The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-12-21


no better than at first. BY noon the whole
OF franklin's corps was engaged With
the enemy, aud desperate effort was
made to turn the enemy position on the
Massaponax, and drive him beyond the
creek. General franklin commanded
the movement in person, and handled his
troops with remarkable judgment The
rebels maintained possession of some
small hills with their usual stubbornness,
but gradually fell back as the Union
troops evinced determination TO 60 for
ward. During the afternoon the rebels
came TO a stand, and for time assumed
the offensive; but as they advanced to
meet us they were bravely met and re-
pulsed with heavy loss. It was at this
time that some three hundred of Hills
command fell into our hands and were
conducted to the rear as prisoners. Still
the enemy contested every foot of the
ground, aud it was only by dint of the
hardest kind of fighting that he could be
compelled to change his position
1t was during the heat of the engage
ment that the gallant Bayard was NOR.
tally wounded. He was conversing with
General Franklin, when a cannon ball
struck him in the hip and threw him
clean out of the saddle. Poor Bayard,
ne never dreamt of danger in the thickest
OF the battle, and never lost his courage
even when his leg was amputated. The
surgeons say that he cannot survive many
days, and that the operation they have
performed can only prolong his agony a
short while. But am DEPRESSING from
main facts.
The obstinacy with which the rebels
held possession of their ground rendered
Gen. Franklin's task a very difficulty one
indeed. He had to cope with StonewaIl
jackson and the veterans of Cedar Noun
tain, Bull Run and Antietam-troops who
understood their business thoroughly.
and were not TO be scared by triles.
Hence the task of turning the rebels DO
sltlon on the MassaponaX was no ordina-
ry one. Still the Union commander was
not discouraged he had driven the enc
my back several rods and was determined
to drive them further. Old Stonewall
had met his match this time, and, not
withstanding his troops fought with their
usual bravery, they were gradually push
ed Southwark. At shutdown franklin
had succeeded in driving the enemy
nearly mile, and his troops occupied
the field during the remainder of the
night. The movement on the left was a
complete success, although TO- morrow is
required for finishing up the lob. The
casualties on both sides were very numer-
Gus. Among those who were wounded
were Captain Hendrickson, commanding
Niuth New York State militia, and Capt
Hartt Assistant Surgeon General to
General Tyler
Reynolds corps advanced ere the dense
fog had lifted itself from the river banks.
and about nine o'clock the enemy's in
fantry were engaged. Tue opposing col
umn had fairly got 10 work when the
rebel artillery commenced PLAYING upon
us through the fog. The shots were all
aimed at random, however and produced
but little effect. Notwithstanding the
view was so obscured, the rebel artil-
lery kept up the cannonade for sew
eral hours, and, as peal after peal rang
through the air, the effect was terribly
sublime. The fire was returned by our
batteries in gallant style, and for hours
nothing but deafening roar of artillery
could be heard on all sides. Up to noon,
when the fog cleared off and the balloon
lists were enabled TO get glance at the
enemy's works, the fight was an artile-
ry one, and productive of no very i'm
portant result on either side. As soon as
the sunshine showed itself however, the
infantry were brought into play and the
work commenced in real earnest. Gems.
Mead and Gibbons divisions encounter
ed the right Of Gen. A. p. Hills COM
mand and LoBgstreets veterans.
The fight ragged furiously during tie
entire day, and our troops suffered terri
bly, from the enemy's artillery. The
enemy were posted behind hills in great
strength, and at one time ID seemed inn
possible 10 dislodge them. About noon
Gen. Gibbon was relieved by Gen. Dou-
bleday's command. Gen. Meigs, who
was fighting against superior odds, was
also reinforced by Gen. Stoneman's COM
mand, which had the effect of checking
the rebels and driving them back short
distance. IL was in the midst of this
struggle that Gen. Gibbon was woun-
ded, and partially disabled. He
kept the field, however, during the re.
mainder of the day and won many lau-
rels by his brilliant conduct. General
McClellan's Endorsement of Gibbons
dash and ability has been fully borne out
by the result of the days fighting. Du-
ring the afternoon Gen. Newton's division
was moved up TO the left'of tho. center.
when the firing. which had ceased in thAt
OF the field, broke out again with re-
doubled fury. Our troops we're here ex-
posed TO plunging fire from the enemy's
artillery, which was posted on a neigh
boring hills, and for short time the
Union soldiers we're opposed to a destruc-
tive fire. Our artillery eturued the fire
with deadly effect and immortalized
themselves by their accuracy Of aim an d
unwayering courage
THE RIGHT,
Consisting Of the Seventh and Ninth
Corps, under General Sumner, earned