secrans, who had succeeded Buell, moved suddenly to
the banks of Stone River, within four miles of the gay town, and
prepared to attack. Bragg, like Wellington from Brussels on the morning
of Waterloo, hurried forth to meet him. At dawn, December 31st, the
gray-colored columns emerged from the fog that overhung the river, and
spiritedly beat up the Union right. Two divisions were swept back.
Sheridan's men, inspired by their dashing leader, held their ground for
awhile, but fell rearward at last, and, forming a new line, stood at bay
with fixed bayonets. Rosecrans recalled the troops who had crossed the
river to make a similar attack upon the Confederate right, and massed
all his forces at the point of assault. Six times the southrons charged,
six times they were tumbled back by the Union batteries double-shotted
with canister. Night fell on a drawn battle.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
General William S. Rosecrans.

The next day, January 1, 1863, was peaceful save for cavalry
skirmishing. January 2nd the awful combat was renewed. Rosecrans having
planted artillery upon commanding ground, Bragg must either carry this
or fall back. He attempted the first alternative, and was repulsed with
terrible slaughter, losing 1,000 men in forty minutes. He escaped south
under cover of a storm. In proportion to the numbers engaged, the battle
of Stone River was one of the bloodiest in the war. About 45,000 fought
on each side. The Union loss was 12,000, the Confederate nearly 15,000.

Rosecrans did not advance again till June, although Bragg lay quite
near. The latter fell back as the Unionists approached, first into
Chattanooga and then over the Georgia line. Rosecrans followed. Bragg
was now re-enforced, and determined to retake Chattanooga, which lay on
the Tennessee River and was an important strategical point. The two
armies met on Chickamauga Creek, twelve miles south of Chattanooga. All
through the first day's battle, September 19th, there was hot
fighting--charges and countercharges--but no decisive advantage fell to
either side. During the night Bragg was reenforced by Longstreet's corps
from Virginia, and he opened the next day's fight with an assault upon
the Union left. Brigades were moved from the centre to support the left.
Through the gap thus made Longstreet poured his men in heavy columns,
cutting the Union army in two. Its right wing became demoralized, and
fled toward Chattanooga in wild confusion, Rosecrans afte