New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-26
THE BATTLE OF STONE RIVER.
OFFICIAL REPORT OF GEN. ROSECRANs.
EerOlsm Of the Army Of the Cumberland.

bic of the battle of Stone RIVER. To proper UNI
derstandinT OF this battle, it will be necessary 10
state me preliminary movements and preparations.
Assuming command Of the army at L5uisville on
the 9th day OF October IL was found concentrated
at lowing Green and Glasgow, distant about 10
miles IRON Loulr lille, whence after repenishiDQ
with ammunition, supplies and clothing they moved
on TO Nashville, the advance corps reacbiue that
place on the morning OF the 7th of November a
distance of 1853 miles from Loulsville.
At this distance from my base Of supplies The .irst
hing to be done VAS TO provide fer the subsistence
of the troops and open the Louisville aud Nashville
Raiilosd. Tue carr commenced running through ON
the 26th Of November, previous TO which time our
supplies had been brought by ail to Mclely.lle, IS
miles north Of Nashville, and thence, by constant la
Dor we had been able " haul enough TO repenish
the exhausted stores for the garrison al NashvIAe,
AID sqbeist the troors Of tie moving army.
From the 26,h Of November to tie goth o! Deceni-
Der every effort was bent TO complete the clothing
Of the army, to provide il with ammuniion and re-
penish the depot ut Nas6ye With needful supplies
10 insure again want from the largest possible
detention likely to occur by the breaking Of the Lou'
isvlle and Nashville Railroad; and to ineure this
work tue road was guarded by heavy force posted
at Galalin.
Tie enormous superiority IN numbers Of the Rebel
cavalry kept our little cavalry force almost within
the infantry lines, and gave the enemy control OF
the entire country around Us. IL ~as obvious lrom
the beginning tbat we should he confronted ~
v,
Con, AID aided by CLOUDS Of mouuted men, formed
into euerIillG.ke cavalry, 10 avoid the hsrdships
OF consumption aud lufautry service. he eyldene
difficulties and labors OF advance into tbis conn.
try, and against such force and at such distance
from orr base Of operations, with which we con-
nected by single precarions thread, made mani.
fes, that onr policy was 10 induce the enemy TO
travel as much IA posslble OF tie space thae
separated us--thus avoiding for US tue wear AID
tear and dimnut'oD Of cur forces and suectiag the
e,leny 20 ali the q inconveDence5, beside increasing
for hu, aud diminishing Tor Us, the dangerous con.
sedue1ces oil a dseat.
Tie means taken to obtain this end were emil.
pently successful; the enemy, expecting MS to 20
into Winter quarters AT Nashville, had prepared
his own W inter- quarters A. Murlreesboro, with tho
hope OF possibly maxim. item at Nashville; and
bad geut large cavalry force into West Tennessee
to annoy Grant; aud another large force into Ken
tccky 10 break up the railroad. In the absence OF
the forces, and with ade' nate supplies in Nash.
Vile, the moment was JUDGED oplOtuLe for an
advance on the Rebels. 20 rs and Kirby Smiths
forces were at MuFfreesboro, and Hurdles corps
on the shelLyvie and NOliUsyille like, between
Triuue and Eaa lesyille, with sdvaLoe guard at
NoliI syie, Will no troops lay IN IRON OF Nasns
ville on tie Franklin, Nclnsyille and AuiEe.6oro'
Turnpike. The plan OF the movements was as
follows:
McCook, with three divisions, to advance by
Nohusville pike to Triuae. Th mas, with two
divisions lNegley's and Rou,seau's ~ advance on
b;s rght bv the Franklin and Wilson pixies. threat.
ening Hardess right and then to TALL II y The cross
roads 10 Nolinsville
Crittonden, with Woods, Palmers, AID Van
Cleves divisions, to ADVANCE ~ the Mur.reesboro
nike 70 Lavergne.
with 1homas's two divisions at Nolirsyille, Nc.
Cook was 10 a,tact Uaidee AZ Trune, sid if mo
enemy Ie-eniorced HsIdee, ILo,lGs Wa 70 support
McCcok.
Ii McCook beat Hardee. or HsTdee retrestei, aud
tho enemy net us at Stewards Greek hve miles
south of LayeTgne, Crltenden was 20 attack him.
Thouas was 10 In his left faux, aud Nc
Cook, after detsching division to pursue or observe
Hardee y retrcatpg south, was TO move with the
ren.iudeg Of his iorCe on their rear.
The movement began on the morning Of Dec 20.
McCook advanced On Nolinsyille Pike skirmish-
ing bis way all day, meeting with siiE resistance
rom cavalry and artillery and closing the day by
vile and the hills one aud half miles il font, caps
turing one gun by the lois Ohio and I5.l Wiscon.
sin Regiments, his loss th.Sday being about - hied
ard wounded.
ley's Division ON NJlinsyile, leaving tie other
lRousseauel Division on the right l,nk.
Crttenden advanced to L2yergne, diminishing
heavily on his front Oyec rough county, inter-
sected by forests and cedar brakes, Villa but sigls
lOss.
but lis movement WAS retarded by dense iCg.
Crit enden had orders 10 delay bis movement until
McCook had reached TriGne aud developed TIE iu-
tentions a. the enemy at thai point, so that II could
be determined WHICH Thomas Was to support
McCook arrived at Tnune, and reported that
Hardee lad retrealed, and that he had sent Q
division IN pursuit.
Critenjen began his advance about II o'clock,
a. H., driving before bin brigade Of cavalry, cup
ported by Maury's brigade OF Rebel Infantry, and
reac aed Stewart Greek, the 81 Kentucky g.lisnt-
" charging the rear guard Of the enemy and saving
the bridge on which had been placed pile of rails
that lad bsen set or fire. This Saturday night.
McCook having settled the fact Of Hartees res
treat, Thomas mosed Negley's Division on to join
Crittendcu at StewaIts CrceK, ahd moved Nous-
segu's 10 Nolnsvllle.
ON Sunday the troops rested, except Roneseaus
Dlyision which was ordered TO move on 10 Stewards.
ton. ana Willich's Brigade, which rad pursued
Hardee far Riggs Crossroads, and had deter
mined the fact that Hardee had gone 70 MurIrees'
boro. when they returned TO IrIune.
an Monday noruing NcCOok was ordered 10
move tom iiirue 10 WIiansOn's Crossroads, six
miles from MuItreesOorO, leaving q brigade VI
Iriure.
M bridge, on the main Murfreesboro pike, and
Napley by tle ford Two miles above, their whole
force 10 advance Oh Murireesboro, distant about IL
mica.
Rousseau was TO remain at Stewards Creek until
his tran, came up, and prepare himself to follow.
McCJok reached WiikiISon's Crossroads by even.
ina with an advance brigade at Overall Creek,
saving and holding the bridge, meeting with but
little resistance.
Critendens corps advanced, Palmer Leading on
the Aiurfreesboro Pike, followed by Negley, VI
Ihomass corps, TO within three miles OF Murfiees.
bJro, having mad several brisk skirmishes, driving
the enemy rapidly, SAVING bridges ON the route,
and forcing tho enemy back TO his intrenchnents.
About p. M, signal message coming from tho
'front.' from Gen. Palmer, thas no was III tight Of
slurfreesboro, and the euemy were running an order
was sent Gen. Crittenden to send division to &C.
cupy MurfreesbOro.
This led Gen. Crttenden, on reaching the enemy's