General William S. Rosecrans, left, rallies his troops at Stones River in this illustration from 1891.
As 1862 drew to a close, President Abraham Lincoln was desperate for a military victory. The president's hopes focused on the little town of Murfreesboro occupied by the Confederate Army of Tennessee commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg.
Dec. 26, 1862
Gen. William S. Rosecrans and his Union Army of the Cumberland leave Nashville. Rain, sleet and fog combined with spirited resistance from Confederate cavalry slowed the Union advance.
The armies face each other in the fields and forests west and south of Murfreesboro. During the night, Bragg and Rosecrans plan their attacks. Both choose to attack the right flank of the enemy and cut off its supply line and escape route.
11,000 Confederates commanded by Gen. J. P. McCown and Gen. Patrick Cleburne storm across the frosted fields to attack the Union right flank. Within minutes, the Confederate tide sweeps regiment after regiment of Union soldiers from the field.
As the morning wore on, Union resistance stiffens as the Confederates face difficulties coordinating their attacks.
At 10 a.m., Union forces under Gen. Philip Sheridan and Gen. James Negley make a stand in the rocks and trees to buy time for the rest of their army to reform along the Nashville Pike. The fighting rages for two hours until the outnumbered bluecoats are forced to retreat. Thousands of dead and wounded men cover the fields and rocks. Soldiers later called this deadly place the Slaughter Pen.
Meanwhile,, Gen. Rosecrans rallies his troops at the Nashville Pike.
The men of Col. William B. Hazen's brigade anchor the left end of the new line. From their position in the Round Forest, Hazen's men beat back four Confederate attacks across the bloody fields that became know as Hell's Half Acre.
Along the Nashville Pike, Confederates leave the dense cedar woods and attack the Union lines head-on, but none can overcome the mass of cannons defending the Union lifeline.
Jan. 1, 1863
The armies spend the day reorganizing and caring for the wounded.
Gen. Bragg orders Gen. John C. Breckinridge to attack Gen. Horatio Van Cleve's division occupying a hill overlooking McFadden's Ford on the east side of the Stones River.
As the Confederates attack, they came within range of 57 Union cannon massed on the west side of the Stones River.
The cannon take a heavy toll. In 45 minutes their concentrated fire kills or wounds more than 1,800 Confederates bringing the battle to a bloody climax.
Source: www.nps.gov/stri. Edited by Park Ranger Jim Lewis.