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, he 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 overwhelming. We had driven the foe some five or 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.

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 directions-not very high, but exceedingly available. Upon this hill he placed a crown of twenty guns, more or less, immediately supporting them by a brigade of regulars, and holding an infinite number as a secondary support. In addition to this he had ranged other batteries on the slopes near the foot of the hill, raking the surrounding plain. Brig.-Gen. Chalmers, supported by Brig.Gen. Donelson, was ordered to take the position. 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 incredibly severe. Our shattered columns stood 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

Such was the battle of Wednesday-such the triumph of confederate arms, a victory glorious and complete as far as it went, but it was not consummate. We thought at one time that the Yankees were as good as routed, but it appears they were not. We thought they would skedaddle that night, but they did not. But they did one thing that night, and that was to leave the hill for which we had so hard a struggle, and retired their line from that point some half a mile back. This fact suggests that it was really untenable by reason of some weakness somewhere, and this suggestion may in turn suggest the inquiry, why was not this weakness discovered by us. I will not make the inquiry.

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? Excuse me. There are those taking notes of all that, to print. But I will go with you to give sepulture 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.

Thursday was a bright day. The lines still confronted. Rosecrans had formed his lines a little south of the Nashville turnpike, gradually diverging from it, still holding his right where it rested on Wednesday, and making nearly a right angle. He is sullen and morose; he speaks occasionally in the tones of artillery, in reply to some promptings from us. 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. It was exceedingly bloody. We drove them across the river, but encountered so vast a body, so securely posted, that we retired to our position

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 cap tured 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

Doc. 28.

BATTLE OF NASHVILLE, TENN.

REPORT OF GENERAL NEGLEY.

HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES,
CAMP NASHVILLE, TENN., November 5, 1862.

SIR: This morning at two o'clock Forrest's rebel cavalry, numbering about three thousand, with artillery, made an attack on our picket-line on the south, between the Franklin and Lebanon pikes. The picket-line on the Murfreesboro road gradually withdrew, with the purpose of bringing the enemy under the guns of Fort Negley, two of which were opened upon the enemy, and speedily drove him beyond the range.

Almost simultaneously with the attack on the south, John Morgan's forces, twenty-five hundred strong, with a piece of artillery, made a dash on Col. Smith's command on the north side of the river, with the evident intention of destroying the railroad and pontoon-bridges. After a sharp contest, in which several companies of Illinois troops behaved with great gallantry, Morgan was repulsed, leaving a stand of regimental colors in our hands, five killed, and nineteen wounded. He then burnt an old railroad building in Edgefield, and retreated to Gallatin.

Finding the enemy on the south taking a position beyond our picket-lines, Col. Roberts, with two regiments of infantry and one section of artillery, was ordered to advance on the Murfreesboro road, while I took the Sixty-ninth Ohio infantry, with parts of the Seventy-eighth Pennsylvania, Fourteenth Michigan, Colonel Stokes's and Wynkoop's cavalry, and two sections of artillery, numbering in all about one thousand four hundred, and pursued that portion of the enemy on the Franklin pike. They were speedily driven from every position by our artillery, until we reached a distance of seven miles from the city. Col. Stokes's cavalry was here ordered to charge upon the enemy's rear, and then retreat with the view of bringing him to a stand. But the main body of the enemy, with their artillery, had suddenly turned into a lane to the left; while our cavalry, in the excitement of the chase, pursued a small portion of the enemy within five miles of Franklin, capturing some prisoners, killing several, and taking a drove of cattle. Previous to the return of Stokes's cavalry the enemy appeared in considerable force upon our left, in front, and rear, with the evident intention of cutting off the cavalry and our retreat.

The infantry and artillery were immediately moved forward a mile to the support of our cavalry, which was ordered to rejoin the column immediately.

Upon receiving intelligence from my videttes that the enemy were in force a mile to our rear, masking a battery close to the road, the head of

our column was immediately faced to the rear and hastened forward to the position occupied by the enemy, fortunately getting our artillery into position and action, forcing the enemy to retire, which he did in great confusion and with considerable loss; after which he succeeded in getting his artillery into position, and a brisk firing ensued for about half an hour, during which time our forces had to be frequently shifted to avoid their range.

Ascertaining that the enemy greatly outnumbered our forces, and were aiming to make a charge on both our flanks, the troops were slowly retired upon favorable grounds toward the city; at the same time the cavalry were so disposed as to divert the coming charge of the enemy on our rear, and lead them upon the Fourteenth Michigan infantry. The object succeeded admirably, an entire regiment of cavalry making the charge, receiving a fire so destructive as to drive them back in great disorder. The enemy then planted several guns on the turnpike, which were driven off before they could load their pieces.

Our forces were retired in good order toward the city, the enemy making one more attempt to get in our rear nearer the city, but were immediately driven off by a regiment of infantry and a section of artillery which had been ordered forward as a reserve.

The concerted plans of the enemy, who had Hanson's brigade of four Kentucky regiments and two Tennessee regiments of infantry and five batteries of artillery, were defeated, and our troops enabled to give additional proof of their efficiency and valor.

As we did not reöccupy the field of action, the enemy's total loss is unknown, but is represented by prisoners to have been large. Twenty-three prisoners were captured, including two captains of Morgan's artillery. Our casualties of the day were killed, twenty-six wounded, and nineteen missing.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. S. NEGLEY, To Lieut.-Col. DUCAT,

Brigadier-General Commanding.

Chief of Staff.

PHILADELPHIA "PRESS" ACCOUNT.

NASHVILLE, TENN., Nov. 6, 1862. The rebels have at last made a demonstration upon this city. For the past three or four days the secessionists here have been exceedingly hilarious, and some of the more bold of that class have made bets that Nashville would fall before the arrival of Rosecrans. I heard a man say, on Sunday night last, that the immense railroad bridge which spans the Cumberland would suffer the same fate that the same structure did in February, before another Sabbath came around.

We are so used to rebel bombast, however, that as far as I am concerned no serious attention was paid to the stereotyped rumors.

But, notwithstanding, a bona-fide attack was made upon us yesterday morning. About two o'clock A. M., our pickets were driven in upon the Murfreesboro, Franklin, and Nolinsville pikes, and