the army of the cumberland-第22章

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umberland。　　At　the　time　of　the　battle　the　stream　was　so　low　that　it　could　be　crossed　by　infantry　everywhere。　The　Nashville　Railroad　crosses　the　river　about　two　hundred　yards　above　the　turnpike　bridge。　　At　some　five　hundred　yards　beyond；　it　intersects　the　Nashville　turnpike　at　a　sharp　angle；　then　runs　some　eight　hundred　yards　between　the　pike　and　the　river；　when　the　stream　turns　abruptly　to　the　east　and　passes　to　the　north。　　Open　fields　surrounded　the　town；　fringed　with　dense　cedar…brakes。　　These　afforded　excellent　cover　for　approaching　infantry；　but　were　almost　impervious　to　artillery。

The　centre　of　Bragg's　army　was　at　Murfreesboro；　under　Polk。　　The　right　was　at　Readyville；　under　McCown；　and　the　left　at　Triune　and　Eaglesville；　under　Hardee。　　Polk's　command　consisted　of　Cheatham's　and　Wither's　divisions。　　These　divisions　and　three　brigades　of　Breckenridge's　division　of　Hardee's　corps　were　at　Murfreesboro。　Cleburne's　division　and　Adams's　brigade　of　Breckinridge's　division　were　under　the　immediate　command　of　Hardee；　near　Eaglesville；　about　twenty　miles　west　of　Murfreesboro。　　McCown's　division　of　Kirby　Smith's　corps　was　at　Readyville；　twelve　miles　east　of　Murfreesboro。　Each　of　the　two　divisions　of　Hardee's　corps　consisted　of　four　brigades　of　infantry。　　To　this　corps　Wheeler's　brigade　of　cavalry　was　attached。　　The　brigade　of　T。　R。　Jacksonwhich　was　in　the　rear；　guarding　the　railroad　from　Bridgeport　to　the　mountainsBragg　also　ordered　up。　　On　Sunday；　the　28th；　Bragg　formed　his　line　of　battle；　placing　Breckinridge's　division　on　his　extreme　right；　across　Stone's　River；　to　protect　that　flank　and　cover　the　town。　　Adams's　brigade　rested　on　the　Lebanon　road；　about　a　mile　and　a　half　from　town。　Breckinridge's　division　formed　the　first　line；　facing　north；　and　was　posted　in　the　edge　of　the　forest；　with　Cleburne's　division　in　the　second　line；　800　yards　to　the　rear。　　To　the　left　of　Adams　the　line　was　broken　by　an　intervening　field；　about　three　hundred　yards　in　width；　which　was　apparently　left　unoccupied；　but　was　covered　by　the　Twentieth　Tennessee　and　Wright's　battery；　of　Preston's　brigade；　which　swept　it　and　the　fields　in　front。　　The　remainder　of　Preston's　brigade　rested　with　its　right　in　the　woods；　and　extended　along　the　edge　with　its　left　toward　the　river。　　On　the　left　of　Preston；　Palmer's　brigade　was　formed；　and　on　his　left　Hanson's　completed　that　portion　of　the　line。　　Jackson's　brigade　reported　to　Breckinridge　and　was　placed　on　the　east　side　of　the　Lebanon　road；　on　commanding　ground；　a　little　in　the　advance　of　the　right　of　Adams。　　On　the　other　side　of　the　river　the　right　of　Withers's　division　rested　at　the　bank；　near　the　intersection　of　the　turnpike　with　the　railroad；　and　was　slightly　in　advance　of　Hanson's　right。　　It　extended　southwardly　across　the　Wilkinson　pike　to　the　Triune　or　Franklin　road；　in　an　irregular　line　adapted　to　the　topography　of　the　country。　In　the　rear　of　Withers's　division　that　of　Cheatham　was　posted　as　a　supporting　force。　　McCown's　division　was　placed　in　the　rear　of　these　divisions　as　the　reserve。　　This　was　Bragg's　first　disposition　of　his　troops　for　battle。　　On　Monday；　the　29th；　no　change　of　importance　was　made；　the　troops　remaining　in　line　of　battle。　　In　the　evening；　when　Harker's　brigade　crossed　the　river；　Bragg　thought　this　was　a　movement　to　occupy　a　hill　situated　about　six　hundred　yards　in　front　of　Hanson's　centre。　　This　commanded　the　ground　sloping　to　the　river　south　and　west；　and　from　it　the　right　of　Withers's　division　across　the　river　could　be　enfiladed。　　Hanson's　brigade　was　sent　out；　and；　on　Harker's　return；　the　hill　was　occupied　by　the　batteries　of　the　enemy。　　On　Monday　Bragg；　finding　that　Rosecrans　was　extending　his　line　on　his　right；as　Bragg　supposed　to　operate　on　that　flankthrew　his　reserve　division　under　McCown　on　Withers's　left。　　Hardee　was　ordered　to　take　command　of　McCown's　division；　and　to　move　Cleburne　from　the　second　line　in　the　rear　of　Breckinridge；　and　place　him　on　the　left　as　support　to　McCown。　　Cleburne　was　brought　forward　and　placed　five　hundred　yards　in　rear　of　the　latter。　　Bragg's　main　line　of　battle　was　in　the　edge　of　the　woods；　with　open　ground　to　the　front。　　His　troops　were　formed　in　two　lines；　the　first　line　protected　by　intrenchments；　and　his　second　line　formed　some　six　hundred　yards　to　the　rear。　　He　awaited　the　attack　of　Rosecrans　on　the　30th；　and　not　receiving　it；　on　Tuesday　made　his　arrangements　for　an　advance　and　attack　in　force　on　the　morning　of　the　31st。　　His　troops　remained　in　line　of　battle；　ready　to　move　with　the　early　dawn　of　the　coming　day。　　The　two　armies　were　now　arrayed　only　some　five　hundred　yards　apart；　facing　each　other；　and　eager　for　the　conflict　of　the　morrow。

At　nine　o'clock　on　the　evening　of　the　30th；　the　corps　commanders　met　at　Rosecrans's　headquarters；　in　the　cedars　near　the　Murfreesboro　pike；　to　receive　their　final　instructions　and　to　learn　the　details　of　the　plan　of　battle　for　the　next　day。　　McCook　was　directed　with　his　three　divisions　to　occupy　the　most　advantageous　position；　refusing　his　right　as　much　as　practicable　and　necessary　to　secure　it；　to　await　the　attack　of　the　enemy；　and　in　the　event　of　that　not　being　made；　to　himself　engage　and　hold　the　force　on　his　front；　Johnson's　division　held　the　extreme　right　of　his　line；　on　Johnson's　left　was　Davis's　division；　and　on　Davis's　left　Sheridan's　was　posted。　　Thomas　was　instructed　to　open　with　skirmishing　and　engage　the　enemy's　centre　with　Negley's　division　of　his　command　and　Palmer's　of　Crittenden's　corps；　Negley's　right　resting　on　Sheridan's　left；　and　Palmer's　right　on　the　left　of　Negley；　Rousseau　being　in　reserve。　Crittenden　was　ordered　to　move　Van　Cleve's　division　across　the　river　at　the　lower　ford；　covered　and　supported　by　the　pioneer　brigade　and　at　once　advance　on　Breckinridge。　　Wood's　division　was　to　followcrossing　at　the　upper　ford　and　joining　Van　Cleve's　rightwhen　they　were　to　press　everything　before　them　into　Murfreesboro。　　This　gave　a　strong　attack　from　two　divisions　of　Federal　troops　on　the　one　of　Breckinridge's；　which　was　known　to　be　the　only　one　of　the　enemy's　on　the　east　of　the　river。　　As　soon　as　Breckinridge　had　been　dislodged　from　his　position；　the　artillery　of　Wood's　division　was　to　take　position　on　the　heights　east　of　the　river　and　open　fire　on　the　enemy's　lines　on　the　other　side；　which　could　here　be　seen　in　reverse；　and　dislodge　them；　when　Palmer　was　to　drive　them　southward　across　the　river　or　through　the　wood。　　Sustained　by　the　advance　of　the　Centre　under　Thomas　crushing　their　right；　Crittenden　was　to　keep　advancing；　take　Murfreesboro；　move　rapidly　westward　on　the　Franklin　pike；　get　on　their　flank　and　rear　and　drive　them　into　the　country　toward　Salem；　with　the　prospect　of　cutting　off　their　retreat　and　probably　destroying　their　army。　　Rosecrans　called　the　attention　of　the　corps　commanders　to　the　fact　that　this　combination；　which　gave　to　him　such　a　superiority　on　the　left；　depended　for　its　success　upon　McCook's　maintaining　his　position　on　the　right　for　at　least　three　hours；　and　if　compelled　to　fall　back　that　he　should　do　so　in　the　same　manner　he　had　advanced　the　day　before；　slowly　and　steadily；　refusing　his　right。　　McCook　was　asked　if　he　could　hold　his　position　for　three　hours；　and　replied　that　he　thought　he　could。　The　importance　of　doing　so　was　again　impressed　upon　him；　and　the　officers　then　separated。

As　will　be　seen；　the　plan　of　battle　as　formed　by　Rosecrans　contemplated　a　feint　attack　by　his　right；　which　in　the　event　of　a　repulse　was　to　fall　back　slowly；　contesting　the　ground　stubbornly；　while　the　main　attack　was　to　be　made　by　the　forces　on　the　left；　followed　up　the　advance　of　the　centre；　the　right　to　be　temporarily　sacrificed　for　the　success　of　the　general　plan。　　Rosecrans　knew　that　Bragg　had　weakened　his　right　to　support　his　left；　looking　to　offensive　movements　on　his　part；　and　that　the　vital　point　in　his　own　plan　was　the　ability　of　McCook　to　hold　the　enemy　in　check　on　his　front。

During　the　30th；　Bragg　formed　his　plan　of　battle；　which；　singular　as　it　appears；　was　the　exact　counterpart　of　that　of　the　Federal　commander。　　Hardee　on　the　left；　with　McCown's　and　Cleburne's　divisions；　was　to　advance　against　the　Federal　right；　which　being　forced　back；　Polk　and　Withers's　and　Cheatham's　divisions　were