800 



STONE RIVER. 



ville weakly garrisoned and poorly supplied it 

 liad nothing to show for its nine mouths' campaign. 

 Tbe district was scoured by Confederate cavalry un- 

 der C*pt J. H. Morgan and Col. N. B. Forrest,* who 

 rendered it most difficult to keep up communications 

 with the Union depot of supplies at Louisville. 

 After reorganizing the army and replenishing its 

 ammunition, he took immediate steps to avert the 

 danger with which Bragg's proximity menaced Nash- 

 ville. By Nov. 7 he had the main part of his forces 

 concentrated in front of that city, southward, and 

 covering the roads leading in that direction. To 

 insure the maintenance of communication with 

 Louisville the main part of his centre division was 

 stationed at Qullatin. For about six weeks lie lay 

 thus, employed in collecting supplies of various 

 kinds preparatory to a movement upon Bragg. Dur- 

 ing this period his men were engaged in frequent 

 skirmishing conflicts with the enemy, among which 

 W.K the surprise of the Union Col. Moore and capt- 

 ure of 1500 men by Morgan's rough-riders at Harts- 

 villa on Dec. 1st. But the hour for more impor- 

 tant movements was at hand. Bragg had no idea 

 th.it Rosecruns wonM undertake a winter campaign 

 and had sent away a large portion of his force one 

 section (cavalry) into West Tennessee, to annoy 

 Grant ; the other into Kentucky, to break tip the 

 railroad forming Rosecraus' sole means of commu- 

 nication with his depots at Louisville. The latter 

 commander judged that the opportunity was not to 

 bo let slip and at once took action. 



At dawn of Dec. 126 the Union army moved south- 

 ward : McCook, with 3 divisions (16,000 men), along 

 the Nolensville pike toward Triune; Thomas, with 

 two divisions, Negley's and llosecrans' (13,500), by 

 tlie pike on his right to fall in by cross-roads to 

 Nolensville ; and Crittenden, with 3 divisions (13,300), 

 on the Murfreesboro' pike toward Lavergne. The 

 I'l in given out was that McCook should attack the 

 Confederate general, Hardee, who was reported lying 

 with a large force at Triune, 7 miles south of Nolan*- 

 ville, and, in the event of Hardce's having to retreat, 

 that Crittenden should assail him at Stewart's Creek, 

 while Thomas was to come in on his left flank. 

 These movements were to be covered by Brig. -Gen. 

 D. 8. Stanley, chief of cavalry. McCook (skirmish- 

 ing all the way) reached Nolensville in the evening 

 and rested there, with Thomas on his right, who 

 closed Negley's division on Nolensville. Crittenden, 

 with the left, reposed near Lavergne. Late at night 

 Rasecrans, who had left Nashville at noon, arrived 

 at McCr>ok s head. {darters. 



On McCook's arrival before Triune next day (27th) 

 lie found that Hardee had retired, and he rested 

 there for the night. Crittenden the same day 

 reached Stewart's Creek. Next day was Sunday, and 

 a day of almost general rest. On the morning of 

 Monday (29th) McOook pushed on from Trinno to 

 Wilkinson's Cross, 6 miles from Murfreesboro', while 

 Grittonden, moving on the Mnrfreesboro' pike, skir- 

 mished forward to the Wast Fork of Stone River, 

 within a short distance of Mnrfreesboro'. In the 

 afternoon Palmer signalled headquarters at Lavergne 

 (erroneously) that the Confederates were evacuating 

 the village, and Marker of Crittenden's was ordered 

 to cross the stream and occupy it. His brigade on 

 crossing found Breckenridge in strong force in front, 

 mid Crittenden wisely recalled him. Next morning 

 McCook moved close up to Stone River, a little 

 went of the town, and before evening nearly the 

 whole Union force stood in an irregular line, more 

 th:in three miles in length, in front of the Confeder- 

 ates, who held a strong position before Murfrocsbnni'. 

 During the night of the 30th both armies prepared 

 for hi'tle. Crittenden was on the Union left, resting 

 on Stone River ; Thomas held the centre ; McCook 

 stood on the right. Bragg disposed his forces the 



right Under Breckenridge in the rear of Stone River; 

 Polk in the centre, and Hard.e on the left, both in 

 front of the stream. At U p. M. the 1V.I. i:il com- 

 manders met at headquarters and : is ex- 

 plained his plan of battle. The left and cent!. 

 to be thrown heavily on Breckenridgc at duybiciih, 

 crush him, wheel rapidly, and attack the front mid 

 flank of the Confederate centre, and then, sweeping 

 through Murfree-sboro', gain the rear of the centio 

 and left, cut off their line of retreat, and so destroy 

 the army in detail. 



Before sunrise of the 31st Van Cleve's division of 

 Crittenden's crossed tlie river, and Wood was ready 

 to follow him in 8iip{xirt. Meanwhile a counter- 

 movement of the Confederates entirely dei : 

 ins' scheme. Bragg bod decided to attack 

 the Union right at dawn, and with this view had 

 massed his troops on his left under Hardee in front 

 of McCook. In the dim light of dawn these emerged 

 on a sudden from the close \\.x-ds. Clelmrne led 

 with four brigades and charged Mi-Cook's extreme 

 right before Van Clevo had moved. Cheatham's and 

 McCown's divisions struck nearer the centre, and, de- 

 spite a storm of missiles, fell heavily on the brigades 

 of Willich and Kirk and forced them back in con- 

 fusion. Kirk -was seriously wounded ; Willich was 

 taken captive; Edgarton's battery anil port of (!old- 

 speed's were captured and hum d on the fugitives; 

 n largo number of prisoners were taken. Following 

 up this success, the victors fell on McCook's left, 

 composed of the divisions of Sheridan and J. C. 

 Davis, striking thorn on the left flank. After a se- 

 vere struggle, especially on tlie part of Sheridan, 

 these also gave way and fell back almost to the 

 j Nashville {like. In this onset Honghtailing'tt bat- 

 tery and part of Brash's were lost. 



It was now 11 o'clock. The Union right wing, 

 comprising one-third of the army, was completely 

 broken ii]>, and the Confederate cavalry were in 

 linsecrans' rear. It seemed as if the day were lost. 

 The Union troops had been driven from nearly half 

 the ground they held at dawn, and they had lost 

 many hundreds of men. The brunt of the battle 

 fell now on Thomas in the centre, who had been re- 

 enforced by Koussenu's reserve division. The enemy 

 1 toward his rear til I they reached a position 

 whence they poured a storm of cross-fire on V 

 and liousseau. This compelled Thomas to with- 

 draw from the cedar-wood he occupied and form 

 line in the open ground between the woods and the 

 Nashville pike. This position he held firmly, nnd 

 enabled liosccrans to readjust his lino in accord- 

 ance with the position of affairs. The fight was not 

 'vet over. Palmer's division, on the right of the 

 i Union left wing, was next assailed in front and rear. 

 His right brigade, under Craft, was beaten back, 

 and the assailants fell on the second brigade under 

 W. B. Ha7.cn. This broken, the Confederate victory 

 was complete, lla/.en felt that on him depended 

 the issue of the, battle, and, at a terrible sacrifice, 

 held his ground till Rosecrans was able to form his 

 new line. His brigade, by staying the tide of Con- 

 federate victory, saved the day. But the stnigglo 

 was not over. Bragg's entire force, excepting a 

 part of Breckenridge's across the river, now | 

 on to break the newly formed Union line. Wood, 

 though severely wounded, with Van Cleve. fought 

 the Confederate left under Breckenridge and re- 

 pulsed his charges till darkness put an end to the 

 conflict, leaving the Union troops, to use 

 crnns* own words in his report, " masters of the 

 original ground on their left, and their new lino 

 'advantageously posted, with open ground in front, 

 swept at all points by their artillery." 



Rosecrans' loss in men and guns had been heavy, 

 but he was not discouraged. Bragg had sent a de- 

 spatch to Richmond stating that after ten hours 



