The Battle of Stones River (Murfreesboro)
December 31, 1862-January 2, 1863

Immediately after Christmas 1862, the Union Army of the Cumberland (44,000+ men - MG William S. Rosecrans, commanding and MG Thomas L. Crittenden, MG George H. Thomas and MG Alexander McD. McCook, corps commanders) moved southeast from occupied Nashville, TN towards Murfreesboro (about 30 miles away). Rosecrans hoped to drive the Confederate Army of Tennessee (34,000+ men - GEN Braxton Bragg, commanding and LTG William J. Hardee and LTG Leonidas Polk, corps commanders) from the state. Aware of the Union approach, through excellent cavalry reconnaissance, Bragg positioned his forces in an arc north and northwest of Murfreesboro, along both sides of the usually shallow Stones River. Oddly, each commander planned to attack the other's right flank to begin a wheeling movement. Significant advantage would belong to the army that struck first. And at dawn on New Year's Eve (31 December) the Confederates attacked, surprising and rolling back the Union right. A spirited defense by BG Philip H. Sheridan's division kept the Union flank from breaking. Rosecrans called off his offensive and shifted forces to stabilize his lines and to protect his supply (and possible escape) route. From mid-day until dark most of the heavy fighting was concentrated in the "Round Forest" (an area of strong natural defenses) near the Union center where repeated Confederate assaults were turned back by Federal infantry supported by intense artillery fire - natural stone outcroppings kept the southern batteries from maneuvering in support of the advancing infantry. There were no major actions on New Year's Day; however, on 2 January the Confederates drove Union troops from high ground east of the river but were in turn driven back, with substantial casualties, by Federal counterattacks supported by 58 guns. Probably fearing a reinforced Army of the Cumberland and a rising Stones River (unusually heavy December rains) that might isolate parts of his army, Bragg retreated during the night (3 January) toward Chattanooga. Rosecrans, smarting from the heavy casualty rate, made no attempt to pursue. Stones River, tactically inconclusive, was a strategic victory for the North because Bragg chose to abandon central Tennessee. Losses were excessively heavy on both sides - the South, with a much smaller population base, would have great difficulty replacing these soldiers. Estimated Casualties: Union - 13,000; Confederate - 13,000.

Notes:

  1. Numbers in parentheses reflect estimated strength of armies or units.

  2. Estimated casualty figures are totals for killed, wounded, missing in action, and taken prisoner.

  3. Alternative names of battles and campaigns appear in parentheses.

  4. Military and naval rank abbreviations in text: LT - Lieutenant, CPT - Captain, MAJ - Major, LTC - Lieutenant Colonel, CDR - Commander (Navy), COL - Colonel, BG - Brigadier General, MG - Major General, RADM - Rear Admiral (Navy), LTG - Lieutenant General, VADM - Vice Admiral (Navy), and GEN - General.

  5. Army Organization: Although authorized and actual strength and the rank of the commanding officer often varied, the standard military unit during the War was the infantry regiment (1,000 men, COL commanding) which was comprised of 10 companies (100 men each, CPT commanding). 3-4 Regiments = 1 Brigade (3,000-4000 men, BG commanding). 3 (sometimes 4) Brigades = 1 Division (9000-12,000 men, BG or MG commanding). 2-4 (usually 3) Divisions = 1 Corps (18,000-24,000+ men, MG - North and MG or LTG -South commanding). 2 or more Corps = An Army (usually 20,000-100,000+ men - MG, LTG, or GEN commanding). 2 or more Armies = An Army Group (usually 100,000+ men - MG, LTG, or GEN commanding).

Sources:

Photographs courtesy of The Generals of the American Civil War Website.

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