Stones River, Battle of

The Battle of Stones River (also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro) is a battle fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War.

Of the major battles of the war, Stones River has the highest percentage of casualties on both sides.

Although the battle itself is inconclusive, the Union Army's repulse of two Confederate attacks and the subsequent Confederate withdrawal are a much-needed boost to Union morale after the defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg, and it dashes Confederate aspirations for control of Middle Tennessee.

Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Army of the Cumberland marches from Nashville, Tennessee, on December 26, 1862, to challenge General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee at Murfreesboro.

On December 31, each army commander plans to attack his opponent's right flank, but Bragg strikes first.

A massive assault by the corps of Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee, followed by that of Leonidas Polk, overruns the wing commanded by Maj. Gen. Alexander M. McCook.

A stout defense by the division of Brig. Gen. Philip Sheridan in the right center of the line prevents a total collapse and the Union assumes a tight defensive position backing up to the Nashville Turnpike.

Repeated Confederate attacks are repulsed from this concentrated line, most notably in the cedar "Round Forest" salient against the brigade of Col. William B. Hazen.

Bragg attempts to continue the assault with the division of Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, but the troops are slow in arriving and their multiple piecemeal attacks fail.

Fighting resumes on January 2, 1863, when Bragg orders Breckinridge to assault the well-fortified Union position on a hill to the east of the Stones River.

Faced with overwhelming artillery, the Confederates are repulsed with heavy losses.

Falsely believing that Rosecrans is receiving reinforcements, Bragg chooses to withdraw his army on January 3 to Tullahoma, Tennessee.

This causes Bragg to lose the confidence of the Army of Tennessee.

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