Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-12-28

aud EiIlssy tics IesvpE Spas Of ABOUT SOC yssci
n front Of tbe main line, which Was nearly is7e
| open cornaeld, over which our men would hsTe 70
charge even after they had secured the frsr line el
Wo,kt, though Hood even believed himself capable
Of holding them, as the position wasver5 com4apd-
leg. AL a.. ,.h.I Can.
srsI was confident that nothing but direct attack
| could be possible, and ample preparations nso Dsen
msds 10 meet it. Lees uorps posted on the right
Stuart held the centre and Chesthsm tie left; and
Hood 81 med them as learned from prisoners. not
TO Weld an inch, shut rather die In their tracks,"
iHoNAss ORDER OF ATTACK.
our forces moved out in the morRirg In the fellow
ing order:
the Granny White Pike.
9 The corps mne aiateIy 20 the ltfs the Let d.
vision in the centre the "a on the left and the Sd on
the, right THE lst division was commanded by dep
KIN ball the % by Gen. Eliot and the 50 by Gsnerai
Beatty. These advanced on Franklin Pike, the hrst
division restiI & it's loft upon it.
g. s.eedman's corps m wed cut OF the hurireesDoro
Pike, with Instructions TO gradually move tothe
right and j)in on the 4.h oorDs. His command con-
sisted OF tue division OF Gen Cfut aud two brgsdes Of
coored troops the latter being on The extreme left
f. Tho 2Si corps utdsr General schohe! d, was
placed In reserve pear, tho right OF smith, 10 be
brought into use for Ailklrg purposes.
5. The cavalry were ssr down the hilspofeugh
Pike with orders TO epate Gu the range oil bills 10
which have referred, and ii possible intercept The
Rebel retreat or worry his hAnAe.
At each step Of cur advance Q heaW line Of skin
mishers was thrown out as pioneers, aud when these
had re orted all cear driven the Rebels back, bat
tories we're pushed forward, which indaleed 10 lev
shells when the krmishers we're again ordered on-
In this way mile aud . hall OF ground Has pssst
over until our Inca had advanced about half mic
btyoud the Tlou piOn place, which 10 ole aud hall
miles from the eIy, when tho Rebel skrmish ns
lido ullu and uiSf ual a
their general position b. giu 10 be' attanabs; their
main works were yet invisible though their trout ue
xas plainly seer. Here halt was oId.rsd, aud our
t,oops commenced -
TIILIsa TIE islMr.
Twas now about ten O'Clock, and all The batteries
hat could be geously employed were broVgh.
10 tho 'front.' aud commenced sellipg the rebels witt
Great vgor, which they continued 10 do for halt an
hour The rear Of the cannon at this time Was deaf
amir a. aud so many were the gunsat work that it was
CONTINUOUS. Tho RIB. Is replied BATH eoly; but this
.as not for lack Of artillery, TO much q desire
to keep the position OF mcst Of Their guns
called and TO save ammunition Having as, ertaintd
All that was necessary, the TWsnY-third oorIs was
ordered out on tho Granny White pike, with direc
lions TO take up position direct on the left ak
Of fha enemy, skirmieh with him until his position
wa ascertained sn then, carefully ncealing their
strength remain quiet until certain signals gwen
Tbep they were TO go for the rebel let with all the
yipor and dGsi in their power.
TLLlxma ePEsLTiOs,
aApsra s.eedman pushed oui upon the 4urlrsss.
hosorgb nike Il he wal saiit fed that there were DO
,shes upon it. when he brought bis column to half
xhssl and NOV, d in the direction Of the franklin
road 10 turn Hoods tight, and to form q ju iclon
LIN WOODS 4. n corps A, first be met little tesis.
tsr 20. hut as he pressed In, the Resistance was
sr,pG III, ned, and by the time he had f1rnsd the
suou on, which abb u! half past tive in III. after
noop he was eoniIo nted by strong force Of Lees
oerps, ready TO htas long and al stoutly a. they
opud.
TERRIBLE YIGGiITG-THS FIRST LINE tF WORKS OAR
RiSD.
While these aiBkng operations were in progress,
II beoane necessary tOcaptura the first limo OF Tebsi
wotks asd the casl part Of the task fell upon tarsl
divlsiou OF the Oorps though II vas SUI )rted by
the ohfrs as Tar az vas necessary. The position, "a
have before stated was very sl ong and the ford.
6caIons themselves Eero by means wax; and ihe
vrouud 10 be charged over was ascent OF az last
tan derrsts aud through mostly a wool, thers we're
only large trees which operate as very poor shaier
for essa laats. The mel moved up 10 most gallant
avis. for WHO ever heard OF iha Fourth Oorp, doing:
other~ise? The shout raised ws5 loug and loud;
ono yolley abs fred, and then, Sith ~ onets 3D.
onward went Inc men, aati more thaS halt the spaos
over which they had to 60 Waa passed when slight
halt, load aud another voliey Nas the prelude 10
second yell aud charge.
The men tal cd 20 ulors till within " yasje of the
R hi works, when the deadly ire which met them
ats d Tho INTO halt AID return it 10 this position
both parties ing furious y-the beleerenls re-
NAMED at least FIVE minutes eeoton Of artillery
employed by the Rebels could no lOugsr'bs used co
close VAS the range, aud there we're Indications that
the runneJs re about to attempt TO nova them of
when our gallant men determined 10 SECURE them as
lrophis5 and onoa moro sfsSyaj TO the charge Bat
the terrific storm Of bullas vas too mach; again they
Killed, End lea msn-teTy lew indeed, not more
than Que In ttn-hT0se for tho rear and the Rebels
r1ieed shout Of triumph. Bus this only maddentd
The assaiIln's Who nov def, than snd rushed up 10
he Sorkr. The few who had commenced to retreat,
sseif tile feelsd around, and in few moments
were once mOie in their posts; and with one Wild
eh0u. their star drJs planted on the Rebel bale
nests and those who had soutlJ held them d I'D in
confusion 10 the Did w0'cipiIre their gua6 -
that vas the question asked myseif after So that
the Rebels w,Fs flying; snd in moment vas
aunWered by q discharge Of both pieces by our men,
VIC turI el them upan the irg tivea.
TIE MAIN LINE.
The work having bsen accomplished, with loss OF
sbOu. two hundred meu, tie m In line of tie rebel
works vas .uii In Vw, aud our bsi teTies we're at
once brought into position, aud commenced shell
ling General Thomas fixed his headquarters In
commanding position, 20 await the reporte of bis
oubcrdnstes, and to tsse observation of the work
to be donr. IT, "a p. q.
% to this time GU. right had aore little else than
tc get into position sad skiImish' With the rebeh;
but TO the b corps another sevete ts9k vas as
signed Generel Beatty MSS ordered TO get posses-
sion OF the rebel works The Franklin pike il POS
sible so as to completely double up bic lnea end 10
end ell possibility of rerea and to accomplish lhis,
charge was made, bit itStailed. This was about
two in the ufternoop sad after tho failure eli appear.
ed quiet for some time, save that one or two latte
res were engaged in vigorous sheipg, and here
End there shaTpshooter frfdhis Eafeld. Bat tie
time had came for the 6usl grand charge which xss
to decide the fortunes OF thedsy.
TH& G2IHD CHLIGs. 90
S,hoaeli and steedmsR had reported thst they
were In posilion aud roadD; aud as 1t was q o'clock
the signal was gwen and the ball opened. Tho be;oi6