shville, thus enabling him to manoeuver his army without
regard to front or rear. There was no indication that Bragg contemplated
withdrawal, and the prevailing impression was that a heavy assault would
be made upon some point of the Union line early in the morning. Where
would the blow fall? Would the line at that point be strong enough to
resist it? Has Bragg any troops that have not been engaged? Are
reinforcements for him on the way? were questions more easily asked than
answered.

Mounting his horse, the commanding general rode to the rear, accompanied
by General Stanley and a few staff officers. Past the hospital, to
Overall's Creek, the group of horsemen pursued their way. In the fields on
both sides of the road the darkness was dispelled by bivouac fires lighted
by the straggling soldiery of the right wing. Along the pike the long
supply train moved slowly and steadily toward Nashville, while here and
there a few wagons were cut out of it by a faithful commissary, the
contents of which, after a hard night's work, he would succeed in
transferring to the soldiers' haversacks.

Walker's and Starkweather's brigades had already passed to the front,
where the former bivouacked in close column in reserve in rear of McCook's
left, and the latter, posted on the left of Sheridan, next morning
relieved Van Cleve's division, now commanded by Col. Sam Beatty, which
resumed its position in the left wing. Generals Van Cleve and Wood, each
suffering from wounds in the foot, were sent in ambulances back to
Nashville.

Headquarters were located in a double log house, which then stood on the
east side of the turnpike about opposite the lower ford of Stones River.
In a room on the left hand, General Thomas sat before a fire, asleep; the
officers of his staff, stretched upon the floor, with their feet to the
fire, were also asleep. Ready at a moment's warning to obey any order that
might be given him, the old soldier was snatching a brief respite from
care, in the friendly arms of Morpheus. To a question of General
Rosecrans, earlier in the evening, he had made the characteristic reply:
"The question of retiring from the battle-field is one of such delicacy
that I am quite willing to leave it to the judgment of the commanding
general." On the right of the passageway a far different scene was
presented. General Crittenden paced the floor with quick, impatient
stride. "Communication is cut off," said one. "We must fall back," said