Person:Moses Pankhurst (1)

A fierce battle took place at Stones River between December 31, 1862 and J anuary 2, 1863. General Bragg's Confederates withdrew after the battle, al lowing General Rosecrans and the Union army to control middle Tennessee. A lthough the battle was tactically indecisive, it provided a much-needed bo ost to the North after the defeat at Fredericksburg. Lincoln later wro te to General Rosecrans, "I can never forget [...] you gave us a hard-earn ed victory, which had there been a defeat instead, the nation could scarce ly have lived over." The 600-acre National Battlefield includes Stones River National Cemeter y, established in 1865, with more than 6,000 Union graves; and the Hazen B rigade Monument, believed to be the oldest, intact Civil War monument sti ll standing in its original location. Portions of Fortress Rosecrans, a la rge earthen fort constructed after the battle, still stand and are preserv ed and interpreted by the National Park Service. Much of the nearly 4,000- acre battlefield is in private hands.