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out dark。 Early in the morning； Crittenden's command moved into line of battle on the left； under a brisk fire； while Negley's division； by an oblique movement to the right； took position on the right of Palmer's division； and was then advanced through a dense cedar thicket several hundred yards in width to the Wilkinson cross roads； driving the enemy's skirmishers steadily； and with considerable loss。 Rousseau's division； with the exception of Starkweather's brigade； was ordered up from Stewartsboro； reached the front； and bivouacked on the Murfreesboro pike in the rear of the centre。 Thomas during the night ordered Walker's brigade to take a strong position near the bridge over Stewart's Creek； and to defend it against any attempt of the enemy's cavalry to destroy it。 Rousseau was ordered to take position in rear of Negley's division； with his left on the Murfreesboro pike； and his right extending into the cedar thicket through which Negley had marched to take position。 The troops held every foot of ground that had been won from the enemy and remained in line of battle during the night。
The 〃Left Wing〃 under Crittenden advanced on the 26th to Lavergne； Palmer's division in the front。 He was engaged in a short time with heavy skirmishing； which increased as the command moved south。 The advance of the column was over a rough country； intersected with forests and cedar thickets。 Crittenden was ordered to delay his movements until McCook reached Triune； in order to determine the direction in which Thomas should move as support； Crittenden's command encamped that night four miles north of Lavergne。 On the 27th Wood's division was placed in the advance of Crittenden's column。 Hascall's brigade drove the enemy from Lavergne with a loss of twenty men wounded； and pushing rapidly on； forced them south of Stewart's Creek； five miles beyond。 At this place the enemy set fire to the bridge； which Hascall's advance reached in time to save。 Hazen's brigade of Palmer's division was sent down the Jefferson pike to seize the bridge over Stewart's Creek at the crossing of that road。 That night the 〃Left Wing〃 went into camp at Stewartsboro； and remained there over the next day； Sunday。 On the 29th； Crittenden's command crossed Stewart's Creek by the Smyrna bridge； and the main Murfreesboro pike； and advanced that dayPalmer's division leadingto within two miles of Murfreesboro； driving back the enemy after several severe skirmishes； saving two bridges on the route； and forcing the enemy into his intrenchments。
Rosecrans； about three o'clock in the afternoon； received a signal message from Palmer at the front； that he was in sight of Murfreesboro； and that the enemy was running。 Rosecrans then sent an order to Crittenden to send a division to occupy Murfreesboro； camping the other two outside。 Crittenden received this order as he reached the head of his command； where Wood and Palmer were gathering up their troops prepatory to encamping for the night。 These divisions were in line of battle；Wood on the left and Palmer on the right；with the rebels in sight in such heavy force that it was evident that they intended to dispute the passage of the river； and to fight a battle at or near Murfreesboro。 On receipt of the order； Crittenden gave the command to advance。 Wood was ordered to occupy the place； and Palmer to advance in line of battle until the passage of the river had been forced。 Wood on receiving the order objected greatly to carrying it out； saying that it was hazarding a great deal for very little； to move over unknown ground in the night； instead of waiting for daylight； and that Crittenden ought to take the responsibility of disobeying the order。 This the latter refused to do。 After Wood and Palmer had issued their orders to advance； they both insisted that the order should not be carried out。 The order was then suspended an hour； so that Rosecrans could be heard from。 During this interval the general himself came to this portion of the front； and approved of the action of Crittenden； as the order had been issued on the report that the enemy had evacuated Murfreesboro。 Under the order； before it was suspended； Harker with his brigade had crossed the river at a ford on his left； where he surprised a regiment of Breckinridge's division； and drove it back on its main lines； not more than five hundred yards distant； in considerable confusion。 He held this position until it was dark； with Breckinridge in force on his front； when Crittenden ordered his return。 Hascall's command was fording the river； advancing when the order was suspended。 Harker succeeded in recrossing the river in the face of this strong force of the enemy without any serious loss。 Crittenden placed Van Cleve's division； which had reported marching from the Jefferson turnpike to the Murfreesboro road； in reserve behind Wood。 During the 30th there was but little change in the position of the Left Wing； while the other troops were moving into position on the line of battle。 Palmer's division was advanced a short distance； the enemy contesting stubbornly。
The pioneer brigade had prepared the banks at three places for the fording of the river。 Wood's division covered two； and the pioneer brigade； under Captain St。 Clair Morton； covered the lower one。 At night Crittenden's corps with Negley's division bivouacked in order of battle； being on seven hundred yards from the enemy's entrenchments。 The left of Crittenden's command extended down the river some five hundred yards。
The first movement of Rosecrans's advance was made known to Bragg as soon as it had reached a point two miles beyond the Federal picket…line； where the heads of the several columns encountered the rebel cavalry pickets。 For all Bragg had placed his army in winter quarters； and presumed that Rosecrans had done the same； his experience with the matter of surprise to an army led him to be well prepared to know and take advantage of the slightest change in his immediate front。 By the night of the 26th Bragg knew that Rosecrans's entire army was moving out to force him to fight or compel his retreat。 He at once selected his line of battle at Stone's River； and directed his three cavalry brigades； under Wheeler； Wharton； and Pegram； supported by three brigades of infantry with artillery； to check the advance of the several columns until he could unite this army。 He then gave the necessary orders for the concentration of his command and the formation of his line of battle。
Murfreesboro is situated on the railroad to Chattanooga； thirty miles southeast of Nashville； in the midst of the great plain stretching from the base of the Cumberland Mountains toward the Cumberland River； and is surrounded by a gently undulating country； exceedingly fertile and highly cultivated。 Leading in every direction from the town are numerous excellent turnpikes。 Stone's Rivernamed after an early settleris formed here by the middle and south branches of the stream uniting； and flows in a northerly direction between low banks of limestone； generally steep and difficult to cross； emptying into the Cumberland。 At the time of the battle the stream was so low that it could be crossed by infantry eve