In 1862 William Rosecrans was appointed Commander of the Army of the Cumberland. After nearly losing the battle at Stone's River he stayed in Murfreesboro until President Lincoln's orders in late June, 1863.

During the next two weeks he took half of Tennessee without a major battle and marched into Chattanooga almost unopposed. Within three months, after he was accused of disgracefully leaving the battlefield at Chickamauga, he was relieved of duty.

After the war, the General served as ambassador to Mexico and as a member of the U.S. House.