The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1863-01-09
THR DAY BEFORE THE BATTLE.

II was not destined that Tuesday tho 3oth OF Deem
ber should he the day OF the great conflict which for
nearly a week had been impending The rebels had
ired point tho town. and We held The ridge.
The aanking movement Of McCook, uncomploted, was
neither pushed nor abandoned Tho line rested nearly
tho whole day il had rested At nightfal on Monday
occupying the ridge not than half mile from the
enemys right but considerably further from its left
Crenden, with his three corpe held the Murfreesboro
road and rested with his left Lyte's creek not far
wcet from the little town OF Jenorsonvle at the juno
ton Of tho creek and Stones river Negsy and Rousseau
Of Thomas centre corps, held tho right Of this ne and
Their break Of nearly two miles between McCook
and Thomas.
BATHS.
1he retirement Of the rebels Sunday night 70 avoid
the consequences Of Mccoos movement placed them in
stronger because more concentrated position, within
two miles Of Mnreesboro. Tho reconnossances Of the
morning plainly revealed their position, and our limo
was accommodated 70 ". Their right wing WAS dis
covered 70 DO posted that s right vested the Le
banon pike, crsselng me stream called Lytle's
creek and extending wess Of the Nashville pike. These
two important approaches left 70 the guardianship
Of Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk, and he had his
thrco divisions posted have described Tho divisions
assigned 70 him those Of Cheatham Bseckinrdge and
Buckner but Of these only that Of Breckenridge fought
with him on this occasion. Indeed, from all that
DO learned would seem that the corps organization Of
Braggs army not maintained at all in this engage
ment On tho left or Poks corps and forming the CENTRE
tho three divisions OF Lieut.. Gen. Il. Kirby smith
commanded respectively BY Generals Preston Smith,
McCown and Rains. Here the organization lost Also
and Rains the Centre while McCowns place the
left Of his corps taken BY wthers division. On
wihers left to form Hsrdec's corps, McCown Cla
borne and Cheshamthe latter having the left
and resting on the franklin and Murfreesboro road
Ia,a Y.sA
ions OF the rebel army shown
on Tuesday. do no, lay claim any great degree Of
accuracy for the map but it viii show sufficient
~ the rebel positions as 10 give the reader
clear idea Of the operations. In engagement
Of the extent Of the several which have ensuod you'd
be impossible 70 give map showing the Typographical
features, and have rather preferred furnish small
maps showing the relative positions cercnt times
the desperate i've days conflict which has out
the Old and hcraldcd the incoming OF new year.
EATrk.
The district Of country lying between the two forces
posted have described and which destined to be-
the great battle Geld Of the West easily be
described geographically. It has prominent charac-
terishcs rough and ugly country, rolling slightly
with here and there rocky hill tho gray stones jutng
above tho soil and between which the grcen cedars
great numbers These eedars very numerous In
decd often growing in such clusters mask entire
divisions In instances these cedars grew swampy
places fields Of extensive proportions and in upcul
tvated state and dotted with very few buildings The
roads and othar landmarks the reader vn6sSeasa
better from the map send than BY any elaborate doscrp
ton could give Of ,hem Tho Geld the table land
lying In the peninsula formed by Lytes and Stewards
creeks and Stones river and covered OF about
three by six miles. Our line when concentrated must
have been az least four miles In longth IL days
tedious donlt and dangerous labor ride from the
tremes q the right and left wings and often forced
while making inquiries for and facts, occupy
portions Of the night which however, could DO
pied In sleeping the troops without tents bod or
bedding. their blankets and the cold frosty and damp
ground being their bed and clothing
TEE xsYoRx roRn.
The ''day before tho battle" net In this instance
uurufHed "cam before tho Storm There early
In the morning heard omnous mutterngs Of artillery
which threatened early Of battle and IN the
Afternoon broke out the left and centre Tho rebels
had disposition 70 ss quietly takc positions but
the river. The picket firing continuous and often
the sound OF this rapid but desutory shooting would
break out into deep terrible roar OF musketry, on
hearing which the Of tho part OF the line not
gagged looked serious and resolue The artillery both
rides In the afternoon became quite holly eng aged and
at times the supporting infantry would become warmly
engaged. But neither OF the commanding generals pro-
posed . begin fight late In the day, and by
both forces kept In restraint But each and
al that the the conflict, and each
and cvory man prepared for II.