eld.

In this charge we captured four guns of the enemy's celebrated Washington
battery, of Louisiana, and also recaptured several of our own guns, which
were taken from us in the first day's fight.

The Rebel loss, in killed, wounded, and prisoners, was nearly three to our
one. Had but two hours more of daylight intervened, the Rebel army would
have been well nigh annihilated. It was fortunate for them that darkness
put an end to the conflict, when

"Our bugles sang truce--for the night-cloud had lower'd,
And the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky;
And thousands had sunk on the ground overpower'd,
The weary to sleep, and the wounded to die."

Thus passed another night on the battle-field.

FOURTH DAY.

During this day the enemy kept up a continual skirmishing along our front,
but without seeming inclined to risk another general encounter. This
afterwards appeared to have been only a blind to cover their retreat, for
during the same night they evacuated the field.

On Sunday morning, January 4th, General McCook entered Murfreesboro, and
took formal possession of the town.

Thus ended the great battle of Stone river, which, for desperate and hard
fighting, has not been excelled by any battle fought during the rebellion.

SUMMARY.

It would be occupying too much time and space to give full particulars of
all that transpired during this memorable conflict. And where all fought
so bravely and so well, it will not be necessary to discriminate. Taken as
a whole, it was one of the hardest contested, and most decisive battles,
which has yet been fought. The loss, in killed and wounded, on both sides,
was very heavy. The enemy's loss, in killed and wounded, will not vary far
from twelve thousand to fourteen thousand. About five thousand of the
enemy fell into our hands as prisoners of war. We captured but few arms or
equipments. Our loss, in killed and wounded, was about eight thousand, and
from three thousand to four thousand captured and missing. The Rebels
probably gained a slight advantage in the amount of artillery captured.
Several Generals, and other officers high in rank were killed and wounded,
on both sides. The Rebels retreated towards Tullahoma.

This victory once more placed us in possession of a good part of Middle
Tennessee, and thereby materially afforded us help in obtaining supplies.

The enemy were confident of success, but were woefully disappointed, and
it has been a seve