The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-07-01
FIGHTING THEM OYER
What the Veterans Have to Say
About Their Campaigns.
WHERE TIDE Of Brittle ROLLED.
Field OF exs1siver and the National
cemetery.

cemetery.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Gen. r. w.
Johnson lay on the extreme right of the Fed
eral infantry, battery of 12-pound guns
being in his rear. 1t was the morning of
Dec 81, 1862. Gen. McCown Confederate
was in his front. Just before daylight Nc
Gowns forces advancing with tumultuous
rush on Johnson's men, captured the battery
and drove the infansry before them.
johnson fell back to the north side of the
then Vaulx farm, now owned by Capt.
Flemmon Hall, 99th Ohio.
His stand here was of short duration, and
McCown pressing him hard, he continued
along the road leading to the Wilkinson
pike and across the Gresham farm.
Gen. Cleburne, on McC0wn's right, at the
same time struck Gen. Davis's Division near
the Harding house, driving him across the
Wilkinson pike and capturing part of his
artillery. Gen. Cheatham's Division was on
the right of Cleburne, in front of Gen. Sheri-
dan, whom he attacked and drove to posi-
ton in line with those already forced back.
Gen. Withers was next on Cheatham's
right, at the misunderstanding of the Nash.
Vile and Murfreesboro pike, near the Cowan
| house. His division reached to the river.
He attacked Gems. Negley and Palmer, who
| were in his front, but did not succeed in
driving them far. There was severe fight
ing here, as along the whole line.
Thus was the Stones River battle opened.
Gen. Wood joined Palmer on the right. down
the river. The battle ragged from Stones
River west across the Cowan, Harding,
Gresham, and Burrowes farms, and when
night came on Rosecrans's right wing had
been driven around to the Nashville pike.
At that time the position of the Federal
forces was as follows: Gen. Davis on the
extreme right; Sheridan on his left; next,
Johnson next, Rousseau, near where now
are the National Cemetery and the HaZen
Monument, between the railroad and Nash.
vile pike.
Rosecrans's Headquarters were in the
center of the line west of the pike. The
Pioneer Corps occupied a position between
the railroad and Nashville pike.
On Jan. 2, 1863, Breckenridge lay on the
east bank of Stones River. Confronting him
on the west side were Gen. Woods and
Gen. Van Cleve's Divisions and some other
command. In the afternoon of that day
Breckenridge advanced to the river. Rose
Grams had made ample preparations to re-
ceive him. Masked batteries comprising
nearly 60 pieces of artillery had been trained
on the field through which the advance must
be made. The Confederates made gallant
charge, but they were repulsed with punish
ment as bad as the Federals got two days
before. 80
These operations, were on our extreme
left, near McFadden,s Ford of Stones River.
The farm on which this terrible slaughter
took place then belonged to Col. Addison
Mitchell, 45th Tenn. 1t now is the prop
erty of his son, Samuel Mitchell, friend Of
| mine, and as clever an old Johnny IS can be
found anywhere. He lives near the Nc
Fadden Ford. The old Mitchell log house
| is near by.
The National Cemetery is situated be-
tween the Nashville and Murfreesboro Pike
| aud the Nashville, Chattanooga & st. Louis
Railroad. 1t is about three miles northwest
of Murfreesboro. SIX thousand two hundred
and forty two soldiers were buried here.
Not all were slain at Stones River.
About half mile south of the cemetery
is the Hazen Monument, of native limestone,
10 feet high. From the cemetery east to the
McFadden Ford is about a mile of level land
with good road. Along this road Van
Cleve moved to meet Breckenridge, and
| from the ford above mentioned up the river
| is where the terrible carnage took place on
Jan. on the Mitchell farm. The Cowan
Ford is one mile up the river from the Nc
| Fadden Ford. 1t was near the Cowan Ford
| and at the crossing of the Nashville pike by
the railroad that Negley and Wood made
| their first days fight Altogether 500 acres
| of land east of the railroad was the scene Of
operations
West of the railroad and Nashville pike,
the theater of the first days fight, the fight
ing ground was about one and one-fourth
miles in width, and about three miles long,
running southwest from the National Gene
terry to Capt. Flemmon Halls farm. where
the battery was captured in the first days
| fight. West of this cavalry was stationed
for nearly mile to the Pickett farm, now
| McClures.
All old soldiers of both sides should visit
| the battlefield this Summer.-FRANK w.
| MCCLURE, MurfeeshorO, Tenn.