Today in History:

789 Series I Volume XX-I Serial 29 - Murfreesborough Part I

Page 789 Chapter XXXII. THE STONE'S RIVER CAMPAIGN.

The tabular statement Numbers 7,* February 8, 1863, accompanying my report of the battle, shows the force of this division on Wednesday, December 31, to have been 7,053. The loss of Wednesday, the 31st, was 730, not 440, as made by the division commander; and the loss on Friday, the 2nd, was 1,338, not 1,700. The loss of Wednesday, 440, stated by the division commander, deducted from his whole strength, leaves 6,613. Deducting again the regiment and battery he was ordered to leave out, and adding the two batteries of Captain Robertson, leaves him still over 6,000 infantry and artillery, instead of 4,500, with which he says he made the attack; and, correcting his error in making the loss too small on Wednesday and too large on Friday, he still has underrated his force by more than one-fourth.

BRAXTON BRAGG,

General, Commanding.

[Inclosure Numbers 1.]

DECEMBER 31, 1862-10.10 a.m.

General BRAGG, Commanding Forces:

The enemy are undoubtedly advancing upon me. The Lebanon road is unprotected, and I have no troops to fill out my line to it.

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,

[Inclosure Numbers 2.]

DECEMBER 31, 1862-11.30 a.m.

General BRAGG:

GENERAL: I am obeying your order, but my left is now engaged with the enemy, and if I advance my whole line farther forward and still retain communication with my left, it will take me clear away from the Lebanon road, and expose my right and that road to a heavy force of the enemy advancing from Black's.

JOHN C. BRECKINRIDGE,

Major-General.

On the above was the following indorsement.:


HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
Tullahoma, Tenn., March 6, 1863.

The order of which General Breckinridge acknowledges the receipt in his note to General Bragg, of which the within is a copy, was borne and duly delivered by me.

J. STODDARD JOHNSTON,

Colonel, Aide-de-camp to General Commanding.

[Inclosure Numbers 3.]


HEADQUARTERS BRECKINRIDGE'S DIVISION,
In the Field, January 1, 18863-12.50 o'clock.

Lieutenant-Colonel BRENT,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: It is not certain that the enemy are advancing upon me in two lines. General Pegram promised to report the true condition of

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*See Inclosure C to Bragg's report, p. 674.

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Page 789 Chapter XXXII. THE STONE'S RIVER CAMPAIGN.