Changes

| casualties2 =Killed: 1,294<br/>Wounded: 7,945<br/>Missing or captured: 1,027  

| casualties2 =Killed: 1,294<br/>Wounded: 7,945<br/>Missing or captured: 1,027  

}}

}}

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.

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

==Prelude==

==Prelude==

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

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

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 for the proclamation when it went into effect on January 1, 1863.

The Confederate Army of Tennessee was camped in [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee]] only 30 miles away from General [[William S. Rosecrans]]’ army in [[Nashville]]. General [[Braxton Bragg]] chose this area in order to position himself to stop any Union advances towards Chattanooga and to protect the rich farms of Middle Tennessee that were feeding his men.

The Confederate Army of Tennessee was camped in [[Murfreesboro, Tennessee]] only 30 miles away from General [[William S. Rosecrans]]’ army in [[Nashville]]. General [[Braxton Bragg]] chose this area in order to position himself to stop any Union advances towards Chattanooga and to protect the rich farms of Middle Tennessee that were feeding his men.