St. Landry democrat., 1888-02-25
BATTLE OF JAN. 2.

At daylight on Friday Gen. Bragg opened
fire on the Federal center. He also opened
fire on McCook on the right He was en-
deavoring, as he had been the day before, to
find whether Rosecrans was retreating. A
heavy artillery fire speedily convinced him to
the contrary.
At the same time he made the discovery
that Van Cleve's division had obtained posi-
ton to enflade Folks whole line. Breckin-
ridges division was ordered to dislodge him.
1t advanced in two lines, Pillows and Gen.
Roger NJ. Hanson's brigades in the first line,
Preston's and Adams in the second. They
were protected by cavalry on the right
Van Cleve's division was commanded by
Col. Samuel Beatty. Negley's division was
placed in position on the west bank of the
river as reserve, to support Beatty in case
of need. At the same time Gen. Crittenden
massed bis artillery on the west bank oppo-
site Breckinridges division, and prepared to
rake the Confederates as they came on to
attack.
They moved up CALAMITY, in spite of the
cannonading, and opened heavy fire. Van
Cleve's division retired across the river. They
slipped between the men of Negley's line and
went to the rear to reform.
The Federal fortunes were here saved by
the strategy of Col. John f. Miller, command
ing Negley right brigade. Negley himself was
absent in the rear. Col Miller ordered the
division to lie down behind the bluff of the
and behind them. Then, as Breckinridges
men came on in pursuit, the recumbent
soldiers were to rise suddenly and pour
deadly fire in their faces.
The order was carried out to the letter.
Breckinridge recoiled and fell back. 'Charge
across the riverl' was Miller's next order
1t was done and the Confederates were driven
Col. Miller received an order not to cross.
Sure of victory, however, he took the liberty
of ignoring the order, knowing the situation
better than his commander. The Confeder-
ates were broken and the colors Of the
Twenty-sixth Tennessee were numbered
among the captured Confederate battle flags.
IF we don't charge the rebels, they'll
charge u.s." Col. Miller had said before cross
ing the river
After it was done, and Hazen's brigade and
Davis division were following on after his
men, then Miller obeyed his orders, went
bach 10 the west side of the river and took
position on his old line.
Bragg sent Anderson's brigade across to
the east side of the river to join Brecki1l-
ridge. But Rosecrans presently crossed Crit
t. elen's whole corps, who took position ON
thenbluffs Of the east bank.
fte morning of Jan. 8 Bragg began heavy
pl aet firing again, to ascertain how large q
korce was in his front Once more the an-
swer was not satisfactory The night be-
fore, Polk and his division commanders had
sent Bragg a letter advising him to retreat.
He decided to do SO. By IL at night, Jan 5,
his forces were in motion southwark. and
Rosecrans had won famous victory. Mon
day, JAM 5, Gen. Thomas entered Murfrees-
boro.
The Confederate generals, Rains and HIM
son, were killed at Stone River. So. also.
We're every one of Sheridan's brigade COM
manders-Sill, Shafer and Roberts
OF the forces engaged, Rosecrans had 49,
4oo; Bragg, $4,000. Each lost about IS per
cent. of his whole army in killed, wounded
and captured. For the Federal cause this
seven days fighting between Nashville and
Murfreesboro had great results. It lost Ken,
Nashville.
The Stone River fight was one of the great
battles Of the war, if not Of the world.