Battle of Stones River

Overview

The Battle of Stones River, also known as the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. Of the major battles of the war, Stones River had the highest percentage of casualties on both sides. The battle ended in Union victory after the Confederate army's withdrawal on January 3, largely due to a series of tactical miscalculations by Confederate Gen. Braxton Bragg, but the victory was costly for the Union army. Nevertheless, it was an important victory for the Union because it provided a much-needed boost in morale after the Union's recent defeat at Fredericksburg and also reinforced President Abraham Lincoln's foundation for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which ultimately discouraged European powers from intervening on the Confederacy's behalf.

Overview adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Significance

Stones River, fought December 31, 1862 to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, was the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater. Of the major battles of the war it produced the highest percentage of casualties on both sides: 13,906 Union and 11,739 Confederate losses from forces of 43,400 and 35,000 respectively. The Confederate army withdrew on January 3 following a series of tactical miscalculations by Gen. Braxton Bragg, handing Union forces under William S. Rosecrans a costly but consequential victory. The result carried strategic weight beyond the Western Theater. Coming shortly after the Union defeat at Fredericksburg, it provided a much-needed boost in Union morale. It also reinforced President Lincoln's position in issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which in turn discouraged European powers from intervening on the Confederacy's behalf — a diplomatic outcome that shaped the broader trajectory of the war.

Forces & casualties

Commanders (9)