Year: 1863

ry men thep also shouted Economically
when their hearts were pierced by bullets,
and tumbled TO the earth while endeavoring
10 take another step in advance.


II either Of the soldiers of the Union wa
vered before this onset, it was only for
and forty minutes from the time
the first rebel line marched forth all three
of them had beea dashed to pieces, and the
Of the conflict, flying in wild con-
fusion over the slope, were disappearing in
the depths of the wood. The battle was
over.


Until o'clock the rebels continued to fire
a cannon or two from the direction of MUIR
freesboro as though in angry protest against
their repulse, but when this ceased there
was silence all over The field, so deep by
contrast with the tumult of the battle that
had waged all day, that it seemed oppres-
sive and supernatural.


THURSDAY.


Both armies seemed enclined to rest to
day, though there was some fighting, but it
did not amount to much more than heavy
skirmishing.


There was nothing Of importance occurr-
ing Thursday night--scarcely shot from
either side was heard on Friday morning
until nearly 9 o'clock. Then terrible
cannonade commenced and ragged for half
anhour all along the center of our line
The enemy's shot and shell few thick and
fast up he railroad and turnpike, and all
over the open ground occupied by the GEN.
ter of our army.


One of our batteries was moved to the
front, and had more than half the horses
killed and disabled by the Rebel fire but
it soon became evident that the enemy 8
artillery was inferior to our own, and after
Loomis had knocked to pieces Rebel bat
terry of large brass guns, which was situated
near the turnpike, directly in front Of Muir
freesboro, the others hastily drew off, and
there was again a full in the storm. Our
loss in this artillery duel was about 100
killed and wounded.


SATURDAY.-THE DECISIVE STRUGGLE.


1t was about A o'clock in the evening,
when no one anticipated renewal of. the
battle, that the rebels advanced in overwhel-
ming force, under the command of Breck-
inridge, who seems to have been all day in
charge of the right wing Of their army, and
threw themselves with terrible impetuosity
upon Van Cleve's division. This portion
of our forces was in command of Colonel
Beatty of the 18th Ohio, Gen. Van Cleve
having been wounded on Wednesday. The
assault of the enemy was speedily an
nounced to the rest of the army by dread
fu war of artillery and deafening rattle
Of musketry.


Everybody rushed instantly to arms, and
all seemed anxious to engage the enemy at
at once. For half an hour the gallent men
of Van Cleves division held their own
against five times their numbers, but find
ing it impossible to Withstand one-third the
entire rebel army, began to give ground
Two brigades slowly retired, the enemy fol-
lowing with great determination, until at
lergth our men were pushed into the river,
many of them dyeing the water with their
blood. The third brigade stood its ground
somewhat longer and fought, if possible,
more obstinately; still they too were on the
point of giving way, when Negley's divis-
ion, which were near the centre when the
battle began. came rushing up to the rescue,
with loud cheers.


The soldiers advanced to the river side,
delivered few terrible volleys s,which effect
ually checked the rebel onset. and then
plunged into the stream itself and waded
across, all the time pouring their bullets into
the face OF the foe.


An adjacent hill. covered with woods,
was just upon the other side of the river,
and upon ascending tolerably steep bank,
q fence was reached, which separated the
woods from the open ground through which
the river runs. Here the rebels attempted
to make a stand and poured leaden hail
into our ranks as they clambered up the
river bank put the soldiers of the Union
were no longer to be checked. They rushed
up to the fence, and hurled the enemy a.
way from il at the point of the bayonet.


The whole woods then resounded with
the roar of battle our men continuing to
dIixe the enemy steadily before them.