Stones River | Jan 2, 1863

On January 1st, Crittenden moved a division commanded by Samuel Beatty across Stones River at McFadden’s Ford. Two brigades occupied the high ground east of the ford. On the afternoon of January 2^nd, Breckenridge attacked Beatty with 5,000 men in four brigades, including the Orphan Brigade of Kentuckians, commanded by Robert W. Hanson. Hanson was mortally wounded by a shell fragment in the fighting. Breckenridge’s Confederates pushed the Yankees back to the river but were stopped by timely reinforcements and intense Union artillery fire massed on the west bank of the river.  The Confederates were forced to withdraw, suffering 36% casualties.