In
December, 1862, General William Rosecrans
moved his Army of the Cumberland towards Chattanooga.
General Braxton Bragg, commander of the
Army of Tennessee, who had just retreated from Perryville,
was also in the area.
When Bragg's scouts told him of the Army of the Cumberland movements,
Bragg decided to confront them at Murfreesboro, on the Stones River.
Braxton Bragg attacked William
Rosecrans on 31st December. Taken by surprise Rosecrans was in
danger of being routed but he was eventually able to repulse the attack.
Rosecrans was able to hold his position for the next two days and
on the night of the 3rd January, 1863, Bragg and his Army of Tennessee
retreated to Tullahoma. It is estimated that
the Union Army lost 12,906 men whereas
the Confederate Army lost 11,739.
(1)
Official citation for Colonel Hans Heg after
the battle at Murfreesboro (1862)
I
deem it my duty to call the special attention of the general commanding
the Fourteenth Army Corps to Col. John W. S. Alexander, Twenty-first
Illinois Volunteers, and Col. Hans C. Heg, Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteers.
While every field officer under my command did his duty faithfully,
Colonels Alexander and Heg, in my opinion, proved themselves the bravest
of the brave. Had such men as these been in command of some of our
brigades, we should have been spared the shame of witnessing the rout
of our troops and the disgraceful panic, encouraged, at least, by
the example and advice of officers high in command.
(2) Ole
Steensland, description of the battle
at Murfreesboro
(1863)
Then
came the gloomy morning of the 20th when the few of us that were left
formed into line of battle. We had orders not to retreat in face of
the fact that four strong columns of rebels were charging our weak
and scattered line. These were nerve straining moments when boyhood
chums were dropping dead or wounded all around me. Ole Milestone [Milesten]
was killed on my right, Chris [Christian] Thompson on my left. I got
a bullet through my hat and that did no harm, but I was taken prisoner,
and that was something that did hurt.
(3) Sivert
Pederson, official citation after the Battle
of Murfreesboro (31st December, 1862)
In
recognition of distinguished gallantry displayed by him at the battle
of Stone River Tenn. under the following circumstances: The right
wing to which the 15" Wisconsin belonged was forced to retreat
some distance. In this retreat the men became scattered and the rebel
cavalry followed up their advantage and captured many prisoners. Pederson
was commanded by rebel cavalryman with some rebel comrades near him
to surrender but seeing some of our cavalry advancing from the woods
and encouraged thereby refused and fired at the rebel and killed him.
By his coolness on this occasion he not only saved himself but also
saved several who were near him. He was afterwards captured and died
at Andersonville after his regiment was mustered out of the service.
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