The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-01

dashed III mass against it. The artillery OF
the two opposing forces was Ill some cases
not more than coo feet apart.
Each time the onfederates were repu!sed,
but at great cost. The gallant Col Roberts,
VINO had deGed Confederate bullets that
Christmas night six days before, was shot
dead. Nearly all the horses belonging 10
Skaters brigade artillery were killed. Sheri-
dams men had exhausted their ammunition
They hatbeen lighting almost continuotiSlyin
this terrific battle for four hours. Sheridan fell
back through the cedars to tho Murfreesboro
pike. Negley's division, too, was broken. -
While the fight was going thus disasrously
to McCook on the right, Rosecrans was WITH
the left His headquarters were III the rear
Of C~rittenden's corps. Rosecrans' plan was
for bis left to cross Stone river and sweep
into Mnrfreesboro while his right engaged
Hardee's main force west OF the river and
town.
Gen. Van Cleve crossed early in the morn
ing with two brigades, meeting no opposition.
Gen. I. J. Woods division was following
Van Cleye. A thunderous roaring on tho
right showed that McCook was engaged.
An hour passed. The left wing was still
crossing quietly to the east bank OF Stone
river. Suddenly one of McCook's staff rode
hurriedly To the commander-in-chief and told
him the right wing was hard pressed and
needed assistance. But he was not told how
badly it was going; that Johnson's dIyIs'on
had been surprised and routed, and that
Davis b,gadcs had been doubled up, one
after the other. Rosecrans merely sent bac;
word to McCook to hold on TO tho last, and
then went on crossing his left. 1t was true
the firing sounded more and more TO the west,
but McCook had been directed by Rosecrnns
! b bear gradually to the west and north nthe
fight, in military p~arlance to refuse moro and
| more to the right, and this seemed in accord
ance with instructions. RosecranS' plan OF
battle also comprised somewhat the idea Of a
revolving wheel.
At length another messenger arrived. tell
my the commander that the wbolerisht wing
was in retreat. Ir was a time forswift action.
Van Cleye's brigades were recalled and sent
quickly to the center. Rousseau was sent
| into the cedar thickets to aid Sheridan and
Necley. Van Cleye and Wood were ordered
10 cease crossing the river andcofne up on the
| double quick. Gen. Palmer's division was
| the only one of tho left Wing that hal not
moved TO cross the river. IL was chiefly on
| the west side Of the Murfreesbdro pike. Gen.
". h. Tazen's brigade lay partly across
the pike. Gen. Iazen died while chief
| Of the United States signal service. Rose
Grams at once began to form n new
line in place Of that which had
| been broken. As tie victorious Confederates
rushed on, still turning the circle of the wheel,
! they encountered fiazen's and Crufts brisades
of Palmer division. They met gallanily the
outset of the enemy while Rcsecrans was
forming his new line.
Rouseau's division. meantime, cut its way
through the Confederates to the rear Of the
cedar thicket, and with Negey's division.
formed in line, with their batteries upon
a slight hill to tho rear. Palmer's division
wcs on Neglcy's left, and here, with Rocj-
seau's and Negley's divisions, and Hazen's
| and Cruft's brigades OF Palmer's division,
was some of the most desperate fighting OF
that bloody day. From tho little hill
Guenther's and LOOMS batteries poured
double shotted canister upon the Confederate
masses. -Four determined assaults were made
TO break the Union line in front Of Rous-