ACTIVITY OF ROSECRANS'S TROOPS.

a Nov. 26
1862.

Colonel

541

Bragg's superior cavalry force gave him great advantage, and Morgan was continually threatening and often striking the National supply-trains between Nashville and Mitchellsville until the railway was completed, toward the close of November." Meanwhile Stanley had arrived and assumed command of the cavalry, and he very soon drove those raiders from the rear, and made them circumspect everywhere. He sent out detachments in many directions. John Kennett, acting chief of cavalry, captured a large quantity of Confederate stores, and drove Morgan across the Cumberland. A little later' he drove a Texan regiment fifteen miles down the Franklin pike. On the same day Wheeler was driven out of Lavergne by General E. N. Kirk, and wounded. Sheridan pushed the foe back on the Nolensville road, and Colonel Roberts, of the Forty-second Illinois, surprised and captured a squad of Morgan's men, under Captain Portch, on the Charlotte pike.

b Nov. 27.

These operations warned the Confederates that they had energetic men to oppose, and that warning was emphasized by the gallant act of Major Hill, who, with the Second Indiana, chased for about eighteen miles a Confederate force that had dashed across the Cumberland and captured a train and its escort taken from his command at Hartsville, forty-five miles northeast from Nashville. Hill recovered every thing, and killed about twenty of the foe. For this he was publicly thanked by Rosecrans, while some of his cowardly men of the escort, who had suffered themselves to be captured that they might be paroled and sent home, were severely punished. A more permanent disaster to the Nationals occurred at Hartsville soon after this. General Thomas threw forward to this place from Castilian Springs, in front of Gallatin, about two thousand men of Dumont's division, who were placed in charge of Colonel A. B. Moore, of the One Hundred and Fourth Illinois. These were surprised, and fifteen hundred of them were captured by Morgan, with the same number of cavalry and mounted infantry, notwithstanding the remainder of Dumont's division was at Castilian Springs, nine miles distant. The surprise was at seven o'clock in the morning, and seemed to be without excuse. Moore was severely censured, chiefly because of his alleged want of vigilance and preparation. He had neglected to fortify or intrench his camp, and his vedettes were few and careless. His captive men were hurried to Murfreesboro', stripped of their blankets and overcoats, and then taken to the National lines for exchange,

Dec. 7.

1 During the entire war large trees were used by both sides for the purposes of look-outs for sentinels or officers of the signal corps. A platform was constructed among the higher branches, which was reached by means of cleats on the trunks, and ladders among the limbs. The above sketch shows the appearance of one of two look-outs close to the ramparts of Fort Negley, at Nashville, and also a sentry-box at an angle of the stockade citadel within the fort. Sec sketch of the fort on page 265.

2 This method of getting home without the dinger attending desertion had become a great evil, and Rosecrans determined to put a stop to it. In the case here mentioned the crime was so clear that he ordered fifty of the delinquents to be paraded through the streets of Nashville, with ridiculous night-caps on their heads, preceded by a fife and drum playing the Rogue's March. They were sent in disgrace to the parole camp in Indiana. This severity lessened the evil.

542

• Dec. 9, 1862.

ADVANCE OF THE ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND.

contrary to an agreement between Rosecrans and Bragg. The former waived the matter for that time, and received his plundered men.' The BATTLE OF HARTSVILLE was followed, two days later," by a dash of Wheeler, with a heavy force of cavalry and mounted infantry, upon a National brigade2 under Colonel Stanley Matthews, guarding a forage train at Dobbins's Ferry, on Mill Creek. After a short fight Wheeler was repulsed, and Matthews took his train to camp unharmed. Three days after this, General Stanley allowed his men to try the efficacy of two thousand revolving rifles, which he had just received. They pushed down the road toward Franklin, drove the Confederate vedettes from that village,' obtained some important information, and returned with a few prisoners.

b Dec. 12.

Such were a few of the minor operations of the Army of the Cumberland, while its commander was preparing for more important movements. The hour for those movements had now arrived. On Christmas eve he had in store at Nashville thirty days' provisions and supplies. Bragg had no idea that Rosecrans would advance and undertake a winter campaign, and had sent a large portion of his cavalry to operate upon his antagonist's lines of communication and supply. The loyal people, worried by the tardiness and failure of Buell, had become exceedingly impatient of further delay; yet the commanding general was very properly deaf to the public clamor, for it is seldom an intelligent expression. But now, being fully supplied, and his army well in hand, he determined to move upon Bragg.

At dawn on the morning of the 26th of December, a chilling rain falling copiously, the National army moved southward: McCook, with three divisions (fifteen thousand nine hundred and thirty-three men), along the Nolensville pike, toward Triune; Thomas, with two divisions (thirteen thousand three hundred and ninety-five men), by the Franklin and Wilson's pike; and Crittenden, with three divisions (thirteen thousand two hundred and eighty-eight men), on the Murfreesboro' pike, toward Lavergne. The brigade of engineers under Morton numbered seventeen hundred men. These covered all the roads leading southward from the city. It was intended that McCook, with Thomas's two divisions at Nolensville as a support, should attack Hardee at Triune, and if the latter should be beaten or should retreat, and the Confederates should meet the Nationals at Stewart's Creek, five miles south of Lavergne, Crittenden was to attack them. Thomas was to come in on the left flank, and McCook, in the event of Hardee's flight southward, was to move with the remainder of his force on his Stanley was to cover these movements with his cavalry, which he disposed in good order."

rear.

1 The plunder of prisoners of war was a common occurrence in the army of Bragg, whose sense of honor seldom troubled his conscience in such matters. With the same lack of that soldierly quality that marked his conduct toward the gallant Worden, at the beginning of the strife (see page 369, volume I.), he now behaved toward his antagonist. Rosecrans complained of the robbery and violation of the agreement. Bragg wrote characteristic replies, and then, to "fire the Southern heart," he published his replies in the Confederate newspapers. He also permitted and justified the violations of flags of truce, and showed himself so perfidious that Rosecrans refused to have any further intercourse with him excepting by shot and shell.

2 Fifty-first Ohio, Thirty-fifth Indiana, Eighth and Twenty-first Kentucky, and a section of Swallow's Seventh Indiana battery.

The Army of the Cumberland now fit for duty numbered 46,910 men, of whom 41,421 were infantry, 2,223 artillery, with 150 guns, and 8,266 cavalry, the greater portion of the latter being raw recruits.

4 Colonel Minty, with the First brigade, moved along the Murfreesboro' pike in advance of the left wing.

ROSECRANS APPROACHING MURFREESBORO'.

543

The Nationals had scarcely passed beyond their picket lines when they were heavily pressed by large bodies of cavalry, well supported by infantry and artillery. Sharp skirmishing ensued. The country, heavily wooded with oak forests and cedar thickets, grew rougher and rougher, and more difficult to traverse, and more easily defended. Yet McCook, his advance under Generals Davis and Sheridan skirmishing all the way, rested that night at Nolensville, and Crittenden, with the left, after considerable skirmishing, reposed near Lavergne. Long after dark, Rosecrans, with his staff, who left Nashville at noon, arrived at McCook's head-quarters.

a Dec. 27, 1862.

Hardee was reported to be in heavy force at Triune, seven miles in front of McCook, and there it was expected he would give battle the next morning; but on McCook's advancing at mid-day, after a heavy fog had been lifted from the country, it was found that his foe had decamped, leaving a battery of six pieces, supported by cavalry, to dispute the crossing of Wilson's Creek. These were soon driven, and McCook rested at Triune that night. Crittenden, in the mean time, had driven the Confederates out of Lavergne, and, in the face of continual opposition, advanced to Stewart's Creek, a deep stream with high banks, where Rosecrans expected the Confederates would make a stand. They did not, however, and their attempts to burn the bridge behind them failed, owing to a charge on their rear-guard by the Third Kentucky. After brisk skirmishing with portions of Hascall's brigade, the Confederates fell back in disorder.

¿ Dec. 29.

The following day was the Sabbath. The troops all rested, excepting Rousseau's division, which was ordered to move on to Stewartsburg, and Willich's brigade, which returned from a pursuit of Hardee as far as Riggs's Cross Roads, on his way to Murfreesboro'. On the following morning' McCook pushed on from Triune to Wilkinson's Cross Roads, six miles from Murfreesboro', with an advanced brigade at Overall's Creek, while Crittenden, moving on the Murfreesboro' pike, with Palmer in advance, followed by Negley, of Thomas's corps, skirmished to the West Fork of Stone's River, to within a short distance of Murfreesboro', when Palmer, deceived, erroneously signaled to head-quarters at Lavergne that the Confederates were evacuating the town. Crittenden was directed to send a division across the stream to occupy Murfreesboro.' General Harker was ordered to lead in that duty. His brigade crossed, drove the Confede rates, and found Breckenridge in strong force on his front, whereupon Crittenden wisely took the responsibility of recalling him. Harker recrossed after dark without serious loss. On the following morning McCook moved toward Murfreesboro' from Wilkinson's Cross Roads, and fought his way almost to Stone's River, a little west of that town; and before evening nearly the whole of the National army was in an irregular line, more than three miles in length, in front of the Confederates, who were in strong position on the river before Murfreesboro.1

The Second brigade, under Colonel Zahn, of the Third Ohio, moved along the Franklin road. The reserves. composed of nine regiments, and commanded by Stanley himself, preceded McCook's command on the Nolensville road. Colonel John Kennett commanded the left of the cavalry; and the Fourth regulars, under Captain Otis, was reserved for courier and escort duty.

1 Bragg's army was disposed as follows:-The left wing in front of Stone's River, and the right wing in the rear of the stream. Polk's corps formed the left wing and Hardee's the right. Withers's division formed

544

PREPARATIONS FOR BATTLE.

Both armies prepared for battle on the night of the 30th. Rosecrans lay with Crittenden on the left, resting on Stone's River, Thomas in the center, and McCook on the right. These leaders met the commander at his quarters at nine o'clock that evening, when they received instructions for the morning. Rosecrans determined to throw his left and center heavily on Breckenridge at daybreak, crush him, wheel rapidly and attack with strong power the front and flank of the Confederate center, and then, sweeping through Murfreesboro', gain the rear of that center and their left, cut off their line of retreat, and destroy their army in detail. For this purpose McCook was to occupy the most advantageous position, taking every precaution to secure his right, and to receive and make an attack as circumstances might determine, and thus to hold all the force on his front for three hours, if possible. Thomas and Palmer were to open with skirmishing, and gain the Confederate center and left as far as the river, and Van Cleve's division of Crittenden's force was to fall upon Breckenridge and make the proposed sweep into Murfreesboro'.

ROSECRANG

H.Q

CRITTI

LINE

COOK

UNION

THOMAS

PIKE

---

CONFEDERATE

HARDES

BRECKENRIDGE

MURFREE

RIVER

The troops breakfasted at dawn of the 31st. Before sunrise Van Cleve crossed the river, and Wood was in readiness with his division to follow him in support. Meanwhile a counter-movement of the Confederates seriously interfered with Rosecrans's plan. Bragg had resolved to attack the National right at dawn, and for that purpose had massed his troops on his left under Hardee, in front of McCook. These in the dim morning twilight emerged suddenly and unexpectedly from thick woods -so unexpectedly that some of the battery horses had been unhitched and led to a stream to drink only a few minutes before. The four brigades under Cleburne led, and charged furiously upon McCook's extreme right before Van Cleve had moved. The divisions of Cheatham and McCown struck nearer the center, and at both points the National skirmishers were instantly thrown back upon their lines. Toward these the assailants pressed rapidly, in the face of a terrific storm of missiles, losing heavily every moment, but never faltering, and, falling with crushing force upon the brigades of Willich and Kirk, pressed them back in confusion. Kirk was severely wounded, and Willich, having his horse killed under him, was made prisoner. Edgarton's battery and a part of Goodspeed's were cap

POSITION, DECEMBER 31ST.

Polk's first line, and Cheatham's the second. Breckenridge's formed the first line of Hardee's and Cleborne's the second. The two lines were eight hundred to one thousand yards apart. McCowan's division formed the reserve opposite the center, on high ground, and Jackson's brigade the reserve of the right flank, under the direction of Hardee. Bragg ordered the cavalry to fall back on the approach of the Nationals, Wheeler to form on the right and Wharton on the left, for the protection of the flanks of the line, and Pegram to go to the rear as a reserve. He ordered all supplies and baggage to be in readiness for an advance or a retreat, and, in the event of the latter, Polk's corps was to move on Shelbyville and Hardee's on the Manchester pike-trains in front, cavalry in the rear,

BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO'.

545

tured, and the guns were turned upon the fugitives. A large number of Johnson's scattered division was captured by the Confederates.

Following up this success, the victors fell with equal vigor upon McCook's left, composed of the divisions of Sheridan and J. C. Davis. They struck them on the flank. After a sharp struggle, Davis gave way. Sheridan fought longer and most desperately with the foe on his front, flank, and rear. Twice his gallant division changed front and drove back its assailants, but finally, outnumbered, and nearly surrounded, its ammunition exhausted, and every brigade commander killed or wounded,' it fell back in good order almost to the Nashville pike, with a loss of Houghtailing's battery and a part of Brush's. As these brigades fell back they fought gallantly, but the columns of the Confederates were too heavy to allow them to make serious resistance.

It was now eleven o'clock in the morning. The right wing, comprising' full one-third of the army, was thoroughly broken up, and Bragg's cavalry were in Rosecrans's rear, destroying his trains and picking up his stragglers. McCook had early called for help, but it was not furnished, as the commander-in-chief supposed the right could hold its position until other contemplated movements should be made; but when Rosecrans (whose headquarters were not far from the site of the National cemetery since established there, a little more than two miles from Murfreesboro') was informed that the right wing was being driven, he directed General Thomas to give aid to Sheridan. Rousseau, then in reserve, was immediately sent with two brigades and a battery to Sheridan's right and rear, but it was too late. Crittenden had been ordered to suspend the operations of Van Cleve against Breckenridge, and to cover the crossing of the river with a brigade, and Wood was ordered to discontinue his preparations for following, and to hold Hascall in reserve.

When the right wing was broken up, it seemed as if the Nationals had lost the day. They had been driven from nearly one-half of the ground occupied by them at dawn, and hundreds of men had been lost. But there were able leaders and brave fighters left. They had hard work to perform. The Confederate batteries, in chosen positions, were playing fearfully upon the center, under the gallant Thomas, where Negley's division, in the cedar woods, was desperately fighting the victors over Sheridan and Davis. Negley's ammunition began to fail, his artillery horses became disabled, and a heavy column of the foe was crowding in between him and the remnant of the right wing. These circumstances compelled him to recoil, when Rousseau led his reserve division to the front, and sent a battalion of regulars, under Major Ring, to Negley's assistance. These made a successful charge. but with heavy loss, and caused the Confederates to fall back.

The brunt of the battle had now fallen upon Thomas, whose command was chiefly in and near the cedars. The assailants of Sheridan pressed farther toward the National rear, until they reached a position from which they poured a concentrated cross fire on Negley and Rousseau. This com

1 General J. W. Sill was killed early in the action, and at a later period Colonels Roberts and Schaeffer, each commanding a brigade, fell dead at the head of their troops.

VOL. II.-35