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®)C tOeckls Constitutionalist B y JAMES GARDNER, ..g BBAGS’S OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE ' ' BATTLE AT MURFREESBORO . [From the KnorviUe Register.] Headquarters Arky op Tennessee, i Tullahoma, 23J Feb’y, 1862. ) I siß: Oa the 26:h of December last the enemy } i ygn ced in force fr »m Nashville to attack us at i Q rf r eesb'>n)\ It had been well ascertained that hie strength was oveg 60,000 effective men. Be | f ore uight on that day the object of tbe movement log developed, by our dispositions in front, and rders were g l7iiQ l^e necessary concentration c nar forces, then distributed as follows : poiks corps and three brigades of Breckih , -a-g’a division, Hardee’s corps at Murfreesboro*. I The balance ot Hardee’s corps near Eagleville, I iboit 20 miles west of Murfreesboro*. M.powuu’a I i.yjgion (which with Stevenson’s division re f ore d constituted Smith’s corps,) at Readyville, [ « miles east of Murfreesboro’. The three cavalry vjjggdes ot' Wheeler, Wharioa and Pegram occu rring the entire front of our infantrv and cover fjj- a ii approaches to w.thiu ten mi'es of Nash* r.Ue- Buford's small cavalry of about 600 at Mc- Minnville- The brigades of Forrest and M >rgau, lj‘ pu t 5 000 effective eavalry, were absent on spe service m West Tennessee and Northern Ken uickv, as wilt be more fully noticed hereafter. Jackson's small tountry brigade was in rear, rjydicg the railtoad from Bridgeport, Alabama, mountains. Oa Sunday, the 2Sth, cur mam 'orce of infantry and artillery was concentrated m front of Murireesboro’, whilst the cavalry, sup* ported by three brigades of infantry and three Batteries of artillery, impeded the advance of toe enemv by constant skirmishing, and sudden, un expected’attack. To the skillful manner in which ihecavairy, thus ably supported, was hua led, and to the exceeding gallantry of its officers and men, must be attributed to the tour days’ time consumed by tbe enemy in reaching the battle field, a distance of only 20 mile* .from his en* Jampmeat, over tine Macadamized roads. Fully aware of the greatly superior numbers of the" enemy as indicated in my early reports from thia quarter, it was our policy to await attack. Tbe position was selected and line developed with this intention. Owing to the convergence upon oar depot of so many fiae roads, bv whicn the caemv could approach, as will appear troin the enclosed map marked ‘l,’ we were confined in our selection to a line near enough the point of uncture to enable us to tuccessivelv cover them until the real point of attack should be devel' CDed. ‘Oa Monday, the 26 h, it was reported that heavy columns moved oa both the direct road from La- and on the one leading lop the Lebanon road by w-y of Jeffersom But on Tuesday, the .yRb, it was ascertained that the Jefferson pike was abandoned c v a counter march, and the whole force of tbe enemy was concentrated on and near the direct road on the west of Stone’s river. Tne dispositions made for the unequal contest will appear from the enclosed map marked ‘2,’ and tue cupr of mem ora ida to General and staff' orli «* oers marked ‘ 3.* Tcese arrangements were all completed before the enemy crossed Stewart’s creek, Dine mites out, and the infantry brigades were ail ut once nailed in; and the cavalry was ordered to fail back more rapidly, having most gallantly discharged its duty, and fully accomplished the objects de* BireJ. Late oa Monday, it became apparent the enemy was extending bis right, to flan i. us on the left. McCowu’s divisiou in reserve was promptly thrown to that ffink, and added to the vxnDiuand of Lieut, Gen. Polk. I 1 **? "- lions ot making an attack on Tuesday, which was consumed in artillery firing and heavy skirmish ing, wi h the exception of a dash laie in the even ing on the left of Withers’ division, which was repulsed and severely punished, ic was determin ed to assail him ou Wednesday morning,the 31st. For this purpose, Colborne’a d vision, Hardee’s :orps, was moved from the second line on tne right to the corresponding position on the left, and Lieut. Gen. Hardee was ordered to that point and assigned to the command of that and Me- Gown’s Division. This disposition, the result of necessity, left me no reserve; but Breckinridge’s command on the light, now not threatened, was regarded as a source ot supply for ttoy reinforce* ments absolute y necessary toother parts of the Oeld. Stone's river at its then low stage, w.a fordable at almost anv point for infantry, and at short intervals perfectly practible for artillery. These dispositions completed, Lieu* General Hardee was ordered to assail the enemy at dav-- light, on Wednesday, the Sis', the attack to be taken up by Gen. Polk's command in succession to the right flank; the move to be made by a con* giant wheel to the right on Polk’s right Hack as a pivot. The object being to force the enemy back on Stone’s river, and if practicable, by the aid of cavalry, cut him off from his base of operat ons and supplies by the Nashville pike. Tbe lines were now bivouacked at a distance, in places of not more than 500 yards, the camp fires of tbe two being withiu distinct view. Wharton’s cavalry brigade had been held on our left to watch and checc tne movements of the enemy in that direction, and to prevent his cavalry from gaining tbe railroad to our rear, the preservation of whicn was of vital importance. In this he was aided by Brig. Gen. Buford, who had a small command of o*o new cavalry. The duty was most ably, gal* iantly and successiulfy performed. Ou Monday uight, B~ig. Gen. Wheeler proceed* ed witu Lis cavalry brigade and one regiment from Pegratn’s as ordered, to gain the enemy’s rear. By Tuesday morning, moving on the Jeffers son pike, around the enemy 's left Hank, he had gaintd tue rear ot their wuoie army, and soon attacked the train s, their guards, ana the numer als stragglers. He succeeded in cap* uring several hundred prisoners, and ‘destroyed hundreds of wagons loaded wuh supplies and baggage. After o-earing the road, he made bis w.»y enure*}' around, aad joined the cavalry on our left. The failure of Gen. McCown to execute during tie tight an order lor a slight charge in the line of hl3 Division, and which bad to fie done the Ltxt morning, c:us*;d some delay in the genera! and vigorous assault by Lieut. Gen. Hardee. But about 7 o'clock the rattle of musketry and the roar of artillery announced the beginning of the conflict. The enemy was taken completely by sur* i rise; general and staff'officers were not mount ed, artillery horses not hitched and infantry not formed, a hot and mviiing iveakh.st of coffee and other luxuries to which qur gallant and hardy men t,sd long been stranger* 1 , toun4 upon the fire, unnerved, and was left, wbilt we pushed on to tbe erjoymentof a more inviting feast, that of captured artillery, flytDg battalions, and hosts cf craven t r.s ners, begging for the lives they had iorfeit-d by their acta of brutality ana atrocity. — Whilst thus routing and pushing the enemy on his front, Lieut Gen. Hardee announced to me, by a messenger, that the movement was not being as promptly executed by Mjj. Cheatham’s com mand on his right, tbe left oi Gen. Polk's corp*, as he expected and that Lis line was consequently exposed to an enfilade fire from the enemy’s ar viuery in that front. The necessary instructions RT piompt movement at that point were iance.. Qiateiy dispatched, and m a short time our who e hue, except command, was warmly From this time we coat nued to drive tpeenemy more or lens rup.ply until Lis line was | thrown entirely back at i ghs angles to hts first position, and occupied the cut of taa raiiroad, amng which he had massed his reserves, and j pas'.eu very strong batteries. (A reference to the Lon' 0 ' “ W; ** fc k° w this second and strong post- j fliL enemy's loss was very heavy in killed and . oonded; far exceeding our own, as appeared < - f, m a critical examination of the field, now al« ; e p ,; i*ely id our possession. Os ariiilerv alone e secured more than 25 pieces. ■ U-'-J AUGUSTA, GA., WEDNESDAY MAY 6. ISG3. Whilst the infantry and artillery were engaged i • in th’s successful work. Brig. Gen. Wharton, with j t*is cavalry command, was most *c ivelv and gal* i iantly engaged on the enemy’* right and rear, J [ where he indicted a heavy loss in killed and wounded; captured a full battery of artillery en- ( deavoring to escape, and secured and sent in Dear 2 000 prisoners. These important successe/*aud resit ts had not been achieved without heavy sacrifice* on ou- part, . as the resistance of the enemy, after the first sur prise was most gallant ana obstinate. Finding Lieutenant General Hardee so formida* [ bly opposed by the movement of the enemy to ! his lront, reinforcement for him were ordered from Maj. Gen. Breckinridge, but the orders were countermanded, as will hereafter appear; aud Polk’s corps was pressed forward with vigor, hop- j ing to draw the enemy buck, or route him on the , right, as he had already been on the left We succeeded in driving him from every position, j except the strong one held by ms extrdu* left flank, resting on St-.ne’s river* aud covered by « concentration of artillery of superior range and j calibre, which seemed to bid us defiance. The difficulties of our general advance had been great- j iy enhanced by the topography of the country.— All parts of our line had to pass in their progress over ground of the rougtest character, covered ! w ith huge stones and studded with the densest . growth of ceaar, the branches reaching ihe ! ground, and forming an almost impassable ‘•orake.” Our artillery could rarely be used, < while the enemy, holdiug defensive lines, had se leced formidable positions for bis batteries, aod this dense cover tor bis infantry, from both of \ which he had to be dislodged by ' our infantry alone. Tne determined and unvarying gallantry I of our troops, and the uninterrupted success which attended their repeated charges agat-st these st.ongholds, defended by double their num bers, fully justified the unbounded confidence 1 had ever reposed m toem, and had so often ex pressed. To meet oar successful advaDce, and retrieve his losses in the front of hfs left, the enemy early transferred a pot non of his reserve, from his left to that flank, and by two o’clock bad succeeded in concentrating such a force iu Lt. Gen. Hardee’s front as to check his further progress Our two i lines had bv this lime become almost blended, so ; weakened were they by losses, exhaustion and : extension to cover the euemy’s whole front. As ■ early us 10 o’clock,A. M., Maj. Gen. Breckinridge was calied on for one brigade, and soon after tor r a second to reiuforce or act as a reserve to Lieut. . Gen. Hardee. His reply to tbe first call repre i seated the enemy crossiug Stone’s river m heavy » force, in his immediate front, and on receiving the second order, he informed ine that they had al* . read / crossed m force, and were advancing • to attack his liues. He was immediately ordered » not to await attack, but to advance and meet him. 1 About this same time a report reached me rhat a l heavy force of the enemy’s infantry was advanc , ing on the Lebanon n ad, about five miles ’a Breckinridge’s front. Brig. Gen. Pegram, who had been sent to that road to cover the 11 mk of < the infantry wiih bis cavalry brigade, save two i regiments detached w.th Wheeler aud Wharton, i was ordered forward immediately to develop any i such movement. The orders for the two brig , j ades from Breckinridge were countermanded, . j whilst dispositions were made, at his request, to i i reinforce him. Before they could be carried out , | the movement ordered disclosed tbe fact that no . | force had crossed Stone’s river, that the only eoe | rnv in oor immediate front .heu was a small body . ot £ iarp*L<»oux». and that tberr* c- adv .iicL t on tuo Lebauon road. These nnfortnintc misap prehensions on that part of the field, which with . proper precaution could not have existed, w.tha i bela from active operations three fine brigades . until the enemy had succeeded in checking our progress, had re-established his lines, and had eol ; lecied many of his broken battalions. . Huviug now settled the question that no move ment was being made against our right, and none even to be apprehended, Breckinudge was or ! dered to leave two brigades to support tbe bat* j tery at “A,” on his t* : o of .Stone’s river, and with i j the balance cf th : f 4 » cross to the left and , | report to Liout. Gtn. I ’ty the time this could j accomplished ;t was lute to’send the force to Lieut. Gen. Hardee’s support, who was unable , • to make further progress, and he was directsd to maintain his position. Lieut. Gen. Polk was <ii* reeled with these reinforcements to throw all the force he could collect upon tbe enemy’s extreme left, aud thereby carry either that strong point, which has so far resisted us successfully, or fail ing in that, at least to draw off from Hardee’s front the formidable opposition there concen trated. The three brigades cf Jackson, Preston and Adams were successively reported for this work. How gallantly they moved t«» their task, aud how much they suffered in the determined effort to accomplish it, will best appear from reports of subordinate coinm nders, and the statement of losses herewith. Upon this flank, their strongest defensive position repting on the river bank, the enemy had concentia'ed not less than 20 pieces ot artillery, masked almost entirely from view, but covering an open space in front of several hundred yards, supported right, left and rear by heavy masses ot infantry. This position proved and after two unsuccessful efforts, the attempt to carry it by inlantry was abandoned. Our heaviest batteries of artillery and rifled guns of long range were now concentrated in lront of their fires opeued upon his position. At era cannonade of some time the enemy’s fire slackened, and final iy ceased near nightfall. Lieut. Gen. Hardee hud slightly retired h s line from the furthest point he bed attained, for better position and cover, without molestation from the enemy. Lieut. Gen. Polk’s infantry, including the three reinforcing bugades, uniting their from with jllardee’s right, and extending to our exit em? right Hank, formed a continuous line very nearly pern pendicu.'ar to the origiuai line of bailie, thus leav ing nearly the whole field, with ail its trophies, the enemy’s dead and many ot his wound'd, big hospitals and stores in our fail possession. The body of Brig. Gen. rfiil, one ol their division com manders, was found where he had fallen, and was sent to town and decently interred, though he had i forfeited all claim to such cons.deration by the j acts cf cruelty, barbarity and atrocity, but a few i days belore committed under his authority on the I women aud children and old men liviug near the • road on which he had made a recounoissance. ( During the atternoon Brig. Gen. Pegram. dis- J covering a hospital and la: j'.- number of Rtrag* glers to rear ot the euemy ’s lines and across Stone’s j river, charged tbern witu his cavalry, and captured I about 170 prisoners. Both armies, exhausted by a conflict of full ten hours’ duration, rarely surpassed for its contmu.* ed intensity and heavy losses sustained, sunk to rest w’lth the sue, aud perfect quiet prevailed lor the night. dawn on Thursday morning, the first of Jan uary, orders were sent to the several commanders to press forward their skirmishers, feel tbe enemy and report any change in his position. Maj »r Gen. Breckinridge had D*a transferred to ibe right of Stone’s river to resume the command of that position, now held by two of his brigades, i It was soon reported that no change had occurred, j except the withdrawal of the enemy from the ad . vanceJ position occupied by his left flank. Find* j ing, upon further examination, that this was the I case, tbe right flank of Lt. Gen. Polk’s corps Was | thrown forward to occupy the ground for which we had so obstinately contended the evening be j lore. This shortened our line considerably, and , ■ gave us possession of the centre battle field, from j which we gieaned the spoils and trophies , throughout the day, and transferred them rapidly i ’ t ) the rear. * * A careful reconncissance of tae enemy’s posi ; lion was ordered, and the most of tna cavalry was , put in motion for the roads in tits rear, to cut off ' his trains and develops any movement. It wqs soon ascertained that b~ was still in very heavy , force all along our front, occupying a position strong by nature and improved by such woik as could be done at night by his reserves. In a short time reports from the cavalry in formed me that heavy trains were moving towards Nashville, some of the wagons loaded, and all the ambulances filled with wounded. These were at> [ tucked at differeut places, nuny wagons were de* stroyed, and hundreds of prisoners paroled. No doubt this induced the enemy to send large es corts, of cavalry, and artillery and infantry, with | la*er trains, and thus the impression was made on ( our ablest commanders that a retrograde move ! rnent was going on. Our forces, greatly wearied and much reduced j by heavy losses, were held tcady to avail them selves of any change iu the « r *emt r s position; but n was deemed (inadvisable to ;.>ail him ns there ; es’ablished. The whole day after these dispost* j lious was passed without an i mportant movement ; on either side, and was consumed by us in glean** ing the battle field, burying the dead, and replen ; ishing ammunition. At daylight on Friday, the 2d, orders to feel the , enemy and ascertain Ins pot*lion were repeated j with the same result. The cavalry brigades of Wueeltr and Wharton had returned during the night, from tong continuedser« 1 vice, with but little rest or fond to either man or horse. Both commanders reported the lnjlicas ; lions from the enemy’s movements the s»me.— ; Allowing them only a lew hours to feed and nst, j and sending the two detached regiments back to l Pegram’s brigade, Wharton *as ordered to the | right flank, across Stone’s rn er, to assume corns maud in that quarter, and keep me advised of auy change. Wheeler, with his brigade, was ordered ' to gaiu the enemy’s rear, end remain until he I could definitely reporL-vhiihef auy retrogade movement was being made. Before Wharton had taken his position, obsen* vatious excited my suspicions in regard to a move ment having b tn made by the enemy across Stone’s river, immediate'.! in Breckinridge’s front. Iteconnoissances b) several staff officers soon developed that uplmsum had quiet ly crossed unopposed and established themselves I on and under cover of an eminence marked *'B” on the map No. 2, from whica Lieut. Gen. Polk’s ! line was Commanded and enfiladed. The dislodg ! ment of this force or the withdrawal of Polk’s line j was an evident necessity. iatter involve i I consequences not to be entertained. Orders were j accordingly given for the concentration of the i i whole of Miij. Gen. Breckinridge’s division in front of the position to b * :«u. The addition j to his command of ten Napoleon guns, 12-ponnd j era, under Capt. F. H. Ii 'hereon, uo able undue ! omplished artillery onicer, and for the cavalry forces of Wharton and Pegr.im, n joul 2.000 men, to j -in in the attack on his tight. Maj. Gen. Breckinridge wus sent for, and advised of the movement and ns objects, the securing and hold* in? the position which protected P Ik’s flank, and us cb mm and of the enemy’s, by which to en filade him. He was info'n edof the force at Lis disposal, and instructed with them to drive the enemy back, crown the hill, entrench his artillery and hold the position. To distract their attention from our real object, a heavy arti.lery fire was o deted to be opened Iron* Folk’s trout at the exact hour at which ibv i movement was to begin- through - . both !ir. -*■, alt Goal Breckinridge, at hall past 3. P. M., reported lie would advance •at 4 Polk's batteries promptly opened lire, and • j were soon answered by the enemy. A heavy can -1 | OQude of some fifteen minutes was succeeded by ' | the fire ot musketry, which soon became general. The contest was short and severe; the enemy was driven back, and the emm nee gained, but the 1 j movement as a whole was a failure, and the posi* ; I tion was again yielded. Our forces were moved 1 i unfortunately so fur to the left as to throw a por -1 tion of them into and over Ftone's river, wuere the, encountered heavy* masses of the enemy, whilst loose against wuom they were intended io operate, on our side of the river, had a destruc live enfilade on our whole Jjne. Our second line was so close to the frqptas to receive the enemy’s 1 fire, and returning it took their friends iu the \ rear. The cavalry force was left entirely out of 1 the action. Learning from my own bluff ofiicers j sent to the sceue of the disorderly retreat being j made by Gen. Breckinridge’s division, Briga dier General Patton Amu b<>u’H fine brigade of Missisrippians, the in-a re.A body of troops, Was promptly ord red to his relief. On reaching the field, and moving forward, Anderson found him** self in front of Breckinridge’s inluntry, and soon encountered the enemy’s light troops c.’ose upon our artillery, which had been left without support. This noble brigade, under ith cool and gallant chief, drove the enemy back, and saved ail the guns not captured before its arrival. Captain F. 11. Robertson, after the disabling wound re ceived by Maj. Graves, Gen. Brackinridge’s gal lant and efficient Chief of Artillerv, took the en tire charge of the Artillery of the Division, in ad dition to nls own. To ius gallantry, energy and fearlessness is due the smallness ot our loss sus*» tamed before the arrival of our support, only three guns, iiis report herewith annexed, •‘4,'’ will show the important part he played in this attacic and repulse. Before the end of the whole moves ment, it was quite dark. Anderson’s command held a position next the enemy, corresponding nearly with our original hue. whilst Breckin ridge’s Brigade commanders collected their scat tered men as far as practicable in the darkness, and took irregular positions on Anderson’s leit and rear. At daylight io the morning they were moved to the front, and the wh o*, .-me re-estaha lished without opposition. During the uigbr. Major General Cleburne’s Division was re irans-. ferred to its original position on the t ’gtr, find Lieutenant Genual Bardot directed to K.ume . his command there, aod leitore our hue.* j On Saturday morning, tie 3d, bur forces had been in line o< battle five ciays and five nights, with but little rest, having no reserves, their baggage and tents had been loaded, and the wag ons were four miles off ; iteir provisions, it i cooked at all, were most imperfectly prepared j with scanty means; the wetXLer bud been severe j from cold and almost ton-..ant ram, and we had | no change of clothing, and in many places could j I not have fires. The nece.ssmy consequence was j the great exbaustioa of both officers and men, ; many having to be sent to the hospitals in the ! rear, and more, still were beginning to struggle i from their command*, an evil from which wo j had so far suffered but little. Daring the whole of this day the rain continued to fall with little intermission, and the rapid rise in Stone’s river indicated that it woild soon be unfordable.— Late on Friday night, 1 had received the captured papers of Maj. Gen. McCook, commanding one corps d’armee of the enemy, showing their effeo tive strength to have been very nearly, if not quite 70,000 men. Bef' re noou reports from Brigadier General Wheeler satisfied me that the enemy, instead of ret.riug, was receiving reins force ments. Common prudence and the safely of my army, upon which even the safety of our cause depended, j left no doubt in my m;nd as to the necessity for | my withdrawal from so unequal a contest. My j orders were accordingly given about noon for the j movement of the trains and for the necessary | preparation of the troops. Under theeffi#ent management us the different staff departments, everything had been secured , and transferred to the rear, including prisoners j captured, artillery, small arms, subsistence, means I of transportation, and nearly all of our wounded i able to bear moving. No movement of any kind * was made by the troips on either side during the moat inclement day, until just at night, when a sharp skirmish occurred between Polk's right and the enemy’s left flank, resulting m noihiug d«?ci« sive. The only question wtih me was, whether the movement should be made at once or delayed 24 hours, to save a few of our wounded. As it was probable we should lose by exhaustion as many as we should remove ot the wounded, mv inclination to remain was yielded. The whole force, except the Cavalry, was put in motion at 11 o’clock, P. M., and the army retired in perfect order to its present position, behind Duck river, without receiving or giving a shot. Our cavalry held the position before Murfreesboro’ until Mon day morning, the stb, when it quietly retired as ordered io cover eur front. We loft about 1,200 badly wounded, one*ha!f of whom, we learn, have since died from the severity of their injuries, about 300 sick, too feeble to bear transportation, and about 200 well men and medi cal officers as their attendants. Io addition to this the enemy had captured about 800 prisoners from us. As the 1,200 wounded are counted once under that bead among our kisses; they should be excluded m the general total. As an offset to this loss we had secured, as will appear from the report ot my Inspector General, herewith, marked considerably over 6,000 prisoners, had captured over 30 pieces of artillery, 6,000 stand of small arms, a number ot wagons, ambulances, mules and harness, with a large amouut of other valuable property, ail of which was secured, and appro priated* to proper uses. Besides all this secured, we had destroyed not less than 800 wagons, most ly laden with various articles, such as urms, am munition, provisions, baggage, c’otbing, medi cines and hospital stores. We had lost three pieces of artillery only, all in Breckinridge’s re« pulse. A number o! stands of colors, nine of which are lorwarded with this report, were also captured on the field. Others Known to have been taken have not been sent in. The list, matked 6, is herewith transmitted. A tabular statement of our force** marked * 7’* is herewith submitted, showing the number of figuring mop we had on the field, on the morning ot the Gist ot December, to have been less than 35,001), of which about 30 000 were infantry and artillery. Our losses also are reported in this same comprehensive table, so as to show how much each corps, division and brigade snffered, and in case of Breckinridge’s division, the losses are reported separately for Wednesday and Fri* day. These reports are minute and suggestive, showing the seventy of the conflict, as well as i where, when and by whom it wps sustained. Among the gallant dead the nation is called to mourn, none could h ive fallen more honored or regretted than Brig. Gens James E. Rains aid R. W. Hanson. They yielded their lives in the he roic discharge of duty, and leave their honored names as a rich legacy* to their descendants. Bt ig. Ge;i Jos. K. Chalmers and D W. Adams received disabling wounds on Wednesday, lam happy to , | say not serious, hut which deprived us ot ineir . ! valuable services, liuvmg been under my mime* j diate command since the beginning ot the war, I ! cju bear evident to their devotion, t.nd to the | conspicuous gallantry which has marked thuir 1 • set vtcts on every held. i . For me sacred names of other heroes uud pu* triots of low’er grades, who gave then lives Lius*' trutmg the character of liie Confederate soldier on this bioigiy faeid, I must refer to \he repuns of'subordm ite commanders, and to the list wt .th will be submitted. Our lotses.it will bo teen, exceeded 10,000, nine thousand of which were kilted and wounded. CWetay V lo** W- h**VC Tj'i ft.l'Ui- mL iUOir. lig with certainty. o;.e corps commanded by Maj. Gen. jibomas L. Cut'cnden, whieh was least exposed in the engagements, reports over 5,000 killed uod wounded. As they had two other corps aud a separate division, third of a,corps, and their cavalry, it is safely estimated at 3,000 killed and 10,000 wounded; adding the 6,273 pris oners, and we have a total ol 22,273. Lieut. Gens. L. Folk and W. J. Hat dee. corn* mandiog corps, Moj. Gens. J. M. Withers and IV R. Cleburne, commanding divisions, are specially I commended to the Government tor ttietr valor, ( sKitluiid ability, displayed by them througaout the engagement. Brigadier General J. Pa trod Anderson, for the ! coolness, judgment uod courage with which tie ! interposed his brigade between our retreating i forces and the enemy largely superior to him, on ; Friday evening, and saved oar artillery, u* justly | entitled to special mention. Brig. Gen. Joseph Wheeler, and John A. V\ hat* ton, commanding cavalry brigades, were pie \ eminently distinguish »d throughout the action, as they had been fora month previous in many successive c -uliic s wnh the enemy. Under their skillful and gallant ieud the reputation ol our cavalry has been justly enbaccec. For the just commendation of other office is, many of whim were pre-eminently distinguished, I must refer to the reports of their more immediate com manders. To the private hoiuier a fair meed of praise is due; aad though it is so seldom given und so rarely expected, that it may be considered out of place, i cannot iu justice to Qijacit withhold the opinion ever entertained and so olteu expressed during our struggle lor independence In the absence of the instruction ana discipline <»t o'd armies and of the confidence which long associas tion produces between veterans, we have had in a great measure to trust to ihe individuality and s ill reliance of the private soldier. Without the incentive or the motive which controls the officer who hopes to lire in history ; without ihe h<*pe ot reward an i actuated only by sense of duty und palnotioflo, he bus in ibi» great contest justly judged that ihe cause was hi* own, aud gone into it with a determination to conquer or die, to be fr»»e or not io be at all. No ecommui is too high, no honor too great lor such u soldiery. However much of credit and gloiy may be given, and probably justly giv u to the leaders i:i our struga gle, history will yet award the mam honor where it is due—to the private soldier, wbo, Without hope of reward, and with id other incentive than* a consciousness of rectitude has encountered all ihe hardships, and suffered all tLe privations. Wed has it been said; “The first mouumejt our Confederacy rears when our independence shall have been w u, should be a lotty shaft, pure and spotless, bearing the inscription, To the unknown j and unrecorded dead. i The members of my staff’ arduously engaged iu their several duties, before, during ami since the prolonged engagement, are deserving a mention in this report. Lt. Cols. Geo. G. Garner, and G. W. lireut, and Cap*. P. H. Thompson, Adjutant uud In spector General’s Department. First Lts. Tow son Ellis, and F. S. Parker, regu lar Aids-de-Camp. LtCol Beard, Inspector General, Lt Col AJ Hays, P A May, Maj James StrainbHnge, La infan try, and Mig Wm Clardat, 7th Ala vol, Acting Assistant Inspector, Gens, Lt Col L W O Bannou. Chief QM, Maj M W McMicken, Assistant Q M, Maj J J Walker, Chief Commissary, Maj E Mol'uy, and G M Millyor, Assistants ; LtColII Aladowski, Chief of Ordnance ; Capt W H Warren and O T Gibbs, and Lt W F Johnson, Assts; Capt SW Steele, Act’gCh’f Eng, and Lts If C Force, and II If Buchanan, aud .1 R P McFall; LtCol JII Hul onquibt, Actgl lrf of Artillery ; Ist Lt It H S Thompson, Ass’t; Surgeon A J Foard, Med Direc tor: Acting Surgeon TG Richardson, attendant on my.-elf. Rtaff and escort; Col David IJrochart of i.oitisiana, J Stoddard Johnston, of Kentucky, and Stffjeger Grenfel, of England, the two former volunteer aids long on my staff, served me most effectively. Major E W Baylor, Asset QM. Major B C Kennedy. Ass’t Commissary Subsistence, and Lt Wm M Bridges, Aid-de-t amp to the late Brig Gen Duncan, reported just before the engagement, ami joined my staff, on which they served through Hip battle. VOL, 1C No 18 Col. J$.M. Clark, of the Artillery I*. A., being iu Murfreeriburo on temporary service, aid me the fa vor to join aud serve ou my stall during the en gagement. His Excellency Isham G. Harris, Go »»d the Hon. Andrew Ewing, member of the Military Court, volunteered their service* and rendered me efficient aid, especially with the 1 ennessee troops, largely in the ascendant in the army. It is but due to zealous and efficient laborer m onr cause that 1 here hoar testimony to the cordial support given me at all times since meeting him a year ago in West Tennessee. His Excellency Governor Harris. From the field of Shiloh, where he received in his arms the dyin toim i f tiie lamented Johnson, to the last struggle at Mtirlreesborro’, he has been one of us, and lias shared all our privations and dangers, whilst giv ing ns his personal and political Influence with all the power he possessed at the head of the State Government. To the Medical Department of the army, under Urn able administration ofsEurgoon Fo&rd, great, credit is dne for the success vvfiien attended their labors. Sharing none of the excitement and glo ry of the field, these officers, in their labors cf love, devote themselves silently and asgiduonsly to alleviate the sufferings of their brother soldiers at hours when others are seeking repose. The reports of subordinate commanders have been specially called for, and are soon expected, when they will be promptly forwarded. During the times the operations at Murfreesboro' were being conducted, important expeditions un der Brig. Gens. Forrest and Morgan were absent in West Tennessee and Northern Kentucky. The reports already forwarded show the complete sue cess which attended these gallant Brigadiers, and commend them to the confidence of the Govern ment and gratitude of the country. I am. Sir. very respectfully, youi>obedient servant, Buaxton Bites, • General Commanding. Gen. S. Cooper, Adj't Gen., Richmond, V a. A TOUCHING SCENE. 1 was conversing not long since with a returned volunteer. “ 1 waa in the hospital as nurse, for a long time,’' said he, " and assisted in taking off limbs, and dressing all sorts of wounds ; Jmt the hardest thing ever I done was to take my thumb off a man’s leg.’’ “Ah 1” said I, “ how was that ?” Then he told me. it was a yonng man who had a severe wound in the thigh. The bail passed completely through and amputation was necessary. The limb was cut off close up to the body, the arteries taken up, and lie seemed to he doing well. Subsequently one of the small arteries sloughed off. An incision was mule and it was again taken rip. “it Is well it wgs not the main artery," said the surgeon as lie per formed the operation : “he might have bled to death before w'r could have taken it up.” But Charley got on finely and was a favorite with us all. 1 was passing through the ward one night, about midnight, when suddenly as I was passing Char ley shed he spoke to me: “li -., my leg is bleeding again.” 1 threw bark the lied clothes, and the blood spirted in the air. The main artery “ had sloughed oil. Fortunately I knew just what to do, and in an instant I had pressed i:j thumb on the place and stopped the bleeding. IT was so close to the bodv 1 that there was barely room for my thumb: but • j - icceeded in keeping it there and arousing one ot tie convalescents, sent him ior the surgeon, win ; < oiirijn on the run. “i am so thankful. H .’ ’ knew what to do, tor he rme-t have bled ton •■atli 1 before 1 could have got there." > But on examination in the <-<• lie looked exceed r iugly serious and sent out for other surgeons. All , came who were within reach, ami a consultation i was held over the poor fellow. Oue conclusion rvu: readied by all. 'I here was no place to work save the spot where my thumb was placed ; they could ■ not work under my thumb, and if I moved it he . would bleed to death before the artery could !.. taken up. There was no Way la save hi- life Four Charley 1 lie was very calm alien tie told him, and requested that h'is brothel, who \ in tile same hospital, might be called up. il< and sat down by the bedside, ami for three I stood, and by the pressure of my thumb 1. ... the life of Charley, while the brothels had th last conversational! earth. It w.is a strange place lot' me to be in, to feel that 1 had the lil'c of a frt low mortal in my hands, as it were, and stranger yet, to feel that an act of mine must cause that I l ilc to depart. Roving the poor rellowasidhl.it 1 w.i ■ a hard thought: but there was no altcrna tive. The last words were spoken. Charley had ar ranged all his business aflairs. and sent tender messages to absent ones, who little dreamed how near their loved one stood to the grave. The tears filled my eyes more than once as 1 listened to those parting words. All were said and lie turned to me •Now, II - I guess you lmd better take off your thumb.” •* (>, Charley 1 hotv can I V I said. •• But it must he. you know,” lie replied cheerfully •• 1 tlmnk you very much for join kindness, and now good bye.” He turned away his head. I raised mv thumb, once more the life current gushed forth, and in three minutes poor Charley was dead. Bhkatiie Tuauuuu Yota Nose.—The habit of breathing tbiough its nostrils, says an eminent i WI iter, is the point upon which the Indian Blotter is most solicitous in regard to her intant. As respects health, thousands who are at tLis mos mem c ughiog at eveiv bic*li they draw, would alter a lew minutes’ trial at breathing.through the nostrils, find themselves delivered tr ct that tormentor. Such ns have -ad their sleep dts tinbed (aud who has not been thus e fTlicttd ?i by tje snoring of their neighbor, will become z sl ums in lavor of this relomi, n learning that a ntan who Bleeps w itlj his lips closed, tied breathes tnrough his nostrils exclusively, never si tvs. He cannot snore. Only think of it I—the i opos„ •s'bilit.v of snoring I What a benefit to tponktud. . Breathe through juur nostrils aud not'li.;. egh your mouth. Open the latter to talk -md to cat. auti tor those purpose! only. At all other times lei your lips be closed and yom teeth meet. Bv day and by night let the breath ot life ,n!er aud depart through the nostrils into which it was first breathed ut man's creation. Make a lair trial of thte, and you will never cease to be grateful for the advice. Dr. J.rs. M. Witherspoon, a prominent and use ful citizen of Greece county, Ala., died on the 22d ult, in his 62d year. Fou. T. C. PerrtD, in his annua) report respects tng the Greenville and Columbia ra.lroad, says that “more than a hundred thousand passengers were conveyed over the real last }<.ir, and not one killed.” * Fkom tub Wbst—We leatu front u gentleman who urrivtd direct in this city Thursday moms r tng from the army of Tennessee, that the report i of our army being drawn up in line of battle at | W'artrtice was an error. Out at my bud been i moved forward to the front of Duck liver, but that everyth ng was quiet. The two armies were looking ut tacit other, astd waiting for the w rd to begin. There wasnopreseDt prospect of a fight. Charltston Courier. Rev. Francis Burns, Bishop ot the Methodist Episcopal Church in Africa , died in Baltimore ou the 20th test. The deceased had been a mission ary in Africa since 1839, and was elected the first colored Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church nr 1956. * v Over seventy applications to hank under the uniform national currency act have been made to the Treasory Department. Secretary Chase has declined a public dinner, which was tendered him by his friends in New Fork.