Recollections of

+

Recognizing the orders of this Commandery as obligatory upon all
% L4
companions, and,!

named subjec

&
and, having been ordered to write a paper,
a
“9
Stones River"

I pwoceed to give my recollections of

and upon a
the "Battle of
As the writer had been boarding at the expense of Jefferson
Davis Government for some momths previous to the Stones River Cam-
paign he will not be able to give many of the particulars of the
preiiminary arrangements for. tne battle.
hye
Upon rejoining mm

‘regiment, t the Othe }
lashville,on the 24th. day of December 1862

ichigan Infantry at

center, o1

the regiment was as-
signed to General George !].Thomas as the Provost Guard of the
f the Army

of the Cumberland.
: 2 / a 2
The next morning-® found my Christmas present in the form of
; Hrumrt
Army Corps,with instructions

an order placing me in tke command of the Provost

the Army.

ruard of the 74th
to repert to Ge
advance to the front on the following

2>ral Thome

and +o
; morning with the cen

ter of
The Army of the Cumberland had recently been placed under the

“a2.

ace
command of General W.S.Rosecrans, and had been reorganized with a

view to an advance towards thet strong=hold— Chattanooga.
The Right win
i General A.Me.D.}

P,H.Sheridan, General Jeff.
= 4 , ‘

of the Army was placed under the
i¢Cook and was composed of the Divisions of G

command of

enene+
Gene

- rye

oot

ral RW. ——_

th X
Stones River.

-
a
vas
fe

a

are i tn atin a als tana i ee nl a

The center of the Army was placed under the command of General
George IieThomas and was composed of the divisions of General
Rousseau, General J.S.Negley, and éenaral S.S.Fry.

The left wing of the Army was placed under the command of
General Thomas 1.Grittenden and was composeé of the divisions of
General H.P.VanCleve, General T.J.Wood and General John. ht, Peadmetar

The Cavalry was under the command of General tap tickem

The aggregate strength of General Rosecrans Army was not far
from 48,000 men,

oe known to General Rosecrans that the Rebel Army under
General Bragg was intrenched,in the vicinity of Murfreesboro, 380
miles Southeast of Nashville, and that Bragg had established
Winter quarters at that point with a force of about 45,000 mene

At 60'clock on the morning of December 26th. 1862, the
Army of General Rosecrans moved out of +rei+r campy at Nashville,
supplied with ammunition and ten days rations, and advanced upon
the position of the enemy.

This advance was made upon the Franklin, Nolensville, Wilson,
Edmonson, Murfreesboro and Jefferson Pikes.

An evidence of the watchfulness of General Bragg is found in
the fact , that,in no direction had the an of Rosecrans moved
two miles, before it met with a stubborn resistance from the enemy;
but the Army of Rosecrans was so full of vigour and Pight, that,

although the rain poured down in torrents, no complaints were heard

ial


pn nee
and the enemy was pushed back upon all the Pion

On the 27th. the right wing under McCook met with a strong
resistance at Nolensville,and at Triune, General Hardee having
his corps in line of battle at the first named point.

The left wing also met with a strong resistance at Lavergne,

owt
ahd at Stewarts Creek. The center threatening Hardee = gee right
wand sending troops in either direction,as they were required, to
force the enemy back.

Thus the Army of the Cumberland pushed its way against,and
over the enemy for nearly 30 miles, and until he was driven into
his line of intre..nchments before Murfreesboro.

General Rosecrans, having assumed an offensive position,

Bragg looked for an attack upon his lines on the morning of the

30th. and made several demonstrations during the day to test tne

position and strength of the Union lines. ies Ps
[ VAAS ER Aden

General Rosecrans divided his time during the 30th. am devel-
oping the position of Braggs troops, and jr establishing his own
line of battle.

This he did,by placing Woods division on the left of his line,
Woods left resting on Stones River, and his right on the Nashville

Pike. Palmers division on Woods right, Negleys division on
Palmers right, Sheridans divisions on Negleys right, Davis divi-

sion on Sheridans right, and the brigades of Generals Willick and

Kirk on the right and rear of Davis, with Faldwins brigade heid in

4
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reserve in rear of the right.

General VanCleve was held in reserve on the West bank of the
River in rear of the left.

General Rousseau was held in reserve in rear of the center.

The trend of this line was frekd in a North West and South
Mast Direction and comformed to the Rebel line of battle.

Braggs left wing was on the West side of Stones River, and
was commanded by General Polk, and consisted of the divisions of
General Withers, and General B..Cheatham.

Beene right wing » was on the Bast side of the River, and con-
sisted of the divisions of General John C.Breckenridge,and Genera
Pat Cleburn, and was commanded by General Wm. J.Hardee.

MeCowns division was held in reserve in rear of tas centei'e
And Jacksons t:vops: were held in reserve in rear of the Rebel right

Wheelers Rebel Cavalry was pperating on the right, and Whartnns
rebel Cavalry was held on the rebel left.

This was substantially the position of the enemy when Gen-=

eral Rosecrans established his own lines and issued his order of

battle, which confemplated engagming the ae left, and holding
it in position, while with his own left and center, he would at-
tack the enemy's right flank and center, and drive him into the
woods West of Murfreesboro, while he would move into the town and
hold ite

On the morning of the Slst. General Rosecrans issued an ad-

dress to the soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland, which was


VV ee

distributed to the troops, in which he said;

"Soldiers--- The eyes of the whole Nation are upon you, the veyy
fate of the Nation may be said to hang on this days battle, Be
true, then, to yourselves, true to your own manly character and
soldierly reputation, true to the love of your dear ones at home,
whose prayers ascend to God this day for your success, Be Cool, Do
net. theet away your fire, close steadily in upon your enemy, and
when you get within charging distance, rush upon him with the
epee"

The Ninth Michigan Infantry, the Provost Guard, was in posi-
a

tion at Ceneral Thomas Head Quarters in rear of the center, and
the writer was occupied in reading this stirring eppeal to the val-
or and patriotism of the soldiers of the Army of the Cumberland, : 4
and in listening to the direction of the raging battle, when his
attention was directed to t¢he approach of a lot of teamsters rid-
ing their harnessed mules on a keen run to the rear, and in ad-
vance of the running mules was one particlur negro, who, though
very black, had an absolute pallor upon his countenance, and about
four inches of tongue protruding from his mouth, his eyes bulging
nearly out of his head. If any conpanion has ever seen an intense-

TAL T
ly frightened darkey, he can draw the picture for himself,.

K j

Follewing this advance of alarmist, crying "All is lost" came

first Cavalry_men; then teams cut loose from wagons, with each mule

bearing from two to three riders; then came panic stricken

sie — iis ‘aii ——— j i

PR LS AON RE OR alee te

2 ee.

a TO

3]

Infantrymen.

It being a part of the writers duty to prevent stragling and
10 keep men with their respective commands, he sent out detaiis to
pick up these terrified troops; but, the picking up, soon became
preity iively business, and he féund it necessary to place the
Ninth Michigan in line of battle across the Nashville Pike, ex-
tending its flanks to fs utmost limit, and he was none too soon
in this movement;- Cavalry, Artillery, Infantry, Settlers and
Camp followers camerushing with the force of a Cyclone, and the
Ninth Michigan was ordered to fix bayonets and charge upon this
panic stricken mass of men.

The charge was made, and the result was gratifying, the stam-
pede was checked , and the fleeing mass of troops were halted,
put in line facing the enemy, until a force of some thousands of

Dib
Infantry, Semen peices of Artillery and several hundred Cavalry
were placed in a favorable position, from which this recently ter-
ae eee ee
pemized 7eney several times repulsed the charges of the pursueing
enemy, and finally,after General Walker with his brigade ineclud-
ing the Fourth Miehigan Artillery came forward from Stewarts Creek,
Co Oerttere F-eLeret
wife were enabled to drive the enemy back to his lines and relieve
A, i

the right of Rosecrans Army, after which, the troops which had
been driven from MeCooks right,were enabled to rejoin their com-
mends,and subsequently, and before the battle ended, exhibited as

37

much bravery, heroism and fighting qualities as the best of Ameri-

‘

q

;

ean Soldicrse j


yo

As indicated General Rosecrans intention was to attack and turn the
rebel right.

General Bragg, somehow, seemed to have about the same idea of
the direction of the impending battle that Rosecrans had, except
that Bragg aimed to rush upon the Federal right flank, and rear, and
get on the Union line of communication with Nashville.

With this object in view Brags during the néght of the 30th.
with-drew Cleburns division from his right tmeplaced 1b Upon. E16
left of Cheatham, and with-drew McCowns division from the reserve
and weplaced it on the left of Cleburn, and beyond McCown placed
his Cavalry under command of Seneral Wharton.

Brage also calledMardee from his right wing and placed him
in command of these troops on the left of Polk, with instructions
to attack the federal line on the right flank and rear at dawn of
the Gist.

This new position of Braggs troops, extended has. Lefty at
least a mile beyond the Federal right, leaving his own right to
be peotected and held, by Breckenridge division, supported by Adams.

As early as 6 o'clock on the morning of the 3lst. Whartons
Cavalry had, without being discovered, passed around Rosecrans
right, and reached the Wilkinson Pike nearly two miles in rear

peor b a
of the line@of battle, as established by Rosecrans and Brass.
From this position the enemy made a desperate charge ,with a

force of uxxkxx over 2000 Calvary upon the unprepared brigades of


Generals Kirk and Willick.

This bold charge of the enemy threw Kirks and Willicks bri-
gades into disorder and confusion.

Willick was so far in rear of his command when this dash of
the enemy was made upon his troops, that the resistance made by
his brigade was without any order or concert of action, and Willick
himself, riding into the confused lines, began to give very im-
perative orders in his peculiar English, when,( as it would seem)

ontke
horse was shot, and it was

N

intimated to him, by the troops to whom he was giving orders, that

out of consideration for his rank, his

their commanding Officer wore a different uniform, and that they
had been instructed to provide quarters for him inside the rebel
lines.
Willick was a prisoner, while he surposed himself commanding
his own troops.
At the moment Whartons Cavalry rushed upon the rear of Wil-
-

licks brigade, McCowns division of four brigades charged upon

Willicks front, and at bhe same time, Cleburns division of four
Watwal whep ah
brigades came rushing with the fereeity—of—tigers upon Kirks sin-
gle brigade.
Notwithstanding the over-whelming force of thea brigades, the
troops of Kirk, were, for a time, kept in order and did some des-

perate fighting, but General Kirk was wounded and compelled to

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leave the R6@ld, and the regiments of Kirks and Willicks brigades

j

Liss EP OR A REO TR ee

PWN OETA RS

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were over-powered by numbers, each regimental commander reporting
that he was attacked in front, and aint either Plank, and cut off
from all wasters:

The troops of these brigades, which had not been killed,
captured, or wounded, were rallied upon the reserve brigade of
Baldwin, Seuisiek estaba succeeding Willick, and Colonel Dodge
succeeding Kirk, and, under the direction of General Johnson, the
division inflicted considerable punishment upon the enemy, but
were finally forcedback a distance of two miles to the Nashville
Pike.

Following up the defeat of Johnsond division the troops of
Cleburn fell upon Baie flank and rear, while Cheatham assailed
his front, Geing attacked from three directions, Davis with a
good deal of difficulty, fell back and formed his division on a

line at right angles with Sheridan.

At the angle of these lines the enemy brought to bear his

ee aaa ope
pruk fort
heavy forces, including several batteries and seemed +o coneentrate

A

his greatest efforgs.

Several desperate charges were made, which were handsomely
repulsed.

It was in charging upon this point that the rebel General
Vaughn lost over a third of his brigade and every horse but three
in his command, But the strength of the rebel lines was towgreat

to be longer with-stood, and, being again flanked, Davis, with


N,V? ee
much difficulty, drew out of the conflict, which left Sheridand
division to suffer similar treatment, having to meet attacks from
all directions, ee it did manfully, frequently repulsing the
enemy and inflicting terrible punishment on him, until getting out
of ammunition, ventana division had to cut its way through the
enemy and fall back upon the Nashville Pike.

The most desperate fighting now occured on the flank and front
of Negley and Palmer, upon whose divisions the enemy seemed to
throw all his available force.

The right wing of Rosecrans Army which was to hold Polks
corps in check, while with his left, he was to gobble up Braggs
right and center, having been driven from the reala, Rosecrans
began to realize the imminent danger of losing the battle, and
his army, He therefore abandoned the offensive, and hastened to
the center to establish a defensive position, where with General
Thomas, he arranged for establishing a line of defenséy running
nearly parallel with the Nashville Pike. ann [Orfitss be tealery

G far over l ae acts

As soon as Thomas had selected the ground for the new line,
he ordered Negley and Rousseau, ( who had been placed in position
to aid the with-drawal of Sheridan), to with-draw to the new line,
and. at a time when it seemed that the entire force of the enemy
had envelpped, and were about to annihilate these re

The task was a fearful one, but these divisions cut their way

through the ranks of the enemy to the new line, where General

te Rae

a NY LOR RE coe ee - -
Nei. |

a 5; ae
Thomas had placed his Artillery.
This new line with Negley on the right of Palmer, Rousseau on

Negleys right, and a portion of VanCleves and Woods divisions, =

which Rosecrans had hurried from his extreme left e had barely go-
ten in position, when, the enemy encouraged by his nieeoas. dete

tain of victory, made the most desperate charge of the day upon

i a il a a

this new position. But the divisions of Thomas assisted by trsops
of VanCleve and Wood, and by the double shotted guns of Loomis and
Guenther, repulsed this charge with gratifying destruction of life.
Four ¢imes the enemy attempted to drive Thomas from his position,
and as many times was he sent ina dizzy whirl back into the Cedars

Thomas held his positions-maintained his line, from which, for

SUM ale Ck a aa lin etl Mi a el

a

the balance of the fight, he put the enemy on the defensive, thus

saving the day, and the Army of the Cumberlamd.

Ma 2 iebied 3

Bragg becoming satisfied that he could not carry the new line,

next made several attempts to turn Rosecrans left,as he had driven

Sous

his right, but Rosecrans now having his center and right ina firm
position , gave his attention to his left and repulsed the enemy g
as often as he attacked him, and the left of Rosecrans army by
desperate fishing was maintained during the re “

The success of Bragg in driving three of Rosecrans divisions
a distance of over two miles, and in driving three other divi- 4
sions from their line, was alarming. This was not accomplished

however without terrible loss of life on both sides.


inna ci

The enemy lost in ar days battle 7500 men in killed and wounded,
cat CheePttany Seo Of htesee leo oy OAs Chethttae bthetted. SOttad
while our loss in killed and wounded ste over 8000, A single
federal brigade suffered a loss of 22 Officers and 518 men in

/ Cann. pg cect
maintaining the new hine establishddby Phomess

After such a day of bloody fighting, with such a fearful loss
of life and exhaustion of troops, the commander of each army was
satisfied to take a rest, and reflect upon the situation.

Bragg hoped Rosecrans would retreat to Nashville,and sent his
Cavalry round to his rear, to intercept his troops, and destroy
his trains.

Rosecrans expected Pragg would renew the offensive on the fol-

lowing morning, and, considering the loses sustained, and the unexe

pected result of the days battle, was quite undetermined as to his

, y,

orders for the morroy. — . Wl ‘7? | Cea “¢ Yteenwed Derete *

tLe art Catt Coatts Pear eth tcbater ~ ‘baat / :

Fteprmccctinatana Ot, 5 o' clock on the morning of January first, orders were
Siven the Ninth Michigan Infantry to take Nead Quarters train to
Nashville, and to clear the road ef all abstructions except moving
trains e

General Rosecrans having adjusted his lines and provided for
the safety of his Head Quarters determined to await the action of
the enemy.

Nothing was done +ewewew on the first but the strengthening

of lines by Rosecrans, and some rather heavy demonstrations by

Bragg to find Rosecrans position.


ai pengles TEG s oa ans
A little after noon on the second of January General Brags, to at-
tract the attention of the federal army, commenced a heavy cannon-
ading on Rosecrans right and center, and soon there after, moves»)
=
Breckenridgesentire force in heavy masses, and with great vigour,
upon "oscrans left, which was now established on the Bast side of
the river, this attack was made with such force and in such masses
as to send Beatty's, Price's and Grider's brigades of Rosecrans
left, back to the river in confusione As Breckenridge4troops
came rushing and yelling after the retreating fodorals to the river
bamk, they were confronted by Negleys division, and — and
“ Ke
Crafts brigades of Palmers division, and 58 guns which Rosecrans
had placed in positione
The storm of iron and lead from these 58 guns at short range,
and from these troops, sen* the enemy reeling in retreat, and Rose-
crans charged the panic stricken rebels with Millers and Stanleys
brigades, capturing four guns, the colors of a Regiment, and
many prisoners; ¢+he gallant Stoughton of the llth. michigan bring-
cA. é
ing in, as a trophy, the sword of the Captain of the rebel mau.

Rosecrans held thm advanced position and intreneched his lines
on the Fast side of the river.

This action terminated the fighting for the day, and no heayy
fishting was done or—tinemtninds aren fle

Notwithstanding the peril in which the enemy had put Rosecrans

army ~- during the night of the third Bragg withdrew his army from

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,

sli’ set

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4

the front of “urfreesboro and retreated South of Duck River, j
a


ta

ney F Soom
leaving Rosecrans the victor, and the possessor of Murfreesboro
and some 3000 wounded rebels,

Why was Rosecrans put to such straits, and the large part of
his army driven from their position, and some of it in a rout, in
the early part of the battle of the Slst.?

Among the reasons given are;

First--- The line of McCook, the right of the army, Was in great
fault, end he was too obstinate +> correct + his attention
was colled to it by Rosecrans.
Second-~- There was no adequate Cavairy on the federal right to
observethe movements of the enemy,the most of the federal Cavalry
Wa Othe Ce, on

having been sent under Stanley to Lavergneto protect the trains.

~

Thrrd--- Rosecrans contemplated movement upon the rebel right was

delayed too long by Crittenden; but Crittendens delay in this case

p4r A ped

/ a. ® mai
may, be said to have been fortunate. We Wa webe rol [eraraad>
OW “olre--Onddoern Sam 2) Tag

It was an agreeable surprise to Rosecrans, when the report
came on the morning of the 4th. that the rebel army had retreated,
giving him the vi¢gtory of the battle.

yor

The reasons f& Braggs retreat, after having achieved what
he regarded a great victory, has never been satisfa etorily ex-
plained.

‘
I trust it will not be regarded immodest in the writer, at

this remote period, to furnish the companions of this Commandery,—

but the information must go no furthergthe occasion which


= aliaaaieciialis RR a
40”

a ees Corn

a

influenced General Bragg to abandon a claimed victory, and withdraw i
OCDE hited 4

his army from the front of what he proclaimed a defeated foe.
: pw ‘

It will be remembered ¢hat at 3 o'clock..on the morning of 3

3
i the first day of January, the Ninth Michigan Infantry was ordered
to open the road to Nashville,and to place Head Quarters train in

,

a secure position, which was successfully accomplishede

In the evening of the second day o® January, the writer be-
- 4 ge
ing at Nashville, received an order from General Thomas to return |
tered? Gece ianytien Bar GQars J
to the front, with the Ninth Michigan and the ammunition train. a
oo be WG AR 4
Ap sates ea on the morning of the third, the Ninth Michigan moved ‘
e.|

out of vikioea tis for Murfreesboro in charge of the treing also
having under its command as many of the routed troops of McCooks

Corps, who had reached Nashville, as could be collected.

si

On reaching Lavergnewe found Colonel Innis command in line of

battle, awaiting a threatened attack from Wheelers Cavalry, which

attack was abandoned by Wheeler on the appearances~apparently in
support of Inniggeof the Ninth Michigan with McCooks straglers and 4
its train of ammunition. E.

Wheeler not only abandoned his attack upon Innis, but hastened _

a report to Bragg that large re-inforcements were being sent to

fret ha Lied teael AL

Rosecrans. | No other troops came to Rosecrans from Nashville on
cok. ~, wort” Geen Crt £.
the third and the inference is fader that t he referred to the Ninth

Michigan.

General Brage in his official report says; " Reports from


seas lay «GE

Brigadier General Wheeler satisfied me, the enemy instead of re-
tiring, was receiving re-enforcements-Common prudence, and the

safety of my army, upon which even the safety of our cause depend-

ed, left no doubt in my mind as to the necessity of my with-drawal x
from so unequal a eee
Thus you sce, cemperrrons, that not only was Innte saved by
the opportune arrival of the Ninth Michigan at Lavergng but Wheeler
was so impressed with its extended columms, as to induce him to

hasten a report to Bragg, of its march to re-enforce Rosecranse

History has recorded the osu] te, SEES , whenever you

~

refer to the peinied histories of the battle of Stones River, and
read the congratulatory message of the great Lincoln, to the
Gallant Rosecrans in which he says;

= Your dispatch announcing retreat of enemy has just reached i
here, God bless you, and all with you, Please tender to.all, and {
accept for yourself, the nations gratitude for your and their ~

pn Out Foret

skill, endurance and dauntiess courses rte the Ninth Michigan

Infantry @ eee Ae Din Frer eet ea