To end the year in 1862, instead of celebrating the New Year in the traditional way, approximately 82,000 Union and Confederate soldiers in the western theatre fought a tenacious and vicious, but perhaps under-appreciated battle
Here is a link to the National Park Service's website for this battle between the forces of William Rosecrans on the Union side and Braxton Bragg for the Confederacy.
There was no real clear-cut winner in the actual fighting, but after it was over, Bragg and his army left the field, retreating towards the town of Tullahoma, leaving the field in the hands of the Union, who claimed this battle as a victory. Combined casualties for both sides were estimated to be over 24,000 according to Encyclopedia of the American Civil War, edited by David S. Heidler and Jeanne T. Heidler, which also calls this victory "important to federal morale." (See the article by James L. McDonough on pages 1876-1879)
A brief description of the campaign and batttle is at this link, and this link features photos of the area and commanders involved
What a way to end one year and begin another! So many brave men missed their friends, families and homes during the holiday season and many of these would never see such familiar faces and places again. Please remember the sacrificies that these and other soldiers made during this normally joyous time of the year late in 1862, and throughout the entire war.
I hope any who read this are able to be at home and amongst friends and family and will have the most wonderful of new years.
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