Delaware State journal and statesman., 1863-02-13
The English Press on the Battle at
Murfreesbor0.
From the Times. Jan. 81.

From the Times, Jan. 81.
II hard hghting-continued through several
days, with heavy loss in killed and wounded
constitutes great battle, the engagements be-
tween Murfreesboro and Nashville may rank
among the chief military events Of the American
war. II decided success is required to give such
conflict historical Importance, that element is
wanting to the actions in which the rival armies
were engaged during the last days of the old
year and the first OF the new. But something
has been gained. The determination with which
the Federal troops continued to advance and
attack, after their serious repulse on the Goth of
December, when the operations began, speaks
well for their qualities as soldiers.
From the description of their endurance
through the severe fatigue Of fige successive days
of action in the face Of skillful enemy, we
should infer that the Union troops in Tennessee
are composed Of better men than the regiments
recruited from the great Eastern cities. They
seem TO have shown more Of the " real grit" Of
the Western American than has been displayed
in the campaigns of Virginia. Eye. Witnesses
have described the conduct of some of some of
the Union divisions at Fredericksburg in terms
not fatterng to the military qualities of
large portion Of the Great Army OF the Potomac.
Nothing Of the same kind appears in the accounts
of the recent actions in Tennessee. Here the
Union regiments seem to have been of better
stamina and spirit.
They also had the advantage of going into
action without the discouragement Of previous
defeats. They had not acquired the fatal mis-
trust Of their commanders continued reverses
always inspire. And it is possible, though the
details are too imperfect to warrant a decided
opinion, that the Confederates were not led with
Lee or jackson. Certainly the attack made by
the UniOnists was not the patent blunder that
Burnside made at fredericksburg nor were the
Confederate positions unassailable, After the
five days OF conflict they were abandoned, the
Southerners fighting 10 the last, and retiring un-
broken, with, apparently, inferior loss, still able
to carry off the prisoners aud artillery they h I'd
captured.
And they repeated the operation of retiring so
quietly that they could not be pressed in their
retreat. On the evening Of the 3d of January
Gen Rosecrans expected renewal of the battle
on the following day for the possession Of Muir
freesboro but during the night the Confederates
quilted the position; and their retreat was not
known TO the Federal commander till o'clock
in the morning of the 4th. Thus the Southern
army must have gained ten hours, which would
have baifed any pursuit, even had the Federals
been in u condition to pursue. But this, it
appears General Rosecrans was not able to
attempt
From the Daily News Jau. 81.
The stake for which Rosecrans contended was
luueeu great, anu tne FeeOlute manner IN WnlCu
he persisted in fighting is worthy Of all commen-
dation. Had he been defeated he must have been
utterly ruined. Nashville was his nearest depot,
and even there il is doubtful whether he could
have maintained himself for not only would
Bragg have been enabled to cut him off from the
North, but the Confederates, by restoring COM
muncations with the East, would have been en-
abled TO draw any quantity of reinforcements
from Richmond and Virginia.
Nor is this all. The defeat of Rosecrans would
have set Bragg free to act against Grant in the
Southwest. and that portion Of Grants army
which is now engaged before Vicksburg would
have been taken in rear by the Confederates.-
As matters now stand, the whole Of Tennessee
is in the hands of the Unionists.
But Rosecrans knew the men under his COM
mand. The armies Of the West are filed by the
elite of the American people. Those who have
travelled in that country know that the Great
West is filled With the most enterprising of the
emigrants from the most intelligent and active
Of the Eastern States.
They are the strong yeomen Of illinois and
Wisconsin. They have fsrvent passion for
liberty, and come what may they are determined
that the great outlet of the Mississippi shall re-
that throughout this war these Western armies
have suffered few If any defeats. Even Beaure-
gard when opposed to them was not able to stem
the torrent which threatened him. 1t is certain
ly remarkable circumstance that Rosecraus
should have persisted in the struggle for three
days; but his resolute prudence is justified by
the fact that in the end the COnfederates were
compelled to retreat.