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e some two hundred yards to the rear； formed in two lines nearly opposite the interval between the brigades in line of battle。 On the withdrawal of the troops of the left from across the river； Wood ordered Wagner with his brigade to hold his position in the woods on the left of the Murfreesboro pike at all hazards； this being an exceedingly important point； protecting our left front and flanks and securing command of the road leading to the rear。 Hascall's and Harker's brigades were withdrawn； and the latter； under an order from Rosecrans； was moved to the right and rear。 In the heavy fighting of the general movement on the right and centre； the left gradually became engaged； and with this Hascall was ordered by Wood to take position between Wagner and Hazen on Wagner's right。 With the general advance of the enemy； moving on the right of Polk's corps as a pivot； Palmer and the two brigades of Wood's division on the left became engaged。 Cruft early in the morning had been ordered by Palmer to advance； keeping in line with Negley； the latter having sent word to Palmer that he intended to advance his division to attack the enemy。 Cruft was advanced in two lines； two regiments in each line with Miller's brigade of Negley's division on the right and Hazen's brigade on his left。 After Cruft had advanced about a hundred yards； Palmer discovered that Negley had thrown back his right so that his line was almost perpendicular to Cruft's and to his rear。 After Cruft had driven the enemy's skirmishers in； the rebels advanced in great force in four ranks with double lines； Chalmers in the front line with Donelson's brigade following。 This charge Cruft repulsed； inflicting severe loss on the enemy。 Chalmers was so severely wounded by the bursting of a shell as to disqualify him for further duty on the field。 Advancing once more； the rebels again attacked Cruft's line； when a very severe engagement ensued； and after some thirty minutes' firing the enemy was again repulsed。 When Negley's division went back through the cedars； Cruft was left without support on his right and he then withdrew to the wood； the enemy following him closely and pressing him hard。 While Cruft was thus engaged on the front； Palmer found that the right and centre had been driven from the first line； and that the enemy in Negley's front was forcing his way into the open ground to his rear。 He then changed Grose from front to rear； retired his new left so as to bring the rebels under the direct fire of his line； and opened on them with great effect； holding his ground until the enemy was driven back。 Hazen was ordered to fall back from the advanced position he then held； and to occupy the crest of a low wooded hill between the pike and the railroad； and there resist the attack。 This was about eleven o'clock； and all of Palmer's command was engaged with the enemyHazen on the railroad； one or two detached regiments to the right； Cruft still farther to the right； actively engaged； while Grose to the rear was fighting heavy odds。 Grose shortly after this changed to the front again； the enemy being driven back from his rear； and moved to the left to co…operate with Hazen。 After aiding in the repulse of the troops that struck Cruft's lines； Hazen with constant firing maintained his position on his left at the railroad； retiring his right to place his troops behind the embankment at that place。 General Palmer had ordered Grose to co…operate with Hazen； and part of Grose's troops reporting to him； they were placed in position on the front。 Here was held what was considered by the enemy to be the key to our position； known as the 〃Round Forest。〃 This was attacked by the right of Donelson's brigade； but the attack was met with a fire that mowed down half its number； one regiment losing 207 out of 402。 In another regiment the loss was 306 out of 425。 Polk finding that his troops had been so severely punished that they were not able to renew the attack on the extreme left of our line； and that the new line on the right as formed by Rosecrans resisted every attack； applied for an order from Bragg directing four brigades from Breckenridge's command to be sent to him to drive our left from its line； and especially to dislodge us from our position in the 〃Round Forest。〃 These brigades were sent to him； arriving in two detachments of two brigades each。 Adams and Jackson's brigades first reported； under Breckinridge in person。 Those of Preston and Palmer reported about two hours later。 About two o'clock in the afternoon Adams and Jackson's brigades assailed our left with determined energy； but after a severe contest they were compelled to yield and fall back。 They were rallied by Breckenridge； but were too badly cut up to renew the attack。 About four o'clock； on the arrival of the brigades of Preston and Palmer； the assault on the left was renewed and again repulsed； when the enemy withdrew and made no further attack upon that position。 When this last attack was made； Rosecrans； anxious as to this vital point of his lines； hurried there with his staff to assist in the repulse。 It was here that a shell grazing the person of Rosecrans carried off the head of his chief of staff； the lamented Garesche。
The new line formed by Rosecrans to protect his communication extended from Hazen on the Murfreesboro pike in a northwesterly direction； Hascall supporting Hazen； Rousseau filling the interval to the pioneer brigade； Negley in reserve； Van Cleve west of the pioneer brigade； McCook's corps refused on his right and slightly to the rear on the Nashville pike； with the cavalry at and beyond Overall's Creek。 After the formation had been completed later in the afternoon； with a wild yell the enemy debouched from the cedar thickets； and forming into line； advanced as if to charge once more。 At once a terrific fire of artillery and infantry opened on them； and their broken ranks went back over the fields driven in great confusion； the batteries Rosecrans had placed on the commanding ground near the railroad inflicting a heavier loss on Polk's brigade than it had suffered in all the previous fighting of the day。 This attack was in the main repulsed by Van Cleve's division； aided by Harker's brigade； and the cavalry under General Stanley。 This was the last assault on the right and centre； and with the repulse of Breckinridge's command on the left； the fighting for the day was over； and on the field where death had reaped such a heavy harvest； on the last day of 1862； the troops slept on their arms； waiting for what the next day might bring forth。 The night was clear and cold。 The armies maintained their relative positions； with some picket firing occurring during the night。 Rosecrans gave orders that all the spare ammunition should be issued； and it was found that there was enough for another battle； the main question being where the battle was to be fought。 During the night Rosecrans； in order to complete the new formation of his lines； withdrew the left from the advanced position it occupied； and placed it in line some two hundred and fifty yards to the rear； on more advantageous ground； the extreme left resting on Stone's River above the lower ford and extending to the railroad。 Late in the afternoon the brigades under Colonels Starkweather and Walker； that had been on duty in the rear； arrived at the front and were posted in reserve on the line of battle； the former in rear of McCook's left； and Walker in rear of the left of Sheridan's division near the Murfreesboro pike。 On the morning of the 1st they were placed in the front line； relieving Van Cleve； who then returned to his position on the left。
The extent of the disaster on the right was appalling and seemed at one time about to envelop the entire army。 As the storm of battle passed down the line it reached Thomas； who cool； calm； and self…sustained； stood the test of one of the fiercest contests of the war。 It was to him that Rosecrans first turned in the hour of disaster and in him he trusted most。 The commander of the army； too； was sorely tried。 He had come to win victory； but in place of it defeat seemed almost inevitable。 Reforming his lines and bravely fighting； he had hurled back Bragg's army before it had achieved any decisive success。 Rosecrans knew that his losses had been extremely heavy； but those of the enemy had been still more severe。 He felt that on a question of endurance his army would come out first； although the dash and onset of the rebels had at the opening been able to sweep all before them。 In the face of an earnest effort on the part of some of his general officers to persuade him to fall back to Nashville and then throw up works and wait for reinforcements； Rosecrans determined to await the attack of the enemy in the positions of his lines late Wednesday afternoon。 He sent for the provision trains； ordered up fresh supplies of ammunition； and decided that if Bragg should not attack before these arrived； that he himself would then resume offensive operations。
During the morning of January 1； 1863； the rebels made repeated attempts to advance on Thomas's front in the centre； but were driven back before emerging from the woods。 Crittenden was ordered to send Van Cleve's divis