The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-30

TWO DAYS.. FIGHTING.
DEFEAT OF THE REBELS.
Capture BY the Fedorals Of Largo
Numbers Of Guns and PriS-
f. ONerSs r...s 81.

more detailed reports Of Fridays fight than
No have received by telegraph, q; IS.
raK BATTLE OF THURSDAY.
NASHVILLE, Dec. Is, 1864.---At early
dawn yesterday our troops were all in line
Of battle, and an advance commenced soon
after daylight The first movements were
cautious and slow. The corps commanded
by Stedman was located Oh the left the
4th corps coming next then was Sta
toned A. J. Smiths corps; while the cav
airy moved to the right, and the Esd corps
was held in reserve. my 80 aaauost a.
Little was done except accommodating
till afternoon; but at twenty minutes be.
fore one the order was given to advance,
and the whole column moved forward! B
,Itwss evident that the rebels had OK
pectAd Thomas would make an effort TO
turn their right flank, and had thrown out
numerous Inducements for him 10 do SO;
but1had carefully prepared their works for
the reception of our men. In order that
they. might not be undeceived, Stedmsn at
once commenced to skirmish heavily on
our left, and we could see columns Of men
moving ont in the direction Of the point
they believed threatened; but while they
were massing troops On their right, we
were massing the 18th and Esd corps and
the cavalry under Wilson on our right !;
and the result was that when the advance
was sounded our right wing pushed rapidly
in between the rebel left and the river,
completely doubling up the division which
had been posted to protect q battery that
was blockading the stream below town.
The battery ITSELF consisting of four guns,
was captured by our cavalry, and the guns
sent to the rear. ------
By this time the rebels began to per-
ceive that their idea of an attack on their
right was an Illusion, and Hood attempted
at once to repair his first great blnnder !;
but it was too late Our right had gained
q firm foothold on the river bank and was
pressing on; while the 23d corps was taxi
ing up position on the extreme right,
and A. J. Smiths troops were performing
q half wheel, driving the small columns of
rebels before them with great ease By a
rapid movement, hill after hill was taken
without the slightest difficulty, and with
little loss in men. H*a tT'i= va
But an hour or two suficed to enable the
rebels to present strong front, and the
progress of our men was checked. 1t was
now apparent that the battle was about to
begin; and another diversion on the left
was made, to enable our men on the right
to get into position, and strengthen them
selves, so as to be ready for charge.
In front of the left of the 4th corps,
and about mile beyond the Acklen place
there was line of strong earthworks, de-
Tended by a heavy body of skirmishers,
and Gen. Wood ordered charge upon it,
Riding along the lines, he saw that every
thing was prepared, and the word "for-
ward" was shouted by the different divis-
ion, brigade and regimental commanders,
and with an alscrity which shows the hero
and the veteran, the men leaped over their
breastworks, and pushed forward.
l confess I did not expect that the
charge would be so completely successful.
Ihad no doubt of the final result, but the
distance was sixty rods, and the ground
was such as to allow volley to sweep
down upon cur men, who were without any
protection, and were compelled to move
up bill with slant of at least twenty de-
grees. But ten minutes sufficed: grand
shout-the rebel works were ours, and the
banners Of the old Fourth corps waved
proudly over their entertainments. At
this point occurred phenomenon un
known to European armies; without or
ders our men pushed on, nearly to the
second line of rebel works, and it was with
the greatest difficulty that their ardor was
repressed and the advance stayed. When
tho men returned they had with them
about sixty prisoners, which, together
with the number captured in the works,
made over one hundred.
The main line of the rebel works were
now in full view. They were located or
a range of lills, nearly mile beyond
their ekirmish lines, and had evidently
been constructed with great care. Some
time was now employed in getting our mer
in position. The cavalry had pushed in
by this time, until its right rested on thu
range of high lands, about five or six miles
from the city, and it is now so far from thu
river that it's footing was firm, and it hat
room to manoeuvre without difficulty. In
stead of facing the west, it now faced di
rectly south, and the corps of Schohel
and Smith were in position directly paral
lei, and to the left, the skirmishers all alon
the lines having been advanced to tn
Hillsboro pike, taking refuge behind tn
stone fence on the north side; while tn
4th corps was formed at right angles, th
first division lying directly across the Hills
boro road, and the remainder being to tn
left of that. sn ..s-r
1t was now half past three and all ws
ready for charge on the second line {
rebel works. The position was indeed
strong one. The ground over which OF
men had to advance was hillside. wit
an elevation of fifteen degrees, and the
were without the least projection, as
was an open field. Our lines were fot
columns deep, with ample reserves. Thel
was no throwing in q division at time
but the Napoleonio tactics Of massing W,
practiced; and these irresistible column
were hurled forward with Q force beyou
their power to check.
At ten minutes before four the char
vaa commenced. The LII .aAd I'd DIV