placed at his disposal, and instructed, with them, to drive the enemy back, crown the hill, intrench his artillery, and hold the position. To distract their attention from our real object, a heavy artillery-fire was ordered to be opened from Polk's front, at the exact hour at which the movement was to begin; at other points throughout both lines, all was quiet. Gen. Breckinridge, at half-past three P.M., reported he would advance at four. Polk's batteries promptly opened fire, and were soon answered by the enemy. A heavy cannonade of some fifteen minutes was succeeded by the musketry, which soon became general. The contest was short and severe; the enemy was driven back and the eminence gained; but the movement as a whole was a failure, and the position was again yielded. Our forces were moved, unfortunately, so far to the left as to throw a portion of them into and over Stone River, where they encountered heavy masses of the enemy, whilst those against whom they were intended to operate on our side of the river, had a destructive enfilade on our whole line. Our second line was so close to the first as to receive the enemy's fire, and returning it took their friends in the rear. The cavalry force was left entirely out of the action. Learning from my own staffofficers, sent to the scene, of the disorderly retreat being made by Gen. Breckinridge's division, Brig.-General Patton Anderson's fine brigade of Mississippians, the nearest body of troops, was promptly ordered to his relief. On reaching the field and moving forward, Anderson found himself in front of Breckinridge's infantry, and soon encountered the enemy's light troops, close upon our artillery, which had been left without support. This noble brigade, under its cool and gallant chief, drove the enemy back and saved all the guns not captured before its arrival. Capt. F. II. Robertson, after the disabling wound received by Major Graves, chief of artillery, took the entire charge of the artillery of the division, in addition to his own. To his gallantry, energy, and fearlessness, is due the smallness of our loss sustained before the arrival of support, only three guns. His report herewith, marked "Four," will show the important part he played in this attack and repulse. Before the end of the whole movement it was quite dark. Anderson's command held a position next the enemy, corresponding nearly with our original line, whilst Breckinridge's brigade commanders collected their scattered men as far as practicable in the darkness, and took irregular positions on Anderson's left and rear. At daylight in the morning, they were moved forward to the front, and the whole line was established without opposition. During the night Gen. Cleburn's division was re-transferred to its original position on the right, and Lieut.-Gen. Hardee directed to resume command there and restore our line. On Saturday morning, the third, our forces had been in line of battle five days and nights, with but little rest, having no reserves; their baggage and tents had been loaded and the wagons were four miles off; their provisions, if cooked at all, were most imperfectly prepared with scanty means; the weather had been severe from cold and almost constant rain, and we had no change of clothing, and in many places could not have fire. The necessary consequence was the great exhaustion of both officers and men, many having to be sent to the hospitals in the rear, and more still were beginning to straggle from their commands, an evil from which we had so far suffered but little. During the whole of the day the rain continued to fall with little intermission, and the rapid rise in Stone River indicated that it would soon be unfordable. Late on Friday night I had received the captured papers of Major-General McCook, commanding one corps d'armée of the enemy, showing their effective strength to have been very nearly if not quite seventy thousand men. Before noon reports from Brig.-General Wheeler satisfied me that the enemy, instead of retiring, was receiving reenforcements. Common prudence and the safety of my army, upon which even the safety of our cause depended, left no doubt in my mind as to the necessity for my withdrawal from so unequal a contest. My orders were accordingly given about noon for the movement of the train and for the necessary preparations of troops. Under the efficient management of the different staff departments every thing had been secured and transferred to the rear, including prisoners captured, artillery and small arms, subsistence, means of transportation, and nearly all of our wounded able to bear moving. No movement of any kind was made by the troops on either side during this most inclement day, until just at night, when a sharp skirmish occurred between Polk's right and the enemy's left flank, resulting in nothing decisive. The only question with me was, whether the movements should be made at once or delayed twenty-four hours to save a few of our wounded. As it was possible that we should lose by exhaustion as many as we should remove of the wounded, my inclination to remain was yielded. The whole force, except the cavalry, was put in motion at eleven o'clock P.M., and the army returned in perfect order to its present position beyond Duck River, without receiving a single shot. Our cavalry held the position before Murfreesboro until Monday morning, the fifth, when it quietly retired, as ordered, to cover our front. We left one thousand two hundred badly wounded, one half of whom we have since heard have died from the severity of their wounds; about three hundred sick, too feeble to bear transportation, and about two hundred well men and officers as medical attendants. In addition to this, the enemy had captured about eight hundred prison ers from us. As the one thousand two hundred wounded are counted once under that head among our losses, they should be expunged from the gen eral total. As our offset to this loss, we had received, as will appear from the report of my Inspector-General herewith marked "5," consid erably over six thousand prisoners, had captured over thirty pieces of cannon, six thousand stand 1 DOCUMENTS. A tabular statement of our forces, marked "7," of small arms, ambulances, mules and horses, valor, skill, and ability displayed by them throughwith a large amount of other valuable property, out the engagement. Brig.-General J. Patton Anall of which was secured and appropriated to derson for his coolness, judgment, and courage proper uses. Besides all this secured, we de- with which he interposed his brigade between stroyed not less than eight hundred wagons, most- our retreating forces and the enemy, largely supely laden with various articles, such as arms, am-rior in numbers, on Friday evening, and saved Brig. Generals Joseph Wheeler and John A. munition, provisions, baggage, clothing, medicine our artillery, is justly entitled to special mention. We had lost only three and hospital stores. pieces of artillery, all in Breckinridge's repulse. Wharton, commanding cavalry brigades, were A number of stands of colors, nine of which are preeminently distinguished throughout the enforwarded with this report, were also captured on gagement, as they had been for a month previous the field. Others known to have been taken have in many successive conflicts with the enemy. The list, marked "6," is here- Under their skilful and gallant lead, the reputation of our cavalry has been justly enhanced. not been sent in. with transmitted. For the just commendation of the officers, many of whom were preeminently distinguished, I must To the private soldier a fair word of praise is refer their more immediate commendation. due, and though it is, so seldom given, and so rarely expected, that it may be considered out of place. I cannot, in justice to myself, withhold the opinion ever entertained, and so often exIn the absence of instructions and discipline pressed during our struggle for independence. of our armies, and of the confidence which long associations produce between veterans, we have and self-reliance of the private soldiers, without in a great measure to trust to the individuality the incentive or the motive which controls the officer who hopes to live in history, without the hope of reward, actuated only by a sense of duty and patriotism, he has in this great contest justly judged that the cause was his own, and gone into it with a determination to conquer or die, to be free or not to be at all; no encomium is too high, no honor too great for such a soldier. However much of credit and glory may be given, and probably justly given, to the leaders in the struggle, history will yet award the main honor, when it is due to the private soldier, who, without hope conscientiousness of rectitude has encountered of reward, and with no other incentive than a all the hardships, and has suffered all the privations. Among the gallant dead the nation is called to mourn, none could have fallen more honored or regarded than Brig.-Gen. Jas. E. Rains and R. M. Hanson. They yielded their lives in the heroic discharge of their duties, and leave their honored names as a rich legacy to their descendants. Brig. Gen. J. R. Chalmers and D. W. Adams received disabling wounds on Monday-I am happy to say not serious, but which deprived us of their valuable services. Having been under my immediate command since the beginning of the war, I can bear evidence to their devotion and to the conspicuous gallantry which has marked their services on every field. For the sacred names of the heroes and patriots The enemy's loss we have no means of know- Lieut.-Gen. L. Polk and W. J. Hardee, com- Well has it been said: The first monument our confederacy raises, when our independence shall have been won, should be a lofty shaft, pure and spotless, bearing this inscription: "To the unmy staff arduously engaged in their several duties known and unrecorded dead." The members of before, during and since the prolonged engagement, are deserving of mention in this report. Lieut.-Colonels George Garner and G. W. Brent, and Captain P. H. Thompson, Adjutant-General's Department; First Lieutenants Towson, Ellis, and S. Parker, regular Aids-de-Camp; Lieut.-Colonel Baird, Inspector-General; Lieut.-Col. A. J. Hays, P. A. Major; Major James Stainbridge, Louisiana Infantry, and Major Clarelate, Seventh Alabama volunteers; Acting Assistant Inspector-General; master; Major J. J. Walker, Chief Commissary; Lieut.-Colonel L. W. P. Bannon, Chief QuarterMajor F. Mallory and G. M. Hillyer, Assistants; Lieutenant-Colonel H. Alidouskin, Chief of Ordnance; Captains W. H. Warren and O. T. Gibbs, and Lieutenant W. F. Johnson, Assistants; Cap terday's intense expectancy, and to-day's uncer- tain S. W. Steele, Acting Chief of Artillery, and Lieutenants H. C. Forney and H. H. Buchanan, and J. R. P. McFair; Lieut.-Colonel J. H. Hollinguist, Acting Chief of Artillery; First Lieutenant R. H. T. Thompson, Assistant Surgeon; A. J.ago yesterday, with baggage marked to BridgeFoard, Medical Director; Surgeon G. A. Llewel- port and Chattanooga. len, Assistant Medical Director; Acting Surgeon A column confronted General Hardee's corps T. G. Richardson, attendant on myself, staff and d'armée, say at Triune-another General Polk's escort; Colonel David Urquhard, of Louisiana, J. advance at La Vergne. Heavy skirmishing FriStoddard Johnson, of Kentucky, and Lieut. St. day and Saturday last week, on both lines. ReLeger Grenfel, of England, the two former volun- sult found, on Sunday morning, a confederate teer aids, long on my staff, served me most effec-battle-line, say six miles long, three to four miles tively; Major E. M. Baylor, Assistant Quarter-in front of Murfreesboro, Yankees at Stewart's master; Major B. C. Kennedy, Assistant Com- Creek, ten miles from there advancing upon missary of Subsistence, and Lieut. W. M. Bridges, Bridgeport and Chattanooga. That day and Monaid-de-camp to the late Brigadier-General Duncan, day we intrenched and got otherwise ready. Yanreported just before the engagement, and joined kees approached slowly, getting ready too. They my staff, on which they served through the battle. say fifty thousand strong-we "ragged rebels," Col. M. L. Clark, of the artillery, P. A., living in about thirty thousand. Murfreesboro on temporary service, did me the Tuesday morning the artillery on both sides. honor to join and serve on my staff during the exchanged cold, distant guns of recognition; they engagement. His Excellency, Isham G. Harris, then greeted, then, I may say, shook hands, and Governor of Tennessee, and the Hon. Andrew then got very warm generally, and kept up a Ewing, member of the Military Court, volunteered most confoundedly brisk and noisy series of detheir services, and rendered efficient aid, especi-monstrations till night. General Bragg calls it, I At about ten A.M., or ally with the Tennessee troops, largely in the ascendant in the army. It is but due to the zeal- sooner, both parties threw forward skirmishers, ous and efficient laborer of our cause that I here and they popped away at each other with what bear testimony to the cordial support given me a beginner would call amazing resolution. At at all times since meeting him a year ago in West- eleven and twelve o'clock it rained smartly, but Tennessee, by his Excellency Governor Harris. the skirmishers kept on; when the clouds broke From the field of Shiloh, where he received in his away, a brisk west wind, changing around to the arms the dying form of the lamented Johnson, to north-west, made it cool, and the skirmishers bethe last struggle of Murfreesboro, he has been one came still more resolute. This occurred chiefly of us, and has shared all our privations and dan- on our left, and indicated that the enemy was gers, whilst giving us his personal and political going to throw most of his weight in that direc influence with all the power he possessed at the tion, and so turn our position on that wing. Gen. head of the State government. Bragg, therefore, transferred Gen. Cleburn's division from our right to the left about sundown. Our forces at the close were disposed thus: the divisions of Gens. McCown and Cleburn on our left, Withers and Cheatham in the centre, and Breckinridge on the right. learn, an artillery duel. To the medical department of the army, under the able administration of Surgeon Foard, great credit is due for the success which attended their labors. Sharing none of the excitement and glory of the field, these officers in their labor of love, devoted themselves assiduously in attending the A notable instance of Yankee impudence on sufferings of their brother soldiers at home, when this day must not be omitted. One of their reothers are seeking repose. The reports of sub-giments undertook to charge one of our batteries, ordinate commanders have been specially called for, and are soon expected, when they will be promptly forwarded. During the time the operations at Murfreesboro were being conducted, important expeditions under Brig. Gens. Forrest and Morgan, were absent in West-Tennessee and Northern Kentucky. The reports already forwarded, show the complete success which attended the gallant brigadiers, and I commend them to the confidence of the government and gratitude of the country. Robertson's. They came up bravely and were nearly all shot down, and the remaining few ejaculated "river" and retired. On Wednesday morning, at half-past six, according to previous arrangement, the attack was brought on by a vigorous advance of our left. It was a surprise to the enemy, who was eating his breakfast. He flew to arms, and as best he could, formed his lines to receive us. Under the circumstances, he did it well, but our columns moved with so much precision and celerity that he was driven from point to point with most astonishing rapidity. Very soon McCown, Cleburn, Withers, and Cheatham were bearing down with an impetuosity and power utterly resistless. Battery after battery was charged, taken, and left behind the advancing legions. Through field and wood, over rocks and fences they swept with the fury of a whirlwind, pausing at nothing, but overIn the mad whirl of Wednesday's battle, yes-coming every thing that lay in their way with the I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient ser- Gen. S. COOPER, Adjutant-General, Richmond, Va. CHATTANOOGA "DAILY REBEL" ACCOUNT. MURFREESBORO, January 2, 1863. DOCUMENTS. most unyielding courage and determination. It required such heroic pluck to do it, for the enemy generally maintained his order and poured But at torrents of lead and iron into our ranks. every stand and at every volley from him, our men compounded the interest with the loan, driving them still on and back. By one o'clock we had forced their entire right wing back upon their centre, and their centre back upon the right extremity of their left, doubling their lines up themselves, and in some measure massing them in a new position. It must be remembered that all this fighting and driving was from their right to their left. The battle-line extending in a general direction from north to south, the pathway of the battle lay in the same direction. The enemy was, therefore, not a great way further from Bridgeport and Chattanooga at this point of time than in the morning when the battle opened. That is to say, be was not driven back westwardly upon Nashville. We seemed to have made a pivot of the right of our centre, and turned our line upon it, and by the fighting and driving, changed it from a north and south to a nearly east and west direction. The battle opened to the right and near the Murfreesboro and Salem turnpike, and at this period had passed across the Triune dirt road, the Wilkinson and Nolinsville turnpike, and approached the Nashville turnpike and the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad. Up to this time and this point our victory was complete and overWe had driven the foe some five or whelming. six miles, captured about four thousand prisoners, (including three generals,) some thirty or thirtyfive pieces of artillery, and inflicted a loss upon the enemy treble our own, to say nothing of the small arms and personal equipage, strewn from Dan to Beersheba. a view of relieving our wearied columns and tak- Such was the battle of Wednesday—such the Now, will you take my arm and walk over the battle-field, and have me point you the devastation, the stark dead, the suffering stricken, the storm-swept forests and fields, and all that? Exto print. But I will go with you to give sepulture cuse me. There are those taking notes of all that, to our blessed, our heroic dead; in sadness and silence we go, however. We will bind up the wounds and minister to the wants of those noble men who suffer and are patient for their dear country's sake. But let us also do that softly and in whispers. Here, however, the enemy rallied all his energies for a desperate struggle. Fortune favored him, and the wily Rosecrans availed himself of the favor. In front of our right centre, say a mile distant, rose a naked oval hill, commanding in all Thursday was a bright day. The lines still directions-not very high, but exceedingly available. Upon this hill he placed a crown of twenty guns, more or less, immediately supporting them confronted. Rosecrans had formed his lines a by a brigade of regulars, and holding an infinite little south of the Nashville turnpike, gradually number as a secondary support. In addition to diverging from it, still holding his right where it this he had ranged other batteries on the slopes rested on Wednesday, and making nearly a right near the foot of the hill, raking the surrounding angle. He is sullen and morose; he speaks ocplain. Brig.-Gen. Chalmers, supported by Brig.-casionally in the tones of artillery, in reply to Gen. Donelson, was ordered to take the position. some promptings from us. You can easily imagine the infinite danger of the charge, but you can scarcely imagine the steady heroism with which these devoted men advanced to it, and made it. The storm which poured upon them, including all the short-range missiles was Our shattered columns stood incredibly severe. in the midst of that tempest long enough to bring off two of the batteries. It is not for me to say that Chalmers broke or that Donelson stood fearlessly immovable. The whole, for my purpose, did admirably. Gen. Breckinridge, who held our right, north of Stone River, and who had not been previously engaged, was now ordered across, with In the evening the pickets exchanged compliments. He intrenches; the blue-coats work like beavers. They are great on trenches, and great in fortifications. I suppose you have observed as much. Friday-the same as Thursday, with an exception. Rosecrans advances his left across Stone River, where it runs northwardly. In the afternoon, say three o'clock, Gen. Breckinridge, with our right, advances also. Till dark they fought with very great desperation and very close. was exceedingly bloody. We drove them across the river, but encountered so vast a body, so securely posted, that we retired to our position It again. Our loss, for numbers engaged, was very heavy. It was here General Hanson received his almost fatal wound. Since Wednesday morning, our cavalry, under Generals Wheeler and Wharton, have been very active. They have made a complete circuit of the enemy twice, capturing and destroying several hundred wagons loaded with munitions and supplies, the enemy's stores at La Vergne and Nolinsville, about a thousand head of horses and mules, besides killing a number of the Yankees, including a brigadier-general, and taking several hundred prisoners. On Wednesday, they rendered great service in picking up and securing prisoners, and the captures of artillery, etc., then made. Bravo for Wheeler and Wharton, and their gal lant cavaliers. They reported yesterday and this evening that the movements of the enemy in the rear, his trains, etc., were indicative of a speedy retreat; but no such indications appear on his front lines. On the contrary, his intrenching goes on, and his advance across the river to-day might be construed into a purpose to stay where he is until rested, preparatory to continuing his journey to Bridgeport and Chattanooga. As addendum I must mention an incident of Wednesday's battle. Gen. Alexander McDowell McCook's headquarters were at the chateau of a gentleman resident in the rear of their lines. He commanded the enemy's right wing. When he heard the first sound of our attack, he was engaged in shaving. He instantly rose, saying, without addressing any body, in a confused and excited manner: That is contrary to orders!" He ordered his horse to be brought without delay, and turning to the gentleman in whose house he was, hurriedly asked: "Who is opposing me to-day ?" Major-General Cheatham." General McCook, turning ashy pale and trembling from some nameless emotion, rejoined: "Is it possible that I have to meet Cheatham again!" He mounted his horse and rode away, without finishing the interesting operation in which he was engaged at the battle's alarum. That day General Wharton came along with his cavalry, and took charge of all Gen. McCook's baggage, and I really haven't heard whether he is done shaving yet. He had met Cheatham at Perryville, and it is possible he foresaw what was in store for the right wing that day. Doc. 27. P. BATTLE NEAR BRASHEAR CITY, LA. NEW-ORLEANS "DELTA" NARRATIVE. OFF BRASHEAR CITY, November 4, 1862. DEAR DELTA: We arrived off here on the night of the first, but unfortunately too late to stop the rebels from crossing. There was a great deal of difficulty in getting over the bay, and we felt the want of light-draught vessels very much. The day the Kinsman arrived, Lieut. Buchanan crossed in her, and tried to get the Estrella over, but she grounded. He came up to the mouth of the river, but saw nothing but the Hart, which he chased but could not catch. They got the Estrella and the St. Mary's over the next day, and the following day the Calhoun came up with the Diana. The night of our arrival here, we chased the rebel gunboat Cotten, but she got away from us by her superior speed. The same night was captured the rebel steamer A. B. Sigur. She is a small boat, about the size of the Fancy Natchez, and is very useful. Yesterday all the gunboats went up Bayou Teche, found the enemy about fourteen miles from here, and passed above the obstructions they had sunk in the Teche. The boats engaged them for two hours, and drove them off, including the Cotten. The Kinsman bore the brunt of it, and received fifty-four shots in her upper works and hull, and had one man killed (a soldier of the Twenty-first Indiana) and five wounded. The pilot, John Bellino, had his leg badly shattered, and died to-day from the effects of amputation. Captain Cook, on the Estrella, received three shots, and had two soldiers of the Twentyfirst Indiana killed while working the guns, and one man badly wounded. The Diana received three shots, but had no person hurt. She will have to be hauled out, as her stem is shot away. The Calhoun received eight shots, but fortunately they did no material damage. Capt. Wiggins fought his ship nobly. He was in such a position that he received all the fire from the artillery on shore, and at the same time had the Cotten playing upon him. He, however, drove the artillery away, and put several shots into the Cotten. The whole rebel force was there, numbering between three and four thousand men, with (it is said) seventy field-pieces. It is reported to-day that we did them a great deal of damage, and that the Cotten is sunk. They had thrown up a mud fort on this side, but evacuated it on our arrival. An attempt was made to remove the obstructions, but without success; but I think that when Gen. Weitzel arrives, so as to afford protection from the sharp-shooters on the banks, we can do so. The enemy destroyed about one thousand hogsheads sugar, a lot of molasses, and also burnt ninety-eight cars and steam-engines. The Cotten is iron-cased, and did some excellent shooting. She mounts one long thirty-twopounder, four twenty-four-pounders, and two sixpounders, rifled guns. The iron casing on the Kinsman and Diana turned the shot beautifully. Capt. McLoefflin, who was on board of the Calhoun, with his company, went ashore with his men and tried to get opposite the Cotten, but before he got up to her she had left. If she has not been sunk we will get her yet. November 5.-Lieutenant Buchanan has just returned from another trip up the Teche, with the Estrella. He had three men killed by a shot. The Cotten was there. They had a battery on each bank, but he succeeded in driving them all |