Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-12-17

The Rattle near Na,h,,i,.

NASHVILLE, December l5.--The army com.
enced moving al daybreak to day: Steadman s
corps on our left the fourth corps next. then y.
J Smiths corps. the cavalry force moved 10
The right. aud DE 23d corps held IN reserve.
Nerv little except reconnoitering vas done
until after meridian. but at half past twelve the
order to advance was given. and the whole
column moved onward. The rebels evidently
expected Thomas would attempt to turn their
right flank ali indications would presuppose
this, and they had offered numerous inducements
for u to do 80 They had carefully prepared
their works To receive our forces il We should
attack them in tina, quarter. To keep up the de
ceptioa, SteadmSn commenced 10 skrmlsh heay
lily on our left, ami As our forces moved ~ the
direction OF that point. they beliey Ell IL threaten
ed. aud while they were massing troops on their
right We were concentrating the l6,h and 23d
corps. and General Wilson's cavalry, our
right The result was when the bugles sounded
the advance, our right wing advanced rapidly
between the rebel leit and the Cumberland river
completely doubling up TIE rebel division which
had been posted - blockade the river The
battery Was taken by our forces and sent ~ the
rear The rebels had by This time perceived that
our attack upon the right feint Hood
sOou attempted to atone for his first false pass 4,
bat il WAS too late our right had established
themselves the main bank. aud were steadily
advancing.
Meanwhile the ed corps had taken position
on the extreme right, and A. J. Smiths corps
was executing halt wheel driving the rebelS
before them easily and rapidly. In hour or
40 the rebels had presented strong front. Our
progress was for The moment checked aud il was
visible that the contest Was about 10 commerce
Another diversion Oh the lett, 10 enable our men
on the right to get into position and strengthen
themselves, ii 10 be ready Tot 4 charge, was
made, In front OF the ilh corps the rebels had
a strong line of eArthworks defended by heavy
line of skirmshers. and Gen Wood ordered
charge upon ~ Ihe w0rd forward was shouted
by division, brigade and regimcntal c0mms nders
aud with prvmpinf-s and decision he men leaned
over the breAstwogks and advanced ln less than
twenty minutes our forces had possession Of the
rebel work, and The banners Of the Ala corps
we're planted OF shem our men. flushed With
victory, witkont orders, pushed forward. and bad
nearly reached the second line Of rebel works
and were only recalled ~ most strenuous com
mand-, and had laken 90 prisoners, which With
those captured in the rebel entertainments
amounted 90 over zoo The second line Of rebe
entertainments we're nov IN sight. located on a
range OF hills one mile from tue skirmish line
They buils with great skill. lt some
time before our men got into position Our cav
airy had advanced mean~hiie until it, right
rested OF the h.ls ak miles beyond Nashville
maneuvre with difficulty. Instead OF facing 70
the Vest thew now faced directly south The
twa corrs OF Schofeld and Smith were in pos
ton directly parallel on the eft the -kirmishers
all along tie line having been advanced 70 Hills
boro PIKE, she,ering themselves behind fences
on the north side while the 9th corps WAS formed
at figh. angles the front division wing directly
scross the Hill-boro pike the remainder being on
the Eigh;
While these movements were going on ard
our lines we're forming. batterie. being placed
Sc, the rebels could oe distinctly seen movir z
to the lefi aauk towards Eillsbofo pike, with a
view To present cur turning their left. As far
could % sscsrtsined by observation, their entire
reserve wss thus thrown IN front Of our right
/ and centre In the meantime our commanders
sent reiuforcements equally strong 10 our parts
menaced bs the rebels 20 confront them Al
half pas, three ali ready Tor a charge on the
second line of the reoel works The position
was strong one 70 reach While our forces had
\ 20 ascend hiils ~ elevation q - degrees
without aty protection Our Lies we're four
/ columns deep ~ith ample reserve Oar forces
were massed against the reoel lines md the re.
/ served columns we're hurled against he rebels
with irresistible force, ana AZ ten minutes before
) p u the charge commenced The Isl aud
"a divisions OF the 4,h corps marched vest, and
( the u division. At right angles moving south.
| On It's right was the corps OF A. j. Smith Tbs
Is. and II divisions bad the hardest task To per
! form, being more cx posed ia their trout The
rebel works were stronger than they we're aud
more formidable. \ heavy Ere Of grape. CAMS
ter and musketry being poured into our men, BOT
they moved steadily forward Osing to lhe
rebels sring too high IL mostly passed over thsn
| over~lss the slaughter would have been terrible