fer Thomas's entire corps from the extreme right of the army on the Franklin road, to the Murfreesboro road. Crittenden's corps, constituting the left wing of the army, had moved down the Murfreesboro road from Nashville, and we came upon it at Stewart's Creek. Gen. McCook's corps, constituting the right wing of the army, had, as already stated, moved down the Nolinsville pike. So that, on the morning of the twenty-ninth, the left and centre were united at Stewart's Creek, while the right was moving cautiously down a converging road to meet the left and centre at Stone River. Such were the movements by which Gen. Rosecrans concentrated his army, scattered on the various roads leading into Nashville, into a solid mass in front of Murfreesboro. On the twenty-ninth, the enemy, in considerable force, disputed the ground with the head of our column. There was artillery skirmishing in the morning and throughout the day, but the advance of the column was not seriously obstructed. General Rousseau's division remained at Stewart's Creek throughout the twenty-ninth, and that night one of his brigades, with Stone's battery and two companies of the Second Kentucky cavalry, was detached to the left to guard a bridge on the Jefferson road, where they subsequently had a smart engagement with the enemy. On the morning of the thirtieth the remaining three brigades moved forward seven miles, to this ground, destined soon to be baptized historical in their blood and that of their brave comrades. We bivouacked on the night of the thirtieth in the woods on both sides of the road, on the crest of a hill, just three miles and a half from Murfreesboro. An account of what followed, in order to be intelligible, must be preceded by a description of the field. and front, however, it opens out into a large open plain, which flanks the woods just mentioned, and extends on up the river in the direction of Murfreesboro for a mile or so. In the field on the left of the railroad there is a rise or hill of no great height, sloping down to the railroad and commanding all the ground to the front and right. It was here that Guenther's and Loomis's batteries were posted in the terrible conflict of Wednesday. The open field on the right of the turnpike road is perhaps three hundred yards wide, and is bounded on the west by an almost impenetrable cedar forest. It extends indefinitely to the front, and beyond the extreme southern line of the cedars, which is half a mile to the point, sweeps away into broad, open fields, constituting a large plantation. Just in rear of the cedar forest, and marking its extreme northern limit, is a long, narrow opening, containing about ten acres. There is a swell in the field on the right of the road, corresponding with the one on the left, but it is a hundred yards further to the rear, and slopes to the front instead of to the right. The crest of this hill on the right is curiously concave. Taking its origin precisely at the point where the oblong opening marks the northern limit of the cedar forest, it bends around towards the enemy and gradually slopes down to the front until it loses itself in the level ground just where the slight fill in the turnpike and railroad mentioned above begins. From its beginning point at the corner of the cedars, the northern end of the crest curves back upon itself and around the eastern mouth of the oblong opening heretofore described, so that after fortifying the front of the position, it returns upon itself in such a manner as to render the right flank well-nigh impregnable. In what manner Rousseau, by one of those sudden inspirations which come only to the greatest minds, availed himself of the advantages of this position to save the centre and turn the tide of battle, we shall presently see. As the road from Nashville to Murfreesboro approaches the latter place, it suddenly finds itself parallel with Stone River. The stream flowing east crosses the road a mile this side of Murfreesboro. Abruptly changing its course, it flows On the morning of the thirty-first, Rousseau's north along the road, and not more than four division, being a portion of the reserve of the hundred yards distant, for more than two miles. army, was formed in line in the field on the right It is a considerable stream, but fordable in many of the turnpike, with its left resting on the road places at low water. The narrow tongue of land and its right on the cedar forest. Eight o'clock between the turnpike road and the river is divided came, and the battle had not yet begun on the by the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, which, left and in the centre, but the note of conflict running down the centre of the wedge-like tract, came booming ominously from the right and bisects the turnpike half a mile this side of where growing rapidly nearer and nearer. Presently the latter crosses the river. Just in rear of the an aid to General Thomas came dashing up in spot where the third mile-stone from Murfrees- hot haste with orders for Rousseau to move his boro stands, the turnpike and railroad, at that division quietly into the cedar forest and form in point about fifty yards apart, run through a slight Gen. Negley's rear. The necessary orders were cut, and this a few rods further on is succeeded quickly given. Two narrow roads were found by a slight fill. The result is to convert both leading into the cedars, and the heads of the colrailroad and turnpike, for a distance of two or umns were conducted along those as rapidly as three hundred yards, into a natural rifle-pit. The possible. We made our way half a mile through account to which the genius of Rousseau turned the forest to the crest of a slope, whence we this will be seen after a while. On each side of looked out across a depression through some the road at this point there are open fields. That new corn-fields in which dead trees were still on the left extends to the curtain of timber which standing thick. The brigades were filed to the fringes the river, and also half a mile to the front right through the dense cedar growth and formed along the road, when it gives place to an oak in line of battle as far as possible. The right woods of no great density or extent. To the left, succee led in getting into line in pretty good order, but it was apparent that the left could not be formed there before the tide of battle would strike us. The batteries still stood in the narrow roads utterly unable to move one step through the thicket. It was an awful and perilous moment. No language can convey the faintest idea of that scene. To see it was to feel it become a part of yourself. You bore away not a copy, not a picture, but a living and constituent perception never subsiding into a recollection. The broken and dispirited battalions of our right wing, retreating by the flank, were pouring out of the corn-fields and through the skirts of the woods, while from the far end of the field rose the indescribable crackle and slowly curling smoke of the enemy's fire. The line of fire now grew rapidly nearer and nearer, seeming to close in slowly but with fatal certainty around our front and, flank, and presently the long gray lines of the enemy, three or four deep, could be seen through the cornstalks vomiting flame on the retreating host. The right of Rousseau's division opened its lines and let our brave but unfortunate columns pass through. The gallant and invincible legion came through in this way with fearfully decimated ranks, drawing away by hand two pieces of our artillery. When all the horses belonging to the battery and all the other guns had been disabled, the brave boys refused to leave these two behind, and drew them two miles through fields and thickets to a place of safety. It was a most touching sight to see these brave men, in that perilous hour, flocking around Rousseau like children, with acclamations of delight and every token of love, as soon as they recognized him, embracing his horse, his legs, his clothes. As soon as it was known to the retreating column that Rousseau was there, such a shout of joy and relief went up from column after column as has rarely welcomed the hero to the work of saving You could see new-born joy dancing in eyes where a moment before despair had lowered, and inexpressible relief dawning over the darkness of every face. But there was no time to indulge in these redeeming flashes of good feelings which gleamed out for an instant through the dark and fearful passions of the battle-field. The enemy were already upon us, pouring a withering fire into our front and right flank. The left of the division was still unformed, the batteries were still standing idle, and worse than idle, an obstruction to ourselves and an easy prey to the enemy in the narrow roads. It was the turning-point of the day, one of those critical moments which are constantly occurring in battle when the rapid decision of an instant makes disaster a victory. If we should be overwhelmed there in the woods, the centre too would be lost, the left taken in flank and rear and completely cut off from our line of retreat, and the whole army destroyed or captured. Then, could we hold our ground there, and roll back the fearful tide of blood and fire that was rolling slowly on to overwhem the army? No, it was evident that we could not. Rousseau was equal to the emergency. Galloping to where General Thomas sat an army. upon his horse, the image of determination and immovable courage, he represented the impossibility of getting his division into position in the cedar thicket, and asked permission to fall back to the open ground heretofore described. The permission was at once granted, the batteries were wheeled about and sent off at a fast trot; the left brigade, being still in column, was moved rapidly to the rear, and the other brigades, being in line, were ordered to fall back in good order. It was just as the movement began that the Fif teenth Kentucky, which formed the extreme right of the division, was furiously assailed in front and flank, and its young hero-colonel slain. He fell at the extreme right of his regiment, whither he had gone to take measures to defend that flank. Had the retrograde movement been delayed a few seconds longer, the regiment must have been destroyed. Flying back to the open ground which was now to be the scene of so terrific a conflict, Rousseau galloped rapidly across it, and read with a single eagle glance all of its advantages. Guenther's and Loomis's batteries were ordered to take position on the hill on the left of the railroad, and Stokes's Chicago battery, which had got with our division, was placed there also. The brigade of regulars, commanded by Lieut.-Col. Shepherd, and consisting of two battalions of the Eighteenth infantry, one battalion of the Fifteenth, one of the Sixteenth, and one of the Nineteenth, was ordered to support the batteries. The Ninth brigade, commanded by Col. Scribner, formed the left of the line, and was posted principally along the natural rifle-pit of the turnpike and railroad. The Seventeenth brigade, commanded by Colonel Beatty, formed the right of the line, and was posted along the crest of the concave hill on the right of the road. These dispositions were made with the rapidity of lightning, and scarcely were they completed when the storm burst upon us. History furnishes but few spectacles to be com pared with that which now ensued. The rebels pressed up to the edge of the cedar forest and swarmed out into the open field. I saw the first few gray suits that dotted the dark green line of the cedars with their contrasted color thicken into a line of battle, and the bright glitter of their steel flashed like an endless chain of lightning amid the thick and heavy green of the thicket. This I saw before our fire, opening on them around the whole extent of our line, engirdled them with a belt of flame and smoke. After that I saw them no more, nor will any human eye ever see them more. Guenther, Loomis, and Stokes, with peal after peal, too rapid to be counted, mowed them down with double-shotted canister, the left of our line of infantry poured a continuous sheet of flame into their front, while the right of our line, posted in its remarkab'e position by the genius of Rous seau, enveloped their left flank and swept their entire line with an enfilading fire. Thick smoke settled down upon the scene; the rim of the hill on which our batteries stood seemed to be sur rounded by a wall of living fire; the turnpike road and the crest of the hill on the right were wrapped in an unending blaze; flames seemed to leap out of the earth and dance through the air. No troops on earth could withstand such a fire as that. One regiment of rebels, the boldest of their line, advanced to within seventy-five yards of our line, but there it was blown out of existence. It was utterly destroyed, and the rest of the rebel line, broken and decimated, fled like sheep into the depths of the woods. Our centre still stood immovable as a rock, and the army was saved. The terrific firing ceased, the smoke quickly rolled away, and the sun shone out bright and clear on the scene that was lately so shrouded in smoke and moral gloom. How still every thing was! Every body seemed to be holding his breath. As soon as the firing ceased General Rousseau and his staff galloped forward to the ground the rebels had advanced over. Their dead lay there in frightful heaps, some with the lifeblood not yet all flowed from their mortal wounds, some propped upon their elbows and gasping their last. The flag of the Arkansas regiment lay there on the ground beside its dead bearer. Every depression in the field was full of wounded, who had crawled thither to screen themselves from the fire, and a large number of prisoners came out of a little copse in the middle of the field and surrendered themselves to Gen. Rousseau in person. Among them was one captain. They were all that were left alive of the bold Arkansas regiment that had undertaken to charge our line. As the rebel line rolled back through the woods, Gen. Rousseau ordered his right wing to charge their left flank through the cedars. The regulars advanced gallantly into the cedars again and inficted heavy loss on the retreating foe, but they also suffered greatly. Here Major Carpenter of the Nineteenth infantry, Captains Bell and Wise of the Fifteenth, and Captain Kneass of the Eighteenth, were killed, and Major King of the Fifteenth and Major Slemmer of the Sixteenth wounded. The rebels continued their flight until they were beyond our fire on the right; our troops were recalled into the field and placed along the crest of the hill on the right and around the retroversion of the hill which fortified the right flank, in readiness to meet another assault should the enemy feel inclined to make it. But for a long time the enemy showed no disposition to renew the attack. No pen can describe a pause in battle. There is no other stillness like it. It is at once life and death, the stillest repose and the most active preparation. For more than two hours this lull, to which the epithet awful might be applied, continued. Every sense was on the strain, every nerve tightened with extreme tension. What where the enemy doing, and where would they fall next? Were they massing against our right again? Would they again at tempt the centre? Had they retired within their works, satisfied with having overwhelmed our right? A dropping fire of skirmishers still continued all around the line, but the enemy nowhere showed himself in force. Finally, about three o'clock, this suspense was ended by one of the grandest spectacles to which war ever gave origin. A long dark line with banners flying and artillery in the intervals advanced over the crest of a hill a mile to our front in the open fields of the plantation heretofore spoken of, and moved in common time down the long slope toward our position. It seemed, then, the question was at last decided, and that they were going to storm us in the centre. Every man was in his place, and every hand in readiness to work death. But after advancing in this magnificent array for several hundred yards down the slope, the rebel line suddenly faced to the left, and doubled-quicked off behind the screen of the cedar forest. As they passed over the open space our batteries opened on them with shells and carried havoc into their ranks. Their feint cost them dear. Thus matters stood when the night of December thirty-first closed over us. During the night of the thirty-first Gen. Rosecrans made those admirable defensive dispositions which deserve a place in the record of undying deeds. A strong line was posted along the entire front, the right was drawn back to the turnpike road, so that the enemy to reach it would have to cross large open fields; the cavalry was placed on the extreme right to beat off the enemy's horse from our line of communications, and full half the infantry and artillery were held in reserve behind the knolls and woods, in columns doubled on the centre, ready to be moved at a moment's notice to any point that might be assailed. The line was so formed that the reserves for any part were within a few hundred yards of every other part. Early in the morning of January first the enemy advanced through the cedars on the right with loud cheers, and immediately heavy skirmishing, almost equal to a regular engagement, began along the entire line. This continued throughout the day, the enemy doubling their skirmishers first at this point and then at that, pressing us first here and then there. So they continued to feel all around our line throughout the entire day, their object evidently being to find a weak place, or create a panic somewhere, and then launch their whole force on that point. But, thanks to our General, they found no weak spot, and, thanks to his soldiers, they created no panic. So closed the second day of this bloody drama. On the morning of the second, the rebels opened a terrific fire with cannon on the centre. A large number were killed and wounded in Rousseau's division by this fire. Rousseau ordered Guenther and Loomis to reply to the rebel batteries, which they did with such effect as to soon silence them. Stone's battery and Col. Starkweather's brigade, which had, meanwhile, come up, were posted around the mouth of the opening in rear of the cedar forest. But it was soon known that the enemy was massing against Van Cleve's division, which had been thrown across Stone River on the extreme left. Skirmishing still continued along the right and centre, but heavy masses of infantry and artillery could be seen moving across the open fields beyond Stone River, and concentrating on the left flank of our extreme left. The enemy evidently afraid that, if repulsed, he would be pursued and destroyed, delayed the cloudy night was closing in. Their guns seemed attack until four o'clock in the afternoon. Then to vomit flame and death upon the rebels in a suddenly little gray dots could be seen to emerge continuous stream. At a signal, the cannonadfrom the ground held by the enemy and to ad- ing ceased, skirmishers were deployed at doublevance in the direction in which their skirmishers quick, and both skirmishers and the line dashed had been deployed. The enemy were doubling forward at double-quick into the woods. The their skirmishers. The line of skirmishers thus enemy were taken by surprise, and one regiment doubled advanced in quick time but without fir- captured or destroyed entirely. Our inen carried ing a shot. Suddenly up rose behind them the the first line of the rebel works. Sixty yards whole rebel line with vast masses in columns beyond was a second line. From behind these doubled on the centre in rear of the wings. A the enemy poured a fearful stream of fire into fence ran across the field in front of our position. our troops through the darkness, but could not The rebel line reached it, coolly laid it down to dislodge them. The firing gradually subsided as the ground throughout its whole extent, and then the night deepened, and we awaited the dawn of marched on. Our skirmishers fired at them, but Monday morning to drive the rebels from their they paid no heed to them. Their skirmishers second line; for Gen. Rosecrans felt too sacred a pressed on without firing a gun until they were regard for the Sabbath to attack on that day. almost upon our line, then opened a galling and But when Monday came, the rebels were gone, murderous fire to stagger our line, so that the and we were undisputed possessors of the bloody rebel avalanche might the more utterly over- field. whelm it, then at a command from their officers rallied on the rebel line and became a part of it. Our front line was overwhelmed and swept away. The second, fighting bravely as the first had done, was dashed to pieces in like manner. Large masses of our troops detached from the right wing were hurried across the river. Batteries posted on the right ploughed down the rebel ranks as they pressed up to the ford. Still they rushed up to the very edge of the stream and shot down our men in the water. But their doom was sealed and their destruction certain. A force attacked them in their right flank as they pressed up to the stream, our fresh troops crossed over and charged them in front, while our batteries on their left enfiladed their whole line and swept whole ranks at every discharge. Driven from the bank in disorder, they fled across the field in the wildest confusion, our batteries mowing them down and our infantry pursuing them a mile and a half. The enemy had calculated well. It was now too dark to continue the pursuit, and the rebels had time to recover from their panic. At the time that the enemy were being hardest pressed on the left, they began a furious assault on our right centre to create a diversion in favor of their shattered right, but they were soon repulsed, and accomplished nothing. Such was the battle of Stone River, a name at which a thousand hearts will ache and floods of sorrow flow, but which to others is the thrilling sound, the prophet's word, which delivers their own names to fame and history forever. The name of Rosecrans, already famous, has now become immortal. Even when worsted, he clung to the ground and his purpose with a tenacity which wrung victory from the hands of unwilling fate. Of all our commanding generals, he is the only one that knows how to fight a battle. Gen. Thomas too deserves a large meed of praise. In every quality that constitutes the perfect soldier and then adorns him, he is without a superior. Of the heroism and capacity displayed by Rousseau, language is powerless to convey an adequate idea. Not Ney himself, the bravest of the brave, ever bore himself more nobly. Important as was the service he rendered at Chaplin Hills, I think it trifling by the side of what he has done here. With a single eagle glance he detected the key to the position, and then with the contagion of his heroism inspired his men to hold it. As he rode along the line, after getting it posted, and just as the tempest of death burst upon us, repeating to his men the words, "I am going to stay here, right here will you stay with me through death or life?" and was answered with a Saturday the third, passed much as Thursday cheer, I thought I had seen the culminating point the first had done, except that the rebel fire was of the magnanimous sublime. The most stolid visibly feebler and less in both volume and ex-face in all that line was lighted up with a radiant tent. The day was spent principally in rationing enthusiasm caught from their heroic General. our suffering troops. After this had been done, His manner of posting the centre entitled him to Gen. Rousseau obtained leave from Gen. Thomas a place among the best military minds of the age; and Gen. Rosecrans to drive the rebels from the his manner of maintaining the position placed woods in our front on the left of the road. Just him forever by the side of Ney, Bozzaris, and before dark, Loomis and Guenther were ordered Leonidas. Lieut.-Col. Berry, of the Louisville to open on the woods with shells. Two regi- Legion, acquitted himself nobly, as all who know ments of Col. Beatty's brigade were advanced to him always knew he would. Major King, of the the extreme front to charge into the woods at Fifteenth infantry, won the admiration of all who double-quick time at the proper moment. The saw the grand and perilous movement, by his rest of the division was held in readiness to sup- manner of handling his battalion in the terrible port them as circumstances might require. Guen- fight in the cedars. He fell severely wounded. ther and Loomis opened a terrific fire on the It is to be hoped that the Government will, after woods. Nothing in this whole bloody drama was a while, open its eyes to his rare qualifications more sublime than this terrific fire just as the for a high commander. A soldier of twenty-five years' experience, and with no superior as an administrative officer, it is an outrage - nay, it is a pitiful meanness-to send him into battle with a little battalion, simply because he has too much noble pride to seek promotion by the means that alone succeed nowadays. I would speak of others, but my letter is already too long. Perhaps I may write again. WAPELLO. CINCINNATI "COMMERCIAL" ACCOUNT. BATTLE-FIELD OF STONE RIVER, TENN., Saturday, Jan. 3, 1863. A week of horrors, a week of carnage, a week of tremendous conflict and battle still raging! At this moment there is angry rattle of musketry and deep, sullen roar of cannon, echoing in the forest within Minie range of our marquee. My God, when will it end! A thousand gallant dead slumber in their bloody graves; four thousand wounded and mangled patriots are moaning on this sanguinary field. God knows how many rebel lives have spent during this fearful week, or how many desperate traitors suffer the agony of dreadful wounds. seemed that the enemy would make a stand on On the twenty-eighth General McCook completed his reconnoissance of Hardee's movements, and General Crittenden awaited results, while General Thomas moved his corps across to Stewart's Creek, executing a fatiguing march with great energy, General Rosecrans deeming his junction with the left of great importance at that time. On the twenty-ninth, General McCook moved to Wilkinson's cross-roads, within seven miles of Murfreesboro, at the end of a short road through a rough, rolling country, skirted by bluffs' and dense cedar thickets. General Crittenden moved forward with some resistance to a point within three miles of Murfreesboro, and found the enemy in force. General Negley was moved forward to the centre, Rousseau's division in reserve on the right of Crittenden's corps. General Rosecrans's headquarters advanced to the east side of Stewart's Creek, and after a hasty supper he proceedIn the rage of conflict the human heart ex-ed to the front and remained on the field all night. presses little sympathy with human suffering. Your best friend is lifted from the saddle by the fatal shaft, and plunges wildly to the earth- -a corpse. One convulsive leap of your heart, you dash onward in the stormy field, and the dead is forgotten until the furious frenzy of battle is spent. "Never mind," said our great-hearted General, when the death of the noble Sill was announced; "brave men must die in battle! We must seek results." When Gares he's headless trunk fell at his feet, a shock thrilled him, and he dashed again into the fray. He was told that McCook was killed. "We cannot help it; men who fight must be killed. Never mind; let us fight this battle." On Friday, December twenty-sixth, the army advanced in three columns, Major-General McCook's corps down the Nolinsville pike, driving Hardee before him a mile and a half beyond Nolinsville. Major-General Thomas's corps, from its encampment on the Franklin pike via the Wilson pike; Crittenden on the Murfreesboro pike. The right and left met with considerable resistance in a rolling and hilly country, with rocky bluffs and dense cedar thickets, affording cover for the enemy's skirmishers. Crittenden moved to a point within a mile and a half of La Vergne, skirmishing with the enemy sharply. Gen. Thomas met with but little opposition. He was accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Garesche, his Chief of Staff; Colonel Barnett, Chief of Artillery, Major Goddard, A.A.G.; Major Skinner, Lieutenant Byron Kirby, Lieutenant Bond, and Father Tracy, who remained faithfully with him, and at no time, from the beginning of the action, deserted him. On the thirtieth, General McCook advanced on the Wilkinson pike, through heavy thickets, stubbornly resisted by the enemy, General Sheridan's division being in advance, General Sill's brigade constituting his right. The enemy developed such strength that Gen. McCook directed Sheridan to form in line of battle, and the division of Gen. Jeff. C. Davis was thrown out upon his right. It was now discovered that Hardee's corps was in front, on the west side of the river, in line of battle, his front crossing our right obliquely, in position, if extended, to flank us. Our left stood fast, in line corresponding with the course of Stone River, mainly upon undulating fields. The centre under Negley, slightly advanced into a cedar thicket, and was engaged, with great difficulty, in reconnoitring, under sharp resistance, and in cutting roads through the almost impenetrable forest, to open communication with the right. The contest had brought forward McCook's right division, facing strongly south-east, with the reserve division between the centre and right, and On the twenty-seventh McCook drove Hardee sufficiently far in the rear to support, and if nefrom a point beyond Nolinsville, and pushed a cessary, to extend it- the consequences which reconnoitring division six miles toward Shelby-were developed next day. Two brigades of Johnville, discovering that Hardee had retreated to son's division - Kirk's and Willich's- were ultiMurfreesboro. This indicated intention on the mately thrown out on the extreme right, facing part of the enemy to make a stand; otherwise, south, and somewhat in reserve, to make every Hardee would have fallen back upon Shelbyville. thing secure. General Crittenden fought all the way to Stew- We were as confident that day that there would art's Creek, with small loss, and rested on its be battle on the next, as we were conscious of banks, rebel pickets appearing on the opposite existence. A good many men indeed had albanks. General Rosecrans's headquarters were ready fallen. Rebels in considerable numbers then at a point twelve miles from Nashville. It were already visible across the plains, on the VOL. VI.-Doc. 11 |