Donelson’s Brigade at Murfreesboro

On December 31, 1862, around 11 a.m., General Daniel P. Donelson’s Tennessee Brigade, C.S.A., advanced across these fields in support of Chalmers’ Brigade. Donelson’s lines were broken by Chalmers’ retreat and by the Cowan ruins, splitting the brigade in two. One part advanced west into the cedar woods, where Colonel William Moore of the 8th Tennessee was killed; it pushed back General Charles Cruft’s Brigade, U.S.A., and captured over 1000 prisoners and seven cannons. The other part advanced toward Round Forest, defended by Colonel William B. Hazen’s Brigade, U.S.A. There the Confederates under Colonel John H. Savage of the 16th Tennessee were halted in a field of corn stalks, where they held until relieved at 1 p.m. by additional attacks ordered by General Braxton Bragg. By day’s end, Bragg had launched four unsuccessful attacks against the Round Forest position.

Murfreesboro, Tennessee · United States