Year: 1863

Oeneral hOSecTans army, numbering iUFt
five thousand effective men, with hundred
pieces Of artillery, skrmisbed all the way to the
battle field, the enemy resisting stubbornly.
The whole of Tuesday was spent BY our forces
| in recOnuoitering the enemy. who was found
strongly posted 90 bead of Stones river, on
the west side. bis flank resting on Murfreesb0ro
The center also had the advantage Of high
ground. with dense growth of cedar, masking
completely their position, which gave them the
advantage of a cross FIRE. During the night
dispositions were made to attack the enemy in
the morning. After dark the enemy were re-
ported moving on McCOok, obviously to attack
our right. This correspoaded with the wishes
Of Rosecrans, who instructed McCook to hold
the enemy in check while the left wing would be
thrown into MurfreesbOro behind the enemy.
At daybreak on the 3Ist of December every
y thing appeared working we'll The battle
opened on the right, and by seven o o'clock omi-
| nous sounds indicated FIRE was approaching
the left. The fight ragged furiously for some
time and the FIRE continued to approach on the
right with alarming rapidity, extending to the
center; aud it clear that the right was
doubling upon the left The enemy had COM
PEELED Us to make complete change of front
of that wing, and were pressing the center.
AT this moment, SIX batteries opened on the





driven back mile. Our whole line advanced.
The enemy again made formidable demon
stration upon our left, while they prepared for
another onslaught on the right. Meanwhile
orders had been issued to move our left Oh the
enemy, but before the left had time 20 execute
them the enemy again burst upon our center
with awful fury, and it began to break. R0us-
seau's division was thrown into the breach and
the enemy again retreated hastily into the dense
thicket. Again they asSailed our right, and
again were they driven back. By this time
the number OF stragglers was formidable, and
the prospect rather discouragng but there was
no panic. The Commanding General visited
every part of the field, and seemed confident of
success. Early in the day we were severely
embarrassed by the enterprise Of the rebel cav
airy who made serious dashes upon portion
of McCook's ammunition and substance train,
capturing number of wagons aud artillery
stores Ammunition was alarmingly scarce.
At one time it was announced that not single


wagon load could be found. Some Of our bat


teries were quiet on that account. This mistor-


tune was caused by the capture of McCoOk's


train.


About two o'clock the battle had shifted


from the right TO the left. The enemy, discOv-


ering the impossibility Of succeeding in his


main design, had suddenly massed his forces on


the left, crossing the river or moving under


cover of the high bluffs from his right. The


fight ragged with unremittng fury for some


length OF time, when the rebels were checked


by our murderous fire of both musketry and


artillery. The scene at this period was mag


nifcently terrible The whole battle was in


full view, the enemy depoying right and left


and bringing up their batteries IN fine style,


and our own vomiting smoke and iron missiles


upon them with awful fury, and our gallant


fellows moving to the front with untiinching


courage or lying fiat upon their faces to escape


the rebel fire until the moment for action


Solid shot shell and Mime balls ratified around


like hail. ROsecrans himself was inceSsantly


exposed. His Chief of Staff. Lieut.. Col. Ga


resche, had his head Shot off by a round shot,


and the blood spattered the General and some


of the Staff Three Orderlies were killed not


ten feet from the General, and FIVE or six horses


in his staff and escort were struck.


Between four and five o'clock the enemy,
apparently exhausted by his rapid and iuces-


SAINT assaults. took up position not assailable


without abundant artillery and the fire on both


sides slackened finally ceasiug at dark-the


battle having ragged eleven hours. The loss of
life on our side, considering the terrific nature


of the firing. was comparatively limited. The


wounded and casualty list. including captures,


will not exceed perhaps fifteen hundred, not
one-tourth of whom were killed. This is at
<ri6uted to the care taken TO make our men
lie down The enemy's loss must have been


more severe. But among our losses We have


to mourn the loss of several of our finest officers
When the battle closed the enemy occupied


the ground which was ours in the morning, and


the advantage was therefore in their favor


ROSecrans determined to renew the battle


this morning and opened furiously with our


left at dawn The enemy, however, would not


retire from our right, and the battle worked


that way. At eleven o'clock matters were not


very fattering to their side. At twelve our


artillery received new supplies of ammunition,


and terrible fire was opened on the enemy,


who began 10 give way, Gen, Thomas pressing


on their center and Crittendeu advancing on


their left


NASHVILLE. Jan. ,.


The battle OF Stones river is not vet decided
1t has continued for three days with intermis-
sions yesterday and to day. Alter the battle
on Wednesday. December 3lst. the enemy per


sisted in moving upon eur right to cut Us off
from Nashville but finding it too strong, on
Thursday morning, January LIST. they suddenly
| flushed upon the center, but were bitterly re-
1 pulsed by the left of the corps commanded By
Thomas, and the right of Crttendens corps.
Later in the day they fercey asSailed the right


and center and were again repulSed. Both sides


spent the remainder of the day in sharp skir-


mlsbing aud maueuveging for positions. Du-


ring the night the eucmy appeared to be


concentrating again upon the right. Their
commands were distinctly heard in our camps
but suspecting ruse Rosecrans threw Bent
ley'S brigade Of Van Cleves division across the
river on our left, with supports, where they
rested. About ten o'clock this morning the
enemy made another formidable dash at our
center. but were handsomely repulsed.


Between three aud four o'clock this after
noon, tremendous mass Of the enemy was
suddenly preciptated upon Bentley's brigade,
and 1rnre II nfter crnn,rt Strr,rrle csar hacl,