who won the stones river battle

Park Home Plan Your Visit Plan Your Visit Last updated: April 1, 2020 Was this page helpful? Extremely bloody relative to the numbers engaged (43,400 vs. 37,712), Stones River saw the highest percentage of casualties of any major battle during the war. Blasting away at better than100 rounds per minuteall together, they simply slaughtered the Kentuckians. Lincoln himself would often look back on that fragile New Year's Day . Bragg ordered Major General John C. Breckinridges division, the largest in the army, to abandon its position east of Stones River and reinforce the effort west of the river. Visit Stones River Battlefield | American Battlefield Trust Bragg moved first, however, and gained the initiative by slamming into Maj. Gen. Alexander McCooks Right Wing. Captain James H. Stokess Chicago Board of Trade Battery (six guns) was on Parsons right, alongside Lieutenant Norval Osburns Battery F, 1st Ohio (four guns) and Lieutenant George Esteps 8th Indiana Battery (six guns). Palmer was better off. Both armies spent New Years Day reorganizing and preparing to renew the battle. Hickman, Kennedy. Captain John Mendenhall, Crittendens chief of artillery, positioned these 18 new guns alongside the six-gun 7th Indiana Battery of Van Cleves division. Willichs men were cooking and eating breakfast, their arms stacked. Murfreesboro, TN 37129 Because the ground contained so much limestone, blood did not soak into the soil. Battle of Stones River. American Civil War: Major General William S. Rosecrans, American Civil War: Battle of Jonesboro (Jonesborough), American Civil War: General Philip H. Sheridan, American Civil War: Major General James H. Wilson, American Civil War: Lieutenant General John Bell Hood, American Civil War: Major General John B. Gordon, American Civil War: Battle of Chancellorsville, American Civil War: Major General Oliver O. Howard, American Revolution: Battle of Brandywine, American Civil War: Battle of Harpers Ferry, American Civil War: Major General Gideon J. Pillow, American Civil War: Major General Don Carlos Buell, M.S., Information and Library Science, Drexel University, B.A., History and Political Science, Pennsylvania State University. Stones River National Battlefield As the Rebel attack proceeded, Captain Mendenhall positioned three more batteries15 guns totalat the ford, and Livingstons 3rd Wisconsin Battery returned across the river to add six guns to a formidable Federal artillery line. European War 6 (Civil War): Battle of Stones River (no generals) Renaming his command the Army of Tennessee, he began a massive overhaul of its leadership structure. Tour Stop 6 - McFadden's Farm - Stones River National Battlefield (U.S Breckinridge protested the impossibility of the mission but obeyed the order. 3501 Old Nashville Highway On the Union left, Crittendens men prepared to move across Stones River and begin the assault on Braggs right. At Stones River the two armies were struggling desperately for control of Middle Tennessee's railroads and rich farms. When Breckinridge returned to his men and told them what had been ordered, General Roger Hanson, commander of the Orphan Brigade, exploded in anger and proposed that he go to the headquarters and shoot General Bragg. Sheridans divisionfoughtespecially hardas the formerwenteverywheretopersonally directhis men. Throughout five days of battle, the most intense being December 31 and January 2, the National Park Service claims that nearly 24,000 men on both sides became casualties out of 81,000 engageda 29% casualty rate. he Confederate attack was set for 4 p.m., just an hour before sunset. In 1964 an Ohio woman took up the challenge that had led to Amelia Earharts disappearance. To endeavor to press forward now was folly, to remain was madness, and the order was given to retreat. January 1 would pass with some troop realignment by the opposing forces but no meaningful fighting. Sheridans division manned the apex of this reformed line and, given that they formed a salient, the Confederate attacks now came from both sides. The Battle of Stones River Facts - Softschools.com Click here to learn more about the Trust's ongoing preservation efforts. Seeing the sad remnant of the Orphan Brigade returning, Breckinridge broke down, sobbing, My poor Orphans! As that attack proceeded, Brig. Since neither side had swept the other from the field, the battle was a draw. The blue-clad defenders fell back in disorder and, after 30 minutes of fierce fighting, Breckinridges men had accomplished an objective they believed was impossible,butrather than stopping to dig in and hold, they foolishly pressed forward in pursuit of the fleeing Yankees. There was a brief flurry of hand-to-hand fighting, but McCooks men began to flee in panic towards the rear and the Nashville Turnpike, three miles away. January 2, 1863 Who won the battle? Breckinridge hoped to use the short daylight period to his advantage. For William Rosecrans, Stones Riverwas the high point of hisentire career. The Union Approach - Stones River National Battlefield (U.S. National That gave Mendenhall the immediate services of 45 guns in 10 batteries, aligned along a 675-yard-wide front. At Chickamauga, however, he had the support of only a few infantry regiments and was unsuccessful, as the Confederates were able to flank his artillery position. As the terrain on the west bank of Stones River was 10 feet higher than the east, it gave the Union artillery an unobstructed field of fire across the river and the ground beyond. The deception fooled Bragg, who ordered his attacking columns to move more widely to the Yankee flank. But they soon rallied and continued to advance. He lost only two of the 14 guns he had, in two batteries, during the fighting December 31. For the assault, he shifted the bulk of Hardee's corps to the west side of Stones River where it joined with Polk's men. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.. Breckinridge wanted all artillery to advance alongside his infantry; Robertson thought the batteries should be held back and join the infantry once the high ground was captured. Rather than stop and consolidate their position, many regiments pursued the Federals retreating toward the river. Three of Breckinridges brigades that had been engaged at the hotly contested Round Forest on December 31 were returned across Stones River to Braggs right flank. In addition, Breckinridge would have the entire night to organize and strengthen his brigades defensive alignment. Despite the many losses, missed opportunities, and disappointments, though, the Confederates still exhibited a fighting spirit. Fact#5: Bad blood between Braxton Bragg and Maj. Gen. John Breckinridge may have contributed to the Confederate failure in the Round Forest. Sign up to receive the latest information on the American Battlefield Trust's efforts to blaze The Liberty Trail in South Carolina. He was immediatelydecapitated,and his headless body stayed in the saddle for 20 paces before pitching off the horse to the ground. Polk continued to hammer away at Hazen and Rosecrans poured reinforcements into what became known as Hells Half-Acre. Seeking to complete his victory, Bragg ordered part of Breckinridge's division, along with units from Polk's corps, to renew the attack on Hazen around 4:00 PM. To Breckinridges dismay, Bragg ordered an attack on the Union position. Mendenhall also had the support of four infantry brigades, as well as the recently arrived Pioneer Brigade in reserve. The Union Approach. On the afternoon of January 2, Breckinridge had the services of about 5,200 men. The Battle of Stones River Murfreesboro. Rosecrans, Bragg assumed, would pull his army back toward Nashville overnight rather than risk its inevitable annihilation. Battle of Stones River, also called Battle of Murfreesboro, (December 31, 1862-January 2, 1863), bloody but indecisive American Civil War clash in Tennessee that was a psychological victory for Union forces. With the Federals in disarray, Rosecrans had no choice but to call off his planned attack, recalling Van Cleves division across the river. Stones River National Battlefield (U.S. National Park Service) Did Bragg have a real opportunity to win the Battle of Stone's River? Bragg was only too willing to believe this news, and he confidently withheld a new assault and waited to take possession of an uncontested field. Breckinridge was halted again while this report was investigated and invalidated. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. Those troops were initially successful, but, once flanked, they too joined in the retreat. Only a hasty shifting of reinforcements protected Rosecranss position. Stones River January 2nd | Animated Battle Map - YouTube Three factors were principally involved: First, the Confederate artillery was poorly handled. Hardees corps, supported by Lieutenant General Leonidas Polks corps, spearheaded the Southern effort and forced the Federals to retreat some two and one-half miles to the Nashville Turnpike and railroad. Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Lieutenant Edwin P. Thompson of the 6th Kentucky Infantry offered the best description of the Federal cannonade from the Confederate perspective, writing: The main bodywere on the point of dashing wildly into the river, the very earth trembled as with an exploding mine, and a mass of iron hail was hurled upon them. As the deep black of night steadily turned to a gloomy, opaque, misty gray, McCook received additional reports of movement along his line. Convinced that Rosecran's position would only get stronger and fearful that winter rains would raise the river and split his army, Bragg began retreating around 10:00 PM on January 3. Join us online July 24-26! Although they fought to a tactical draw, the Confederates retreated. The Battle of Vicksburg or Siege of Vicksburg was a key turning point in the war. Although the Confederates could not claim outright victory that first day of the Battle of Stones River, they had enjoyed the advantage after an early morning attack on Rosecrans unsuspecting Army of the Cumberland (known at the time as the 14th Army Corps). As 1862 drew to a close, President Abraham Lincoln was desperate for a military victory. At 3:00 p.m., as Breckinridge massed his men for the assault, Rosecrans observed the activity and sent reinforcements across the river. The resulting confusion was compounded when Kirk suffered a mortal wound. The bloody Civil War battle fought among the rocky cedar glades near the town of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, left an indelible imprint on the lives of many a soldier and his family. Online Edition 2002 ~ 2021, The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee. Gen. James S. Negleys 2nd Division, in Thomas Center Wing, were sent over: Colonel Timothy R. Stanleys 2nd Brigade and Colonel John F. Millers 3rd Brigade. A fierce battle took place at Stones River between December 31, 1862 and January 2, 1863. Stones River Bloody Winter Tennessee - Google Books The Battle of Stones River (which the Confederacy called . Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. Minutes later, the soldiers on McCooks far-right saw dark, shadowy figures quietly approaching through the dense mist. By 1:00 p.m., Polks men werespentand Bragg called for Breckinridge to send him four fresh brigades from across the river. Approaching the town along the Nashville Turnpike and Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad, Union forces arrived on the evening of December 29. I have given an order to attack the enemy and expect it to be obeyed! With that, the discussion was over. The night of December 30 was cold, wet, and miserable for the soldiers in the line on both sides. The cold, dark, blustery night was filled with the sight of lanterns floating between the two lines, as men from both sides attended to the wounded and dying. Instead of consolidating their gains, however, the Confederate infantry, flush with victory, rushed forward into the Union artillerys kill zone. The Union general saw a line of flickering torchlights in the distance during an early morning reconnaissance that he believed signaled another pending Confederate attack. By noon, the Federal corps of Major General George H. Thomas held the key sector, where the Union line bent back to the west, just south of the turnpike and railroad. The most comprehensive and authoritative history site on the Internet. Then, one of their bands answered, playing Dixie. This friendly exchange of music continued for a time until a Federal band started to play the bittersweet sounds of Home, Sweet Home. Within minutes, a Southern band joined in, and the bands played together in what was a unique expression of mutual longing for home and family. The Federal army generally followed the route of the Nashville Turnpike as it crossed the mid-Tennessee countryside toward Chattanooga. Stones River National Battlefield, established in 1927 and . Total casualties for both sides reached an estimated 24,645. As far as he was concerned, the Battle of Stones River was over. Rosecrans had about 80,000 men under his command, yet he left 40,000 men in and around Nashville to guard his communication and supply routes . Stay up-to-date on the American Battlefield Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. The rushing host had been checked in mid-career, and now staggered back. That would give Rosecrans minimal time, if any, before it got dark. Early the next day, two additional brigades from Brig. In Force of a Cyclone: The Battle of Stones River, December 31, 1862-January 2, 1863, authors Caroline Davis and Bert Dunkerly explore a significant turning point of the Civil War, and one that had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides of any Civil War battle. For a time, the music-making assumed the characteristics of a North-South contest, as The Bonnie Blue Flag competed with Hail Columbia. After a while, one of the bands started playing Home Sweet Home, and, one after another, various bands, Union and Confederate, joined in, until all the bands in both armies were playing Home Sweet Home. It was a strange prelude to one of the bloodiest battles of the war. In every form of contest in which mechanical instruments, requiring skill and heavy machinery to make them, can be used, the Federals are our superiors., Matt Spruill is a retired U.S. Army colonel, author of 10 Civil War books, who resides and writes from Colorado. His withdraw eventually halted at Tullahoma, TN. Around 11:00 AM, Sheridan's men began to run out of ammunition and were compelled to fall back. Hickman, Kennedy. January 3, 1888 through January 21, 1888. Rosecrans, Bragg assumed, would pull his army back toward Nashville overnight rather than risk its inevitable annihilation. This information was finally proved wrong late in the morning and Bragg ordered Breckinridge to join the main line on the western side of the river. After some spirited discussion, they could not reach a decision on howto proceed. This new attack was led by Patrick Cleburne along with two fresh divisions under Maj. Gen. Benjamin Cheatham and Maj. Gen. Jones Withers. Gen. David S. Stanleys cavalry and the newly formed Pioneer Brigade of engineers43,400 men total. Every purchase supports the mission. Thomass men held the critical ground that covered both the turnpike and the railroad, and the Confederates lost another opportunity for triumph. "American Civil War: Battle of Stones River." Kill Zone: Union Artillery at the Battle of Stones River - HistoryNet Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. The Federals had suffered a tactical loss at Perryville, Ky., in early October, and, though Perryville became a strategic victory after Bragg quickly retreated out of Kentucky, it was evident Buell had lost the confidence of his officers and men. Within minutes, the entire flow of the battle had changed. My poor Orphans! who won the Stones River, Tennessee a/k/a Murfreesboro battle? Grant decided to lay siege to Vicksburg after his heavy losses during the attacks on the stronghold (3). He rode all about the battlefield, asking for reports, giving succinct orders, and providing encouragement where needed, and it was much need on that cold, bloody morning. Although the battle was tactically indecisive, it provided a much-needed boost to the North after the defeat at Fredericksburg. His stubbornness had robbed the Confederate assault of vital momentum. Though a strategic victory for the Union, Perryville resulted in changes on the Union side as well. Manhattanhenge fans hope cloudy weather won't obscure NYC's famed Also important was that they could remain out of range of effective Union rifle fire. Darkness was not far off, and though success was within the Confederates grasp, what happened next changed everything. Bragg appeared be on the verge of victory on the first day at Stone's River, but came up short. Prices regiments held their fire until Hansons men were 6090 yards away before delivering a devastating volley that temporarily stalled the Confederates. Rebel cavalry troopers under Colonel John Hunt Morgan operated around Nashville, keeping Yankee cavalry busy but not effecting Rosecrans move south. Colonel Samuel W. Prices 3rd Brigade remained at McFaddens Ford, supported by Lieutenant Cortland Livingstons six-gun 3rd Wisconsin Battery. Bragg believed that an assault launched an hour before sunset, if successful, would thwart any possibility of a Union counterattack. Related to this. General Rosecrans held his position the next day, and that night Bragg decided to retreat, withdrawing along the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad for some thirty miles to Tullahoma. The Hazen Brigade at the Battle of Stones River. The Union Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. The clash at Stones River had been building for several months. In response, Bragg concentrated his 37,317-man army (five infantry divisions, artillery, and Brig. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. The "Slaughter Pen" and "Hell's Half Acre" are just two of the locations on the Stones River battlefield in central Tennessee near the town of Murfreesboro that witnessed brutal fighting 160 years ago between New Year's Eve of 1862 and Jan. 2, 1863. As it flew by him, it hitGareschin the face. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. The Unions Army of the Cumberland, some forty-four thousand strong and commanded by Major General William S. Rosecrans, was drawn up about thirty miles southeast of Nashville. Kennedy Hickman Updated on September 01, 2017 The Battle of Stones River was fought December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). The furious assault caught some of the defenders while they were cooking their own breakfast and shattered the Union line. At the battles onset, Breckinridges Division comprised four brigades and an attached brigade, commanded by Brig. On October 24, 1862, Rosecrans replaced Maj. Gen. Don Carlos Buell as commander of the Army of the Ohio, which was renamed the 14th Army Corps, and began efforts to rejuvenate a demoralized army. The armies spent January 1 dressing their lines and tending to their wounded. This would provide the entire night for Breckinridge and Bragg to reinforce the newly captured high ground and decide on their next move. This is a first hand account by . Gen. Charles Crufts 1st Brigade and Colonel William Groses 3rd Brigade. Upon breaking through the first line, his men were instructed to wheel and drive to interdict Rosecranss supply line on the Nashville Turnpike. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. He wanted to hold the artillery back until the high ground had been captured before bringing the guns forward. Background In the retreat, 3,000 men and 28 guns had been captured. Soon, 12 guns of the 26th Pennsylvania and 6th Ohio batteries joined Mendenhalls artillery, with more batteries on the way. The fall of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, the loss of New Orleans, the occupation of Nashville, the capture of Island #10, the capture of Memphis, the Federal triumph at the battle of Shiloh, the Union takeover of the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, the strategic defeat at Antietam, and the failure of the Kentucky campaign provided indisputable evidence that the war was going badly for the South. The Army of Tennessee commander was confident that when dawn broke on New Years Day, his opponent, Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans, would be gone. To the left of Ellsworth were the three guns of Captain William E. Standarts Battery B, 1st Ohio. American Civil War: Stones River casualties 1862-1863 | Statista The remainder of Prestons Brigade moved forward with Pillows to continue the attack, while Gibson advanced after moving Adams Brigade in line with Hansons. But Rosecrans continued to strengthen his line, sending units wherever they were needed most, no matter what brigade or division they belonged to. It is little wonder that some officers questioned Braggs sanity at this point. Which side won the Battle of Stones River? - Homework.Study.com Tour Stop 6 - McFadden's Farm. Interestingly, nine months later at Chickamauga, he would attempt a similar massing of artillery on September 20. Because Fyffes regiments on the left extended past the Confederate right, they were able to pour flanking fire into Pillows men. As the Southerners turned toretreat backup the slope of the hill, Crittenden ordered infantry reserves forward, driving the Orphan Brigade back across the hill they had just taken and into the fields they had just crossed so bravely. That division was led by GeneralPhilipSheridan. Despite the ferocity of the first days assault, it was diluted by false information. Between Breckenridge and the remainder of Hardees corps was the corps of Lieut. Striking Crittenden and Beatty's position, they succeeded in pushing some of the Union troops back across McFadden's Ford. The artillery bellowed forth such thunder that men were stunned and could not distinguish sounds. Stones River | Jan 2, 1863 | American Battlefield Trust Breckinridge had 34 guns available to support his attack: 24 under his control and 10 commanded by Felix Robertson, captain of a battery in Maj. Gen. Jones M. Withers Division. Braxton Bragg seemed satisfied as a bloody day of combat wound down outside Murfreesboro, Tenn., on December 31, 1862. They smashedinto the Federal right flank, shooting men down as they ate their breakfastwith their rifles out of reach. The battle produced important military and political gains for the Union, and it changed forever the people who lived and fought here. The Confederate Army of Tennessee was camped in Murfreesboro, Tennessee only 30 miles away from General William S. Rosecrans army in Nashville.
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