Decisions at Stones River: The Sixteen Critical Decisions That Defined the Battle

by Matt Spruill, Lee Spruill, Tim Kissel (Photographer)

From December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, the Army of the Cumberland and Army of Tennessee fought a bloody battle along Stones River. Led by Major General William S. Rosecrans, Union forces would eventually emerge victorious. Coming at the end of a series of Union defeats, this victory would give Lincoln and the Northern population a bright ray of hope during a fall and winter of reversals.

Decisions at Stones River introduces readers to critical decisions made by Confederate and Union commanders. Matt Spruill and Lee Spruill examine the decisions that shaped the way the campaign and battle unfolded. Rather than offering a history of the Battle of Stones River, the Spruills focus on the critical decisions, those decisions that had a major impact on both Federal and Confederate forces in shaping the progression of the battle as we know it today. This account is designed to present the reader with a coherent and manageable blueprint of the battle’s development. Exploring and studying the critical decisions allows the reader to progress from an understanding of “what happened” to “why events happened” as they did.

Complete with maps and a guided tour, Decisions at Stones River is an indispensable primer, and readers looking for a digestible introduction to the Battle of Stones River can tour this sacred ground—or read about it at their leisure—with key insights into why events unfolded as they did and a deeper understanding of the Civil War itself.

Decisions at Stones River is the first in a series of books that will explore the critical decisions of major campaigns and battles of the Civil War.

Matt Spruill is a retired U. S. Army colonel and Civil War historian and lecturer. A former Gettysburg licensed battlefield guide he is the author of seven previously Civil War books including most recently Decisions at The Nineteen Critical Decisions That Defined the Campaign and Winter A Guide to the Battle of Stones River, second edition.

Lee Spruill is a retired U. S. Army lieutenant colonel and a combat veteran of the campaign in Afghanistan. He is the author of two previous book, including most recently Winter A Guide to the Battle of Stones River, second edition.

Genres: Civil War

251 pages, Paperback

Published March 16, 2018

Reviews

[Clinton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fairly brief account of the Battle of Stones River from a very interesting angle. The authors examine the events of the battle from the perspective of 16 decisions that the author deems critical to the outcome of the battle. The author examines each decision in the order in which it was made, so the narrative of the battle occurs in chronological order. Each decision is examined using the information that the decider had at the time, what alternative options were available to the decider and the impact the decision had on the battle and its aftermath. Following the examination of all the decisions, the author provides detailed turn-by-turn directions for an auto tour of the battlefield. At each of the ten stops, the author directs the reader to specific locations, describes the vistas and what happened there. Maps greatly facilitate the reader's understanding. He makes liberal use of officer reports and other recollections of the participants to describe the action.

For readers wanting a comprehensive account of the battle, this is not likely to be your best bet. But for one wanting a good understanding, it provides concise details in an orderly fashion. The auto tour causes me to highly recommend taking this book along to those visiting the battlefield.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the other books in the series. This book investigates the various decisions made by the Commanders, Army Division, political, that were made during this campaign ending up in the Union victory. Pretty good and comes with a Battlefield Guide if/when you visit. It would be good to read this after the decisions of the Kentucky campaign since it takes place right afterwards,

[Jeff Cherpeski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at the battle. This wasn't a retelling or even a what if. Rather it was a look at the 16 decisions made by both sides that impacted the battle of Stones River. I knew about the battle and had read about it, but didn't stop to think about the impact decisions made could impact it.