Murfreesboro (Stone's River)

Major General Alexander McCook occupied the center with three divisions and a cavalry brigade. First contact was made by McCook's wing, which at 7 a.m. attacked a Confederate cavalry detachment at Nolensvile commanded by Gen. John A. Wharton. Withdrawing towards the South, Wharton formed a line on the ridges of Triune, where his artillery began to duel with McCook's guns. Gen. Thomas responded to the firing by stopping his Southern march, and turning East to assist McCook.

By late afternoon December 29, McCook's forces were deployed South near the Franklin Road. Gen. Rosecrans ordered McCook to extend his right and build many camp fires to deceive Bragg that the main attack was on that front. It worked.

As night fell, both side's regimental bands took turns playing until a Federal band struck up "Home Sweet Home." Soon, both sides took up the tune. When it was over, silence ruled the night.

At about 6 a.m. on the 30th, out of the fog 11,000 men of the Confederacy advanced on McCook's positions of the Division of General Richard W. Johnson. "We could see the enemy advancing over the open country for about half a mile in front of our lines," Brigadier General Edward N. Kirk later reported. The Rebels advanced across the cotton and corn fields, only releasing the Rebel Yell when in close range of Johnson's men.

The seven Rebel brigades concentrated on Kirk's and August Willich's brigades. The fighting was brief and furious. Five color bearers of the 34th Illinois were killed before the Rebels took their colors and drove them back. Kirk's troops fired point blank into the Rebel lines, but the Confederates swept through Kirk's lines, mortally wounding the General and scattering his men.

Within one half an hour, both Federal brigades were destroyed as fighting units. Kirk lost 483 men killed and wounded, another 376 captured. Willich's brigade suffered 463 casualties, and 700 men surrendered. Most of the retreating Federals didn't stop until they reached the Nashville Pike and the railroad cut, three miles to the rear.

The Federal flank had been turned.