North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1864-12-21
THE WAR,

Nashville can be written. AS soon as Hood
clearly invested the city, orders were at
once sent to General Thomas by General
| Grant and also By Secretary Stanton to at
tack the Confederates. Thomas replied that
his army was not strong enough. At ,nce
permission was given 20 draw every availoble
man from the entire West. Kentucky, In
diana, Ohio and Illinois furnished many regi-
ments which had previously beea on home
duty. From the Mississippi river, the garri-
son at Memphis and VIcksburg sent troops.
Because RoSencrans did not forward men
might have done, he was removed from COM
mand. Steele, in Arkansas. was deposed for
a similar reason. BY all these means Thom-
as gathered at Nashville a very large army.
On Thursday morning he began his attack.
The gunboats on the river drove the Con-
federate western flank back from the bank,
thus all"wiDg the land forces to get between
the river and the enemy. Tue flank was
/ turned, and, after stubborn fighting, borne
back about five miles. Tie Confederate
centre was then attacked, and the defeat Of
the flank having exposed 1t, the attack was
but feebly resisted, and the Contederatcs re
treated to a new position two miles in the
rear, where they rested for the night Dura
ing the night they withdrew their eastern
flank from the Cumberland river, above
Nashville, to a position on a line with their
center.
On Friday morning the attack was renew
ed by Thomas, After three unsuccc ssful as
sautS he succeeded III driving the Confeder-
ates from the new position they had taken
on tuesday night, They retreated to a
range Of hills one Of which, on the Franklin
turnpike, is called the Brentwood Hill
Various attempts were made to drive them
from this position, but all were unsuccessful,
held Brentwood Hill. Brentwood Hill is
six miles sonth Of Nashville. General Thom-
as reports having lost three thnusond men
in the battle. The number Of guns captured
from the Confederates is stated at f,rty-nine,
and the number OF prisoners, forty-six kun-
dred. Three Confederate generals were cap.
tured. Thomas center was five miles south
OF Nashville, and as the lines Of the opposing
i'rces ran dagonalIy from northeast to south
west, Thomas eastern flank was three
miles southeast Of Nashville and his western
Gank eight miles southwest,
-; Saturday morning General Tho mas
had everything prepared to attack the Con-
fedcrate position on Brentwood Hi. Ddr-
ing the night, however. the enemy had re-
treated, and the Federal assault In tic morn
ing found only weak picket guard, which
easily gave way before it. The Federal
troops at once took up the line of march IN
pursuit Of the ConfcIsratcs, anl the cay
airy were sent ahead. Numerous skirrni>hes
were had with their rear guard. and in The
afternoon they passed through Franklio AID
made the HarP5th river their line of defense.
They heId this but a short time and again
retreared Just before dark severe >kIr-
msh was fought six miles south Of Franklin.
and the armies rested there f,r the n,eht.
Thomas spent the time in hurrying his troops
forward. We have no reports Of what hap
poned yesterday, but presume that Hood
continued his retreat southwa rd. Th,re has
been 10 severe fighting and there are no GER.
tain reports Of the losses Of the Cynfederates
on the retreat.
Below the south of the Savannah river. on
the Georgia coast, there are two sounds
NaP.aU SpuDl
below the river, and Osabaw sound about
thirty miles distant. The Oseechce RIVER
falls into Orsabaw sound and Fort McAlis-
ter, the capture of which, by General Sher
man, was announced on Saturday morning,
is on the Ogeechee, fifteen miles southwest
of Savannah. Sherman by this capture has
opened the sound, and is nov able to make
communication with the fleet, and can draw
supplies. Sherman has established his head
quarters at Fort McAillster, and on Wrdnes
day last had an interview thcr, with General
Foster. who came ashore from the feet
From the southwest Shermau's army ap-
breaches Savannah, aud General Foster an
nounCes that Savannah was to be summoned
to surrender on Friday last, and if it dld
Mt yield the Federal bombardment was to
begin. The railroad between Charleston and
Savannah, though not cut, is a length con
troIled by the Federal troops. No mails
have been received n Charleston or Rich~
mond from Savannah for some days, and The
reason is row explained. Near Coocawatche
the Federal troops, tn ugh un. bic to cut the
railroad, or reach it, have planted batteries,
! which prevent trains from running.
An Official despatch has at length been re-
celvcd from Genera! Sherman. Itrcports his
march across Georgia, from Atlanta, and
states that large amount of conmi,s1cy
stores, and many mules, horses and negroes
were secured. SheTman's army, on Tues lay
last nXfna1a1 anrOsS tho Druiusula h.fron-,