The National tribune., 1882-01-07
Army of the Cumberland.
Continued from First poge.)

stubbornly opposed by the enemy, Carlins bri-
gade of Davis's division had a preliminary bat
| tie, in which Col. Alexander, with his regiment
| the Twenty first Illinois, charged battery and
| got worsted. Before the line was definitely es-
| tablished Sheridan had lost IS men and Davis
nearly 200. During the afternoon Gen. McCoOk
| being informed that his line greatly over
| Tapped by the enemy, JOhnsOn's division was
moved up on Daviss right Kinks bri gade on the
| left was formed ON the right of Post, but ad-
| vanced slightly to obtain position in the front
! edge of a woodland, commanding the open
| ground in front. Willich's line refused to
the right and rear of Kinks, and Baldwin was in
reserve The left wing maintained substantially
| the same position it had assumed the previous
night. The pioneer brigade. under Capt Morton,
was posted on Stone River, in rear of Wood, to
prepare fords. Rousseau came up with Scrib-
ners Beatty's, and the Regular brigade, and took
position in rear Of Negley. Starkweather re-
manned at Stewart Greek bridge on the Jefferson
pike, where he repuIsed an attack of cavalry.
Walker moved from StewartsbOro to La Eergne,
arriving in time to attack and rOut the rear
guard of Wheelers cavalry, which had captured
McCoOk's supply train and burned the wagons.
He recaptured 800 men and al the train animals
and saved some o. the stores.
The general course of the Nashville and Muir
freesboro turnpike where it crossed the line of
battle is southeast The railroad, pursuing nearly
the same course. crosses 1t at very acute angle
about 800 yards in front OF Crittenden line at
the point where Palmers division joined Woods.
On the left of the turnpike was grove of
trees of about four acres in extent, crowning
slight elevation known as the Round Forest"
where the monument is now located, in which
WagnerS brigade was posted. The tollgate
house, where General Crittenden, General Rose
Grams, and the staff officers Of BOTH obtained
shelter from the rain on the night OF the 29th,
stood opposite this wood. The line of battle
trending irreguIaIly southwark facing east. ac-
cOmmodating itself to the character of the
ground, was much nearer the confederate line in
front OF McCook than the left, where the
hanks Of the cOntending armies were separated
by Stone River. At o'clock General McCook
reported the alignment OF the Right Wing to-
gether with the fact that TWO divisions Of Polk's
Corps and two of Hardee's were in his front
tending far to his right out the Salem pike
General ROsecrans objected to the direction Of
McCooks line, and said 1t should face strongly
south and that JOhnsOn's division, IN column of
regiments at half distance, should be held in
reserve in rear OF Dayis's right at close musket-
range but left the arrangement of his right wing
with the corps commander, who had been over
the ground. The Right Wing, generally occupy
ing wooded ridge with open ground in front,
was further protected from surprise by an out
look narrow cultivated valley, windening
from left TO right from two hundred to five hun
IL,
thicket. the enemy's lines were dimly visible.
Confidence in the strength and staying qualities
OF his troops and reluctance to yield a favorable
position without a struggle, together with the
fact that the retirement OF his line must be
executed in the night. induced General McCook
to make the fatal mistake Of leaving his posi-
ton unchanged. The total effective strength Of
his command was on the night Of the Both,
1919 officers and enlisted men. Willich's
bri,ye do of Snr,'s SIR
posted On the extreme right, faced TO the
south line nearly perpendicular to the
main line Five companies each of the Thirty
second and Thirty ninth Indiana on picket were
posted half mile in front of the reserve in an
open corntield covering the flank and rear and at
three o'clock on the morning Of the 31st Colonel
Jones patrolled the ground 600 yards in front
of the picket line southwark. Kinks brigade of
20a0 men Joined Willichs at the angle in the
line and really formed the right Of the line
facing east. A strong picket line extending
along his entire front advanced $50 Or 200
yards to the edge of corntield, the opposite
side Of which was occupied by a similar force of
the enemy. Baldwin's brigade was held in reserve,
1900 strong. SimOnsOns GO0dspeeds, and Edgar
tons batteries were strongly posted upon favor
able ground, with raking fire across the open
ground TO the front and right. Daviss division
fronting southeast, connected with JOhnsOn's at
an obtuse angle Posts brigade 100 strong on
the right, had fought it's way into position and
bivouacked within musket range of the enemy.
heavy picket line connected with Kinks on the
right and Carlins on its left, was posted slightly
in advance OF the main line. Carlins brigade
had had the advance during the day, moving to
within $50 yards Of the enemy's line, where it
remained during the night, but fell back at day
light on line with the other brigades It's
strength was 1900 Woodruff s brigade, 1900
strong, on the left of Carlin connected with Sher
idan's right. A continuous movement of troops
in his front towards the right of the Union line
caused Col Woodruff TO apprehend flank move
ment, and he reported the fact to his division
commander. Gen. DaviS'S artillery, consisting of
Pinney's Hotchkiss, and Carpenters batteries
which had rendered good service during the day
in silencing the heavy artillery fire in front, were
advantageousIy posted to open fire at the word OF
command. McCook's line was completed by
Sheridans division, posted on the left, connecting
with Negley at the Wilkinson pike. This dvis-
ion consisted of three brigades, Silrs, Schaefers
and Roberts, and three batteries, Bushs, Hough-
tailings, and HescOck's. 1t had also encountered
strong opposition in getting into position, losing
seventy-fve men. General Sill commanded the
right brigade, 1850 strong, posted in belt Of
timber overlooking cOttOn-feld in the valley
| before mentioned where the men lay on their
arms all night behind heavy line of skirmish-
| ers slightly advanced. Roberts brigade 1850
strong, connected the Right Wing with Negley's
division of the Centre. The batteries were in po-
sition and Schaefer's brigade, ,450 strong, was
posted in reserve. Two brigades, commanded by
! Col 7. r. Stanley and Col John F. Miller, 1000
strong, and three batteries, under command of
! Lieutenants Marshall, Ellsworth, and Schultz,
composed Negleys division. In front a heavy
growth of oak timber extended toward the river,
! xrbi iab OH 4