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brigade。 He was of German birth； having come from Baden； where；
prior to 1848； he had been a non…commissioned officer in the service
of his State。 He took part as an insurgent in the so…called
revolution which occurred at Baden in that year； and； compelled to
emigrate on the suppression of the insurrection； made his way to this
country and settled in St。 Louis。 Here the breaking out of the war
found him； and through the personal interest which General Sigel took
in him he was commissioned a colonel of volunteers。 He had had a
pretty fair education； a taste for the military profession； and was
of tall and slender build； all of which gave him a student…like
appearance。 He was extremely excitable and nervous when anticipating
a crisis； but always calmed down to cool deliberation when the
critical moment came。 With such a man I could not be less than well
satisfied； although the officer whom he replacedColonel Laiboldt
had performed efficient service and shown much capacity in the recent
campaign。
Colonel G。 W。 Roberts； of the Forty…Second Illinois Infantry； also
came to me in the reorganization。 He was an ideal soldier both in
mind and body。 He was young； tall； handsome； brave； and dashing； and
possessed a balance…wheel of such good judgment that in his sphere of
action no occasion could arise from which he would not reap the best
results。 But he too was destined to lay； down his life within a few
days； and on the same fatal field。 His brigade had been performing
garrison duty in Nashville during the siege of that city while
Buell's army was in Kentucky； but disliking the prospect of
inactivity pending the operations opening before us； Roberts had
requested and obtained a transfer to the army in the field。 His
brigade relieved Colonel Dan McCook's； the latter reluctantly joining
the garrison at Nashville； every one in it disappointed and disgusted
that the circumstances existing at this time should necessitate their
relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our
depots and line of supply。
I was fortunate in having such brigade commanders； and no less
favored in the regimental and battery commanders。 They all were not
only patriots； but soldiers； and knowing that discipline must be one
of the most potent factors in bringing to a successful termination；
the mighty contest in which our nation was struggling for existence；
they studied and practiced its methods ceaselessly； inspiring with
the same spirit that pervaded themselves the loyal hearts of their
subordinate officers and men。 All worked unremittingly in the camp
at Mill Creek in preparing for the storm； which now plainly indicated
its speedy coming。 Drills； parades； scouts； foraging expeditions；
picket and guard duty； made up the course in this school of
instruction； supplemented by frequent changes in the locations of the
different brigades； so that the division could have opportunity to
learn to break camp quickly and to move out promptly on the march。
Foraging expeditions were particularly beneficial in this respect；
and when sent out； though absent sometimes for days； the men went
without tents or knapsacks； equipped with only one blanket and their
arms； ammunition； and rations； to teach them to shift for themselves
with slender means in the event of necessity。 The number of
regimental and headquarters wagons was cut down to the lowest
possible figure； and everything made compact by turning into the
supply and ammunition trains of the division all surplus
transportation； and restricting the personal baggage of officers to
the fewest effects possible。
My own staff also was somewhat reorganized and increased at Mill
Creek； and though it had been perfectly satisfactory before； yet； on
account of the changes of troops that had occurred in the command； I
found it necessary to replace valuable officers in some instances；
and secure additional ones in others。 The gathering of information
about the enemy was also industriously pursued； and Card and his
brothers were used constantly on expeditions within the Confederate
lines； frequently visiting Murfreesboro'； Sparta； Tullahoma；
Shelbyville； and other points。 What they learned was reported to
army headquarters； often orally through me or personally communicated
by Card himself； but much was forwarded in official letters；
beginning with November 24； when I transmitted accurate information
of the concentration of Bragg's main force at Tullahoma。 Indeed；
Card kept me so well posted as to every movement of the enemy； not
only with reference to the troops in my immediate front； but also
throughout his whole army； that General Rosecrans placed the most
unreserved reliance on all his statements； and many times used them
to check and correct the reports brought in by his own scouts。
Slight skirmishes took place frequently during this period； and now
and then heavy demonstrations were made in the neighborhood of
Nolensville by reconnoitring parties from both armies； but none of
these ever grew into a battle。 These affairs sprung from the desire
of each side to feel his antagonist； and had little result beyond
emphasizing the fact that behind each line of pickets lay a massed
and powerful army busily preparing for the inevitable conflict and
eager for its opening。 So it wore on till the evening of December
25； 1862； then came the order to move forward。
General Rosecrans； in the reorganization of the army； had assigned
Major…General A。 McD。 McCook to command the right wing； MajorGeneral
George H。 Thomas the centre； and Major…General T。 L。 Crittenden the
left wing。 McCook's wing was made up of three divisions； commanded
in order of rank by Brigadier…General Jeff。 C。 Davis； Brigadier…
General R。 W。 Johnson； and Brigadier…General P。 H。 Sheridan。
Although the corps nomenclature established by General Buell was
dropped； the grand divisions into which he had organized the army at
Louisville were maintained； and； in fact； the conditions established
then remained practically unaltered； with the exception of the
interchange of some brigades； the transfer of a few general officers
from one wing or division to another； and the substitution of General
Thomas for Gilbert as a corps commander。 The army was thus compact
and cohesive； undisturbed by discord and unembarrassed by jealousies
of any moment； and it may be said that under a commander who； we
believed； had the energy and skill necessary to direct us to success；
a national confidence in our invincibility made us all keen for a
test of strength with the Confederates。 We had not long to wait。
Early on the morning of December 26； 1862； in a heavy rain； the army
marched； the movement being directed on Murfreesboro'； where the
enemy had made some preparation to go into winter…quarters； and to
hold which town it was hoped he would accept battle。 General Thomas
moved by the Franklin and Wilson pikes； General Crittenden by the
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