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Special Feature: Scene of a stubborn midwinter battle in the western theater of the War.

THE National Government, in 1927, established the Stones River National Military Park along the river of the same name, about 3 miles northwest of Murfreesboro, Tenn. Considered to be one of the most sanguinary battles of the Civil War, this conflict marked the real beginning of the great Federal offensive which, cutting down through Chattanooga, Atlanta, and Savannah, finally trisected the Confederacy. The historian, Ropes, said of it: "Few battles have been fought which have better exhibited the soldierly virtues."

After the battle of Shiloh and the fall of Corinth, General Halleck sent Buell's Federal army toward Chattanooga, with orders to operate against Bragg, who in the meantime had hastily gathered there a force of about 35,000 Confederate troops. Instead of awaiting Buell's approach Bragg seized the initiative and marched north into Kentucky, where he threatened Louisville. Buell followed, and after a bloody but indecisive conflict at Perryville, Bragg in mid-October withdrew through the Cumberland Mountains into east Tennessee. Though ordered to pursue him, Buell refused to lead his army so far from its base at the beginning of the severe mountain winter, and was consequently replaced by Rosecrans. The latter likewise declined to embark on so perilous a venture and moved his forces to Nashville. Bragg, after marching his army around by Knoxville and Chattanooga, came up in front of Rosecrans in mid-November at Murfreesboro, 30 miles northeast of Nashville.

Rosecrans then advanced against Bragg from Nashville, meeting stubborn resistance from the Confederate cavalry under Wheeler. On December 29, Rosecrans' forces began deploying in front of Bragg's army, which was 2 miles west and north of Murfreesboro, astride Stones River. Skirmishes and extensions of the lines took place on the thirtieth, and that night each commander decided to attack his adversary's right flank on the following morning. Bragg began his attack at dawn, throwing Rosecrans upon the defensive. He pressed his assaults so furiously that by nightfall the Federal right and center had been driven to the Nashville Pike, at right angles with the left flank, resting on Stones River which, protected by a formidable concentration of artillery, alone held its original position. Losses had been staggering on both sides, and Bragg's left and center though victorious, were greatly exhausted. Thanks to the fine energy of "Old Rosy" and the steadfast courage of his men, the Federal army remained intact and pugnacious, and was still adequately supplied despite the fact that Wheeler's cavalry was in its rear, raising havoc with its wagon trains.

On New Year's Day 1863 the hostile armies lay quiet, watching each other. Bragg had hoped that his opponent would retreat that night, but Rosecrans, on the contrary, advanced his left by sending a division across Stones River and occupied a height which both commanded and enfiladed Bragg's right. The Confederates were obliged either to recover the occupied ground or to abandon their own. Bragg chose the former alternative and ordered Breckenridge, commanding his right, to drive the Federals back across the river. Breckenridge did so, but his men got out of hand in the pursuit, and, coming under fire of the massed Federal artillery across the river, were repulsed with great slaughter. The Federals reoccupied and entrenched the disputed height.

Bragg's discouragement at the results of Breckenridge's movement was increased when, toward evening of January 3, an advance of Rosecrans' center captured the opposing earthworks in front of that point. During the night the Confederate commander, whose troops had been in line of battle for 5 days and nights without rest, and whose supplies were exhausted, withdrew his army from the battlefield and retired upon Tullahoma, 50 miles south, where he fortified a new position and remained for nearly 6 months. Rosecrans attempted no pursuit, but occupied Murfreesboro and remained there until his movement against Tullahoma in the following June.

With losses of 13,000 from a force of 45,000 on the Federal side, and with losses of 11,000 from a force of 38,000 on the Confederate side, each army had equal reason to claim a victory. The Confederates took and kept 28 guns and 3,700 prisoners, besides the booty destroyed or removed by Wheeler. On the other hand the Federals retained possession of the battlefield while their antagonists retreated for a distance of 50 miles.

NEXT> Vicksburg National Military Park

Last Modified: Thurs, Nov 23 2000 10:00:00 pm PDT
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