The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1888-03-01
RAIrLE OE JAN. 2.

At daylight on Friday Gen. Bragg opened
fire on the Federal center. He also opened
fire on McCook on the right He was en-
deavoring, as he had been the day before, to
6nd whether Rosecrans was retreating. a
heavy artillery fire speedily convinced him to
the contrary.
At the same time he made the discovery
that Van Cleve's division had obtained posi-
ton to enf1lade Folks whole line. Breckin-
ridges division was ordered to dislodge him.
It advanced in two lines, Pillows and Gen.
Roger NJ. Hanson's brigades in the first line,
Preston's and Adams in the second. They
were protected by cavalry on the right
Van Cleve's division was commanded by
Col. Samuel Beatty. Negley's division was
placed in position on the west bank of the
river as a reserve, to support Beatty in case
OF need. At the same time Gen. Crittenden
maSsed his artillery on the west bank oppo-
site Breckinridge's division, and prepared to
rake the Confederates as they came on to
attack.
They moved up calamity, in spite of the
cannonading, and opened heavy fire. Van
Cleve's division retired across the river. They
slipped between the men Of Negley's line and
went to the rear to reform.
The Federal fortunes were here saved by
the strategy of Col. John +. Miller. command
absent In the rear. Col. Miller ordered the
division to lie down behind the bluff Of the
river till Van Cleves men had passed over
| and behind them Then, as Breckinridge's
| men came on In pursuit, the recumbent
soldiers were to rise suddenly and pour q
deadly fire in their faces
The order was carried out to the letter.
| Breckinridge recoiled and fell back. "Charge
I across IT, riverl" was Miller's next order.
| 1t was lone and the Confederates were driver
| to their intrenchments While at the river
| Col Miller received an order not to cross
| Srso of victory, however, he took the liberty
1 ri ignoring the order EnnVyincp the eifnafiOr
letter than his commander. The Confeder
ates were broken and the colors of thu
Twenty-sixth Tennessee ware numbered
among the captured Confederate battle flags
"H we don't charge the rebels, they'll
charge us" Col Miller had said before cross
ing the river. "a
| Davis division were following on after hi
| men, then Miller obeyed his orders, wen
| back to the west side of the river and tool
| position on his old line.
| the east side OF the river to join Breckin
ridge. But Rosecrans presently crossed Crit
tenden's whole corps, who took position o.
the bluffs Of the east bank
The morning of Jan. Bragg began heav,
picket firing again, to ascertain how large
force was In his front. Once more the an
swer was not satisfactory. The night be
fore, Polk and his division commanders hal
sent Bragg letter advising him to retreat
He decided to do so. BY II at night, Jan. {
his forces were IN motion southwark, an
| HoSecrans had won famous victory. MOE
| day, Jan. 5, Gen. Thomas entered MurfreeS
| boro.
The Confederate generals, Rains and Har
son, were killed at Stone River. So, alsC
were every one Of Sheridans brigade CON
| manderS-Sill, Shafer and Roberts
OF the forces engaged, RoSecrans had 43
400; Bragg, 1890. Each lost about 25 pc
cent OF his whole army In killed, wounde
and captured For the Federal cause th
seven days fighting between Nashville an
| Murfreesboro had great results. It lost KeT
lucky to the Coufederecy beyond hope, ais
| Nashville
The Stone River fight was one Of the Erea
battles Of the war, il not Of the world