First Battle of Murfreesboro facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Battle of Murfreesboro
Part of the American Civil War
Date July 13, 1862 (1862-07-13) Location Rutherford County, Tennessee Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States (Union)	CSA (Confederacy)
Commanders and leaders
Thomas Turpin Crittenden	Nathan Bedford Forrest
Units involved
Murfreesboro garrison	Forrest's Cavalry Brigade
Strength
900	1,400
Casualties and losses
890	150

The First Battle of Murfreesboro happened on July 13, 1862. It took place in Rutherford County, Tennessee, during the American Civil War. Confederate cavalry, led by General Nathan Bedford Forrest, surprised Union soldiers in Murfreesboro. They quickly took over a hospital, army camps, and the town's jail and courthouse.

All Union troops surrendered to Forrest. The Confederates destroyed many Union supplies and railroad tracks. This attack made Union forces move away from their plan to capture Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Why the Battle Happened

In June 1862, Union General Don Carlos Buell began moving his army slowly towards Chattanooga, Tennessee. Another Union general, James S. Negley, had already threatened Chattanooga a few days earlier.

Because of this, the Confederate government sent General Nathan Bedford Forrest to Chattanooga. His job was to create a cavalry (horse-riding soldiers) brigade. By July, Confederate cavalry groups under Forrest and Colonel John Hunt Morgan were raiding into Middle Tennessee and Kentucky.

Forrest left Chattanooga on July 9 with two cavalry groups. Other units joined him along the way. His total force grew to about 1,400 men. Their main goal was to attack Murfreesboro. This town was an important Union supply center. It was located on the Nashville & Chattanooga Railroad. Forrest planned to attack at dawn on July 13.

The Battle Begins

The Union soldiers in Murfreesboro were camped in three different spots around the town. These soldiers included infantry (foot soldiers), cavalry, and artillery (cannon units). Their commander was General Thomas Turpin Crittenden, who had just arrived on July 12.

Between 4:15 and 4:30 in the morning on July 13, Forrest's cavalry surprised the Union guards. These guards were on the Woodbury Pike, east of Murfreesboro. The Confederates quickly took over a Union hospital. They also captured the camp of a group from the 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiment.

More Confederate troops then attacked the camps of the other Union commands. They also attacked the town's jail and courthouse. By late afternoon, all of the Union units had surrendered to General Forrest.

What Happened Next

The Confederates destroyed many of the Union's supplies. They also tore up railroad tracks in the area. But the most important result of this raid was that it made Union forces change their plans. They had to stop their push towards Chattanooga.

This raid, along with Morgan's raid into Kentucky, helped Confederate General Braxton Bragg gather his forces at Chattanooga. It also helped him invade Kentucky in early September. The next major action at Murfreesboro was the Battle of Stones River. That battle was fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863.