U. S. Civil War Photographs - Murfreesboro

U. S. CIVIL WAR
PHOTOGRAPHS

MURFREESBORO
(STONES RIVER)

PAGE 6 OF 6 PAGES

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JANUARY 2, 1863

January 2, 1863

On January 2, 1863, Bragg was surprised that the Federals had not left the field but were occupying a hill on the east side of Stones River which threatened his right flank. Bragg told Breckinridge to seize the high ground and drive the enemy back across the river.

While the Southerners were forming for their attack, Union General Crittenden ordered his chief of artillery, Capt. John E. Mendenhall, to provide support for the Union troops across the river. Within half an hour, Mendenhall assembled 58 guns and had them trained on the ground over which the Confederates would have to travel.

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Battle of Stone River, Near Murfreesborough, Tenn.
Dec. 31, 62. Jan. 2-3, 1863
Union (Gen. Rosecrans), Confederate (Gen. Bragg).

When the Confederates attacked, they overwhelmed the outnumbered Union soldiers on the hill, who fled in headlong retreat down the back slope to a shallow river crossing known as McFadden's Ford. As the Confederate soldiers came into range, the Federal gunners opened fire. In minutes, 1,800 Confederates were killed or wounded. The rest withdrew.

Artillery Monument (B)

THE PLAQUE ON THE MONUMENT READS:

ON JANUARY 2ND, 1863, AT 3:00 P.M.,
THERE WERE STATIONED ON THIS HILL,
FIFTY-EIGHT CANNON, COMMANDING THE FIELD
ACROSS THE RIVER, AND AS THE CONFEDERATES
ADVANCED OVER THIS FIELD, THE SHOT AND SHELL
FROM THESE GUNS, RESULTED IN A LOSS OF
EIGHTEEN-HUNDRED, KILLED AND WOUNDED,
IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.

AFTERMATH

Bragg left the field on January 4-5, retreating to Shelbyville and Tullahoma, Tennessee. Rosecrans did not pursue, but as the Confederates retired, he claimed the victory. Stones River boosted Union morale. The Confederates had been thrown back in the east, west, and in the Trans-Mississippi.

(Text Source, among others: U.S. Gov't, National Park Service)

NATIONAL CEMETERY (K)


		IN MEMORY THE OFFICERS and ENLISTED MEN 15th, 16th, 18th, & 19th U.S. INFANTRY AND BATTERY H, 5th U.S. ARTILLERY, WHO WERE KILLED or DIED of WOUNDS RECEIVED AT THE BATTLE of STONE RIVER TENNESSEE DECEMBER 31st 1862 TO JANUARY 3rd 1863