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relegation to the harassing and tantalizing duty of protecting our
depots and line of supply。
I was fortunate in having such brigade commanders； and no less
favored in the regimental and battery commanders。 They all were not
only patriots； but soldiers； and knowing that discipline must be one
of the most potent factors in bringing to a successful termination；
the mighty contest in which our nation was struggling for existence；
they studied and practiced its methods ceaselessly； inspiring with
the same spirit that pervaded themselves the loyal hearts of their
subordinate officers and men。 All worked unremittingly in the camp
at Mill Creek in preparing for the storm； which now plainly indicated
its speedy coming。 Drills； parades； scouts； foraging expeditions；
picket and guard duty； made up the course in this school of
instruction； supplemented by frequent changes in the locations of the
different brigades； so that the division could have opportunity to
learn to break camp quickly and to move out promptly on the march。
Foraging expeditions were particularly beneficial in this respect；
and when sent out； though absent sometimes for days； the men went
without tents or knapsacks； equipped with only one blanket and their
arms； ammunition； and rations； to teach them to shift for themselves
with slender means in the event of necessity。 The number of
regimental and headquarters wagons was cut down to the lowest
possible figure； and everything made compact by turning into the
supply and ammunition trains of the division all surplus
transportation； and restricting the personal baggage of officers to
the fewest effects possible。
My own staff also was somewhat reorganized and increased at Mill
Creek； and though it had been perfectly satisfactory before； yet； on
account of the changes of troops that had occurred in the command； I
found it necessary to replace valuable officers in some instances；
and secure additional ones in others。 The gathering of information
about the enemy was also industriously pursued； and Card and his
brothers were used constantly on expeditions within the Confederate
lines； frequently visiting Murfreesboro'； Sparta； Tullahoma；
Shelbyville； and other points。 What they learned was reported to
army headquarters； often orally through me or personally communicated
by Card himself； but much was forwarded in official letters；
beginning with November 24； when I transmitted accurate information
of the concentration of Bragg's main force at Tullahoma。 Indeed；
Card kept me so well posted as to every movement of the enemy； not
only with reference to the troops in my immediate front； but also
throughout his whole army； that General Rosecrans placed the most
unreserved reliance on all his statements； and many times used them
to check and correct the reports brought in by his own scouts。
Slight skirmishes took place frequently during this period； and now
and then heavy demonstrations were made in the neighborhood of
Nolensville by reconnoitring parties from both armies； but none of
these ever grew into a battle。 These affairs sprung from the desire
of each side to feel his antagonist； and had little result beyond
emphasizing the fact that behind each line of pickets lay a massed
and powerful army busily preparing for the inevitable conflict and
eager for its opening。 So it wore on till the evening of December
25； 1862； then came the order to move forward。
General Rosecrans； in the reorganization of the army； had assigned
Major…General A。 McD。 McCook to command the right wing； MajorGeneral
George H。 Thomas the centre； and Major…General T。 L。 Crittenden the
left wing。 McCook's wing was made up of three divisions； commanded
in order of rank by Brigadier…General Jeff。 C。 Davis； Brigadier…
General R。 W。 Johnson； and Brigadier…General P。 H。 Sheridan。
Although the corps nomenclature established by General Buell was
dropped； the grand divisions into which he had organized the army at
Louisville were maintained； and； in fact； the conditions established
then remained practically unaltered； with the exception of the
interchange of some brigades； the transfer of a few general officers
from one wing or division to another； and the substitution of General
Thomas for Gilbert as a corps commander。 The army was thus compact
and cohesive； undisturbed by discord and unembarrassed by jealousies
of any moment； and it may be said that under a commander who； we
believed； had the energy and skill necessary to direct us to success；
a national confidence in our invincibility made us all keen for a
test of strength with the Confederates。 We had not long to wait。
Early on the morning of December 26； 1862； in a heavy rain； the army
marched； the movement being directed on Murfreesboro'； where the
enemy had made some preparation to go into winter…quarters； and to
hold which town it was hoped he would accept battle。 General Thomas
moved by the Franklin and Wilson pikes； General Crittenden by the
Murfreesboro' pike； through Lavergne； and General McCook by the
Nolensville pikeDavis's division in advance。 As McCook's command
neared Nolensville； I received a message from Davis informing me that
the Confederates were in considerable force； posted on a range of
hills in his front； and requesting me to support him in an attack he
was about to make。 When the head of my column arrived at Nolensville
I began massing my troops on the right of the road； and by the time
this formation was nearly completed Davis advanced； but not meeting
with sufficient resistance to demand active assistance from me； he
with his own command carried the hills； capturing one piece of
artillery。 This position of the Confederates was a strong one；
defending Knob's Gap； through which the Nolensville and Triune pike
passed。 On the 27th Johnson's division； followed by mine； advanced
to Triune； and engaged in a severe skirmish near that place； but my
troops were not called into action； the stand made by the enemy being
only for the purpose of gaining time to draw in his outlying troops；
which done； he retired toward Murfreesboro'。 I remained inactive at
Triune during the 28th； but early on the 29th moved out by the Bole
Jack road to the support of； Davis in his advance to Stewart's Creek；
and encamped at Wilkinson's crossroads； from which point to
Murfreesboro'； distant about six miles； there was a good turnpike。
The enemy had sullenly resisted the progress of Crittenden and McCook
throughout the preceding three days； and as it was thought probable
that he might offer battle at Stewart's Creek； Thomas； in pursuance
of his original instructions looking to just such a contingency； had
now fallen into the centre by way of the Nolensville crossroads。
On the morning of the 3oth I had the advance of McCook's corps on the
Wilkinson pike； Roberts's brigade leading。 At first only slight
skirmishing took place； but when we came within about three miles of
Murfreesboro' the resistance of the enemy's pickets grew serious； and
a little further on so strong that I had to put in two regiments to
push them back。 I succeeded in driving them about half a mile； when
I was directed by McCook to form line of battle and place my
artillery in position so that I could act in concert with Davis's
division； which he wished to post on my right in the general line he
desired to take up。 In obedience to these directions I deployed on
the right of； and oblique to the Wilkinson pike； with a front of four
regiments； a second line of four regiments within short supporting
distance； and a reserve of one brigade in column of regiments to the
rear of my centre。 All this time the enemy kept up a heavy artillery
and musketry fire on my skirmishers； he occupying； with his
sharpshooters； beyond some open fields； a heavy belt of timber to my
front and right； where it was intended the left of Davis should
finally rest。 To gain this point Davis was ordered to swing his
division into it in conjunction with a wheeling movement of my right
brigade； until our continuous line should face nearly due east。 This
would give us possession of the timber referred to； and not only rid
us of the annoying fire from the skirmishers screened by it； but also
place us close in to what was now developing as Bragg's line of
battle。 The movement was begun about half…past 2； and was
successfully executed； after a stubborn resistance。 In this
preliminary affair the enemy had put in one battery of artillery；
which was silenced in a little while； however； by Bush's and
Hescock's guns。 By sundown I had taken up my prescribed position；
facing almost east； my left （Roberts's brigade） resting on the
Wilkinson pike； the right （Sill's brigade） in the timber we had just
gained； and the reserve brigade （Schaefer's） to the rear of my
centre； on some rising ground in the edge of a strip of woods behind
Houghtaling's and Hescock's batteries。