Rosecrans continued his preparations carefully, and Bragg concluded that he was going into winter quarters at Nashville. Bragg therefore placed his army in winter quarters at Murfreesboro’ and vicinity, and detached his cavalry for operations in West Tennessee and against the railway in Kentucky. This was just what Rosecrans wanted. He wanted Bragg to draw near to Nashville so that his own line of communications might be short and a reverse less disastrous. Rosecrans was also anxious that the rebel cavalry should be distant when he advanced, as his army was very deficient in cavalry.
Morgan’s cavalry made a raid upon Hartsville, Tennessee, and on the 7th of December captured a brigade of infantry placed there by Thomas to guard the crossing of the Cumberland. The capture of this brigade was due to neglect of the simplest precautions. No outposts or sentinels of any kind seem to have been used, and the rebel cavalry was in line only 400 yards away before it was discovered. The infantry turned out in great disorder and was badly managed, so that it was forced to surrender. No word was sent to a supporting brigade but a few miles away, and Morgan was allowed to get away without any loss. He then started for Kentucky and on the 27th of December captured Elizabethtown and destroyed a large section of railway. He kept on to Muldraugh’s Hills and destroyed two trestles, each about 500 feet long and 90 feet high. The railway communication was thus effectually broken, and if Rosecrans had remained in Nashville the condition of his army would have been critical. But having completed his preparations and finding the conditions favorable, owing to the absence of Bragg’s cavalry, Rosecrans advanced from Nashville on the 26th of December.
Mitchell’s division was left to garrison Nashville so that Thomas’s command was reduced to Negley’s and Rousseau’s divisions and Walker’s brigade of Fry’s. McCook’s and Crittenden’s wings were on the pikes south and southeast of Nashville. The main body of Bragg’s force, consisting of Polk’s corps and part of Breckenridge’s division of Hardee’s corps, was at Murfreesboro’. The remainder of Hardee’s corps was near Eaglesville, about twenty miles west of Murfreesboro’, McCown’s division of Hardee’s corps, with a division under Stevenson, formed a separate corps under Kirby Smith at Readyville, twelve miles east of Murfreesboro’.
Rosecrans’ plan was to advance in three columns, refusing his right. McCook’s corps was to use the Nolensville pike, Thomas the Franklin Pike, and Crittenden the main Murfreesboro’ pike. McCook was to attack Hardee and if the enemy held his ground and was reinforced Thomas was to support McCook. If, however, Hardee retreated, McCook was to detach a division to pursue or observe him and move with the remainder of his corps so as to come in on the left rear of the main rebel force. Crittenden was to attack supported by Thomas, whose force was to be directed against the enemy’s left.
McCook advanced and after skirmishing all day, followed by a brisk fight towards evening, took possession of Nolensville and the heights about one and one-half miles in front. Thomas followed on the right, closing Negley’s division on Nolensville and leaving Rousseau’s division on the right flank. Crittenden advanced to LaVergne, with heavy skirmishing, through a rough country, intersected by forests and cedar brakes.
On the 27th, McCook advanced on Triune, but his movements were retarded by a dense fog, which made it impossible to tell friend from foe. Stanley, with the greater part of the cavalry, had joined McCook, and in the fog the cavalry was fired upon by the infantry. The march was stopped until the fog lifted, and Triune was therefore not reached until late in the day, although it was only seven miles from Nolensville.
Thomas moved eastward to Crittenden’s right. Crittenden moved forward slowly, delaying his movements until the action of McCook’s corps should determine the real state of affairs. Thomas was now in position to support either McCook or Crittenden, as the case might require.
On the 28th, McCook made sure by a strong reconnaisance that Hardee was retreating, and Thomas closed on Crittenden, who remained in position, bringing up his trains and making ready for battle.
On the 29th, McCook left one brigade of Johnson’s division at Triune to cover the right and rear, and advanced to within about six miles of Murfreesboro’. The corps was encamped in line of battle with Sheridan’s division on the left, Davis in the center, and Johnson on the right. Negley’s division of Thomas’s corps advanced in support of Crittenden’s corps, the head and flank of which reached a point about two miles from Murfreesboro’; Rousseau’s division remained at Stewartsboro’. It was now plain that the enemy would give battle near Murfreesboro’. During the afternoon a report reached Rosecrans from Palmer that he was in sight of Murfreesboro’ and the enemy was running. He therefore ordered Crittenden to occupy Murfreesboro’ with a division. Crittenden sent a brigade across Stone’s river and surprised a regiment of Breckenridge’s division and pushed it back on the main line. It was found that the rebels were occupying a strong position in force, and, it being then dark, the brigade was withdrawn across the river. Fords were prepared by the pioneer brigade. Negley’s, Palmer’s and Wood’s divisions were in line with Van Cleve’s division in reserve.
On the 30th, Rousseau moved up and took position in reserve in rear of Palmer’s right. Negley advanced slightly as did McCook’s corps. The line generally faced east, but part of McCook’s right division was retired so that it faced to the south.