Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1864-12-21

A. ]. Smiths Sixteenth Corps, consisting Of
the divisions of Macarthur, Gerard and Moore,
came next on the left Of Schofeld. On the
left of Smith, the magnificent Fourth Corps
of T. ]. Wood, consisting of the divisions OF
Kimball, Elliott, Lamb and Beatty, was
formed in close order of battle and partially
massed. Steadman's, with Crafts DIVISION,
and two brigades of eolored troops, held the
extreme left of our line of battle, which was
a continuation Of that Of the 10th, pressing
the advantage gained on the enemy's LETT
About half-past 8 o'clock our batteries
opened from hundred pieces simultaneously
along the lines. The rebel artillery repheu
freely. Scho6eld, marching down the Granny
WhitehiIl Pike, carefully conceallng ms
strength, placed his corps directly upon the
enemy's left flank. Steadman at the same
time worked his way forward. The enemy
in the meantime strengthened his advanced
line. This determined Wood to carry this
line without delay.
In splendid order Kimbal's First Division
moved forward to the charge, firing Volley
after volley as they rushed forward upon the
rebel works, The whitening fire Of musketry
and canister made them waver more than
once, but they still pressed on until within
came so deadly that our men, in order to re-
turn it more efFectually, came to halt'
Longer, perhaps, than any troops ever re,
manned in such position, they stood anu
fired fast and furiously at the enemy. But
they could not remain there and live. Anew
gave way and fed in confusion, and the whole
line staggered. Had the rebels done nothing
more than keep up their deadly hre, we
should have been driven back out tney
made a movement to shift their artlllery,
which our men received as an indication that
they were about to abandon that line and re-
tire. Raising loud shout, the DIVISION with
fixed bayonets rushed impetYpusly forward
swarming over the works, and captured such
rebels as had not fed. They had time to get
away two guns the rest fell into our hands'
Grand Whole-Iine Assault.
As soon as this preliminary success was
achieved, Thomas-whO was seen during the
day in the very front line Of battle-ordered
charge along the whole line. Schoheld lmme-
diately moved upon the right flank OF the
enemy, and before his veterans the reoeis
gave way like frost-work. The assailed flank
crumbled to pieces as Scho6eld advanced, and
was rolled back upon that portion OF the line
which was Just now attacked by smith S
troops with weight that nothing could with
stand. McMillan'S brigade was foremost,
and, as soon as ordered, rushed right up into
the very teeth Of the powerful rebel batteries
and carried at point of bayonet the salient
points of the enemy's works. In few mo-
ments their works were everywhere carried,
their forces utterly routed and their soldiers
captured BY thousands. Every piece Of their
artillery was in our hands. Such OF the
rebels as escaped death or capture fed to-
wards the Franklin pike and took refuge be-
hind S. D. Lees corps, which held gap IN
the hills.
Wood and Steadmau, on the left flank, now
united and prepared to assault the rebel right,
which was still unbroken. Under cover OF
FIRE from our guns, Col. FoSt
brigade moved forward. Straights brigade
of Beatty's division moved forward on the
right in support. Immediately on Posts left
Thompson's colored brigade was drawn up,
with Morgan's colored brigade next on the
left. The enemy reserved their fire until
Posts brigade commenced TO climb the hill,
when a perfect hurricane OF shot, shell aud
canister tore through his ranks. In face OF
this fire our men steadily advanced. The
colored troops Wed with the white in the per-
sistent energy with which they forced their
way up the hill. Thompson's men in en-
to pass around to the left, met a
terrible flank fire, which confused theirranks,
while the troops on the right were torn in
pieces BY the terrible fire, and paused an in
slant.
At this iuncture, brave Colonel Post was
MORALLY wounded. Our men, whose conduct
had immortalized them, rushed back, bleed
ing, to the line from whence they started.
Wood soon reformed his broken battalions
and issued an order for renewal OF the as
sault. while Posts veterans again assailed
the hill directly, and Thompson's Africans
moved on the rebel right. Elliott's and Kim
balls divisions were hurled like thunderbolts
against the rebel left. Wood himself, accom-
panied BY all his staff, followed and directed
the charge. The rebel fire blazed forth anew,
but our soldiers without hesitation or pause,
carried the entire works, with all their guns,
and drove the rebels in dismay from the hills.
This was the last stand the rebels made.
Their whole army was now fleeing in rout
and panic. Had not night interviewed the
rebel army would have been destroyed.
The appearance Of the battlefield was hor-
rible in the extreme. The rain was falling
rapidly; the ground was thickly covered with
the dead and dying; while camp equipage;
torn and trodden in the mud, was mingled
with the shattered artillery wheels and frag-
ments of exploded caissOns. The results OF
the battle are 5000 prisoners, 80 guns and
/ 900 small arms.