Battle of Stones River

Battle of Stones River (Second Battle of Murfreesboro)
Part of the American Civil War
General William Rosecrans (left) rallies U.S. troops at Stones River in an 1891 illustration by Kurz and Allison.
Date December 31, 1862 (1862-12-31) – January 2, 1863 (1863-01-02) Location Murfreesboro (Rutherford County, Tennessee) 35°52′48″N 86°26′06″W / 35.880°N 86.435°W / 35.880; -86.435Coordinates: 35°52′48″N 86°26′06″W / 35.880°N 86.435°W / 35.880; -86.435 Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	Confederate States
Commanders and leaders
William Rosecrans	Braxton Bragg
Units involved
Army of the Cumberland	Army of Tennessee
Strength
43,400 effectives	35,000 effectives
Casualties and losses
12,906 (1,677 killed 7,543 wounded 3,686 captured/missing)	11,739 (1,294 killed 7,945 wounded 2,500 captured/missing)

Stones River National Battlefield
IUCN category V (protected landscape/seascape)
Cannon in the late afternoon sun.
Location	Rutherford County, Tennessee, USA
Area	728.41 acres (294.78 ha)
Established	March 3, 1927
Visitors	206,425 (in 2005)
Governing body	National Park Service

The Battle of Stones River or Second Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. Of the major battles of the Civil War, Stones River had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides. Although the battle itself was inconclusive, the Union Army's repulse of two Confederate attacks and the subsequent Confederate withdrawal were a much-needed boost to Union morale after the defeat at the Battle of Fredericksburg, and it dashed Confederate aspirations for control of Middle Tennessee.

Union Maj. Gen. William S. Rosecrans's Army of the Cumberland marched from Nashville, Tennessee, on December 26, 1862, to challenge General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee at Murfreesboro. On December 31, each army commander planned to attack his opponent's right flank, but Bragg struck first. A massive assault by the corps of Maj. Gen. William J. Hardee, followed by that of Leonidas Polk, overran the wing commanded by Maj. Gen. Alexander M. McCook. A stout defense by the division of Brig. Gen. Philip Sheridan in the right center of the line prevented a total collapse and the Union assumed a tight defensive position backing up to the Nashville Turnpike. Repeated Confederate attacks were repulsed from this concentrated line, most notably in the cedar "Round Forest" salient against the brigade of Col. William B. Hazen. Bragg attempted to continue the assault with the corps of Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, but the troops were slow in arriving and their multiple piecemeal attacks failed.