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moved by the Franklin and Wilson pikes； General Crittenden by the
Murfreesboro' pike； through Lavergne； and General McCook by the
Nolensville pikeDavis's division in advance。 As McCook's command
neared Nolensville； I received a message from Davis informing me that
the Confederates were in considerable force； posted on a range of
hills in his front； and requesting me to support him in an attack he
was about to make。 When the head of my column arrived at Nolensville
I began massing my troops on the right of the road； and by the time
this formation was nearly completed Davis advanced； but not meeting
with sufficient resistance to demand active assistance from me； he
with his own command carried the hills； capturing one piece of
artillery。 This position of the Confederates was a strong one；
defending Knob's Gap； through which the Nolensville and Triune pike
passed。 On the 27th Johnson's division； followed by mine； advanced
to Triune； and engaged in a severe skirmish near that place； but my
troops were not called into action； the stand made by the enemy being
only for the purpose of gaining time to draw in his outlying troops；
which done； he retired toward Murfreesboro'。 I remained inactive at
Triune during the 28th； but early on the 29th moved out by the Bole
Jack road to the support of； Davis in his advance to Stewart's Creek；
and encamped at Wilkinson's crossroads； from which point to
Murfreesboro'； distant about six miles； there was a good turnpike。
The enemy had sullenly resisted the progress of Crittenden and McCook
throughout the preceding three days； and as it was thought probable
that he might offer battle at Stewart's Creek； Thomas； in pursuance
of his original instructions looking to just such a contingency； had
now fallen into the centre by way of the Nolensville crossroads。
On the morning of the 3oth I had the advance of McCook's corps on the
Wilkinson pike； Roberts's brigade leading。 At first only slight
skirmishing took place； but when we came within about three miles of
Murfreesboro' the resistance of the enemy's pickets grew serious； and
a little further on so strong that I had to put in two regiments to
push them back。 I succeeded in driving them about half a mile； when
I was directed by McCook to form line of battle and place my
artillery in position so that I could act in concert with Davis's
division； which he wished to post on my right in the general line he
desired to take up。 In obedience to these directions I deployed on
the right of； and oblique to the Wilkinson pike； with a front of four
regiments； a second line of four regiments within short supporting
distance； and a reserve of one brigade in column of regiments to the
rear of my centre。 All this time the enemy kept up a heavy artillery
and musketry fire on my skirmishers； he occupying； with his
sharpshooters； beyond some open fields； a heavy belt of timber to my
front and right； where it was intended the left of Davis should
finally rest。 To gain this point Davis was ordered to swing his
division into it in conjunction with a wheeling movement of my right
brigade； until our continuous line should face nearly due east。 This
would give us possession of the timber referred to； and not only rid
us of the annoying fire from the skirmishers screened by it； but also
place us close in to what was now developing as Bragg's line of
battle。 The movement was begun about half…past 2； and was
successfully executed； after a stubborn resistance。 In this
preliminary affair the enemy had put in one battery of artillery；
which was silenced in a little while； however； by Bush's and
Hescock's guns。 By sundown I had taken up my prescribed position；
facing almost east； my left （Roberts's brigade） resting on the
Wilkinson pike； the right （Sill's brigade） in the timber we had just
gained； and the reserve brigade （Schaefer's） to the rear of my
centre； on some rising ground in the edge of a strip of woods behind
Houghtaling's and Hescock's batteries。 Davis's division was placed
in position on my right； his troops thrown somewhat to the rear； so
that his line formed nearly a right angle with mine； while Johnson's
division formed in a very exposed position on the right of Davis；
prolonging the general line just across the Franklin pike。
The centre； under Thomas； had already formed to my left； the right of
Negley's division joining my left in a cedar thicket near the
Wilkinson pike； while Crittenden's corps was posted on the left of
Thomas； his left resting on Stone River； at a point about two miles
and a half from Murfreesboro'。
The precision that had characterized every manoeuvre of the past
three days； and the exactness with which each corps and division fell
into its allotted place on the evening of the 30th； indicated that at
the outset of the campaign a well…digested plan of operations had
been prepared for us； and although the scheme of the expected battle
was not known to subordinates of my grade； yet all the movements up
to this time had been so successfully and accurately made as to give
much promise for the morrow； and when night fell there was general
anticipation of the best results to the Union army。
CHAPTER XIII。
ASSAULT ON OUR RIGHT FLANKOCCUPYING A NEW POSITIONTHE ENEMY
CHECKEDTERRIBLE LOSS OF OFFICERSAMMUNITION GIVES OUT
RECONSTRUCTING THE LINECOLLECTING THE WOUNDED AND BURYING THE DEAD…
…DEALING WITH COWARDSRESULTS OF THE VICTORY。
The enemy under Bragg lay between us and stone River in order of
battle； his general line conforming to the course of that stream。 In
my immediate front he appeared to be established in strong force in a
dense cedar wood； just beyond an open valley； which varied from two
hundred to four hundred yards in width； the cedars extending the
entire length of the valley。 From the events of the day and evening
of the 3oth； it was apparent that the two armies were in close
proximity； and orders received during the night revealed the fact
that Rosecrans intended to attack by throwing his left on the enemy's
right； with the expectation of driving it in toward Murfreesboro'； so
that the right of Crittenden's corps could attack Bragg's centre in
reverse； while Thomas supported Crittenden by a simultaneous front
assault； and from the movements of the enemy at daylight next
morning； it was plainly indicated that Bragg had planned to swing his
left on our right by an exactly similar manoeuvre； get possession of
the railroad and the Nashville pike； and if possible cut us off from
our base at Nashville。 The conceptions in the minds of the two
generals were almost identical； but Bragg took the initiative；
beginning his movement about an hour earlier than the time set by
Rosecrans； which gained him an immense advantage in execution in the
earlier stages of the action。
During the evening of the th； feeling keenly all the solicitude which
attends one in anticipation of a battle； I examined my