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the gallop； hurrying troops into position； massing the artillery and forming his new lines on grounds of his own choosing； confident of ultimate success； and showing his troops that he had all confidence in them； it was worth months of ordinary life…time to have been with Rosecrans when by his own unconquered spirit he plucked victory from defeat and glory from disaster。
But if the plan was not at fault； what was？ Rosecrans started from Nashville for an offensive campaign； and before his plan of battle had met the test； he was compelled to abandon it； and assume the defensive。 Where was the fault and who was to blame？ The fault was McCook's defective line； and in part Rosecrans was responsible for it。 He ought never to have trusted the formation of a line of battle so important to the safety of his whole army to McCook alone； and he certainly knew this。 Rosecrans gave his personal attention to the left； but he should at least have ordered the change his quick eye had detected as necessary in McCook's line； and not trusted to chance and McCook's ability to withstand the attack with his faulty line。 No one who saw him at Stone's River the 31st of December will say aught against the personal bravery and courage of McCook under fire。 All that he could do to aid in repairing the great disaster of that day he did to the best of his ability。 He stayed with Davis's division under fire as long as it held together； and then gave personal directions to Sheridan's troops； in the gallant fight they made against overwhelming odds。 As Rosecrans himself says in his official report of McCook； 〃a tried； faithful； and loyal soldier； who bravely breasted the battle at Shiloh and Perryville； and as bravely on the bloody field of Stone's River。〃 But there is something more than mere physical bravery required in a general officer in command of as large a body of troops as a corps d'armee。 As an instructor at West Point； McCook maintained a high rank。 As a brigade and division commander under Buell； there was none his superior in the care and attention he gave his troops on the march； in camp； or on the drill…ground。 His division at Shiloh as it marched to the front on the second day did him full credit； and in his handling of it on that field he did credit to it and to himself。 What McCook lacked was the ability to handle large bodies of troops independently of a superior officer to give him commands。 This was his experience at Perryville； and it was repeated at Stone's River。 With the known results of Perryville； McCook ought never to have been placed in command of the 〃right wing。〃 Rosecrans at Stone's River； of necessity was on the left； and being there he should have had a general in command of the right with greater military capacity than McCook。 Rosecrans's confidence was so slight in his commander of the left that he felt his own presence was needed there in the movement of the troops in that part of the plan of battle。
Rosecrans in his report repeatedly speaks of 〃the faulty line of McCook's formation on the right。〃 But he knew this on the 30th； and told McCook that it was improperly placed。 McCook did not think so。 Rosecrans told him that it faced too much to the east and not enough to the south； that it was too weak and long； and was liable to be flanked。 Knowing all this and knowing McCook's pride of opinion； for McCook told him he 〃did not see how he could make a better line；〃 or a 〃better disposition of my troops；〃 it was the plain duty of Rosecrans to reform the line； to conform to what it should be in his judgment。 The order to McCook to build camp fires for a mile beyond his right was another factor that brought about the combination that broke the line on the right。 Rosecrans was correct in his conception of this； in order to mislead Bragg and cause him to strengthen his left at the expense of his right。 Had Bragg awaited Rosecrans's attack； this building of fires was correctif it took troops away from the right to reinforce the left； but this it did not do。 Bragg moved McCown and Cleburne's divisions from his right to his left on Tuesday； but after this Bragg brought none of his forces across the river until Wednesday afternoon。 The building of the fires caused Bragg to prolong his lines； lengthening them to the extent that before Hardee struck Kirk's and Willich's brigades； he thought our line extended a division front to their right。 Finding this not to be the case； he whirled his left with all the force of double numbers on to the right of McCook。 The rebels then swinging around found themselves in the rear of Johnson's division before they struck any troops on their front。 Of course it is mere guess…work to say just what the outcome might have been of any other formation of the line； but it is safe to say that had the left instead of the centre of Hardee struck the right of McCook； there would have been a better chance for the troops on the extreme right of his line to have shown the spirit that was in them； before they were overpowered by mere superiority of numbers。
Then there were some minor mistakes that aided in a great degree the bringing about of that mishap which imperiled the safety of the entire army。 Even granting that Johnson was not in any way responsible for the position occupied by his troops on the front line of battle； still it is hard to find any excuse or even explanation for a general officer in command of a division who； knowing the enemy were in force on his front； and intending to attack his command at daylight the next morning； would place his headquarters a mile and a half in the rear。 This too； when he knew that the post of honor and responsibility for the safety of the entire army had been committed to his keeping。 What then shall be said for him when it appears by the report of the commanding officer of his reserve brigade that when it returned from the support of a cavalry reconnoissance； the general commanding the division ordered this brigade； on the eve of the battle； to take position in the woods； 〃near the headquarters of the division；〃 instead of in supporting distance of the front line？ He could not have thought that the division headquarters needed the support of the reserve more than the line of battle。 It is safe to say that had the line of Johnson's division been properly formed； so as to give the most strength to the commandshort and well centered； with a good brigade like that of Baldwin's in reserve； with all officers in their placesthese troops would have given a very different account of themselves when the blow struck the right。 There was no commanding officer in the front with Johnson's division； of greater command than a regimentsave General Kirk。 The troops of Willich's brigade on the right flank refused to come to his assistance； because there was no one there to give them orders。 Johnson says in his official report that 〃In consultation with Major…General McCook； late in the afternoon of December 30th； he informed me that he had reliable information to the effect that the centre of the rebel line of battle was opposite our extreme right； and that we would probably be attacked by the entire rebel army early on the following morning。〃 Johnson then coolly adds： 〃His prediction proved true。〃 Yet with these facts staring them in the face； McCook and Johnson made no other efforts to strengthen the right of the line； and Johnson； on the arrival of his reserve brigade later； posted it in the woods a mile and a half from his front 〃near his headquarters。〃 General Kirk was mortally wounded in the attack on his command； but lived long enough after the battle to make a report of the part taken in the engagement by his brigade。 He states in his report； that he suggested to Johnson to send his reserve brigade to support the main lines； and that Johnson declined to do so。
The location of Johnson's headquarters； and Johnson being there； makes him responsible for the capture of Willich； and the breaking up of that brigade。 Willich had been on the line for an hour before daylight with his brigade under arms； and from what he heard of the movements of the enemy to his front； he was satisfied that a change should be made in the position of his division； and started to Johnson's headquarters to communicate with him。 Before he could return to his troops； the enemy was upon them； and drove them from the position they held； without their making a stand。 Being without either division or brigade commander； they drifted to the rear。 Willich had a horse shot under him； and was captured without giving an order； before he reached his command。
When the artillery was posted in line of battle on the 30th； roads were cut through the cedars to allow the batteries to reach the front line。 The heavy loss of guns； reported by Rosecrans； was occasioned by these batteries being unable to reach the roads through the cedar thickets in the retreat； and in many instances guns were abandoned in the woods； through which it was impossible to haul them。
Bragg alleges in his official report that our troops were surprised； and cites the fact that his men passed through the camps where breakfast was being prepared。 He was right as to this fact； but wrong about his deduction。