Civil War Battle of Stones River

Civil War Battle of Stones River The Battle of Stones River was fought December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). On the Union side,  Major General William S. Rosecrans  led 43,400 men while Confederate  General Braxton Bragg  led 37,712 men. Background In the wake of the Battle of Perryville on October 8, 1862, Confederate forces under General Braxton Bragg began retreating south from Kentucky. Reinforced by troops under Major General Edmund Kirby Smith, Bragg ultimately halted at Murfreesboro, TN. Renaming his command the Army of Tennessee, he began a massive overhaul of its leadership structure. When complete, the army was divided into two corps under Lieutenant Generals William Hardee and Leonidas Polk. The armys cavalry was led by the young Brigadier General Joseph Wheeler. Though a strategic victory for the Union, Perryville resulted in changes on the Union side as well. Displeased with the slowness of Major General Don Carlos Buell actions following the battle, President Abraham Lincoln relieved him in favor of Major General William S. Rosecrans on October 24. Though warned that inaction would lead to his removal, Rosecrans delayed in Nashville as he organized the Army of the Cumberland and re-trained his cavalry forces. Under pressure from Washington, he finally moved out on December 26. Planning for Battle Moving southeast, Rosecrans advanced in three columns led by Major Generals Thomas Crittenden, George H. Thomas, and Alexander McCook. Rosecrans line of advance was intended as a turning movement against Hardee whose corps was at Triune. Recognizing the danger, Bragg ordered Hardee to rejoin him at Murfreesboro. Approaching the town along the Nashville Turnpike and Nashville Chattanooga Railroad, Union forces arrived on the evening of December 29. The next day, Rosecrans men moved into line two miles northwest of Murfreesboro (Map). Much to Braggs surprise, Union forces did not attack on December 30. For December 31, both commanders developed similar plans calling for a strike against the others right flank. While Rosecrans intended to attack after breakfast, Bragg ordered his men to prepare to advance at dawn. For the assault, he shifted the bulk of Hardees corps to the west side of Stones River where it joined with Polks men. One of Hardees divisions, led by Major General John C. Breckinridge, remained on east side to the north of Murfreesboro. The Union plan called for Crittendens men to cross the river and attack the heights held by Breckinridges men. The Armies Clash While Crittenden was in the north, Thomas men held the Union center and McCooks formed the right flank. As his flank was not anchored on any substantial obstacle, McCook took measures, such as burning additional campfires, to deceive the Confederates as to the size of his command. Despite these measures, McCooks men bore the brunt of the first Confederate assault. Beginning around 6:00 AM on December 31, Hardees men moved forward. Catching the enemy by surprise, they overwhelmed Brigadier General Richard W. Johnsons division before Union resistance began to mount. To Johnsons left, Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis division held briefly before beginning a fighting retreat to the north. Realizing that McCooks men were not capable of halting the Confederate advance, Rosecrans canceled Crittendens attack at 7:00 AM and began flying around the battlefield directing reinforcements south. Hardees assault was followed by a second Confederate attack led by Polk. Moving forward, Polks men met significantly stiffer resistance from Union forces. Having anticipated an early-morning attack Brigadier General Philip H. Sheridan had taken the necessary precautions. Sheridan Hazen Hold Mounting a vigorous defense, Sheridans men turned back numerous charges by the divisions of Major Generals Jones M. Withers and Patrick Cleburne while holding a small cedar forest that became known as the Slaughter Pen. By 10:00 AM, as Sheridans men battled, the bulk of McCooks command had formed a new line near the Nashville Turnpike. In the retreat, 3,000 men and 28 guns had been captured. Around 11:00 AM, Sheridans men began to run out of ammunition and were compelled to fall back. As Hardee moved to exploit the gap, Union troops worked to plug the line. A bit to the north, Confederate attacks against the brigade of Colonel William B. Hazen were repeatedly turned back. The only part of the original Union line to hold, the rocky, wooded area held by Hazens men became known as Hells Half-Acre. As fighting quieted, the new Union line was essentially perpendicular to its original position. Seeking to complete his victory, Bragg ordered part of Breckinridges division, along with units from Polks corps, to renew the attack on Hazen around 4:00 PM. These assaults were repulsed with heavy losses. Final Actions That night, Rosecrans called a council of war to determine a course of action. Deciding to stay and continue the fight, Rosecrans revived his original plan and ordered Brigadier General Horatio Van Cleves division (led by Colonel Samuel Beatty) to cross the river. While both sides remained in place on New Years Day, Rosecrans rear and supply lines were continuously harassed by Wheelers cavalry. Reports from Wheeler suggested that Union forces were preparing to retreat. Content to let them go, Bragg limited his actions on January 2 to ordering Breckinridge to clear Union forces from the high ground north of town. Though reluctant to attack such a strong position, Breckinridge ordered his men forward around 4:00 PM. Striking Crittenden and Beattys position, they succeeded in pushing some of the Union troops back across McFaddens Ford. In doing so, they ran into 45 guns arrayed by Captain John Mendenhall to cover the river. Taking severe losses, Breckinridges advance was checked and a swift Union counterattack by Brigadier General James Negleys division drove them back. Aftermath of the Battle of Stones River The following morning, Rosecrans was re-supplied and reinforced. Convinced that Rosecrans position would only get stronger and fearful that winter rains would raise the river and split his army, Bragg began retreating around 10:00 PM on January 3. His withdraw eventually halted at Tullahoma, TN. Bloodied, Rosecrans stayed at Murfreesboro and did not attempt a pursuit. Deemed a Union victory, the fighting raised Northern spirits following the recent disaster at the Battle of Fredericksburg. Transforming Murfreesboro into a supply base, Rosecrans remained until embarking on the Tullahoma Campaign the following June. The fighting at Stones River cost Rosecrans 1,730 killed, 7,802 wounded, and 3,717 captured/missing. Confederate losses were slightly less, numbering 1,294 killed, 7,945 wounded, and 1,027 captured/missing. Extremely bloody relative to the numbers engaged (43,400 vs. 37,712), Stones River saw the highest percentage of casualties of any major battle during the war. Following the battle, Bragg was severely criticized by other Confederate leaders. He only retained his post due to President Jefferson Davis inability to find a suitable replacement.