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THE BATTLE OF STONE’S RIVER.

tinuous volleys of musketry. The rear of a line of battle always presentsthe pitiable spectacle of a horde of skulkers, men who, when tried in the fierceflame of battle, find, often to their own disgust, that they are lacking in theelement of courage. But the spectacle of whole regiments of soldiers flyingin panic to the rear was a sight never seen by the Army of the Cumberlandexcept on that occasion. Captain Otis, from his position on the extremeright, dispatched a messenger, who arrived breathless, to inform GeneralRosecrans that the right wing was in rapid retreat. The astounding intelli-gence was confirmed a moment later by a staff-officer from McCook, callingfor reenforcements. “Tell General McCook,” said Rosecrans, “to contestevery inch of ground. If he holds them we will swing into Murfreesboro ’ andcut them off.” Then Rousseau with his reserves was sent into the fight, andVan Cleve, who, in the execution of the initial movement on the left, hadcrossed Stone’s River at 6 a. m. at the lower ford, and was marching in closecolumn up the hill beyond the river (preparatory to forming a line of battlefor a movement to the right, where Wood was to join him in an assaultupon Breckinridge), was arrested by an order to return and take position onthe turnpike facing toward the woods on the right. A few moments laterthis gallant division came dashing across the fields, with water dripping fromtheir clothing, to take a hand in the fray. Harker’s brigade was withdrawnfrom the left and sent in on Rousseau’s right, and Morton’s Pioneers,relieved at the ford by Price’s brigade, were posted on Harker’s right. Theremaining brigades of Yan Cleve’s division (Beatty’s and Fyffe’s) formed onthe extreme right, and thus an improvised line half a mile in extent presenteda new and unexpected front to the approaching enemy. It was a tryingposition to these men to stand in line while the panic-stricken soldiers ofMcCook’s beaten regiments, flying in terror through the woods, rushed pastthem. The Union lines could not fire, for their comrades were between themand the enemy. Rosecrans seemed ubiquitous. All these dispositions hadbeen made under his personal supervision. While riding rapidly to the front,Colonel Garesche, his chief-of-staff, was killed at his side by a cannon-ball.Finding Sheridan coming out of the cedars into which Rousseau had justentered, Rosecrans directed Sheridan to the ammunition train, with orders tofill his cartridge-boxes and march to the support of Hazen’s brigade, nowhotly engaged on the edge of the Round Forest. The left was now exposedto attack by Breckinridge, and riding rapidly to the ford, Rosecrans inquired'who commanded the brigade. “I do, sir,” said Colonel Price. “Will youhold this ford!” “I will try, sir.” “Will you hold this ford!” “I will dieright here.” “Will you hold this ford!” for the third time thundered thegeneral. “Yes, sir,” said the colonel. “That will do”; and away gallopedRosecrans to Palmer, who was contending against long odds for the pos-session of the Round Forest.

At half-past 10 o’clock Rousseau’s reserve division, shorn of one brigade,under command of Major-General Lovell H. Rousseau, was ordered intoaction on the right of General Negley. The two brigades commanded byColonels John Beatty and B. F. Scribner, known as the 17tli and 9th of the