The new line formed by Rosecrans to protect his communication extended from Hazen on the Murfreesboro pike in a northwesterly direction, Hascall supporting Hazen, Rousseau filling the interval to the pioneer brigade, Negley in reserve, Van Cleve west of the pioneer brigade, McCook's corps refused on his right and slightly to the rear on the Nashville pike, with the cavalry at and beyond Overall's Creek.After the formation had been completed later in the afternoon, with a wild yell the enemy debouched from the cedar thickets, and forming into line, advanced as if to charge once more.At once a terrific fire of artillery and infantry opened on them, and their broken ranks went back over the fields driven in great confusion;the batteries Rosecrans had placed on the commanding ground near the railroad inflicting a heavier loss on Polk's brigade than it had suffered in all the previous fighting of the day.This attack was in the main repulsed by Van Cleve's division, aided by Harker's brigade, and the cavalry under General Stanley.This was the last assault on the right and centre, and with the repulse of Breckinridge's command on the left, the fighting for the day was over; and on the field where death had reaped such a heavy harvest, on the last day of 1862, the troops slept on their arms, waiting for what the next day might bring forth.The night was clear and cold.The armies maintained their relative positions, with some picket firing occurring during the night.Rosecrans gave orders that all the spare ammunition should be issued, and it was found that there was enough for another battle, the main question being where the battle was to be fought.During the night Rosecrans, in order to complete the new formation of his lines, withdrew the left from the advanced position it occupied, and placed it in line some two hundred and fifty yards to the rear, on more advantageous ground, the extreme left resting on Stone's River above the lower ford and extending to the railroad.Late in the afternoon the brigades under Colonels Starkweather and Walker, that had been on duty in the rear, arrived at the front and were posted in reserve on the line of battle, the former in rear of McCook's left, and Walker in rear of the left of Sheridan's division near the Murfreesboro pike.On the morning of the 1st they were placed in the front line, relieving Van Cleve, who then returned to his position on the left.
The extent of the disaster on the right was appalling and seemed at one time about to envelop the entire army.As the storm of battle passed down the line it reached Thomas, who cool, calm, and self-sustained, stood the test of one of the fiercest contests of the war.It was to him that Rosecrans first turned in the hour of disaster and in him he trusted most.The commander of the army, too, was sorely tried.He had come to win victory, but in place of it defeat seemed almost inevitable.Reforming his lines and bravely fighting, he had hurled back Bragg's army before it had achieved any decisive success.Rosecrans knew that his losses had been extremely heavy, but those of the enemy had been still more severe.He felt that on a question of endurance his army would come out first, although the dash and onset of the rebels had at the opening been able to sweep all before them.In the face of an earnest effort on the part of some of his general officers to persuade him to fall back to Nashville and then throw up works and wait for reinforcements, Rosecrans determined to await the attack of the enemy in the positions of his lines late Wednesday afternoon.
He sent for the provision trains, ordered up fresh supplies of ammunition, and decided that if Bragg should not attack before these arrived, that he himself would then resume offensive operations.
During the morning of January 1, 1863, the rebels made repeated attempts to advance on Thomas's front in the centre, but were driven back before emerging from the woods.Crittenden was ordered to send Van Cleve's division across the river, to occupy the position opposite the ford on his left, his right resting on high ground near the river and his left thrown forward perpendicular to it.
The rebel right, under Polk, kept up a brisk skirmish fire on their front.Chalmer's brigade was ordered to occupy the ground in front of the "Round Forest." Bragg, anticipating an attack on his right under Breckinridge on the morning of the 1st, during the night ordered two brigades of that division to recross to the east side of the river.But none was made.About two o'clock in the afternoon the enemy showed signs of movement, by massing large numbers of his troops on our right at the extremity of an open field a mile and a half from the Murfreesboro pike.Here the rebels formed in lines six deep, and passed thus heavily, remained without advancing for over an hour.Gibson's brigade and battery occupied the woods near Overall's creek, while Negley's was placed as support on McCook's right.The evident design of Bragg during the day was simply to feel the lines of our army to find out if Rosecrans was retreating.Satisfied of this, he felt that while he could maintain his position he was not in condition to attack, after the heavy hammering his army had received the day before.
