ARMY OPERATIOXS. 



159 



occupied a line of about ten miles on the south- 

 easterly front of Xashville facing south, the right 

 resting on the right of the Franklin turnpike, 

 the centre extending out to Breakville on the 

 Xolinsville turnpike, and the left covered by 

 Mill Creek, some six or eight miles from Nash- 

 ville, with outposts describing an irregular 

 semicircle, covering a distance of nine miles 

 from the city. To this front the Confederate 

 army presented its force with outposts about 

 two miles distant. Gen. E. Kirby Smith's corps, 

 with part of Col. Morgan's cavalry, occupied 

 the Confederate right ; the corps of Gen. Polk, 

 with Col. Wheeler's cavalry brigade, occupied 

 the centre at Lavergne; Gen. Hardee's corps 

 at Triune and Xolinsville. with Col. Wharton's 

 cavalry in front, occupied the left. On the 

 night of the 25th, Christmas, the determina- 

 tion for an advance the next day was made. 

 The respective columns were so disposed as to 

 move down Wilson's, the Xolinsville, Murfrees- 

 borough, and Jefferson turnpikes. The general 

 plan was to move a brigade down Wilson's 

 turnpike to protect the right, while Gen. Xegley 

 should endeavor to turn the Confederate left 

 and get into its rear ; Gen. McCook's corps 

 was to press directly upon Gen. Hardee at Xo- 

 linsville and Triune, while Gen. Crittenden push- 

 ed down the Murfreesborough and Jefferson 

 turnpikes. At dawn on the 26th. the troops 

 broke up camp with wild shouts and poured 

 along the highways. Gen. McCook's corps 

 marched steadily down the road with skirmish- 

 ers widely spread out. The Confederates re- 

 sisted sharply, but were steadily driven, the 

 Federal loss being small. Gen. Crittenden ad- 

 vanced to Lavergne without opposition. The 

 Confederates retired rapidly before his skir- 

 mishers. On the next day, the 27th, the Con- 

 federate force continued to retire as the Fed- 

 erals advanced with sharp skirmishing. At 

 four o'clock P. M., the Confederate right had 

 been driven over the bridge across Stewart's 

 Creek, on the Jefferson turnpike, which they 

 were prevented from destroying. They were 

 also driven over the bridge across the same creek 

 on the Murfreesborough turnpike so rapidly 

 as to be unable to destroy it. Both structures 

 came into the possession of the Federal forces, 

 all the columns of which had now closed up. 

 It was now apparent from the course of the 

 Confederate retreat that their purpose was to 

 concentrate near Stone Creek or river. On 

 Sunday the 28th, Gen. Thomas advanced his 

 camp across Stewart's Creek, and joined the 

 left. Xext day, Gen. McCook moved within 

 seven miles of Murfreesborough, and Gen. Crit- 

 tenden moved within three miles. Gen. Xegley 

 advanced to the centre, and Gen. Rousseau's 

 division was placed in reserve, on the right of 

 Gen. Crittenden. On the 30th. Gen. McCook 

 advanced through thickets, stubbornly resisted 

 by the Confederates, and pressed Gen. Hardee's 

 corps in his front in line of battle. The front 

 of this Confederate corps crossed the Federal 

 right obliquely, in a position which, if extend- 



ed, would flank it. The centre, under Gen. 

 Xegley, was slightly advanced into a cedar 

 wood, and was engaged in reconnoitring un- 

 der sharp resistance, and in cutting roads 

 through the dense forest to open communica- 

 tion with the right. The left was in a line 

 corresponding with the course of Stone river. 

 The right division of Gen. McCook now faced 

 to the southeast, and two brigades were 

 thrown out on the extreme right, some- 

 what in reserve. The Confederate force was 

 concentrated within two miles of Murfrees- 

 borough, with its right resting on the Lebanon 

 turnpike, thence extending west across Lytle's 

 Creek and the Xashville turnpike, and under 

 the command of Gen. Leonidas Polk. It con- 

 sisted of three divisions under Gens. Cheatham, 

 Breckinridge, and Buckner. The Confederate 

 centre was composed of three divisions of Gen. 

 E. Kirby Smith ; the left was under the com- 

 mand of Gen. Hardee, and rested on the Frank- 

 lin and Murfreesborough road. This position of 

 the Confederate army gave to it the advantage 

 of strong natural fortifications, with their centre 

 effectually masked by almost impenetrable ce- 

 dar forests. Constant skirmishing was going 

 on between both forces, and it was manifest 

 that another day would witness the impending 

 battle. At this time assaults were made by 

 cavalry on the Federal rear, and several trains 

 werf captured. During the night it was evi- 

 dent that the Confederate forces were massing 

 on the right of Gen. Rosecrans, and his plan 

 was formed to give ground a little, if necessary, 

 on that wing, and to advance the left at the 

 same time into Murfreesborough. The execu- 

 tion of this purpose was prevented by the great 

 force of the Confederate attack on the right. 



Early on the morning of the 31st. the attack 

 was made along the entire line of the Federal 

 right under Gen. McCook. The weather was 

 foggy, and the appearance of the Confederate 

 force was sudden. Xo preparations up to this 

 time for an advance or an assault had been 

 made. An attack very early in the morning 

 had been anticipated ; but as it did not come, a 

 degree of carelessness and indifference had 

 taken possession of both officers and men. and 

 all precautions were in a degree abandoned. 

 The opposing lines of the two hostile wings 

 had formed on the opposite sides of a val- 

 ley which narrowed toward the Federal left. 

 Gen. McCook's corps consisted of three divi- 

 sions which formed this line. On the left was 

 the division of Gen. Sheridan, in the centre 

 that of Gen. Davis, and on the right that of 

 Gen. Johnson. The attack was made along the 

 entire front at once by the Confederate force, 

 rapidly advancing in double columns. Before 

 the divisions of Gens. Johnson and Davis could 

 form, the Confederate batteries opened upon 

 them, and their infantry soon after became en- 

 gaged at short range, rapidly advancing and 

 preparing to charge bayonets. Two batter- 

 ies of Gen. Johnson's division were taken be- 

 fore a gun was fired ; and the irregular fire of 



