In late December 1862, Union and Confederate forces clashed at the Battle of Stones River, near Murfreesboro, Tennessee, during the American Civil War (1861-65). On December 31, Confederate General Braxton Bragg's 34,000 troops successfully attacked the 42,000-strong Union Army commanded by Major General William Rosecrans. Union forces withstood the assault, but retreated to a defensive position, which they would hold against repeated attacks over the next three days. On January 2, 1863, another Confederate assault was repelled by overwhelming Union artillery fire, forcing Bragg to order a Souhern retreat to Tullahoma, Tennessee. With more than 25,000 casualties, Stones River was one of the deadliest battles of the war. The battle itself was inconclusive, but provided a much-neeed boost to Union morale following their defeat at Fredericksburg.
More to Explore
People and Groups
Themes
Events
Related Topics
This Day in History
Feb 10
Civil War
Davis learns he is Confederate president, 1861
On this day in 1861, Jefferson Davis, a former U.S. senator from Mississippi who served as U.S. secretary of war in the 1850s, receives word he has…
Recommended Articles
-
American Civil War
The American Civil War, fueled by the debate over slavery and states' rights, pitted North against South in the costliest conflict fought on U.S. soil.
-
Braxton Bragg
Braxton Bragg was a Confederate general in the American Civil War whose successes in the West were wasted when he failed to follow up on them.
-
Confederate States of America
In 1860-61, after years of rising tensions, 11 southern states seceded from the Union to form the Confederate States of America, leading to the American Civil War.
-
Battle of Fredericksburg
In December 1862, Robert E. Lee's Confederates won a decisive victory over Union troops in the Battle of Fredericksburg.
Did You Know?
The Battle of Stones River had the highest percentage of casualties of any major battle of the Civil War.
(December 31, 1862–January 2, 1863), bloody but indecisive American Civil War clash in Tennessee that was a psychological victory for Union forces. General Braxton Bragg's 34,700-man Confederate army was confronted on Stones River near Murfreesboro by 41,400 Union troops under General William S. Rosecrans, who had orders to drive Bragg out of eastern Tennessee. After the first day's bitter, seesaw battle, the battered Union army was on the verge of retreating, but Rosecrans decided to hold fast. On January 3, Bragg's equally exhausted Confederate forces withdrew southward. Rosecrans's tenacity thus averted a potentially serious Union defeat. Union casualties numbered 12,906; Confederate losses totaled 11,739. Stones River National Battlefield (established 1927) commemorates the battle.
Copyright © 1994-2009 Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. For more information visit Britannica.com.
Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. But if you see something that doesn't look right, contact us!
Shop HISTORY
-
Civil War: Rebellion to Reconstruction DVD Set
Experience the turbulent events that ignited the bloodiest, most divisive war this country has known.
$111.99
-
The American Civil War DVD Set
Experience for yourself the historical and personal impact of the Civil War.
$99.95
-
Email Updates
Keep up with the latest History shows, online features, special offers and more.
Sign upClassroom Study Guides
-
10 Days That Unexpectedly Changed America: Antietam (PDF)
Teacher's Guide to the program dramatically exploring the events, meaning, and significance of the watershed battle at Antietam.
-
April 1865: The Month That Saved America (PDF)
Teacher's Guide to the program covering the last few weeks of the Civil War, from President Abraham Lincoln's second inauguration, to the surrender at Appomatox, the assassination of Lincoln, and the final laying down of arms by the Confederacy.
-
Sherman's March (PDF)
Teacher's guide to General William Tecumseh Sherman's military campaign. In 1864 General Sherman began his "March to the Sea," burning crops, confiscating supplies, destroying buildings and ripping up the rail tracks on his way.
