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

General John Wharton’s cavalry brigade, tasked with guarding the left flank of the Army of Tennessee’s position in middle Tennessee, saw plenty of action in the opening days of the Stones River campaign as remembered by Chaplain Robert F. Bunting of the 8th Texas Cavalry.

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

In this excerpt from Chaplain Bunting’s lengthy account of the campaign, he describes the fighting which began on Christmas Day 1862 and only increased with intensity over the next two days as the 8th Texas Cavalry grappled with the advance of General Alexander 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 blended hopes and fears, its mingled sighs and tears, its victories and defeats are all among things that were. 1863 has been born amid the stirring scenes which will have a prominent record in history. The second battle of Murfreesboro has been fought, a glorious triumph has followed our arms and the sounds of victory were sounding forth along the lines of the Army of Tennessee. That brilliant achievement was the last legacy which the departing year could give to our bleeding country.

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

          The brigade had early been ordered to the front and during the afternoon the Rangers skirmished very heavily with the enemy for several hours. Observing their coolness and individual daring when charging upon the enemy, one could not but feel that they were engaged in holiday amusement rather than the introduction to a great battle. Towards evening, quiet reigned and we returned to camp.

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

          Friday morning, couriers from our pickets reported the enemy still advancing in heavy force. His battleline was extended and compact. He had early reached Nolensville some three miles below our camp. It was not certain the enemy was making a general advance and the brigade was sent out to skirmish and dispute his way. The Rangers were today conspicuous for the determination and courage with which they fought. At one time, they were in the hottest place they have lately found, but the danger only seemed to develop their coolness and gallantry.

          During the day, Captain White’s battery of two guns did splendid execution and greatly contributed to our success. Some 15 Rangers are on detached service in this battery. Under Lieutenant Arthur Pue, they are efficient artilleryman. King’s Georgia 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. Our casualties 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 is missing while Colonel Harrison had his horse shot from under him. Captain [Gustave] Cook was temporarily stunned by his horse falling. Sergeant Major John M. Claiborne had 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 train moved beyond Triune. Here the wagons remained until morning and then set out for Murfreesboro. It was a very rainy and disagreeable night. As darkness came on, it was found that the enemy lay within a few hundred yards of the house which 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 was gloomy. From the exposure of the night and want of food, the men felt illy prepared for a renewal of the fight. But daylight opened the ball again. By this time, General [Sterling A.M.] Wood’s infantry brigade had come to our assistance and with a battery or two they supported our charges. The infantry did but little fighting. Our cavalry was constantly engaged during the forenoon. Triune being situated in a rolling country the ground was adapted to this work. The maneuvering was skillful, and everywhere the enemy was met by our gallant boys. General Wharton and staff were constantly moving and in person he directed the movements. The cavalry of the enemy was becoming more daring but the infantry was close by providing support. This rendered our charges dangerous for whenever his cavalry was pressed, they would fall back and draw us upon the infantry.

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


          Our last engagement 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 the dirt roads very mirey, yet the train plod on through mud and water until late at night when it camped near the Salem Pike. The sun set clear and the night was very frosty, but the dry cedars furnished good fires and thus the exposure was neutralized. The cavalry camped near the train. The infantry had mostly preceded us from Triune. It was a serious trip for them.

          Daylight Sunday morning [December 28] found the train ready to move and by the end a pike 12 o’clock found us within five miles of Murfreesboro. The warm sun and balmy air contrasted most favorably with yesterday’s gloom and rain. We all anticipated a few hours’ rest in preparation for the coming fight, but scarcely had the horses been unsaddled and the wagons started out for forage, the blankets and clothing spread out to dry, before a courier came dashing along with the announcement that the enemy was still upon us and within two miles by another Triune road.

          All was commotion again. The cavalry hastened to the rear and the train moved towards Murfreesboro. It proved to be a false alarm although he was on our track six miles to the rear. The Rangers spent the night near his advance while the train camped near town. On Sunday night, every available main and horse was made ready 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, 8th Texas 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.

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