Henry Myron Kendall

“ Rosecrans now decided to give battle on the 31st, and made [Pg 9] the following plan: McCook was to hold strong ground, refusing his right, and make strong dispositions to resist the attack of the enemy. If, however, the enemy did not attack, McCook was to attack sufficient to hold all the force on his front and prevent the enemy from detaching any troops to the right, the real point of attack. Thomas’ corps and Palmer’s division were to open with skirmishing and engage the enemy’s center and left as far as Stone river. ”

“ The army was very deficient in cavalry, and a large portion of its meagre force was very poorly armed. In this condition the army was at a great disadvantage opposed to Bragg, whose cavalry, under Forrest, Morgan, and [Pg 5] Wheeler was much greater in numbers and better mounted and equipped.
Rosecrans made strenuous efforts to improve the condition of his cavalry, and succeeded in increasing it to about 4,000 and in obtaining Stanley to command it. But at its greatest strength it was less than half the opposing cavalry force. ”

“ It had been greatly desired that a decided advantage be gained over the rebels before the opening of the British Parliament, otherwise the advocates of intervention in favor of the Confederacy would be able to point to the possession of Tennessee as a proof that the South was gaining on the North. ”

“ Thomas’s command was reduced to Negley’s and Rousseau’s divisions and Walker’s brigade of Fry’s. McCook’s and Crittenden’s wings were on the pikes south and southeast of Nashville. The main body of Bragg’s force, consisting of Polk’s corps and part of Breckenridge’s division of Hardee’s corps, was at Murfreesboro’. The remainder of Hardee’s corps was near Eaglesville, about twenty miles west of Murfreesboro’, McCown’s division of Hardee’s corps, with a division under Stevenson, formed a separate corps under Kirby Smith at Readyville, twelve miles east of Murfreesboro’. ”

“ The plans being identical a good deal depended on which army began the movement [Pg 10] first. Rosecrans’ orders were for the attack to begin at seven o’clock, while Bragg ordered the attack to begin at daylight.
Rosecrans’ movement began on time and for a time was going very successfully. But about 6.30 A. M. the enemy in force attacked McCook’s right and found that the two brigades were weakly posted, without support, the remaining brigade of Johnson’s division being nearly a mile and a half to the rear at Johnson’s headquarters. The command was not in any way ready for battle. ”

“ The right wing, under McCook, consisted of Johnson’s, Davis’s, and Sheridan’s divisions. Thomas commanded the center, which consisted of five divisions under Rousseau, Negley, Fry, Mitchell, and Reynolds. The left wing was commanded by Crittenden, and comprised Wood’s, Palmer’s, and Van Cleve’s divisions. The total available strength of the army formed not more than 60 per cent. ”