Murfreesboro, Tennessee (1st day of battle)
Dec. 31-Jan. 2, 1863
Historical Overview
After Shiloh, Grant campaigned to gain control of the Mississippi, while Buell advanced from Corinth toward the vital Confederate rail junction at Chattanooga. To draw Buell away from his intended target, the Confederate Generals Edmund Kirby Smith and Braxton Bragg moved north toward Kentucky. Buell was forced to give chase. Gen. William S, Rosecrans replaced Buell in late December, and soon succeeded in bringing Bragg to battle by the icy Stones River near the town of Murfreesboro.
As the two armies deployed, both commanders planned to attack the enemy’s right flank. Bragg’s attack was launched first, forcing Rosecrans to call off his own assault. The Confederate troops, under the command of Hardee, pushed back the federal right flank.
As the day wore on, the Confederates continued to push the Union forces back, and by midafternoon the Union line was a rough V shape. Although the Confederates attacked furiously, William Hazen’s brigade held the position until nightfall. Bragg believed he had won a major victory, despite being outnumbered. Therefore, he was surprised to find the federal troops still deployed for battle the next day.
The stage is set, the battle lines are drawn, and you are in command. The rest is history.
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Set-Up Order
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Union Army
William S. Rosecrans
Take 4 Command Cards
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| 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
Confederate Army
Braxton Bragg
Take 4 Command Cards
You move first
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| 8 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Victory
6 Flags
Special Rules
None
