PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE. 27 hours? To which General McCook replied, 'Yes, I think I can.' The General commanding then said: 'I don't like the facing so much to the east, but must confide that to you, who know the ground. If you don't think your present the best position, change it;' and the officers then retired to their commands. "At daylight on the morning of the 31st, the troops breakfasted and stood to their arms, and by seven o'clock were position, refusing his right as much as practicable and necessary to secure it, to receive the attack of the enemy; or, if that did not come, to attack himself sufficient to hold all the force on his front. Thomas and Palmer to open with skirmishing, and gain the enemy's centre and left, as far as the river. Crittenden to cross Van Cleve's division at the lower ford, covered and supported by the Sappers and Miners, and to advance on Breckinridge. Wood's divis-preparing for the battle. The movement ion to follow by brigades, crossing at the began on the left by General Van Cleve, upper ford and moving on Van Cleve's who crossed at the lower fords; Wood right, to carry everything before them prepared to sustain and follow him. The into Murfreesboro'. This would have enemy meanwhile had prepared to atgiven us two divisions against one; and tack General McCook, and by half-past as soon as Breckinridge had been dis- six o'clock advanced in heavy columnslodged from his position, the batteries of regimental front-his left attacking WilWood's division, taking position on the lich's and Kirk's brigades of Johnson's heights east of Stone River, in advance, division, which, being disposed without would see the enemy's work in reverse, support, were, after a sharp but fruitless would dislodge them and enable Palmer's contest, crumbled to pieces and driven division to press them back and drive back, leaving Edgarton's and part of them westward across the river or Goodspeed's battery in the hands of the through the woods; while Thomas, sus- enemy. The enemy following up, attaining the movement on the centre, tacked Davis's division, and speedily would advance on the right of Palmer, dislodged Post's brigade; Carlin's bricrushing their right; and Crittenden's gade was compelled to follow, as Woodcorps advancing, would take Murfrees- ruff's brigade, from the weight of testiboro'; and then moving westward on mony, had previously left its position on the Franklin road, get in their flank and his left. Johnson's brigade, on retiring, rear, and drive them into the country inclined too far to the west, and were too towards Salem, with the prospect of cut- much scattered to make a combined reting off their retreat, and probably de- sistance, though they fought bravely at stroying their army. It was explained one or two points before reaching Wilto them that this combination, insuring kinson's pike. The reserve brigade of us a vast superiority on our left, requir- Johnson's division, advancing from its ed for its success that General McCook bivouac near Wilkinson's pike, towards should be able to hold his position for the right, took a good position, and made three hours; that if necessary to recede a gallant but ineffectual stand, as the at all, he should recede as he had ad- whole rebel left was moving up on the vanced on the preceding day, slowly and ground abandoned by our troops. Withsteadily, refusing his right, thereby ren- in an hour from the time of the opening dering our success certain. Having thus of the battle, a staff-officer from General explained the plan, the General com- McCook arrived, announcing to me that manding addressed General McCook as the right wing was heavily pressed, and follows: 'You know the ground; you needed assistance; but I was not ad have fought over its difficulties. Can vised of the rout of Willich's and Kiryou hold your present position for three | by's brigades, nor of the rapid with the same predicament, and very heavily pressed-after desperate fighting, they fell back from the position held at the commencement, through the cedar woods, in which Rousseau's division, with a portion of Negley's and Sheridan's met the advancing enemy and checked his movements. The ammunition train of the right wing, endangered by its sudden discomfiture, was taken charge of by Captain Thruston, of the 1st Ohio, regular ordnance officer, who by his energy and gallantry, aided by a charge of cavalry and such troops as he could pick up, carried it through the woods to the drawal of Davis's division, necessitated brigades, when having exhausted his thereby—moreover, having supposed his ammunition-Negley's division being in wing posted more compactly and his right more refused than it really was, the direction of the noise of battle did not indicate to me the true state of affairs. I consequently directed him to return, and direct General McCook to dispose his troops to the best advantage, and to hold his ground obstinately. Soon after a second officer from General McCook arrived, and stated that the right wing was being driven a fact that was but too manifest, by the rapid movement of the noise of battle towards the north. General Thomas was immediately dispatched to order Rousseauthere in reserve-into the cedar brakes Murfreesboro' pike, around to the rear to the right and rear of Sheridan. General Crittenden was ordered to suspend Van Cleve's movement across the river, on the left, and to cover the crossing with one brigade, and move the other two brigades westward across the fields towards the railroad, for a reserve. Wood was also directed to suspend his preparations for crossing, and to hold Hascall in reserve. "At this moment fugitives and stragglers from McCook's corps began to make their appearance through the cedar brakes, in such numbers that I became satisfied that McCook's corps was routed. I therefore directed General Crittenden to send Van Cleve in to the right of Rousseau, Wood to send Colonel Harker's brigade further down the Murfreesboro' pike, to go in and attack the enemy on the right of Van Cleve, the Pioneer brigade meanwhile occupying the knoll of ground west of Murfreesboro' pike, and about four hundred or five hundred yards in rear of Palmer's centre, supporting Stokes's battery. Sheridan, after sustaining four successive attacks, gradually swung his right from a south-easterly to north-westerly direction, repulsing the enemy four times, losing the gallant General Sill, of his right and Colonel Roberts of his left of the left wing, thus enabling the troops of Sheridan's division to replenish their empty cartridge-boxes. During all this time Palmer's front had likewise been in action, the enemy having made several attempts to advance upon it. At this stage it became necessary to readjust the line of battle to the new state of affairs. Rousseau and Van Cleve's advance having relieved Sheridan's division from the pressure, Negley's division and Cruft's brigade, from Palmer's division, withdrew from their original position in front of the cedars, and crossed the open field to the east of the Murfreesboro' pike, about four hundred yards in rear of our front line, where Negley was ordered to replenish his ammunition, and form in close column in reserve. The right and centre of our line now extended from Hazen to the Murfreesboro' pike in a north-westerly direction. Hascall supporting Hazen, Rousseau filling the interval to the Pioneer brigade. Negley in reserve, Van Cleve west of the Pioneer brigade, McCook's corps refused on his right and slightly to the rear on the Murfreesboro' pike, the cavalry being still further to the rear on the Murfreesboro' pike and beyond Overall's Creek. The enemy's infantry and cavalry attack on our extreme right was repulsed by GENERAL ROSECRANS'S REPORT. Van Cleve's division, with Harker's brigade and the cavalry. After several attempts of the enemy to advance on this new line, which were thoroughly repulsed, as also their attempts on the left, the day closed, leaving us masters of the original ground on our left, and our new line advantageously posted, with open ground in front swept at all points by our artillery. 29 After careful examination, and free con- "No demonstration on the morning of the 1st of January. Crittenden was "We had lost heavily in killed and wounded, and a considerable number in stragglers and prisoners; also twenty-ordered to occupy the points opposite eight pieces of artillery, the horses having been slain, and our troops being unable to withdraw them by hand over the rough ground, but the enemy had been thoroughly handled, and badly damaged at all points, having had no success where we had open ground and our troops were properly posted; none, which did not depend on the original crushing of our right, and the superior masses which were, in consequence, brought to bear upon the narrow front of Sheridan's and Negley's divisions, and a part of Palmer's, coupled with the scarcity of ammunition, caused by the circuitous road which the train had taken, and the inconvenience of getting it from a remote distance through the cedars. Orders were given for the issue of all the spare ammunition, and we found that we had enough for another battle, the only question being where that battle was to be fought. It was decided, in order to complete our present lines, that the left should be retired some two hundred and fifty yards to a more advantageous ground, the extreme left resting on Stone River above the lower ford and extending to Stokes's battery. Starkweather's and Walker's brigades arriving near the close of the evening, the former bivouacked in close column in reserve in rear of McCook's left, and the latter was posted on the left of Sherman near the Murfreesboro' pike, and next morning relieved Van Cleve, who returned to his position in the left wing. the ford on his left with a brigade. About two o'clock in the afternoon the enemy, who had shown signs of movement and massing on our right, appeared at the extremity of a field a mile and a half from the Murfreesboro' pike, but the presence of Gibson's brigade with a battery occupying the woods near Overall's Creek, and Negley's division and a portion of Rousseau's on the Murfreesboro' pike opposite the field, put an end to this demonstration, and the day closed with another demonstration by the enemy on Walker's brigade, which ended in the same manner. On Friday morning the enemy opened four heavy batteries on our centre, and a strong demonstration of attack a little further to the right, but a well-directed fire of artillery soon silenced his batteries, while the guns of Walker and Sheridan put an end to his effort there. About three o'clock P. M., while the Commanding General was examining the position of Crittenden's left across the river, which was now held by Van Cleve's division, supported by a brigade from Palmer's, a double line of skirmishers was seen to emerge from the woods in a south-easterly direction, advancing across the fields, and they were soon followed by heavy columns of infantry-battalion front, with three batteries of artillery. Our only battery on that side of the river had been withdrawn from an eligible point; but the most available spot was pointed out, and it soon opened fire upon the enemy. The line, however, advanced steadily to within one hundred yards of the front of Van Cleve's division, when a short and fierce contest ensued. Van Cleve's division, giving way, retired in considerable confusion across the river, followed closely by the enemy. General Crittenden immediately directed his chief of artillery to dispose the batteries on the hill on the west side of the river, so as to open on them, while two brigades of Negley's division, from the reserve, and the Pioneer brigade, were ordered up to meet the onset. The firing was terrific, and the havoc terrible. The enemy retreated more rapidly than they had advanced. In forty minutes they lost two thousand men. General Davis, seeing some stragglers from Van Cleve's division, took one of his brigades and crossed at a ford below, to attack the enemy on his left flank, and by General McCook's order the rest of his division was permitted to follow; but when he arrived, two brigades of Negley's division and Hazen's brigade of Palmer's division had pursued the flying enemy well across the field, capturing four pieces of artillery and a stand of colors. It was now after dark, and raining, or we should have pursued the enemy into Murfreesboro'. As it was, Crittenden's corps passed over, and, with Davis, occupied the crests, which were intrenched in a few hours. Deeming it possible that the enemy might again attack our right and centre thus weakened, I thought it advisable to make a demonstration on our right, by a heavy division of camp fires, and by laying out a line of battle with torches, which answered the purpose. 'On Saturday, January 3d, it rained heavily from three o'clock in the morning; the plowed ground over which our left would be obliged to advance was impassable for artillery; the ammunition train did not arrive until ten o'clock, it was therefore deemed unadvisable to advance, but batteries were put in position on the left by which the ground could be swept, and even Murfreesboro' reached by the Parrott guns. A heavy and constant picket firing had been kept up on our right and centre, and extending to our left, which at last became so annoying, that in the afternoon I directed the corps commanders to clear their fronts. Occupying the woods to the left of Murfreesboro' pike with sharpshooters, the enemy had annoyed Rousseau all day, and General Thomas and himself requested permission to dislodge them and their supports which covered a ford. This was granted, and a sharp fire from four batteries was opened for ten or fifteen minutes, when Rousseau sent two of his regiments, which, with Speer's Tennesseeans and the 85th Illinois Volunteers, that had come out with the wagon-train, charged upon the enemy, and after a sharp contest, cleared the woods and drove the enemy from his trenches, capturing from seventy to eighty prisoners. Sunday morning, the 4th of January, it was not deemed advisable to commence offensive movements, and news soon reached us that the enemy had fled from Murfreesboro'. Burial parties were sent out to bury the dead, and the cavalry was sent to reconnoitre. Early on Monday morning General Thomas advanced, driving the rear guard of rebel cavalry before him six or seven miles towards Manchester. Cook and Crittenden's corps following took position in front of the town, occupying Murfreesboro'. We learned that the enemy's infantry had reached Shelbyville by twelve o'clock M. on Sunday, but owing to the impracticability of bringing up supplies and the loss of five hundred and fifty-seven artillery horses, further pursuit was deemed unadvisable. Mc "It may be of use," adds General Rosecrans, "to give the following general summary of the operations and results of the series of skirmishes, closing with the battle of Stone River and occupation of Murfreesboro'. We moved on the enemy with the following forces: We fought the battle with the following 24 Organizations of Cavalry, 70. forces : 220 ed as one), averaging from those in Gen- 70... 46,000 1,200 1,840 13,250 62,490 Their average loss, taken from the statistics of Clayburn, Breckinridge, and Withers's divisions, was about 2,080 each; this, for six divisions of infantry, and one of cavalry, will amount to 14,560 men, or to ours nearly as 165 to 100. Of 14,560 rebels struck by our missiles, it is estimated that 20,000 rounds of artillery hit 728 men; 2,000,000 rounds of musketry hit 13,832 men. Averaging 27 cannon shots to hit one man, 145 musket shot to hit one man. Our relative loss was as follows: 18.4 Per Cent. Right wing, 15,983, musketry and artillery, loss.... 20.72 Centre, 10,866, musketry and artillery, loss.. Left wing, 13,288, musketry and artillery, loss...... 24.6 On the whole, it is evident that we fought superior numbers on unknown ground, inflicting much more injury than we suffered, were always superior on equal ground with equal numbers, and failed of a most crushing victory on Wednesday by the extension and direction of our right wing." Total killed and wounded, 8,778 Being 20.03 per cent of the entire force in action. Our loss in prisoners is not fully made out, but the Provost Marshal General says, from present information, they will fall short of 2,800. If there Turning to the official report of Genare many more bloody battles on record, eral Bragg of these seven days' engageconsidering the newness and inexperien-ments, we are informed that on the Union ces of the troops, both officers and men, or if there has been more true fighting qualities displayed by any people, I should be pleased to know it. advance from Nashville, the divisions of his army were stationed, Polk's corps and three brigades of Breckinridge's division of Hardee's corps, at Murfrees"As to the condition of the fight we boro', the balance of Hardee's corps at may say, that we operated over an un- Eagleville, about twenty miles west, and known country against a position which McCown's division twelve miles east of was 15 per cent better than our own, Murfreesboro'; the three cavalry brievery foot of ground and approaches be-gades of Wheeler, Wharton and Pegram ing well known to the enemy, and that occupying the entire front and covering these disadvantages were fatally exhumed all approaches within ten miles of Nashby the faulty position of our right wing. ville. "On Sunday, the 26th, his main The force we fought is estimated as fol- force of infantry and artillery was conlows. We have prisoners from 132 reg-centrated in front of Murfreesboro', iments of infantry (consolidations count- whilst the cavalry, supported by three |