Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 5.djvu/129

Rh whom was killed in the attempt) to determine its character. The doubt caused the brigade to hesitate in returning the fire of the battery, when Sergeant Oakley, color-bearer of the Fourth Tennessee, and Sergt. C. M. Hooks, color-bearer of the Ninth Tennessee, gallantly advanced eight or ten paces to the front, displaying their colors and holding themselves and the flag of their country erect, remained ten minutes in a place so conspicuous as to be plainly seen, and fully to test from whom their brigade was suffering so severely. The murderous fire was increased and intensified, and demonstrated that the battery and its support were not friends, but enemies. The sergeants then returned deliberately to their proper places in line, unhurt, and the enemy’s battery was silenced and his column put to flight.

With this act of devotion we leave the battle of Murfreesboro, making the following general remarks about it:

General Bragg’s army, infantry and artillery, numbered 33,475. His cavalry, under Wharton, Wheeler and Pegram, aggregated 4,237, making his army, of all arms, 37,712. Wheeler s brigade reported on December 31st, i, 169, and was not in the battle, but was operating on Rosecrans immediate communications. Pegram and Buford, with five regiments, 1,118 strong, were on the extreme right and scarcely engaged. Hanson s brigade, of Breckinridge’s division, 1,893 strong, was east of the river. Deducting Wheeler’s and Hanson’s brigades from Bragg’s total, that general fought in actual battle against Rosecrans columns a force of 34,650, of all arms. These figures are taken from the field returns of the army, as they are given from the originals in the War Records of the Union and Confederate armies. It is interesting to note General Rosecrans estimates of General Bragg’s forces and losses. He reported to Washington that he had encountered superior numbers, and gave Bragg’s strength, 46,200 infantry, 1,200 sharp shooters, 1,840 artillery, and 13,250 cavalry, &quot;making a total of 62,490.&quot; In like manner the Union general estimated the Confederate loss at 14,560. In this estimate,