the army of the cumberland-第20章
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sed unopposed； and had established themselves on and under cover of an eminence from which Polk's line was commanded and enfiladed。 It was an evident necessity either to withdraw Polk's line or to dislodge Van Cleve's。 The first alternative was not to be entertained until the failure of an attempt to accomplish the latter。 Polk was at once ordered to send over to Breckenridge the remaining brigades belonging to his division still with Polk； and Breckenridge； reporting to Bragg； received his orders。 The attack was to be made with the four brigades of Breckinridge's command； the cavalry protecting his right and co…operating with him。 The crest of ground near the river； where Van Cleve's division was in position； was the point against which the main attack was to be directed。 This taken； Breckinridge was to bring up his artillery and establish it on the high ground； so as to enfilade our lines on the other side of the river。 Polk was to open with a heavy fire on our left as Breckinridge commenced his advance。 The signal for the attack was to be one gun from the centre； and four o'clock was the hour set for the firing of this gun。
Breckinridge drew up his division in two lines； the first in a narrow skirt of woods； the other some two hundred yards in rear。 General Pillow； after the first day's fighting； reporting for duty； was assigned to the command of Palmer's brigade。 Pillow's and Hanson's brigades formed the first line； Preston's and Adams's brigades the second。 The artillery was placed in rear of the second line； and in addition to that of his brigade； ten Napoleon guns12…pounderswere sent to aid in the attack。
Van Cleve's division was under the command of Colonel Samuel Beatty； with Price's brigade on the right next to the river； Fyffe's brigade on the left。 Grider's brigade formed Beatty's support； while a brigade of Palmer's division was placed in position on the extreme left to protect that flank。 Drury's battery was posted in the rear。 In front of Breckinridge's line was an open space some six hundred and fifty yards in width； with a gentle ascent which it was necessary for his troops to cross before reaching our lines。 Several hundred yards in the rear of the latter was the river； increasing the distance as it flowed beyond our left。
General Rosecrans had ordered Crittenden to send Beatty's division across the river as protection to the troops on the left and centre； as from the high ground near the river the enemy； by an enfilading fire； could sweep these portions of our line。 During the morning of the 2d Negley's division was ordered from the right； and placed in position on the west bank of the river； in the rear of Beatty's division； as reserves； being here on the left of Hazen's and Cruft's brigades of Palmer's division。
As soon as Breckinridge's command entered the open ground to his front； the artillery massed on the west bank of the river by order of Crittenden； consisting of all the guns of the left wing； together with the batteries belonging to Negley's division and Stoke's battery； making 58 guns in position； opened a heavy； accurate； and destructive fire。 Large numbers of the enemy fell before they reached Beatty's infantry lines。 Pressing forward without waiting to throw out a skirmish line； Breckinridge's command swept onward； reckless of the artillery fire and that of the infantry； and struck Price's and Grider's brigades； broke their lines； drove them from their position on to their support in the rear； which also gave way； when the entire division retreated in broken ranks across the river； taking refuge behind the line of Negley's division； and there reforming。 Breckenridge reports that he 〃after a brief but bloody conflict routed both the opposing lines； took 400 prisoners and several flags； and drove their artillery and the great body of their infantry across the river。〃 His success； however； was exceedingly short…lived。 Colonel John F。 Miller； commanding the right brigade of Negley's division； had； in the absence of Negley in the rear； ordered the troops of his division to lie down under cover of the bluff of the river bank； and hold their fire until our troops from the other side crossed over and moved to the rear。 As soon as the last of Beatty's men had passed through Miller's lines； he commanded the division to rise and open fire on Breckinridge's troops。 Miller's fire was so effectively given as to cause the enemy at once to recoil； Breckenridge's command being also under the artillery fire on the left； enfilading his ranks。 His division soon wavered； and then began falling back。 At this Miller…Negley still not appearingordered the division to charge across the river； and to drive the enemy from their line of intrenchments； which they did。 While crossing； Miller received word from Palmer not to cross his command； but as the greater part of his troops were over the river driving the enemy； Miller pressed on in person； and hurried the troops last to cross； up to the support of those in the advance。 He was then ordered by Palmer to recross the river； and to support the artillery on the hill on the west bank。 The troops under Miller were then advancing through the cornfield； driving the enemy； and as his right flank was fully protected； he had no inclination to turn back； and he ordered the troops forward。 One of the enemy's batteries was posted in a wood just beyond the cornfield to the front。 It was keeping up a brisk fire on Miller's advance； when he ordered his men to charge this battery； which they did； capturing three guns。 At the time of the charge the Twenty…sixth Tennessee was supporting the battery。 This regiment was broken by the assault； a large number of them captured； with the colors of the command。 Sending the prisoners； guns； and colors to the rear； Miller reformed his line so as to hold the ground until relieved by other troops。 These being crossed over the river under Hazen； together with Davis's division； Miller's command returned to the west bank of the river and there reformed the division in line； and took position for the night。 Negley himself was not across the river with the command during the engagement。
Bragg was deeply chagrined at the failure of Breckinridge's movement。 In his report of the action he says； 〃The contest was short and severe； the enemy were driven back and the eminence gained； but the movement as a whole was a failure； and the position was again yielded。 Our forces were moved； unfortunately； to the left so far as to throw a portion of them into and over Stone's River； where they encountered heavy masses of the enemy； while those against whom they were intended to operate had a destructive enfilade on our whole line。 Our reserve line was so close to the front as to receive the enemy's fire； and returning it took their friends in the rear。 The cavalry force was left entirely out of the action。〃 Bragg immediately sent Anderson's brigade across the river； which formed in line on the front of Breckinridge's command； and remained there in position during the night。 He also sent Cleburne's division over； and placed Hardee in command of that side of the river。 Rosecrans ordered Davis to take and hold the line occupied by Beatty's division。 Later； all the troops of Crittenden's corps crossed the river and occupied the crests； intrenching themselves in this position。
During the morning of the 3d Bragg ordered a heavy and constant picket firing to be kept up on his front； to determine whether our army still confronted him。 At one point in the wood to the left of the Murfreesboro pike the rebel sharpshooters had all day annoyed Rousseau； who requested permission to dislodge them from their supports； coving a ford at that place。 About six o'clock in the evening two regiments from John Beatty's brigade of Rousseau's division； co…operating with two regiments of Spear's brigade of Negley's division； under cover of a brisk artillery fire； advanced on the woods and drove the enemy not only from their cover； but also from their intrenchments a short distance from the rear。
At noon Bragg； on consultation with his generals； decided to retreat； leaving the field in possession of his opponent。 At 12。15 of the night of the 2d； after Breckinridge's failure； Cleburne and Withers had sent a communication to Bragg's headquarters； through Polk； stating that there was but 〃three brigades that are at all reliable； and even some of these are more or less demoralized from having some brigade commanders who do not possess the confidence of their commands。〃 They expressed their fears of great disaster which should be avoided by retreat。 This was endorsed by Polk at 12。30 A。M。； January 3d； 〃I send you the enclosed papers as requested； and I am compelled to add that after seeing the effect of the operations of to…day； added to that produced upon the troops by the battle of the 31st； I very greatly fear the consequences of another engagement at this place on the ensuing day。 We could now perhaps get off with some safety； and with some credit if the affair was well managed； should we fail in the meditated attack； the consequences might be very disastrous。〃
By 11 P。M。 the whole of Bragg's army； except his cavalry； was in retreat in good order to a position behind Duck River。 His cavalry held the front at Murfreesboro until Monday morning； when they fell back and covered Bragg's immediate front。 Sunday the 4th was spent in burying the dead； and the cavalry was sent to reconnoitre。 On the 5th Thomas's entire command； preceded by Stanley's cavalry； marched into Murfreesboro； and encamped on the Manchester and Shelbyville road。
The cavalry under Stanley rendered very efficient service on the advance from Nashville。 Dividing these troops into three columns he sent the first brigade under Colonel Minty with Crittenden's corps； the second brigade under Colonel Zahm moved to the right； protecting McCook's right flank； the reserve Stanley commanded in person； and moved with the head of McCook's command on the Nolinsville pike。 Colonel John Kennett； in command of the cavalry division； commanded the cavalry on the Murfreesboro pike。 There was constant skirmishing between the enemy's cavalry and artillery and each of the columns up to the 31st； as the army advanced； getting into position。 At midnight on the 30th； Stanley moved with part of his command to Lavergne； where the enemy's cavalry was interfering with the trains。 At 9。30 he was ordered by General Rosecrans to hasten to the right and cover McCook's flank。 On reaching there he found McCook's new line formed on the Nashville road； when the enemy's skirmishers advanced and drove Stanley's dismounted cavalry out of the woods to the open field。 Here he was re…enforced； and charging the rebels routed them； driving them back to their lines。 On the 1st Zahm's brigade was sent to Lavergne to protect the wagon trains being sent to Nashville。 He had several skirmishes with Wheeler； but finally secured the safety of the train and repulsed every attack of the rebel cavalry。
On the 2d and 3d of January the cavalry was engaged in watching the flanks of our position。 On the 4th Stanley discovered that the enemy had fled。 Collecting his cavalry he moved to the fords of Stone's River； in readiness to cr
