must abandon his plan and take
every means to prevent the terrible disaster that seemed imminent. He
directed the movement on the left to be suspended and placed Rousseau's
division in the cedar brakes to the right and rear of Sheridan. As soon as
it became plain, from the great amount of fugitives, that McCook's wing
was routed, Van Cleve's division was placed on the right of Rousseau's,
and a brigade of Wood's division to its right. Negley's and Sheridan's
divisions fell back upon this new line. Upon this line the rebels made
four distinct attacks, but were repulsed with very heavy losses. The
fighting was almost hand to hand, and the losses on both sides were heavy.
That of the regular brigade was especially severe, being 637 out of a
total of 1,566. The new line succeeded in holding its ground and driving
back the enemy from its front.

The left had also had severe fighting, becoming gradually engaged as
Bragg's turning movement went on. As the change of front went on the left
became more important until when the final line was formed, close to the
Nashville turnpike, the left became the vital point, since a disaster
there would have permitted the line to be enfiladed and the stragglers
would have carried any resulting disorder along the whole line. During the
afternoon Breckenridge made several heavy assaults on Palmer's division,
but was repulsed.

Rosecrans succeeded in placing his troops in rather a strong line near the
road, and the subsequent assaults of the enemy were repelled. The army
slept in the position, spare ammunition was issued and found to be
sufficient for another battle. The left was withdrawn slightly to more
advantageous ground, and Rosecrans determined to await the attack of the
enemy in his new lines, but if Bragg did not attack to do so himself.

During the morning of the 1st of January the rebels made repeated attempts
to advance on Thomas's front, but were repulsed. During the afternoon the
enemy massed a large number of troops in front of the right but did not
attack. Bragg's object was evidently to feel the Union lines and find out
if Rosecrans was retreating. Satisfied that he was not, he felt himself
unable to attack in view of the heavy hammering his army had received the
day before. Rosecrans passed Van Cleve's division across the stream and
occupied some hills which threatened Polk's lines in enfilade. Next day
Bragg tried to drive back Van Cleve's division, which was commanded by