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The '''Battle of Stones River''' was fought on December 31, 1862 to January 3, 1863 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, between the Army of the Cumberland under Major General William S. Rosecrans, and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lieutenant General Braxton Bragg.

The '''Battle of Stones River''' was fought during the [[American Civil War]] on December 31, 1862 to January 3, 1863 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, between the Army of the Cumberland under Major General William S. Rosecrans, and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lieutenant General Braxton Bragg.

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

As 1862 drew to a close, President [[Abraham Lincoln]] was desperate for a military victory. His armies were stalled, and the terrible defeat at [[Fredericksburg]] spread a pall of defeat across the nation. There was also the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] to consider. The nation needed a victory to bolster morale and support the proclamation when it went into effect on January 1, 1863.

As 1862 drew to a close, President [[Abraham Lincoln]] was desperate for a military victory. His armies were stalled, and the terrible defeat at [[Fredericksburg]] spread a pall of defeat across the nation. There was also the [[Emancipation Proclamation]] to consider. The nation needed a victory to bolster morale and support the proclamation when it went into effect on January 1, 1863.

==Union approach==

==Union approach==

Rain, sleet and fog combined with spirited resistance from Confederate cavalry slowed the Federal advance. By the evening of December 30, 1862 both armies faced each other in the fields and forests west and south of Murfreesboro.

Rain, sleet and fog combined with spirited resistance from Confederate cavalry slowed the Federal advance. By the evening of December 30, 1862 both armies faced each other in the fields and forests west and south of Murfreesboro.

==Turning the Union Right==

==Turning the Union Right==

[[Image:Braxtonbragg.jpg|thumb|left|150px| Lieutenant General Braxton Bragg, CSA]]

[[Image:Stones River Dec31 0800.png|thumb|right|150px|December 31, 8 am]]

[[Image:Stones River Dec31 0945.png|thumb|right|150px|December 31, 9:45 am]]

At dawn on December 31, 1862, General [[J. P. McCown]]’s Division with General [[Patrick Cleburne]]’s men in support stormed across the frosted fields to attack the Federal right flank. Their plan was to swing around the Union line in a right wheel and drive their enemy back to the Stones River while cutting off their main supply routes at the Nashville Pike and the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad.

At dawn on December 31, 1862, General [[J. P. McCown]]’s Division with General [[Patrick Cleburne]]’s men in support stormed across the frosted fields to attack the Federal right flank. Their plan was to swing around the Union line in a right wheel and drive their enemy back to the Stones River while cutting off their main supply routes at the Nashville Pike and the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad.

==Hell's Half-Acre==

==Hell's Half-Acre==

The Round Forest was a crucial position for the Army of the Cumberland. Poised between the Nashville Pike and the Stones River, the forest anchored the left of the Union line. Colonel [[William B. Hazen]]’s Brigade was assigned this crucial sector.

The Round Forest was a crucial position for the Army of the Cumberland. Poised between the Nashville Pike and the Stones River, the forest anchored the left of the Union line. Colonel [[William B. Hazen]]’s Brigade was assigned this crucial sector.

==Charge of Breckenridge==

==Charge of Breckenridge==

After spending January 1, 1863 reorganizing and caring for the wounded, the two armies came to blows again on the afternoon of January 2nd. General Bragg ordered Breckinridge to attack General [[Horatio Van Cleve]]’s Division (commanded by Colonel Samuel Beatty) occupying a hill overlooking McFadden’s Ford on the east side of the river.

After spending January 1, 1863 reorganizing and caring for the wounded, the two armies came to blows again on the afternoon of January 2nd. General Bragg ordered Breckinridge to attack General [[Horatio Van Cleve]]’s Division (commanded by Colonel Samuel Beatty) occupying a hill overlooking McFadden’s Ford on the east side of the river.