The Advance to Murfreesboro.
On December 22d, General Thomas moved his headquarters from Gallatin to Nashville, and there concentrated the divisions of Rousseau and Negley, and Walker's brigade of Fry's division.Of the five divisions composing the Centre, that of J.J.Reynolds was guarding the Louisville and Nashville railroad; and on the same duty were the remaining two brigades of Fry's division.R.B.Mitchell was assigned to the command of Nashville with his division as the garrison.This left, under the immediate command of Thomas, the two divisions and the brigade as above, as his only available force.
McCook with three divisions under Johnson, Davis, and Sheridan, and Crittenden, also with three divisions under Wood, Palmer, and Van Cleve, were in camp in front of Nashville, on the Franklin, Nolinsville, and Murfreesboro turnpikes.
The position of the enemy under Bragg was fully known to Rosecrans.
Two corps under Polk and Kirby Smith were at Murfreesboro with strong outposts at Stewart's Creek and Lavergne.The corps under Hardee was on the Shelbyville and Nolinsville pike, between Triune and Eaglesville, with an advance guard at Nolinsville.Rosecrans, on the morning of the 26th, directed the advance movement to commence in the following order.McCook was to move his command of three divisions direct on the Nolinsville pike to Triune.Thomas was to advance his command of two divisions and a brigade on McCook's right by the Franklin and Wilson pikes, threatening Hardee's left, and on his falling back was then to cross over on country roads and occupy Nolinsville.Crittenden was ordered to move his command direct on the Murfreesboro pike.On the arrival of Thomas at Nolinsville, and being in a position to support, McCook was to attack Hardee at Triune, and if the latter was re-enforced and McCook's advance resisted, Thomas was to go to his aid.If Hardee fell back to Stewart's Creek, five miles south of Lavergne, and the enemy made a stand there, then Crittenden was to attack him at once, and Thomas was to come in on his left flank, while McCook was to bring his forces in supporting distance of Thomas and Crittenden as needed, after sending a division to watch Hardee and to pursue him if retreating.
Davis took the advance of the Right Wing with the First Division.
He moved from camp at 6 A.M.on the Edmondson pike, on which he was ordered to move to Prim's blacksmith shop, from whence he was to march direct on a country road to Nolinsville.The Third Division under Sheridan moved on the Nolinsville pike, followed by the Second under Johnson.The advance of both these columns encountered the cavalry pickets of the enemy, within two miles of the Federal picket line.As these commands advanced, there was constant skirmishing until the heads of each of these columns reached Nolinsville.
About one mile south of the town the enemy made a determined stand in a defile, and upon the hills through which the pike ran at this place, known as Knobb's Gap.This was a favorable position for the rebels, well guarded by their artillery, which opened fire at long range upon Carlin's lines.Davis then brought up two batteries and opened fire upon the enemy, while Carlin charged their position, capturing two guns and several prisoners.Davis's other brigades carried the enemy's position on the right and left.His divisions then bivouacked for the night.McCook's loss that day was about seventy-five killed and wounded.
Early on the morning of the 27th, McCook's command pressing forward, encountered the enemy in force.A dense fog prevailed at the time, rendering it hazardous in the extreme to open an engagement at that time, as McCook's troops could not distinguish friend from foe at one hundred and fifty yards, and his cavalry had been fired on by his infantry.On learning that Hardee was in position and had been in line of battle since the night before, McCook ordered a halt until the fog lifted.This it did about noon, when Johnson's division was pushed rapidly forward, followed by that of Sheridan.
As the command approached Triune they found the enemy had burned the bridge across Wilson's Creek and retired, leaving a battery of six pieces with cavalry supports to hold the crossing.As the skirmishers of Johnson's command advanced, the battery withdrew, and with the cavalry moved off rapidly on the Eaglesville road.
Johnson's division then repaired the bridge, crossed and went into camp beyond Wilson's Creek.
On Sunday the 28th, there was no general movement of the troops.
McCook, however, sent Willich's brigade out on reconoissance, to learn whether the enemy had retired to Murfreesboro or Shelbyville.
Willich went several miles on the Shelbyville road and found that the force in his front had turned to the left and moved toward that former place.Stanley with the cavalry also made a reconoissance, and reported that Hardee had retreated to Murfreesboro.
On the 29th, McCook, leaving Baldwin's brigade at Triune to cover the extreme right, moved forward with the remainder of his command on a country road known as the Bole Jack road toward Murfreesboro.
