Stones River

I caught up on the podcast this week and enjoyed the content. Along with the discussion of the significant role of Sheridan's force in stopping the Confederate advance, I think Hazen's brigade deserves significant credit as well for holding the round forest position. Interestingly the monument to Hazen's brigade at Stones River is also the oldest Civil War monument standing in it's original location.

During the podcast there was discussion of how the Federals were being pushed back to their supply line, which is a key point. In this way I see similarities between Stones River and Shiloh. In both instances the Confederates initiated the attack with success, however as the Confederates advanced the Federal line was shortening and moving towards a position of strength. In the case of Stones River it was the rail and supply line, at Shiloh it was the river encampment, naval guns and reinforcements.

One anecdote from the 29th at Stones River I thought was important in reading Edge of Glory. Rosecrans had ordered Crittenden to send a force across Stones River, before Rosecrans was aware of the Confederate division there. Tom Wood and John Palmer under Crittenden questioned the order, and requested Crittenden call off the movement, but Crittenden wanted the order followed. After some of Wood's division was repulsed, the advance was stopped and Rosecrans rode to the area. Rosecrans in this instance approved of Wood's questioning the order to advance and sustained him. Yet, at Chickamauga it was Wood who would pull his division out of line on the 20th, following orders, leaving a gap that Longstreet would punch through. The way these various engagements tie themselves together and the tangled relationships between the characters is something I always enjoy reading.