Their Longest, Coldest New Year's Eve - Stones River National Battlefield, Murfreesboro, TN
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 35° 52.891 W 086° 26.078
16S E 551031 N 3970954
The chill of wind, and the chill of the unknown
Waymark Code: WMPR27
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 10/11/2015
Views: 5
County of display: Rutherford County
Location of display: Park Rd., Stones River National Battlefield, sidewalk at main entrance, Murfreesboro
Marker erected by: National Park Service
Marker Text:
The Longest, Coldest New Year's Eve
There was some talk [at Rosecrans' headquarters] of falling back. I do not remember who started the subject, but...I said...my men would be very much discouraged to have to abandon the field after their good fight of the day...Rosecrans, perceiving men moving up and down with torches said...'They have got entirely in our rear and are forming a line of battle by torchlight! ...[he] told us to go to our commands and prepare to fight or die.'
[us flag]
Thomas Crittenden, major general, commanding the Left Wing
Soon after dark a small fire was built, and several of [our] men...had gathered to it...General Rosecrans came up and said 'You are my men and I don't like to have any of you hurt. Where the enemy see a fore like this, they know 25-30 men ae gathered ...and are sure to shoot at it. I advise you to put it out." Scarcely was he done speaking, when...a shot came just high enough to miss the heads of the party, and a shell exploded just beyond.
[US flag] Silas Canfield, captain, 21st Ohio Infantry Regiment
The groans of the poor wounded was heart-rending. I could not repress a few falling tears. I got off my horse and built fires for several...foe and friend. Many, many...that chilled to death...that night might have been saved could they but have had attendance.
[CSA flag] John Magee, corporal, Stanford's Mississippi Light Artillery
Nearly 30,000 Union soldiers spent New Year's Eve 1862 concentrated along Nashville Pike, the same highway you see just ahead.
1862
December 11
Midnight