Stones River National Battlefield (TN)
Read More
State Capitol Building
Stones River National Battlefield
Entering Stones River National Battlefield...
The size and simplicity of the visitor center at Stones River belies the magnitude of the events which took place here...
Inside the visitor center is a somewhat smallish exhibit area, though it is clear and concise in its explanation of the events at Stones River...
Headquarters, Army of the Ohio - Major General William S. Rosecrans
General Rosecrans set up his headquarters north of Murphreesboro, along the Nashville Pike. From here, much of the planning for the forthcoming battle would take place...
Headquarters, Army of the Tennessee - Brigadier General Braxton Bragg
This is actually the second headquarters location chosen by Bragg over the course of the battle. His first headquarters was deemed too distant from the fighting so, on January 1, he moved it here along the Nashville Pike just south of the main battleground... "History will yet award the main honor...to the private soldier, who...has encountered all the hardships and suffered all the privations." --General Bragg, CSA, 1863
Headquarters, Army of the Tennessee - Brigadier General Braxton Bragg
Stones River itself as it flows but a few dozen yards behind Bragg's Headquarters...
First Day - Dec. 31, 1862 - Early Morning - McFadden's Lane
After days of marching and skirmishing the Federal army finally arrived at the outskirts of Murphreesboro. On the night of December 30-31 the 80,000 men of both armies were only a few hundred yards of each other. With morning, all knew that major fight would commence but for the time being they just tried to stay as comfortable as possible against the bitter cold...
First Day - Dec. 31, 1862 - 6:30am - Dawn Attack
Just as dawn was breaking and the men of General Johnson's division on the Union right were preparing breakfast a crash of musketry announced the Confederate attack. Nearly 10,000 Confederates were charging directly at Johnson's 6,600 men, and the results were predictable. The Union line quickly dissolved and the remaining troops fell back to the north...
This now bucolic lane was at the start of the battle the center of the Union line. Though the battle started far to the right of the troops here, the quick collapse of those divisions brought the battle here in a hurry...
First Day - Dec. 31, 1862 - 7:00am - Sheridan Makes a Stand
Of all the divisional commanders on the field that morning, Brigadier General Philip Sheridan had had the foresight to prepare his men for an imminent attack. This meant that, though the right flank of the Union line quickly broke Sheridan's brigades held firm. Sheridan's foresight and determination likely saved the battle for the Union. Wave after wave of rebel attacks struck Sheridan's lines but they held firm. For two precious hours these brigades blunted the Confederate advance allowing General Rosecrans to form a more solid defensive line along the Nashville Pike...
