Further Particulars of the Murfreesboro Battle – Official

HEADQUARTERS 14TH ARMY CORPS,
Department of the Cumberland,
Front Murfreesboro, Jan. 3, Via Nashville.

H. W. Halleck, Commander-in-chief:

On the 26th of December, we marched from Nashville in three columns, General McCook by the Nolinsville pike, Gen. Thomas from his encampment on the Franklin pike, via Wilson pike, and General Crittenden on the main Murfreesboro pike.

Our left and centre met with a strong resistance, such as the nature of the country permits – the rolling or hilly routes skirted by cedar thickets and farms intersected by small streams, with rocky bluff banks, forming serious obstacles. General McCook drove Gen. Hardee’s corps a mile and a half from Murfreesboro and occupied the place.

General Crittenden reached within a mile of Lavergne. General Thomas reached Wilson’s Pike, meeting with no serious opposition on the 27th. General McCook drove General Hardee from Nolinsville and pushed a reconnoitering division six miles towards Shelbyville.

They found that General Hardee had retreated towards Murfreesboro.

General Crittenden fought and drove the enemy before him, occupying the line of Stewart’s Creek, and capturing some prisoners, with slight loss.

General Thomas occupied the vicinity of Nolinsville, when he was partially surprised, thrown into confusion, and driven back.

General Sheridan’s division had repulsed the enemy four times and protected the flank of the centre, which not only held its won, but advanced until this untoward event which compelled me to retain the left wing to support the right until it should be rallied and assume a new position.

On the 1st the rebels opened by an attack on us and were again repulsed. On the 2d inst. there was skirmishing along the front with threats of an attack until 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

When the enemy advanced, I threw a small division across Stone’s river, to occupy the commanding ground there. While reconnoitering the ground occupied by this division, which ad no artillery, I saw a heavy force coming from the woods, and advancing in line of battle, three lines deep.

They drove our little division before them, after a sharp contest in which we lost 70 or 80 killed and 375 wounded.

They were finally repulsed by General Negley’s division and the remaining troops of the left wing of General Morton’s pioneer brigade, and fled far over the field and beyond their entrenchments. Their officers rallying them with great difficulty. They lost heavily. We occupied the ground with the left last night.

The lines were completed at four o’clock in the morning.

– Published in the Zanesville Daily Courier, Zanesville, Ohio, Tuesday, January 6, 1863