creek, but General Rosecrans, fortunately for the army, decided to remain where he was.  Doubtless reflections during his ride caused him to realize that the enemy must be quite as much crippled as himself.  If it had been decided to fall back to Overall’s creek, we could have withdrawn without much difficulty very likely, but such a retrograde movement would have left to the enemy the entire battle-field of Stone River and ultimately compelled our retreat to Nashville.

In the night of December 3rd several slight demonstrations were made on my front, but from the darkness neither party felt the effect of the other’s fire, and when daylight came again the skirmishers and lines of battle were in about the same position they had taken up the evening before.  Soon after daybreak it became evident that the conflict was to be renewed, and a little later the enemy resumed the offensive by an attack along my left front, especially on Walker’s brigade.  His attempt was ineffectual, however, and so easily repulsed as to demonstrate that the desperate character of his assaults the day before had nearly exhausted his strength.  About 3 o’clock in the afternoon he made another feeble charge on my front, but our fire from the barricades and rifle-pits soon demoralized his advancing lines, which fell back in some confusion, thus enabling us to pick up about a hundred prisoners.  From this time till the evening of January 3 Bragg’s left remained in our front, and continued to show itself at intervals by weak demonstrations, which we afterward ascertained were directly intended to cover the desperate assault he made with Breckenridge on the left of Rosecrans, an assault that really had in view only a defensive purpose, for unless Bragg dislodged the troops which were now massing in front of his right he would be obliged to withdraw General Polk’s corps behind Stone River and finally abandon Murfreesboro’.  The sequel proved this to be the case; and the ill-judged assault led by Breckenridge ending in entire defeat, Bragg retired from Murfreesboro’ the night of January 3.

General Rosecrans occupied Murfreesboro’ on the 4th and 5th, having gained a costly victory, which was not decisive enough in its character to greatly affect the general course of the war, though it somewhat strengthened and increased our hold on Middle Tennessee.  The enemy in retiring did not fall back very far—­only behind Duck River to Shelbyville and Tullahoma—­and but little endeavor was made to follow him.  Indeed, we were not in condition to pursue, even if it had been the intention at the outset of the campaign.