The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-02
rNAcrAIIoN nr rrLAsKI.

COLI hHlA, lEOlls, NONtnDtl .D.-HOI bDIub
days previous To the evacuation Of Pulaski, For
rests Cavalry had been operating on our tanks,
while the main force of Hoods army was press
ing on us in front.
On he 22d and 23d, Garrard's Cavalry sllr-
misEed pretty sharply with Forrest, General
Hatch, who had command on the left faux,
gradually falling back all the time, so as TO cover
Columbia. On the afternoon of the 23J, Colonel
Capron became hotly engaged at Mount Pleasant,
some eleven miles southwest Of Columbia, and
after stubborn resistance steadily fell back.
His objlc was to resist Forests advance until
our infantry would reach Columbia. On the
morning OF Wednesday the iniantry evacuated
Pulaski and fell bacl, on Columbia about thirty
miles distant. We had previously shipped of all
our supplies, stores, and ammunition, so that
Hood had nothing but the bare, deserted city 10
glOat over.
CONCENTRATIONS At CoLu'mIA
About eight o'clock on Thursday morning,
November a, our advance, under General Cos,
commanding 23d Army COrns, arrived in COlum-
hia just in time TO support Colonel CaprOn who,
gradually retiring aS l have described, WAS now
so hard pressed that he could no hold out mush
longer against the superior numbers that pressed
General Cox's timely arrival prevented the
town from falling into the Cucmys hands for
Forrest having driven our cavalry through
Mount Pleasant and captured a squ1d Of them,
was pressing hard for Columbia. lie followed
MS mp as far rs Little Bigby creek, within four
miles Of the town.
On Friday, the skrnishtng was renewed. The
Rebels got possession ui q large brick house on
the Mount Pleasant pike Here there was sharp
fight tor some time, our men trying 20 at!oiga
them, which they ultimately succeeded 10 doing
THE nATuG At coLrNmN.
Our troops Lad now taken position about mile
In front OF Columbia, Woods Division OF the iJh
Corps and COSs Division Of the sd Corps taking
up the front line, tleir right Aluk eNtcading %
within about mic Of Duck river The rest Of
the troops occupied the hills and an ccholOl line
between the town and Duck river.
Early on Saturday morning the enemy dis
mounted cavalry vigorously attacked our lines,
first striking HendCrs0n's Brigade, Of CON's
Division They drove in orr pickets at some
points, but were kept at bay by our heavy line Of
skiImishers. The enemy opened seYera, batteries,
sending shells into the town. Our batteries 10.
plied, and sharp eaonolate vas kept up a.! the
forenoon.
Tie skigmishng continued all day, Forrest al,
the time wcdgug for Duck river, which he
reached in the forenoon ana crossed over some Of
his cavalry. Meantime some Of Forests dis
mounted infantry kept up a sharp slirmisd tire
along our front, while HOod5 main army was
wheeling on our left Htnk in an ea5tsry d.
rUCCn.
These flank movements viii compel us 20 eva
cUate Columbia, which will be doae, expect, to-
night.
killed sud wounded will not exceed one hundred
and fifty. Captain Green, i9th Ohio, Inspector
Of the lst Brigade was shot through the bowels.
He is the only officer Of whom have heard
killed.
General Schofeld is In command Of the troops
in the feld. General Thomas is still at Nashville
All our supplies, stores, sick and wounded have
been sent 10 Nashville.
Several Of the Inhabitants have also left. We
have some three or four hundred coutrabands
hanging on to the army. These have followed Us
on our move from Pulaski TO Columbia.