Retreat after Battle of Murfreesboro

[gunny]

Was the Confederate retreat after the Battle of Murfreesboro one of the most unfortunate events for the Confederacy in the west?

It was advised by most of the corps and division commanders to retreat.

Was there a good possibility of holding the line there or perhaps pushing in rear of the Federal army in the days following the battle to create a much tougher situation for the Feds?

[oneplez]

Originally Posted by gunny

Was the Confederate retreat after the Battle of Murfreesboro one of the most unfortunate events for the Confederacy in the west?

Do you mean the 'Battle pf Nashville,' of which Murfreesboro was a minor fracas.

It was advised by most of the corps and division commanders to retreat.

OK

Was there a good possibility of holding the line there or perhaps pushing in rear of the Federal army in the days following the battle to create a much tougher situation for the Feds?

I doubt it (if your still talking about Murfreesboro), since the armies were almost equal and Hood called on Forrest to return to Nashville to protect his rear.

Don
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[larry_cockerham]

I believe Gunny was referring to the Battle of Murfreesboro Dec 31, 1862 - Jan 1, 1863. The Murfreesboro battle Dec 7, 1864 was referred to as the Battle of the Cedars. The Murfreesboro event 1862/3 was a helluva fight. This battle fell in sequence between Shiloh and Chickamauga. The Confederates were not as organized as many might have wished and were giving up what later proved to be valuable territory, namely the supply route for the Union forces depending on food and ammo from the Cumberland storehouses in Nashville. More offense at this time might have well made a difference in the western campaign. Not much help for R.E. Lee either way.

[civilwarbuglertn]

Time for the inevitable punching bag. By this point at the Battle of Stones River, or Murfreesboro 2 the lower level commnaders had lost faith in Bragg. He simply could not make up his mind as to what to do. I.E. allowing the uncoordinated attacks against Hazen. Or the ill advised attack on Jan. 2. If this is the battle that is being talked about. If not just ask away, if it is one of the other battles that took place in Murfreesboro during the war.

[gunny]

Bragg, no doubt, becomes a punching bag on many occassions, but he at least asked the opinion of his corps and division commanders. They all felt, I believe, without exception, that the army was too beat up to continue operations against Rosecrans.

We of course have the benefit of hindsight and know the shape of both armies now, but could Confederate cavalry have continued to harrass and destroy the supply line enough to conduct another heavy fight in the weeks following the battle. Say by the first of Feb. or so?

It seems to me that the COnfederates still had the upper hand at this point and had they maintained the initiative, instead of surrendering it, they may well have caused a Federal retreat at the very least. This would have left vast territory open for the Confederates to forage and operate in. The Federal retrograde would have been seen as a major victory - even if it had been conducted in a very orderly fashion.