Transcribed by John Heseltine

From New York Times of Jan. 5, 1863

MURFREESBORO

Continued Accounts of the Terrific Struggle on Stone River.

ADVICES (sic) TO SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

The Rebel Army Reported to be Decidedly Whipped.

Our Forces at Christiana, Ten Miles Below Murfreesboro.

Details of the Fighting of Thursday and Friday.

Pertinacious Attempts of the Rebels to Turn our Right.

Every Attempt Gallantly Repulsed. 

A Great Advantage Gained by Us on Friday.

Our Losses Since Wednesday About 4,000.

Battle-Field in Front of Murfreesboro,

Friday, Jan. 2, 1863—P.M.

The battle of Stone River is not yet decided, although it has continued for three days, with intermissions yesterday and to-day. After the severe struggle of Wednesday, the enemy persisted in massing upon right, to cut us off from Nashville. To foil this attempt our right was thrown out to Stewart’s Creek, and the enemy finding us too strong on that portion of our line, suddenly fell upon our centre on Thursday morning, but were severely repulsed by the left of Thomas’ and the right of Crittenden’s Grand Divisions.

Later in the day they fiercely assailed the right of our centre and were again repulsed. Both sides spent the remainder of the day in sharp skirmishing and manoeuvreing (sic) for position.

THE BATTLE OF FRIDAY, Jan. 2.

During Thursday night the enemy appeared again to be concentrating upon our right. Their commands were distinctly heard in our camps, but suspecting a ruse, Gen. Rosecrans threw Beatty’s Brigade of Van Cleve’s Division across Stone River on our left, with supports, where they rested at about 10 o’clock this morning. Between 3 and 4 o’clock this afternoon the enemy made another formidable demonstration against our centre, but were handsomely repulsed. At the same time an immense mass of infantry was precipitated upon Beatty’s Brigade, and drove it, after a gallant resistance, clear back across the river.  

Negley’s fine Division, which took so distinguished a part in the preceding actions, and that of Jefferson C. Davis, successively came to its support, when a most desperate struggle ensued. Both sides seemed determined to win victory, and both brought all their available artillery to play, until nearly all the batteries in the two armies were at work. The uproar of musketry and artillery was of the most furious description, and the whole field was soon shrouded b clouds of smoke. Our men suffered severely by the enemy’s fire, but they advanced with unflinching determination. Negley at last ordered his division to charge. It pushed forward without faltering, when the enemy sullenly gave way. The gallant Seventy-eight Pennsylvania charged home on the Twenty-sixth Tennessee, and captured its colors. Another regiment rushed upon a battery, drove away the gunners, and seized the guns. A great shout of victory rose along the whole line, and was carried in magnificent volumes from left to right and back again.

Perceiving this success, Gen. Rosecrans now ordered an advance of the whole line just before dark.   The line swept forward with loud enthusiasm, but darkness soon made it impossible to press our advantage to a conclusion. Nevertheless, the left was fairly established on the east bank of the river.  Then centre advance to a position heretofore held by the enemy, and the right again occupied that portion of our original line from which it had been driven on Wednesday. Thus, it will be perceived, the decided advantage is with us.

  To-morrow morning, however, the battle will be resumed. We now feel confident of ultimate victory.

The Losses.

Our losses since Wednesday morning amount to about 4,000 killed and wounded, of which 600 are killed. Our loss of prisoners is several thousand. The enemy on the first day captured about twenty-six guns and disabled six. We captured four from them on Wednesday. The rebel loss, estimated by themselves, was between 4,000 and 5,000 killed and wounded, including Brig.-Gen. Rains killed. Altogether, we have captured about 1,000 prisoners, from all the Southern States. Gen. Cheatham, Adjutant-General, and sundry field officers, were captured.

Among the casualties on our side, additional to those already forwarded, are Col. Schaeffer, commanding Missouri Brigade in Sheridan’s Division; Lieut.-Col. Cotton of Louisville; Lieut.-Col. Tanner, Twenty-second Indiana; Major Russell, Sixth Ohio—all killed; Wounded—Col. P. T. Swaine, Ninety-ninth Ohio, through right arm; Col. Scott, Nineteenth Illinois, badly; Col. Anderson, Sixth Ohio, in thigh; Col. Blake, Fortieth Indiana, and the Lieutenant-Colonel of the same regiment wounded and captured while being moved to Nashville, they were paroled and proceeded; Capt. R. H. Nelson, Twenty-second, and Lieut. Burke, First Ohio Artillery; Capts. Penny and Carpenter, Fifth and Eighth Wisconsin Batteries, killed. Col. Wolke, of Ohio, and Col. Carlin, of Illinois, commanding brigades, and Lieut.-Col. Shepherd, Eighteenth Regulars, reported killed, were not hurt.

Gen. Willich was captured uninjured. Among hundreds who have conspicuously distinguished themselves are Gen. Negley, Gen. Stanley, Col. Walters, of the Eighty-eighth Illinois, Capt. Threnstron and Fisher, of McCook’s Staff, Capt. Otis, of the Fortieth Regular Cavalry, and Col. Von Scrader. The daring valor and self-possession of Gen. Rosecrans, under the most trying circumstances, excites the most enthusiastic admiration of the army. The field hospitals are admirably conducted by Medical-Director Swift and Staff.

DISPATCHES RECEIVED IN LOUISVILLE.

Louisville, Ky., Saturday, Jan. 3.

  Telegraphic communications is restored between here and Nashville.

  It is reported that Gen. Bragg was killed to-day.

  There has been fighting all day, but no particulars are given.

  Our forces are advancing, and the rebels are falling back across Stone’s River.

  The following officers are wounded slightly:

  Col. Miller.

  Col. Black, of the Fortieth Indiana.

  Lieut.-Col. Neff.

  Col. Hill.

  Capt. Pate.

  It has been raining heavily all day in the vicinity of the battle-field.

SECOND DISPATCH.

  There was heavy cannonading to-day until noon, when the rebels attacked our left wing and were terribly repulsed.

  There was very little fighting yesterday.

  Our forces do not yet occupy Murfreesboro.

  The rebels attacked and destroyed our hospital buildings on Thursday.

  The rebels are being strongly reinforced from the rebel army at Richmond.

THIRD DISPATCH.

There was a spirited engagement at Lavergne today between the Mechanics and Engineers under Col. Innis, and Gen. Whraton’s (sic) rebel Cavalry. The latter was routed with the loss of thirty-three killed.

All “contrabands” captured by the rebels on the Federal wagon trains are immediately shot. Twenty thus killed are lying on the Murfreesboro Pike.

Maj. Slemmer and Capt. King, who were being conveyed away wounded from the battle-field in an ambulance, were captured by the rebels, taken four miles away and then paroled and thrown out on the road.

Gen. Willich is not killed, but is wounded, and a prisoner.

Yesterday, Gen. Rosecrans personally took command of the Fourth United States Cavalry, and attacked Gen. Wheeler’s rebel cavalry, who were cut to pieces and utterly routed.

Capt. Mack, Chief of artillery and on Gen. Thomas Staff is mortally wounded.

A dispatch from Col. Anderson to Headquarters here says:

“We have whipped the rebels decidedly, and are at Christiana, nine miles South of Murfreesboro on the railroad.”

DISPATCHES FROM NASHVILLE DIRECT.

Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 3.

Col. McKee is reported killed. Our loss of officers is heartrending.

The fighting to-day has been light. It closed last evening with terrible slaughter of the enemy.

Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, Jan. 3—5 P. M.

The first day’s fighting was all our own way, but the right wing of our army fought itself into a bad position.

The third day we repulsed the rebels with terrible slaughter, ourselves sustaining but slight loss.

THE WESTERN TELEGRAPH LINES DOWN.

Buffalo, Sunday Evening.

The telegraph lines West are all down, but it is expected they will be repaired by to-morrow morning.   Philadelphia, Sunday Evening.

The wires of the telegraph lines to the West are disarranged, probably by storm, consequently we have nothing further from Murfreesboro.

Italics were in the original newspaper clipping.

NOTES—listed in order of appearance within the New York Times article.

Thomas, George H. (1816-1870) Union major general, commanded the Centre of the Army of the Cumberland.

Crittenden, Thomas L. (1815-1893), Union major general, commanded the Left Wing of the Army of the Cumberland. His brother George was a Confederate major general; his cousin Thomas T. was a Union brigadier general; his son John was killed at the Little Big Horn, Mont. in 1876 with Custer.

Rosecrans, William S., (1819-1898) Union major general, commanded Army of the Cumberland.

Beatty, Samuel (1820-1885) colonel, 19th Ohio Infantry Rgt. commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland; became the division commander when Van Cleve was wounded. (no apparent relation to Col. John Beatty of Ohio who also commanded a brigade at Stones River.) 

Van Cleve, Horatio P. (1809-1891) Union brigadier general, commanded a division in the Army of the Cumberland; Dec. 31, 1862 wounded at Stones River, Tenn.

Negley, James S. (1826-1901) Union major general, commanded a division in the Army of the Cumberland.

Davis, Jefferson C. (1828-1879) Union brigadier general commanded a division in the Army of the Cumberland.

Rains, James E. (1833-1862) Confederate brigadier general commanded a brigade in the Army of Tennessee Dec. 31, 1862 killed at Stones River, Tenn.

Gen. Cheatham, Adjutant-General, captured-- Cheatham Benjamin F. (1820-1886) Confederate major general, commanded a division in the Army of Tennessee. (listed incorrectly as captured)

Col. Schaeffer, commanding Missouri Brigade in Sheridan’s Division killed—Schaefer, Frederick, colonel, 2nd Mo. Infantry Rgt., commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland; Dec. 31, 1862 killed at Stones River, Tenn.

LtCol. Cotton of Louisville killed—unable to identify

LtCol. Tanner, 22nd Ind. killed—Tanner, Thomas H. B., lieutenant colonel, 22nd Ind. Infantry Rgt. Dec. 31, 1862 wounded at Stones River, Tenn.

Major Russell, 6th Ohio killed—Russell, Anthony O. (c.1824-?) major, 6th Ohio Infantry Rgt. (not listed as a casualty in the Official Records)

Col. P. T. Swaine, 99th Ohio, wounded through right arm—Swaine, Peter T., col., 99th Ohio Infantry Rgt. and wounded at Stones River, Tenn.

Col. Scott, 19th Ill., badly wounded—Scott, Joseph R., colonel, 19th Ill. Infantry Rgt. Dec. 31, 1862 wounded at Stones River, Tenn. July 8, 1863 died.    

Col. Anderson, 6th Ohio, wounded in thigh—Anderson, Nicholas L. (1838-1892), col., 6th Ohio Infantry Rgt.

Col. Blake, 40th Indiana and the lieutenant colonel of the same regiment wounded and captured while being moved to Nashville, they were paroled and proceeded and Col. Black, 40th Indiana slightly wounded—Blake, John W., col., 40th Ind. Infantry Rgt. who according to the regimental report for Stones River, was drunk and placed under arrest by the brigade commander and replaced by LtCol. E. Neff. Blake was not wounded.

LtCol. Neff--Neff, Elias, lieutenant colonel, 40th Ind. Infantry Rgt. slightly wounded at Stones River, Tenn.

Capt. R. H. Nelson, 22nd Ohio killed—unable to identify; The 22nd Ohio Infantry Rgt. was not at Stones River, Tenn.  

Lt. Burke, 1st Ohio Artillery killed—unable to identify  

Capt. Penny, 5th Wis. Battery killed—Pinney, Oscar F., capt., 5th Wis. Light Artillery Battery; Feb. 17, 1863 died of wounds received on Dec. 31, 1862 at Stones River, Tenn.

Capt. Carpenter, 8th Wis. Battery, killed—Carpenter, Stephen J., capt., 8th Wis. Light Artillery Battery; Dec. 31, 1862 killed at Stones River, Tenn.

Col. Wolke of Ohio—Walker, Moses B. (1819-1895) colonel, 31st Ohio Infantry Rgt. and commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland.

Col. Carlin of Illinois--Carlin, William P. (1829-1903) colonel, 38th Ill. Infantry Rgt. commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland. (listed in the article incorrectly as wounded)

LtCol. Shepherd 18th Regulars, reported killed, were not hurt--Shepherd, Oliver L. (1818-1894) lieutenant colonel, 18th U. S. Infantry Rgt. commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland.

Gen. Willich--Willich, August (1810-1878) Union brigadier general, commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland; Dec. 31, 1862 captured at Stones River, Tenn.

Gen. Stanley--Stanley, David S. (1828-1902) Union major general, chief of cavalry of the Army of the Cumberland; listed in the article as seriously wounded in the leg; Stanley makes no mention of it in his report.

Col. Walters of the 88th Ill.—Col. Francis T. Sherman commanded the 88th Ill. Infantry Rgt. at Stones River, Tenn. Possibly Col. Louis H. Waters of the 84th Ill. Infantry Rgt.

Capt. Threnstron of McCook’s Staff—Thruston, Gates P., captain of the 1stt Ohio Infantry Rgt. and ordnance officer on MajGen. A. McD. McCook’s staff.

Capt. Fisher of McCook’s Staff—Fisher, Horace N., capt., aide-de-camp to MajGen. A. McD. McCook.

McCook,  Alexander McD. (1831-1903) Union major general, commanded Right Wing of Army of the Cumberland.

Capt. Otis, of the Fortieth (sic) Regular Cavalry—Otis, Elmer (c. 1830-1897), captain. 4th U. S. Cavalry Rgt.

Col. Von Scrader—Von Schrader, Alexander (1822-1867) ltcol., 74thh Ohio Infantry Rgt.

Medical-Director Swift—Swift, Ebenezer (?-1885), surgeon, U.S. Army; medical director, Army of the Cumberland.

Gen. Bragg was killed to-day--Bragg, Braxton (1817-1876) Confederate general, commanded the Army of Tennessee. (incorrectly reported killed)

Col. Miller--Miller, John F. (1831-1886) col., 29th Ind. Infantry Rgt. commanded a brigade in the Army of the Cumberland; slightly wounded at Stones River, Tenn.

Col. Hill--possibly Hull, James W., col., 37th Ind. Infantry Rgt. wounded at Stones River, Tenn.

Capt. Pate—unable to identify.

Col. Innis--Innis, William (1826-1893) colonel, 1st Mich. Mechanics and Engineers Rgt.

Gen. Whraton--Wharton, John A. (1828-1865) (spelled Whraton in the article) Confederate brigadier general commanded a cavalry brigade in the Army of Tennessee; April 6, 1865 killed by Confederate BrigGen. Baylor at Houston, Texas.

Maj. Slemmer--Slemmer, Adam J. (1829-1868) major, 16th U. S. Infantry Rgt. Dec. 31, 1862 wounded at Stones River, Tenn.

Capt. King--King, John H. (1820-1888) maj., 15th U. S. Infantry Rgt. wounded at Stones River, Tenn.

Gen. Wheeler--Wheeler, Joseph (1836-1906) Confederate brigadier general, commanded a cavalry brigade in the Army of Tennessee.

Capt. Mack, chief of artillery and on Gen. Thomas Staff is mortally wounded--Mack, Oscar F. (c.1827-1876) capt., 13th U. S. Infantry Rgt. and acting chief commissary to MajGen. G. H. Thomas according to Thomas’ report; dangerously wounded in the right hip and abdomen at Stones River, Tenn.

Col. Anderson--unable to identify—Col. Charles Anderson commanded the 93rd Ohio Infantry Rgt. and Col. Nicholas L. Anderson commanded the 6th Ohio Infantry Rgt. Both were wounded.)

Col. McKee is reported killed--McKee, Samuel, colonel, 3rd Ky. Infantry Rgt. Dec. 31, 1862 killed at Stones River, Tenn. or McKee, David, lieutenant colonel, 15th Wis. Infantry Rgt. Dec. 31, 1862 killed at Stones River, Tenn.