Facts about Battle of Stone's River
- 08
Approximately 1,700 Union soldiers froze to death during the winter march from Nashville to Stone's River before the battle even commenced in late December 1862.
- 07
Confederate artillery under Major John Pelham commanded 60 guns at Stone's River, significantly outnumbering Union batteries and allowing Bragg's forces to inflict devastating casualties during the opening assault on December 30, 1862.
- 06
Rosecrans' decision to hold the Nashville Pike supply line despite Confederate pressure on December 31, 1862 required him to refuse orders from Washington to retreat, ultimately proving the critical strategic choice that secured Union victory.
- 05
At Stone's River, Union forces held a critical position on the Nashville Pike that allowed them to receive supplies and reinforcements throughout the battle, proving decisive in their ability to maintain their line against Confederate assaults.
- 04
Union General William Rosecrans' army numbered approximately 41,000 troops at Stone's River, while Bragg commanded around 38,000 Confederate forces in this closely matched engagement.
- 03
The Stone's River battle lasted 3 days from December 30, 1862 to January 2, 1863, with the bloodiest fighting occurring on New Year's Eve when Confederate forces launched a dawn assault that nearly broke Union lines.
- 02
General Braxton Bragg's Confederate army held Murfreesboro during the Battle of Stone's River, forcing Union General Rosecrans to fight on unfavorable terrain after a grueling winter march from Nashville.
- 01
Nearly 24,000 soldiers became casualties during the December 1862 to January 1863 Battle of Stone's River in Tennessee, making it one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War by casualty percentage.