The National tribune., 1906-06-07
OF THE :.
CUMBERLAND.
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pieces. The 1o1sf Ohio. a new reg,
ment. had an opportunity to commend
itself to Its veteran comrades, and un
der the lead Of Col. Leander Stem made
| q swift charge and secured one of tht
pieces as trophy.
/ Night was now coming on, and Da.
Wis put his division into bivouac. Stan.
| ley with his Cavalry Reserve had some
small affairs In clearing the front far.
ther to the left. IN which battaiions o!
| the 10th Pa. Cav. and the Sd Ind. Cav
distinguished themselves. Mai. Rosen.
| garten, of the 18th Pa. Cav, had a fist
| fight with the leader of the rebel cav
airy. Both had dashed at each other
and tried to fire with their revolvers
but the rain had wetted these and
neither would go off. The two COM
manders then attacked each other with
their fists, the rebel landing a stinger
on Maj. Rosengarten's eye, but the lat
ter succeeded in knocking his antag-
onist off his horse and making him a
prisoner.
On the Franklin Pike Col. Zahm had
driven the enemy back with a charge,
killing four and capturing 10. s.
On the left Crittenden had had con-
stant skirmishing but his cavalry, oc-
casionally reinforced by the infantry
and artillery, finally pushed the enemy
back to Lavergne. The evening of Fri
day, Dec. 26, closed down with a sue
cessful advance Of the entire army into
line abreast, with a loss of from Is to
20 killed, many wounded and a prob
able equal loss on the part of the enc
my, to which should be added so or so
prisoners. The troops went into biv-
ouac, lighting wide sweep of coun-
try with their bright camp-fires, feel
ing entirely satisfied with themselves,
a N tUha bo
accomplished and sanguine as to fu-
ture success. McCook anticipated that
Hardee was in strong force at Triune,
seven miles distant, and would make a
stubborn fight on the morrow. Rose
Grams directed him to move at daylight
and push the enemy hard.
Saturday, Dee. u.
Though the sun had shone on the
previous evening as the men went into
bivouac, the dawn OF Saturday, Dec. 81,
was dark and dreary and the mud,
wherever the men had to move or camp
off the pike, had become a serious i'm
pediment McCook was ready to move
at daylight, but dense fog rose, max
ing 1t impossible to see $50 yards. and
tine advance was made very cautiously
with Kinks Brigade encountering the
enemy in strong force on the top of a
ridge. There was much confusion in
pickets fired upon each other.
so that McCook halted until the fog
should rise. Because of this the move
ment of the rest of the army was sus-
pended In order not to get out of touch
with him. In this way many precious
hours were lost, which Hardee i'm
proved to withdraw his forces. The
general advance was resumed a little
after noon and possession of Lavergne
was secured after sharp skirmish. 1t
was now supposed that Bragg would
make his stand for battle behind Stew
arts Creek, a quite Important tribu-
tary of Stone Riyer, and Crittenden
pressed forward toward that stream. The
creek is narrow and deep and the banks
eellent line of defense. A great object
to be gained was the possession of the
bridge by which the pike crossed Stew |
arts Creek, and to secure this Has |
calls Brigade of Woods Division pushed
the enemy back sharply, allowing him |
no rest. A drencbingr storm came up, |
but this did not stop Hascall's advance. |
and he sent the enemy across the bridge |
so rapidly that they did not have time |
10 destroy 1t, although they started a
IRE under It., which was quickly put out |
by the Union skirmisherS, and the day |
closed with this important advantage |
gained. The enemy fell back to high
ridge commanding the creek, and the I
armies remained confronting one an
other during the next day.
Sunday, Dec. g.
Gen. Rosecrans was religiously op-
posed to doing anything on Sunday that
could be avoided, and, therefore. Sum
lay, Dec. %, was a day of comparative
'est. This was judicious in every
,ense, since the troops badly needed
est, and there had to be some adjust
nents of the line and bringing forward
If supplies. Rolsseau's Division was
till at Nolensville, and it had to be
up to complete the formation.
t was also very necessary to ascertain
1ardee's movements, which would in
lieate Bragg's Intentions. If Hardee
lad fallen back to Shelbyville, as was
possible, 1t meant that Bragg did not
propose to deliver battle either at Stew
rt's Creek or Murfreesboro. If he had
moved over to Stewards Creek or Muir
reesboro, that would be significant also.
len. Rosecrans established his head
quarters at Lavergne, rose early. cele-
'rated mass, and then rode out through
he bright sunlight. which was now
avoring the army, for a reconnois-
ance. The enemy appeared in strong
orce beyond Stewards Creek and theret
vas desultory firing at long range be-
ween the pickets on either side of theI
tream.
Gen. Willich with his brigade had fol-
owed up the retreat of Hardee tol
tigg's Crossroads, seven miles below
rune, where he captured Al prison.
rs and aseertained that Hardee had
one to Murfreesboro. This was ac-
epted as indicating beyond doubt
hat Bragg would fight for the defense
{ Murfreesbcro, and the troops went
o rest at night with that anticipation.
Monday, Dec. 20.
The troops were gotten under arms
efore daybreak of Dec. 29. and Nc
'ook. leaving Baldwin's Brigade to OBJ
erve at Triune, moved toward MUIR
on the Bole Jack Road, with
len. Davis's Division in advance sup {
orted by Sheridan's Division and Stan
,y's Cavalry in front.
The corps was now marching overl
ountry roads, extremely rugged and
muddy. so that the progress was slow.
'y noon, however, the head of the col s
mn had reached the Wilkinson Pike
n Overalls Creek within three and a !
alf miles of Murfreesboro, where Da- ]
ISIS Division went into bivorac with
ne left brigade resting on the Wilkin- !
On Pike. This movement fianked the
nemy's position on Stewards Creek. !
nd Bragg withdrew, his troops, so that |
'egley. in the Center. crossed the creek I
'ithout opposition, two miles from the
lurfreesboro Pike, and Crittenden ad-
anced directly along the latter thor
ughfare. encounteripg. only the cavalry {
ear guard of the enemy and suffered t
frff n rpIo tai