Fredericksburg and Chickasaw Bayou.  The Union strategic combination during the final months of 1862 met with defeat in Virginia and Mississippi.  The hard-won Union victory at Stones River was an invaluable boost to Northern morale.  It was not until 1864 that the Northern armies were able to execute another coordinated offensive.  Under Ulysses S. Grant's overall leadership, the 1864 movement spelled the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. 

Fredericksburg and Chickasaw Bayou.  The Union strategic combination during the final months of 1862 met with defeat in Virginia and Mississippi.  The hard-won Union victory at Stones River was an invaluable boost to Northern morale.  It was not until 1864 that the Northern armies were able to execute another coordinated offensive.  Under Ulysses S. Grant's overall leadership, the 1864 movement spelled the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. 

Fredericksburg and Chickasaw Bayou.  The Union strategic combination during the final months of 1862 met with defeat in Virginia and Mississippi.  The hard-won Union victory at Stones River was an invaluable boost to Northern morale.  It was not until 1864 that the Northern armies were able to execute another coordinated offensive.  Under Ulysses S. Grant's overall leadership, the 1864 movement spelled the beginning of the end for the Confederacy. 

Braxton Bragg.  An aggressive strategist, Bragg was prone to bouts of timidity in the tactical presence of the enemy.  He also displayed an unfortunate tendency to report monumental victories to the Confederate high command in Richmond before finally admitting defeat.  Horror stories about mass hangings and indiscriminate execution constantly circulated the rank and file of his army. 

Braxton Bragg.  An aggressive strategist, Bragg was prone to bouts of timidity in the tactical presence of the enemy.  He also displayed an unfortunate tendency to report monumental victories to the Confederate high command in Richmond before finally admitting defeat.  Horror stories about mass hangings and indiscriminate execution constantly circulated the rank and file of his army. 

Braxton Bragg.  An aggressive strategist, Bragg was prone to bouts of timidity in the tactical presence of the enemy.  He also displayed an unfortunate tendency to report monumental victories to the Confederate high command in Richmond before finally admitting defeat.  Horror stories about mass hangings and indiscriminate execution constantly circulated the rank and file of his army. 

The Battle of Murfreesboro.  The Battle of Stones River was fought on the outskirts of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  It was known in the North as the Battle of Stones River, in the South as the Battle of Murfreesboro.  This conforms to the general naming pattern of the war: the North noted the nearest body of water, the South noted the nearest development. 

The Battle of Murfreesboro.  The Battle of Stones River was fought on the outskirts of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  It was known in the North as the Battle of Stones River, in the South as the Battle of Murfreesboro.  This conforms to the general naming pattern of the war: the North noted the nearest body of water, the South noted the nearest development. 

The Battle of Murfreesboro.  The Battle of Stones River was fought on the outskirts of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.  It was known in the North as the Battle of Stones River, in the South as the Battle of Murfreesboro.  This conforms to the general naming pattern of the war: the North noted the nearest body of water, the South noted the nearest development. 

An attack on the Confederate right flank.  Rosecrans intended to attack the Confederate positions on the banks of Stones River and drive through the Confederate rear.  He circulated the necessary orders for an assault after breakfast.  Braxton Bragg's advance began at dawn, thus pre-empting Rosecrans's plan.  Unfortunately for the Southern effort, the officers on the right flank mistakenly reported that Rosecrans was in fact attacking in their sector and refused to move to support the main battle until late in the day. 

An attack on the Confederate right flank.  Rosecrans intended to attack the Confederate positions on the banks of Stones River and drive through the Confederate rear.  He circulated the necessary orders for an assault after breakfast.  Braxton Bragg's advance began at dawn, thus pre-empting Rosecrans's plan.  Unfortunately for the Southern effort, the officers on the right flank mistakenly reported that Rosecrans was in fact attacking in their sector and refused to move to support the main battle until late in the day. 

An attack on the Confederate right flank.  Rosecrans intended to attack the Confederate positions on the banks of Stones River and drive through the Confederate rear.  He circulated the necessary orders for an assault after breakfast.  Braxton Bragg's advance began at dawn, thus pre-empting Rosecrans's plan.  Unfortunately for the Southern effort, the officers on the right flank mistakenly reported that Rosecrans was in fact attacking in their sector and refused to move to support the main battle until late in the day. 

Whiskey.  McCown did not want to give his position away with breakfast campfires.  His men welcomed the whiskey, not least because of the warmth it provided on the frigid morning. 

Whiskey.  McCown did not want to give his position away with breakfast campfires.  His men welcomed the whiskey, not least because of the warmth it provided on the frigid morning. 

Whiskey.  McCown did not want to give his position away with breakfast campfires.  His men welcomed the whiskey, not least because of the warmth it provided on the frigid morning. 

Joshua Sill.  Widely respected throughout the Union army, Sill had previously earned distinction on the bloody field at Perryville, Kentucky.  News of his death particularly troubled Gen. Phil Sheridan, one of his closest friends in the army. 

Joshua Sill.  Widely respected throughout the Union army, Sill had previously earned distinction on the bloody field at Perryville, Kentucky.  News of his death particularly troubled Gen. Phil Sheridan, one of his closest friends in the army. 

Joshua Sill.  Widely respected throughout the Union army, Sill had previously earned distinction on the bloody field at Perryville, Kentucky.  News of his death particularly troubled Gen. Phil Sheridan, one of his closest friends in the army. 

The Nashville Turnpike.  The Union line along the Nashville Turnpike was nearly at a right angle to the morning position.  However, once the turnpike line solidified, it proved to be too strong for the tired and disorganized Confederates to break. 

The Nashville Turnpike.  The Union line along the Nashville Turnpike was nearly at a right angle to the morning position.  However, once the turnpike line solidified, it proved to be too strong for the tired and disorganized Confederates to break. 

The Nashville Turnpike.  The Union line along the Nashville Turnpike was nearly at a right angle to the morning position.  However, once the turnpike line solidified, it proved to be too strong for the tired and disorganized Confederates to break. 

Phil Sheridan.  "Little Phil" commanded a division in the Union army.  Trading space for time, his ninety-minute withdrawal exacted a deadly toll on the Confederates and broke the momentum of their steamroller attack on the Union right.  The stand his men made at Stones River is considered to be one of the most stubborn of the entire war. 

Phil Sheridan.  "Little Phil" commanded a division in the Union army.  Trading space for time, his ninety-minute withdrawal exacted a deadly toll on the Confederates and broke the momentum of their steamroller attack on the Union right.  The stand his men made at Stones River is considered to be one of the most stubborn of the entire war. 

Phil Sheridan.  "Little Phil" commanded a division in the Union army.  Trading space for time, his ninety-minute withdrawal exacted a deadly toll on the Confederates and broke the momentum of their steamroller attack on the Union right.  The stand his men made at Stones River is considered to be one of the most stubborn of the entire war. 

The Slaughter Pen.  Sheridan mounted his defense in a smoky patch of forest that was broken by numerous rocky crags.  This terrain afforded strong defensive positions and disrupted offensive formations.  Seven Confederate brigades were repulsed trying to dislodge the Union defenders.

The Slaughter Pen.  Sheridan mounted his defense in a smoky patch of forest that was broken by numerous rocky crags.  This terrain afforded strong defensive positions and disrupted offensive formations.  Seven Confederate brigades were repulsed trying to dislodge the Union defenders.

The Slaughter Pen.  Sheridan mounted his defense in a smoky patch of forest that was broken by numerous rocky crags.  This terrain afforded strong defensive positions and disrupted offensive formations.  Seven Confederate brigades were repulsed trying to dislodge the Union defenders.

The Round Forest.  With the Union right holding firm on the Nashville Turnpike, Bragg turned his attention to the salient formed by the new angle in the enemy line, a sector defined by a small woodlot known as the "Round Forest."  The Union defenders repulsed successive attacks throughout the afternoon.  The Confederates were thrown piecemeal into the woods--many believe that a different result could have been achieved by a concerted effort. 

The Round Forest.  With the Union right holding firm on the Nashville Turnpike, Bragg turned his attention to the salient formed by the new angle in the enemy line, a sector defined by a small woodlot known as the "Round Forest."  The Union defenders repulsed successive attacks throughout the afternoon.  The Confederates were thrown piecemeal into the woods--many believe that a different result could have been achieved by a concerted effort. 

The Round Forest.  With the Union right holding firm on the Nashville Turnpike, Bragg turned his attention to the salient formed by the new angle in the enemy line, a sector defined by a small woodlot known as the "Round Forest."  The Union defenders repulsed successive attacks throughout the afternoon.  The Confederates were thrown piecemeal into the woods--many believe that a different result could have been achieved by a concerted effort. 

William Hazen.  The fighting in the dense forest was chaotic in the extreme.  Hazen was the first to realize the significance of the position and established a mobile headquarters within the forest.  Knowing that commanders not in the forest would not have the necessary information to properly fight their soldiers, Hazen ignored the distinctions of organization and conducted a desperate but ultimately successful defense of the Union salient. 

William Hazen.  The fighting in the dense forest was chaotic in the extreme.  Hazen was the first to realize the significance of the position and established a mobile headquarters within the forest.  Knowing that commanders not in the forest would not have the necessary information to properly fight their soldiers, Hazen ignored the distinctions of organization and conducted a desperate but ultimately successful defense of the Union salient. 

William Hazen.  The fighting in the dense forest was chaotic in the extreme.  Hazen was the first to realize the significance of the position and established a mobile headquarters within the forest.  Knowing that commanders not in the forest would not have the necessary information to properly fight their soldiers, Hazen ignored the distinctions of organization and conducted a desperate but ultimately successful defense of the Union salient. 

Joe Wheeler.  Wheeler overestimated the importance of the sight of moving supply wagons as he raided the Union rear on January 1.  With the benefit of hindsight, it now appears that the wagons were serving as drop-off points for Union foragers.  Wheeler believed that Rosecrans had sent his wagons back towards Nashville as the first move of a fighting withdrawal from the Stones River battlefield. 

Joe Wheeler.  Wheeler overestimated the importance of the sight of moving supply wagons as he raided the Union rear on January 1.  With the benefit of hindsight, it now appears that the wagons were serving as drop-off points for Union foragers.  Wheeler believed that Rosecrans had sent his wagons back towards Nashville as the first move of a fighting withdrawal from the Stones River battlefield. 

Joe Wheeler.  Wheeler overestimated the importance of the sight of moving supply wagons as he raided the Union rear on January 1.  With the benefit of hindsight, it now appears that the wagons were serving as drop-off points for Union foragers.  Wheeler believed that Rosecrans had sent his wagons back towards Nashville as the first move of a fighting withdrawal from the Stones River battlefield. 

George Thomas.  Although the specifics of the January 1 council are still disputed--most commanders present seem to inflate their own role--Thomas's alleged declaration has persisted as one of the most celebrated incidents of the tough general's military career.  Ultimately, the council ended with Rosecrans determined to hold his position.  This decision doomed the Confederate hopes for victory at Stones River. 

George Thomas.  Although the specifics of the January 1 council are still disputed--most commanders present seem to inflate their own role--Thomas's alleged declaration has persisted as one of the most celebrated incidents of the tough general's military career.  Ultimately, the council ended with Rosecrans determined to hold his position.  This decision doomed the Confederate hopes for victory at Stones River. 

George Thomas.  Although the specifics of the January 1 council are still disputed--most commanders present seem to inflate their own role--Thomas's alleged declaration has persisted as one of the most celebrated incidents of the tough general's military career.  Ultimately, the council ended with Rosecrans determined to hold his position.  This decision doomed the Confederate hopes for victory at Stones River. 

Massed artillery.  Breckinridge's assault was made over an open field that was dominated by a Union-held ridge and exposed to cannon fire from two sides.  Nevertheless, the charge achieved a penetration of the Union infantry line before the damage inflicted by a thirty-four gun battery forced the Confederates to retreat. 

Massed artillery.  Breckinridge's assault was made over an open field that was dominated by a Union-held ridge and exposed to cannon fire from two sides.  Nevertheless, the charge achieved a penetration of the Union infantry line before the damage inflicted by a thirty-four gun battery forced the Confederates to retreat. 

Massed artillery.  Breckinridge's assault was made over an open field that was dominated by a Union-held ridge and exposed to cannon fire from two sides.  Nevertheless, the charge achieved a penetration of the Union infantry line before the damage inflicted by a thirty-four gun battery forced the Confederates to retreat. 

The Battle of Gettysburg.  Approximately 34% of the soldiers at Stones River were killed, wounded, or captured.  Gettysburg ranks second with approximately 32% casualties.  Note that these figures take into account the entirety of both armies throughout the entire battles--units involved in certain parts of both engagements suffered much higher percentages.  For example, the casualty rates for those involved in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg and Breckinridge's charge at Stones River exceeded 50%. 

The Battle of Gettysburg.  Approximately 34% of the soldiers at Stones River were killed, wounded, or captured.  Gettysburg ranks second with approximately 32% casualties.  Note that these figures take into account the entirety of both armies throughout the entire battles--units involved in certain parts of both engagements suffered much higher percentages.  For example, the casualty rates for those involved in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg and Breckinridge's charge at Stones River exceeded 50%. 

The Battle of Gettysburg.  Approximately 34% of the soldiers at Stones River were killed, wounded, or captured.  Gettysburg ranks second with approximately 32% casualties.  Note that these figures take into account the entirety of both armies throughout the entire battles--units involved in certain parts of both engagements suffered much higher percentages.  For example, the casualty rates for those involved in Pickett's Charge at Gettysburg and Breckinridge's charge at Stones River exceeded 50%.