Year: 1863




suit which, to one who knows something
of the nature of that fearful combat in
the woods, seems little short of miracu.
lous. Other illustrious corps were there
also, whose patriotism and courage
should be glad, even at this early day, to
celebrate, il one individual could have
known and observed them all. Their
zeal and sacrifices will yet be known and
appreciated by grateful nation.


With cool, calm courage, Gen. Crit
tenden awaited the coming storm; and,
conspicuous among all the rest, was the
. weli-built form of the Commanding Gen.
erai, his countenance unmoved by the
tumult around him, and his thoughtful
and animated features expressing high
and patriotic hope, which acted like an
inspiration upon every one that beheld
him. Ashe cast his eye over the grant
array which he had mustered to repel
the foe, he already felt himself master
Of the situation. -


rHE BLOODY REpULsE.


At last the long lines of the enemy
emerged from the woods, rank behind
rank. and-with dar,ns.ias -yell, ;ntenvirJf
to strike terror to the souls of the CYAN
KEGS who stood before them. CHARGED
with fearful energy almost to the verv
muzzles OF the cannon whose dark
l4ouths yawned upon them.


A dazzling sheet of fame burst from
the ranks of the Union forces; an awful
roar shook the earth; crash rent the
atmosphere The foremost lines of the
rebel host were literally swept from the
field, and seemed to melt awav like
snow flakes before a fame; and then
both armies were enveloped in vast
cloud of smoke which hid everything
from the eve. sal


In the still visible ground between the
pike and the railroad, the tumult redou-
bled Not knowing what could be the
result of the strife which was raging un-
der the great canopy of smoke that con-
cealed the combatants, the fight of those
IN charge of wagons and ambulances.
became still more rapid and disordered.
thousands of fugitives from the broken
right wing mingled with the teams: and
frequently mass of men, horses and
wagons would be crushed and ground To-
gether. Every conceivable form of
deadly missile whizzed and whirled and
burst amid the crowd. and terror and
dismay ruled uncomfortable. The whole
disordered mass rushed down as fast as
possible toward the river, into which It
plunged, pushing and struggling to the
other side


The combat under that great cloud of
smoke was somewhat similar to that in
the woods. No one knows exactly what
occurred. There was a shout, charge,
a rush of fire, recoil, and then all for a
time disappeared For ten minutes the
they found no rebels between the woods
and turnpike, except the dead, the dying
and the disabled. There were hundreds
, of these, and their blood soaked and red
dened the ground. Since the annihila-
ton of the "Old Guard in their charge
at Waterloo, there has probably not been
all instance of so great slaughter in so
short time as during this repulse ofthe
rebel left at Murfreesboro; and it will
hereafter be celebrated in history as
much as is the fiery combat which crush
ed forever the power and prospects of
Napoleon.


THE UNION TROOPS ADVANCE.


The rebel left was now thoroughly re-
pulsed, and our troops, emboldened by
their success, pushed after them into the
woods, driving them back in turn over a
considerable portion of the ground which
we at first occupied. The rolr of our
artillery sounded further and further off;
as the different batteries moved on slow
ly after the retreating foe, and hostile
cannon balls no longer ploughed up the
earth around me. But while the enemy
was thus retiring from this portion Of the
field, his cavalry made most impudent
dash upon another part of our lines.


REBEL DARING.


1t will be recolected that when the
great struggle on the right was going on,
the wagon and ammunition trains had
been hurried over the railroad toward
Stone river. A part of them were col
lected in a low piece of ground upon our
side of the stream; but large number
were driven across and placed together
upon the higher ground beyond. This
presented an opportunity which the vigi-
. liant and enterprising rebels could by no
means neglect True, the wagons on the
other side we're With range OF the rifles
lnOSe on Ine niguer sue,
blank range Of dozen pieces of apolnt
ry which were near the river But moth
ing daunted by this display of force,
about three hundred rebel horsemen
came galloping around the bend Of the
river from the direction of the Lebanon
pike, cheered Justify as they approached,
and made bold strike for our wagons.
The panic upon the other side was, if
possible, worse than any that preceded it
The teamsters who had so frantically
driven across the river when the rebels
were assailing our right, found that they
had escaped Scylla only to fall into
Charybdis. They no longer made even
a pretence of attempting to save their
teams, but jumped from the horses and
ran for life A considerable number
were captured, but were afterwards reta-
ken.


sKEDADDLERs Ix TROUBLE.


One feature of this scene was truly
gratifying. A crowd of fskedaddlers from
the field of battle had collected upon the
other side of the river, around the hos
pitals and among the wagons, thinking
that, as the battle up to that time had all
been upon the right they would be per-
fectly safe away off to the left They
were lazing and lolling about in the most