He saw many hills and hollows covered mostly with forests, with the red cedar and its dark green boughs predominating.

He also saw the flash of many waters, and, where the roads cut through the soil, a deep red clay was exposed to view.

He knew that it would be difficult for the armies to get into line for battle, because of the heavy, sticky nature of the ground, upon which so much rain had fallen.
He made his way safely back to the camp of his corps, although he saw hostile cavalry galloping in the valleys in the direction of Stone River, and all through the afternoon he heard the crackle of rifle shots in the same direction.

The skirmishers were continually in touch and they were busy.
The corps moved up a little, but Dick thought it likely that there would be no battle the next day either.

Rosecrans could not afford to attack until his full force, with all its artillery, was up, and marching was slow and exhausting in the sea of sticky mud.
Dick was right.