, 1863-02-28
the headquarters Of the General commanding
who explained to them the following
tf.AN nr TIE nArr1H

to open with skirlli=.li1g and g';n the e.sc
uy + centre and In, rs flras tho river. Crit
tt1dcn to cross F.,n Cleye's division at the
lower fnr1, covered and supported bF the
saipeis and miners and to advance on Breca-
inridge. Woods division to follow by br-
galcs crussing at the upper ford, and mor-
ing On Van Cievc's right, to carry everything
before item into Murfrecsboro.. This would
have given lis Two divisions against one; and
as soon rs B7cckinridyc had been di-lodgcd
from his position, the batteries Of Woods
division, taking position on the heights cast
Of Stone River, in advance, would see the en-
cln1 works III scyeEee, would disloI5e them,
and cnablc Palncr's division to press them
back, and drive them westward across tue river,
or through the woods; while Thomas, sIstalll-
ing the movement on the centre, would ad-
vance on the right of Palmer, crushing their
right, and Crittcndcn's corps advancing would
ward on the franklin road, get in their flank
and rear, and drive them into the country to.
wards Salel!,, with the prospect of cutting OF
their retreat, and probably destroying their
army.
1t was explained 10 them that this combina-
tion cnsnring lis Il vast superiority on our left,
required fur its success that Gen. 5lcCook
should be able to hold his position for three
hours; that if necessary to rccede At all. be
should recct.e as nc had advanced on the ire.
ccding day, slowly aud steadily, refusing his |
right, thereby yendering our SUCCESS certain,
Having thus explained the plan, the Genera! |
commanding addressed Gen, MeCopk as f,1- |
lows: " Yon know the ground; you have |
fought over It's difficulties, Can you hold |
yonr present position for three hoRrsy' To !
which Gen. McCook responded, s' Yes, I think |
can" The General commanding then said: |
81 don't like til. facing 50 much to the cast, |
but must cnnfide thlt IT, yOn, who know the |
ground. If yon don't think your present the |
returned to their commands. At daylight !
OH the morning Of the 31*t, the troops break |
fastcd aud stood by their arms, and By :
o'clock We're preparing for the
BATTLE.
Tie movement began on the left by Van
Clcye, WHO crusscd ut the lower foEds: Wood
1repa1ed to sustain and follow him. The cri-
McCock, and by G15 O'Clock advanced in
heavy cvlumns-segimentai front-his left at
| t.ckjng Wiliicli's and Kinks brigadcs uf
Johnson's division, which, being disposed as
shown in the 1nap--thin and light. without
snpport-were, attcr sharp but fruitless con-
lest, crunlblcd to pieces and driven back, ,lcag-
ing Edgarton's and part of Goodspeed's bat
| terry in The hands of the Enemy. The enemy,
following ul', attacked Davis division, and
| spcedily tlsloaged Posts brigade. Carlin's
rull's brigade, from the weight Of testimony,
had previously left its position OIL his left.
.Ioh,son's brigade, in retiring, inclined too
far to the west, and were too much scattered
to7nal;c Il combined resistance, though they
fought br:ycly ut one or two points before
reaching Nilkinsol's pike. Tile reserve bvi-
Slde OF Johnson's division advancing from
| It's biyouac near WiikinSon's pike towards the
| right, took n good position and made Il gal
liant but Intellectual stand, as the whole rebel
lefa was moving up on the ground abandoned
by our troops.
Within M hour from the time Of the ooen-
ing Of the battle, a staff officer from General
NcCouk arrived, announcing to INC that tue
right wing was heavily pressed and needed
assistance, but WAS not advised Of the route
Of Willich's and kirly's brigtdes, nor Of the
rapid withdrawal Of Davis division necessita-
ted tllerchy-morcoycF, having supposed his
wing posted more comlslctfy, and his right
more refused than it really WIS, the direction
! ri the noise Of battle did not Indicate to ME
the true state Of Affairs. consequently di-
| rtctcd him 10 return, and direct Gen. McCook
! to dispose his troops to the best advantage,
and to hold his GROUND obstinatcly. Soon
after, second officer from Gen. McCook ar
rived, aud stated That the right wing WAS being
driven; fact That was but too manifest, BY
the rapid movement Of tho noise Of battle to.
/ wards the north. Gen, Thomas was itnmcdi'
ately dispatched to order Rou=scau-thcrc III
rcSerye-into the cedar brakes to the right
and rear of Sheridan. Gen. C7ittenlen WAS
ordered 10 suspend Van Clevc's movement
across the river on the left, and to corer the
crossing with one brigade, and move the Other
two br;gAdcs westward across the fields to-
wards the railroad, for d reserve. Wood was
also directed 10 suspend his preparations for
crossing and to hold liascall in reserve.
, At tbl: moment fugftiycs and stragglers fron
f ance through the cedar brakes, in sucli nunt
bcrs that ] became satisfied that McCool
corps Wns routed. I therefore directed Gen
Criltcpden to send Van Clcye in tt
the right of Koussuu, Wood to lead Col
: Harkef's brigade further down the alu,f frees
U lie f1,pn II, md 1t$lf.l- ,Y
the right Of Van Cleye, the Pioneer brigade
), meanwhile occupying the knoll Of groun<
l west Of Murfrcesboro pike, aud about 400 O
! ECO yards III the rear OF Palmcres centre, sup
9 porting Stol;c's battery. (Sec accompanying
!. lrawing.) Sheridan, after sustaining ION
= successive attacks, gradually SWING his righ
$ from q southcastcsly to northwcsterly di
!. rcctio't, rcpulsng the enemy four times, los
: irg the gallant General Sill, of his right, AMI
). Colonel Roberts, OF his left brigade. Whe,
+ having exhausted Ills amnunitIon-Negley'
+ division being in the same prcdicament, :lns
J; heavily prcsscd-af1er desperate yhtiug, the
u fell back from the position held at the com
: mcnce,nent through the cedar woods, i
= Ncgley's and Sheridan'5, met the advaucin
e enemy and checked his movements. The am
;. nsunition tr:lfn OF the right VI ing, cndangere
by its sudden discontinue, WIS taken charg
= Of by Corttiu Thur6ton, Of the 1st Ohio re;
u mint, ordnance officer, who, By his cnerg
!. and gallantry, aided by q charge Of eayalr
It and such troops as l.c could rick up, carrie
&c it through the woods to the MurfrersboE
u pike around to the rear Of the left wing, tn,
!, Enabling The troops of SheEilui's division I
IT rcplcnisli their empty cartridge boxes. d.
e ring Ill this time Palmcr's front had likcwi:
" been in action, the enemy having made sew
\ 1al attempts to advance upon It. At tn
~ stage II became necessary to re.adjust the l1E
=: Of battle to the new state Of atlairs. Ron
: eeau and Van Cleyc's advance, having relieyt
{. Shcfiaan's division from the pressure, Ne
IS 1ey's division and Cruit's brigade, from Ri
IN ner's division, withdrew from their origin;
Gil Gil position in front OF the ccdars and crosse
IS the open fields to tho cast of thc Murfrec
C. front linz, where Ncglcy WAS ordered to r
=, plcnish his ammunition and form in clio
Gu column in reserve.
'ss The right and centre of our line now c.
" III 4 nort!wester1y direction, and Hlscall su
"a ~ porting liazcn, Rousseau filling the intery
u. to the pioneer brigade, Nc:,ley in rcsery
'cc Van Clcvc west Of the pioneer brigade, II
es. Cooks corps refused Oh his right aud Slight
e ek to the rear on Murfrcesboro pike, the ca
ei1 airy bcin:. still further to the rear on Mu
as frccsbo ro pike and beyond Overall's Cree
r. The encnly's infantry aud cavalry attack
~ our extreme right was repn1sed by y
&c. Elcse's division. with HarkcFs brigade Al
ID the cavalry. After several attempts Of t
oy enemy to advance on this new line, viii
rec were thoroughly rcpu]sel, rs were also the
raj attempts on The left, the day closed 1cayi
y, us masters Of the original ground on u
ns left, and our new line atlyanta,seoassly post
'nt with open ground in front, swept at nj poir
nc hy cur artillery. We had lost heavily
snt killed ard wounded a,,d i considerable nu
la' bcr in straggiers aud prisoners; also twen1
len eight pieces of artillery, the horses llavi
TO. been s1nin and our troops being unable
.Ac withdraw them By hand over the ron
10 ground, but the enemy had been thorongt
nc handled and badly damaged at all poin
rs having had no success where we had op
lot ground, aid our troops we're properly pos
oie none wEivll did MT depend on the origir
III crushing of our right, and the Superior mNs:
ar- which wcte in consequence brought to bt
lSe nron the narrow front If Sheridan's a
r., AeEley's divisions and part uf Palmer
tne coupled with the scarcity Of a1nmunitst
the caused by the circnitous road which the tt.
ON had taken, and the Inconvenience Of getti
INC it FROM Il remote distance through the ccda
efa Orders were given for the issue OF all the sp
uer ammunition, nn1 We found that we had cnotl
Ion for another battle, the only question bel
en- where tia. battle was to be fought. 1t :
ere decidcd in order 10 cnn,ple,e Gur nres
ms NEes, that the left should be retired some
IL yards to 4 more advantageous ground, the
Gu IRENE left resting on Stone River, above
'wn lower ford, and extending to Stokes battle
rg. Starkweathcr's and Wa1ker's brfgldes att
!Feu ing near the close Of the evening, tl,c forI
nfle biyouackcd 1T close column in reserve in !
IN Of McCook's left, and the latter was pos
81, on the left Of Sheridan, near the MnTfrt
'Nn boro pike, and next morning relieved
rom Cleyc. who returned to his position i'll