. Annals of the Army of the Cumberland: . mys right intersected Stone Eiver nearly parallel 392 ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. with our left front, and rested upon the heights east of the river,the extreme right obliquing to correspond with the course ofthe river towards our left. The left of their right and theircentre were in position behind intrenchments on the crest ofthe cotton-field, sloping gradually towards our front and abruptlytowards their rear. Their left was prolonged on a rocky ridgesouth of the Franklin road, and covered the roads going south-ward towards Shelbyville. The river was for
. Annals of the Army of the Cumberland: . mys right intersected Stone Eiver nearly parallel 392 ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. with our left front, and rested upon the heights east of the river,the extreme right obliquing to correspond with the course ofthe river towards our left. The left of their right and theircentre were in position behind intrenchments on the crest ofthe cotton-field, sloping gradually towards our front and abruptlytowards their rear. Their left was prolonged on a rocky ridgesouth of the Franklin road, and covered the roads going south-ward towards Shelbyville. The river was fordable at any placewhere it could be reached, so that, if necessary, the enemy couldretire across it without trouble, and, with it in their front, couldoffer serious resistance to our forces should they attempt toadvance across it. The following diagram will enable the reader to understandat a glance the positions of the two armies as they came together,faced in line of battle, on the evening of the 30th and morningof the 31st. DIAGRAM Positions of Contending Forces, Decennber 31, 1862, 5 oclock At nine oclock that night the corps commanders met at head-quarters, and the following bartle was presented to them. McCook was to occupy the most advantageous position, re-fusing his right as much as practicable and necessary to secureit,—to receive the attack of the enemy, or, if that did not come,to attack himself, and thus to hold all their force on his front. BATTLE OF STONE RIVER. 393 Thomas and Palmer were to open with skirmishing, and gainthe enemys centre and left as far as the river. Crittenden was to cross Van Cleves division at the lowerford, covered and supported by the sappers and miners, and toadvance on Breckinridge. Woods division was to follow by brigades, crossing at theupper ford, and, moving on Van Cleves right, to carry everything before them into Murfreesborough. This, said General Rosecrans in his official report, wouldhave given us two division
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