History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1862 STONE RIVER. 987
Early on the morning of Friday, the 30th, a heavy explosion was heard in the
direction of the town, and upon advancing it was found that his fortifications
were deserted. General Vope, who had joined Grant, wa:s sent in pursuit of
the retreating rebels, and Buell commenced the march back into Tennessee.
M'Cook's Division kept upon the right flank, proceeding along the line of the
Memphis and Tennessee Railway, and passing through luka, Florence, Athens,
Bridgeport, to the Cumberland Mountains, and thence north to Nashville,
reaching the city early in September.
General Bragg, who now held command of the rebel army opposed to Bueil,
having collected a formidable force, had entered Tennessee, and was making
for Kentucky, Louisville, seemingly his objective point. To prevent its occupation Buell, leaving only a small force for the defence of Nashville, hastened
with the main body to its protection. By the 26th of September the regiment
had reached the neighborhood of the city, Bragg having been beaten in the
race. Resting but four days it about faced, and moved with the army in search
of the enemy, Buell having resolved to offer battle. The division moved upon
the extreme left of the column, in the direction of Frankfort, and first encountered the enemy's pickets at Fern Creek, and again at Claysville, where a
spirited skirmish occurred. On the 8th of October, the day on which the battle
of Perryville was fought by the main body of the army, the division, having
advanced a few miles beyond Frankfort, returned, it having been ascertained
that Kirby Smith, with a heavy rebel force, was in front, and manoeuvring to
cut it off from the main column. Re-crossing the river it moved on the Danviile Road, and at Lawrenceburg encountered the rebel vanguard. Skirmishing
ensued at intervals, but by a forced march it succeeded in eluding pursuit and
in defeating his purposes.
IMoing back to the neighborhood of Nashville the regiment rested until the
opening of the winter campaign. In the meantime Buell was superseded by
Rosecrans, and Colonel Stumbaugh having resigned, the command of the regiment devolved on Lieutenant Colonel lHousum. During the latter part of November the brigade was several times sent out on reconnoitring expeditions, in
which the enemy was met, and on the 27th had a hot skirmish near Lavergne.
On the 26th of December the regiment broke camp, and joined in the grand
mnovement of the army in the direction of Murfreesboro. On the following
day skirmishing commenced, and the enemy was driven; until the 30th, when
he was found in force covering the town, his left resting on the right bank of
Stone River. 1'Cook's Corps immediately went into position in his front,
Johnson's Division on the extreme right, the Seventy-seventh on the left, and
joining the right of Davis' Division, which stood next. The position of the
regiment was upon the edge of a cedar brake, with a cornfield in front, the
skirmish line of the enemy resting on the opposite side. In this position it
remained nearly twenty-four hours with little firing, though the enemy was in
close proximity. During the night the movement of his forces, just in rear of
his front line could be distinctly heard. This intelligence was communicated
to Colonel Housum by the officer in command of the skirmishers of the
Seventy-seventh, and Captain Robinson met General M'Cook about midnight, and informed him that he was sure that the enemy was massing his
troops for an attack. The Colonel accordingly ordered his men to stand to
arms, and there was no more sleep during that night. The other regiments of
the division, unwarned or unsuspicious of danger, were still resting with arms