The
assault OF the enemy was speedily an
nounced TO the rest of the army by 9
dreadful war Of artillery, and a deaf
enine rattle of muskeiry. Everybody
rushed instantly to arms. and all seemed
anxious to engage the enemy at once
For half an hour the gallant men oI
Van Cleve's division held their own
against FIVE times their numbers, buI
finding it impossible to Withstand one
third Of the entire rebel army. began to
give ground. Two brigades slowly re-
tired. the enemy following with great
determination. until at length our men
were pushed into the river. many OF
them dyeing the water with their blood.
The third brigade stood its ground
somewhat longer. and fought, il possi-
bic, more obstinstely; still they. too.
were Just on the point Of giving way,
when Negley's Division, which was
near the centre when the battle begun,
came rashing up to the rescue, with
loud cheers.
The soldiers advanced to the river
side. delivered few terrible volleys,
which efectually checked the rebel on
set, and then plunged into the stream
itself and waded across, all the time
pouring their bullets into the face OF the
foe. An adjacent hill, covered with
woods, was just upon the other side Of
the river, and upon ascending the tol-
erably steep bank, fence was reached,
which separated the woods from the
open ground through which the river
runs. Here the rebels attempted to
make a stand and poured leaden hail
into our ranks as they clamored up the
river bank; but the soldiers Of the Un-
ion were no longer to be checked. They
rushed up TO the fence, and hurled the
enemy away from it at the point of the
bsyonet. The whole woods then re-
sounded with the roar OF battle. our
men continuing to drive the enemy
steadily before them. CoIonels T. R.
Stanley and Miller. commanding bri-
gades. urged forward their men with
dauntless courage, and drove the rebels
entirely out Of the woods and across
some cornfelds which lay just in front
Of the last strip Of timber which sepe-
rated our army from Murfreesboro'.- =
These cornfelds were literally covered
with the rebel dead and dying.
The enemy had now been driven a
Hilc anu Bdil, anu uOtHInR UuL tue
coming Of night prevented the gallant
Negley and his men from pushing
into Murfreesboro l rode over the
field at ten O'Clock that night. Our
forces held undisputed possession of
the contested ground. The slaughter
of the enemy was terrible to contem-
plate. The woods by the river and
corn6elds. resounded with the groans
of the wounded and dying. AT least
two thousand of the enemy fell in this
glorious affair, while our own loss
could not have exceeded FIVE hundre d.
More than thousand prisoners were
left in our hands. Several rebel flags
were captured and at least one battery
of artillery. When the victory was an
nounced to the rest OF the army. their
cheers fairly rent the air, and must
have spread dismay and terror
amongst the rebel hosts.
Up to one O'Clock yesterday. the
time / left the field, it had rained
steadily ali day, and the battle had not
been renewed.