Days of Constant Vigilance and Fighting: The 8th Texas Cavalry and the Opening of the Stones River Campaign

General John Wharton’s cavalrybrigade, tasked with guarding the left flank of the Army of Tennessee’sposition in middle Tennessee, saw plenty of action in the opening days of theStones River campaign as remembered by Chaplain Robert F. Bunting of the 8thTexas Cavalry.

“The old year, freighted withmomentous events, is numbered with the mighty past,” he wrote to the editor ofthe Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph. “It’s blended hopes and fears, itsmingled sighs and tears, its victories and defeats are all among things thatwere. 1863 has been born amid the stirring scenes which will have a prominentrecord in history. The second battle of Murfreesboro has been fought, a glorioustriumph has followed our arms and the sounds of victory were sounding forthalong the lines of the Army of Tennessee. That brilliant achievement was thelast legacy which the departing year could give to our bleeding country.”

In this excerpt from ChaplainBunting’s lengthy account of the campaign, he describes the fighting whichbegan on Christmas Day 1862 and only increased with intensity over the next twodays as the 8th Texas Cavalry grappled with the advance of GeneralAlexander McCook’s Right Wing.

 

Pennsylvania-born Robert Franklin Bunting went off to war in 1861 with the storied 8th Texas Cavalry. Bunting not only served the spiritual needs of Terry's Texas Rangers but also took on the role of regimental historian. His lengthy letters back home are some of the best Confederate documentation of the Stones River campaign. 

Shelbyville, Tennessee

January 6, 1863

 

Editor Telegraph,

          The old year,freighted with momentous events, is numbered with the mighty past. It’s blendedhopes and fears, its mingled sighs and tears, its victories and defeats are allamong things that were. 1863 has been born amid the stirring scenes which willhave a prominent record in history. The second battle of Murfreesboro has beenfought, a glorious triumph has followed our arms and the sounds of victory weresounding forth along the lines of the Army of Tennessee. That brilliantachievement was the last legacy which the departing year could give to ourbleeding country.

          On Christmasabout 11 o’clock, the enemy’s battle line slowly advanced upon our left wingwhich had been protected by General Wharton’s brigade for over a month. Hisline extended from the Wilson and Winstead Pikes to the Nolensville Pike, someseven miles. During all this time, the duty of picketing the Wilson Pike hadbeen assigned to Lieutenant [William] Ellis with Co. G. About noon, his picketswere driven in and he was soon compelled to abandon his reserve stand and fallback towards Nolensville. The line of the enemy being composed of infantry,cavalry, and artillery could only be impeded by our cavalry.

          The brigadehad early been ordered to the front and during the afternoon the Rangersskirmished very heavily with the enemy for several hours. Observing theircoolness and individual daring when charging upon the enemy, one could not butfeel that they were engaged in holiday amusement rather than the introductionto a great battle. Towards evening, quiet reigned and we returned to camp.

Lt. Arthur Pue and his wife
Co. G, 8th Texas Cavalry

          Fridaymorning, couriers from our pickets reported the enemy still advancing in heavyforce. His battleline was extended and compact. He had early reachedNolensville some three miles below our camp. It was not certain the enemy wasmaking a general advance and the brigade was sent out to skirmish and disputehis way. The Rangers were today conspicuous for the determination and couragewith which they fought. At one time, they were in the hottest place they havelately found, but the danger only seemed to develop their coolness andgallantry.

          During theday, Captain White’s battery of two guns did splendid execution and greatlycontributed to our success. Some 15 Rangers are on detached service in thisbattery. Under Lieutenant Arthur Pue, they are efficient artilleryman. King’sGeorgia Battery today abandoned a gun and it fell into the hands of the enemy.It was lost through pure cowardice. Slowly the enemy advanced his line. Ourcasualties increased: Lieutenant A.H. McClure of Co. E was killed while J.H.Glasco and P.C. Pybas of Co. C were slightly wounded. Samuel Dennis of Co. K ismissing while Colonel Harrison had his horse shot from under him. Captain [Gustave] Cookwas temporarily stunned by his horse falling. Sergeant Major John M. Claibornehad both himself and horse knocked down by a cannon ball.

          About 2 o’clock,it was evident our camp was in danger. Hastily, tents were struck and the trainmoved beyond Triune. Here the wagons remained until morning and then set outfor Murfreesboro. It was a very rainy and disagreeable night. As darkness cameon, it was found that the enemy lay within a few hundred yards of the housewhich had been occupied as headquarters by General Wharton.

General Sterling Alexander Martin Wood (left) and General John A. Wharton conducted a well-conducted delaying action  near Triune on Saturday, December 27, 1862, holding McCook's wing to an advance of just seven miles. 

          Saturday wasgloomy. From the exposure of the night and want of food, the men felt illyprepared for a renewal of the fight. But daylight opened the ball again. Bythis time, General [Sterling A.M.] Wood’s infantry brigade had come to ourassistance and with a battery or two they supported our charges. The infantrydid but little fighting. Our cavalry was constantly engaged during theforenoon. Triune being situated in a rolling country the ground was adapted tothis work. The maneuvering was skillful, and everywhere the enemy was met byour gallant boys. General Wharton and staff were constantly moving and inperson he directed the movements. The cavalry of the enemy was becoming moredaring but the infantry was close by providing support. This rendered ourcharges dangerous for whenever his cavalry was pressed, they would fall backand draw us upon the infantry.

          With their long-rangeguns, we were in their power. In the afternoon, when we had retired beyondTriune, his batteries opened on us. It was observed today that the Rangers werealways nearest the enemy and under the heaviest fire. They can oftener get intoa fight with him than any other cavalry. It was now the evident policy of ourgenerals to draw the enemy on and mass our troops at Murfreesboro, hence ourskirmishing and falling back. It was a day of constant vigilance and fighting.

          Our lastengagement of the day was heavy and one and a half miles this side of Triune.Our loss increased. During the evening, a very heavy rain fell which made thedirt roads very mirey, yet the train plod on through mud and water until lateat night when it camped near the Salem Pike. The sun set clear and the nightwas very frosty, but the dry cedars furnished good fires and thus the exposurewas neutralized. The cavalry camped near the train. The infantry had mostlypreceded us from Triune. It was a serious trip for them.

          DaylightSunday morning [December 28] found the train ready to move and by the end apike 12 o’clock found us within five miles of Murfreesboro. The warm sun andbalmy air contrasted most favorably with yesterday’s gloom and rain. We allanticipated a few hours’ rest in preparation for the coming fight, but scarcelyhad the horses been unsaddled and the wagons started out for forage, theblankets and clothing spread out to dry, before a courier came dashing alongwith the announcement that the enemy was still upon us and within two miles by anotherTriune road.

          All wascommotion again. The cavalry hastened to the rear and the train moved towardsMurfreesboro. It proved to be a false alarm although he was on our track sixmiles to the rear. The Rangers spent the night near his advance while the traincamped near town. On Sunday night, every available main and horse was madeready for the coming battle.

To read more about the opening phases of the Stones River campaign, please check out these posts: 

Capturing the Gun at Knob Gap with the 15th Wisconsin 

Charles Barney Dennis at Stones River Pt. 1 

The Triune Slobberknocker         

Source:

Letter from Chaplain Robert Franklin Bunting, 8thTexas Cavalry, Houston Tri-Weekly Telegraph (Texas), January 1863

To learn more about the Stones River campaign, be sure to check out my new book "Hell by the Acre: A Narrative History of the Stones River Campaign" available now from Savas Beatie.