The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-05-14
BATTLE OF MURFREESBORO.
Disastrous Defeat OF the Two Right Wmgs-Aerae Success
and Defeat.
ry GEORGE DALLAS MOSGROyE.
and Defeat.

81 DO not think that two better armies.
as numerous and so nearly matched in
strength, ever met in battle
-Maj.-Gen. Thomas l.. Crittenden.
When Gen. Bragg, after the battle of
Perryville, retreated from Kentucky into
East Tennessee. he sent Forrest to clear
the way for the occupancy of Murfrees-
boro, a vantage ground whereon to con-
front the Federal army occupying Nash
vile. Gen. breckenridge, with about
LOCO men, followed Forrest, established
himself at Murfreesboro, and, in conjunc
ton with the enterprisins cavalry of For
rest and Morgan, made Il demonstration
on Nashville, about Nov. ), 1852. Gen.
Bragg was slowly limping along from
Knoxville toward Tullahoma, and it
seemed not improbable that a swinging
march of the Federals would put them in
possession of the whole of Middle Ten
nessee, excluding the Confederates from
that coveted territory. The Army of the
Cumberland, then concentrating at Nash
vile, was commanded by Gen. Rosecrans.
who on Oct 20 had succeeded Gen Buell.
Bragg arrived at Murfreesboro. Nov. 81
his army being in fair condition. In fact
If it had been better clad it would have
presented Il fine martial appearance
There was much speculation among the
Confederates why Gen. RoSecrans. who
it was supposed had effected Il conccntra-
ton of his troops about Nov. H. had not
promptly moved ont from Nashville and
taken possession of Murfreesboro before
BraSg's arrival He could easily have
marched from Nashville to Murfreesboro.
strategic position, in two days. The
Confederates could assign no reason for
Gen. Rosecranss delay other than the
probability that AlOrgans activity in de-
stroyins railroads and supplies north of
Nashville, and the demonstrations of For
rest and Breckenridge had retarded the
concentration at Nashville and the move
ment to Murfreesboro.
DISPOSITIONS FOR RATTLE.
With the intention of attacking Bragg,
Gen. RosecranS marched from Nashville. |
Dec. %, in the following order: McCook |
moved by the Nolensville pike to Triune;
Thomas marched by the Franklin and
Wilkinson pixies, thence by crossroads to
the Murfreesboro pike: Crittenden moved |
directly toward Murfreesboro.
This general advance of the Federal |
army was promptly reported by Wheeler's |
enterprising cavalry. Determining to fight |
it out on that line. Gen. Bragg Immediate |
Corps. consisting of Cleburnc and Breck- !
inridge's Divisions, was transferred from
its position at TriUne. on the left, to Muir
freeSboro to constitute the right wing, its
left resting on the Nashville road, its right
on the Lebanon pike, .Iackson's Brigade
being in reserve. Withers's and Cheat |
hams Divisions of Folks CORPS constituted |
the left wing, its right connecting with |
Hardee on the Nashville road, its left ex
tending to the Salem pike. McCown's |
Division WAS in reserve in the center.
On the night of Dee. %, the lines of
the combatants We're from mile and a
half to two miles apart. BY noon on the |
30th artillery on both sides was engaged. |
Late in the afternoon some Federal in
fantry advanced and ATTACHED a brigade
of Alabamians and Louisianians. The as |
certainment that the Confederates were |
there" seemingly satisfied them, rs they |
soon retired. The curtain of night fell |
upon the scene, and, then all was quiet on
Stone River
Becoming impressed with the belief that |
Rosecrans was massing troops preparatory |
to an attack on his left flank. Bragg made /
some changes in the disposition of his |
troops. He did not do this. however, with
out a consultation with his corps COM
manders-Polk and Hardee. The three
Generals agreed that the left should be |
strengthened. Hardee withdrew Gle
burnes Division from the right and Nc
Gowns Division from its position in re-
serve, and led them TO the extreme left. |
He was to command in that quarter ana |
open the fight at daybreak. Thus by Il
fortuitous combination OF circumstances
McCook and Hardee again confronted
each other, as at Perryvillc.
PLANS OF BATTLE.
1t is a singular fact that Bragg's plan
Of battle was essentially the same as thar
of Rosecrans. If both plans could have
been successfully executed at the same
time there would have been spectacular
exhibition of two mighty armies turnin;
on an axis from left to right. Rosecrans's
design was to turn the Confederate right,
while Braggs plan was to turn the Fed
eral right. As shown in the sequel, each
commander, in n measure, accomplished
his object. Rosecrans planned to make
the initial attack. but in this he was an
ticipated by Bragg. Says Gen. Critten-
den: .4Then battle was fought according
to the plan of Gen. Bragg. Indeed. our
uniform experience was-at Perryville at
Stones River, at Chickamauga-tha
whenever we went to attack Bragg we
were attacked By him."
THE BATTLE.
The battle OF Murfreesboro. or Stone
River. was fought Dec 81, 1862. and Ian
2, 1863 The forces engaged wercSNry
nearly equal-40,000, more or less, on
either side.
At daylight. Wednesday, Dec. 81. Har-
dee's line rushed Ike a tornado upon Nc
Cooks Corps, the right of the Federai
army, and, after hard fighting, drove it
back some two miles or more, piyOting the
Federals on their center. their line being
bent somewhat like the following diagram: