Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-01-10
THE GREAT BATTLE NEAR MUIR.
FREESBORO

NNAN1lAL DAGALaE N6Ah MLUha
FREESBORO'.
Terrible Slaughter on beth sides---SpIen-
did Bravery OF Officers and Men-s-COol-
ness and Courage Of General ROsecruns.
Of the terrific fighting near Murfrees-
bOrO, our readers win be glad Of the Op-
pOrtunity to peruse the following details
collected from the correspondence Of the
Cincinnati Commercial and Gazette
A SKETCH OF PRELIMINARY xovENEsTs.
son Friday, December 26, the army ad-
Yaneed in three columns, Major General
McCook' s corps down the NoblesTille Pike,
driving Hardee before him q mile and a
half beyond Nolinsville. Major General
Thomas corps, from its encampmento on the
Franklin pike Via. the Wilson pike Crit
tenden on the Murfreesboro Pike. The
right and left met with considerable resist
anee in a rolling and hilly country, with
rocky bluffs and dense cedar thickets, af-
fording cover for the enemy's skirmish hers.
Crittenden moved to point within mile
and half Of LaEergne, skirmishing with
the enemy sharply. General Thomas met
with but little opposition.
On tirv 1aTuiI5 11UOUUK ur0Ve Hardee from
point beyond Nolinsville, and pushed a
rnannnnitasine5 -d;-:-:--- sss'TaE ds
shelbyYiIle, discovering that Hardee had
retreated to MurfreesbOro'. This indica-
ted intention on the part Of the enemy to
make stand otherwise, Hardee would
have fallen back upon Shelbyville. GEN
eral Crittenden fought all the way to Stew
arts Greek, with small loss, and rested on
"a, ,.aHa1 -,sa ina ~ thn
opposite banks General Rosecrans' head
quarters were then at a point twelve miles
from Nashville. 1t seemed that the enc
my would make a stand on Stewards
Greek, that being good line Of defense.
That night, General Thomas, with the di-
visions Of Rousseau and Negley, occupied
Nolinsville.
aOn the 28th, General McCook completed
his reconnaissance Of Hardee's movements
and General Crittenden awaited results,
while General Thomas moved his corps
across to SteWarts Creek, executing a ia
tiguing march with great energy, General
Roseerans deeming his junction with the
left of great importance at that time.
t'0n the 29tb, General McCook moved to
Wilkinson cross roads, within seven miles
of Murfreesboro' OF the end Of short road
through a rough rolling country skirted by
bluffs and dense cedar thickets. General
Crittenden moved forward with some re-
sistance to point within three miles Of
Murfreesboro', and found the enemy in
force. General Negley was moved forward
to the center, Rosseau's division on the
right of Crittenden's corps. General Ro-
secrans' headquarters advanced to the east
side of Stewards Greek, and after hasty
supper he proceeded to the front and re-
mained on the field all night"
On the 8Oh, there was sharp skirmish-
ing all day, principally by McCOoks right.
Headquarters we're established in tent
uRder cluster Of trees in the field.
"Night was approaching'withOut battle,
when Captain Fisher, Of General McCook' s
staff dashed up on foaming steed, bear
ing information that Kirby Smith, sup
ported by Breckenridge, had concentrated
on our left. Tell General McCook, said
General Rosecrans, that if he is assured
that such is the fact, he may drive Hardee
sharply If he is ready. At all events, tell
him to prepare for battle tomorrow morn
ing. Tell him to fight as if the fate Of a
great battla depended upon him. While
he holds Hardee, the left, under Critten-
den, will swing around and take Murfrees-
boro'. Let Hardee attack, if he Desires
1t will suit exactly
"General Rosecrans was in high spirits
with the progress of affairs and confident
Of success He remained awake nearly all
night, and ct FIVE o'clock aroused the staff.
At daylight he attended mass in tent ad-
joining his own. and with Lieutenant
Colonel Garesehe partook Of communion,
Father Cooley, Of the 35th Indisna, offici-
ating.
Early on the morning of the 81st, the
enemy attacked in force on our right
General Rosecrans sent word to McCoOk
that he would help him. He gallOped to
the left, and sent forward Bently's brigade
The rebels discovered him, and opened q
battery upon him.
The General directed Colonel Barnett,
his Chief of Artillery, to post battery to
shell the enemy, waiting to see it done
The Colonel gallOped forward coolly, under
fire, and soon had Cox's 10th Indiana bat
terry numbering toward a commanding
point. The officer in command wheeled
into position at point apparently unfa.
vOrable for sharp work. The General
shouted "On the crest; on the crest Of the
hill" On the crest it went, and in five
minutes the rebels closed their music.
THE BATTLE ON THE RIGHT.
Meantime the battle was going against
us on McGookis front. General Sill was
killed, and the divisions of johnson, Davis
and Sheridan were driven back.
Gan these divisions were now hurled
back together into the immense series Of
cedar thickets which skirt the turnpike,
and extend far over to the right. Brigade
after brigade, battery after battery, from
Palmer's, Negley's and Rosseau's divis-
ions, were sent into the midst of the thick
ets TO check the progress Of the foe and
rally the fugiuves; but all IN turn were
either crushed outright by the flying
crowds, broken by the impetuosity Of the
foe, and put to confused flight, or compell-
ed to retire and extricate themselves in the
best manner that seemed to offer.
The history Of the combat in those
dark cedar thickets viii never be known.
No man could see even the whole Of his
own regiment, and no one will ever be able
to tell who they we're that fought the
bravest, and they who proved recreant to
their trust. know that there was some
coWsrdice displayed, but know, too, that
there was shown by many officers and reg
iments as lofty heroism as that which
distinguished and immortalized the follow
ers Of Godfrey or the Cid.
OUR RIGHT STILL PRESSED BACK.
But in spite Of heroism and devotion
in spite of desperate struggles which
marked every advance Of the foe; in spite
Of an awful sacrifice Of life on the part Of
the officers and soldiers Of the Union army,