it would have been depleted and demoralized to such a degree as to unfit it for offensive operations for a long time afterward.  Bragg’s intrenchments in front of Stone River were very strong, and there seems no reason why he should not have used his plain advantage as explained, but instead he allowed us to gain time, intrench, and recover a confidence that at first was badly shaken.  Finally, to cap the climax of his errors, he directed Breckenridge to make the assault from his right flank on January 2, with small chance for anything but disaster, when the real purpose in view could have been accomplished without the necessity of any offensive manoeuvre whatever.

CHAPTER XIV.

APPOINTED A MAJOR-GENERAL—­THE SECRET EXPEDITION UNDER CARD THE
SCOUT—­HIS CAPTURE BY GUERRILLAS—­ESCAPE—­A REVENGE PARTY—­WOMEN
SOLDIERS—­A FIGHT WITH SABRES—­TULLAHOMA CAMPAIGN—­A FOOLISH
ADVENTURE.

On the 6th of January, 1863, my division settled quietly down in its camp south of Murfreesboro’.  Its exhausted condition after the terrible experiences of the preceding week required attention.  It needed recuperation, reinforcement, and reorganization, and I set about these matters without delay, in anticipation of active operations early in the spring.  No forward movement was made for nearly six months, however, and throughout this period drills, parades, reconnoissances, and foraging expeditions filled in the time profitably.  In addition to these exercises the construction of permanent fortifications for the security of Murfreesboro’ was undertaken by General Rosecrans, and large details from my troops were furnished daily for the work.  Much attention was also given to creating a more perfect system of guard and picket duty-a matter that had hitherto been somewhat neglected in the army, as its constant activity had permitted scant opportunity for the development of such a system.  It was at this time that I received my appointment as a major-general of Volunteers.  My promotion had been recommended by General Rosecrans immediately after the battle of Stone River, but for some reason it was delayed until April, and though a long time elapsed between the promise and the performance, my gratification was extreme.

My scout, Card, was exceedingly useful while encamped near Murfreesboro, making several trips to East Tennessee within the enemy’s lines to collect information as to the condition of the loyal people there, and to encourage them with the hope of early liberation.  He also brought back from each trip very accurate statements as to the strength and doings of the Confederate army, fixing almost with certainty its numbers and the locations of its different divisions, and enabling my engineer-officer—­Major Morhardt—­to construct good maps of the country in our front.  On these dangerous excursions Card was always accompanied by one of his brothers, the other remaining with me to be ready for duty if any accident occurred to those who had gone out, or in case I wanted to communicate with them.  In this way we kept well posted, although the intelligence these men brought was almost always secured at the risk of their lives.