Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-20
By Telegraph.
F or Later Dispatches see Sd Page.
Interesting Account of Gen. Thorn
as Great Victory on the 18th.

1
Interesting Account of Gen. Thorn
as Great Victory on the 18th
CIMcIENATI, Dec. l9.-The Gazette pub
fishes a vivid description Of the Battle on
the 18th. The day opened cloudy With
Indications of rain. There was a dense
| fog at an early hour, but this soon cleared
away, and at 8 o'clock we were able to de-
termine the euemy's position. During the
night of the 18th Hood withdrew both his
wings from the river and contracted his
lines everywhere, and was holding stroBg
position along Granny Whites Hills. His
centre was protected by two ines of eu-
trenchments. Our own troops were dis.
posed in the following order: Wilson's
cavalry on the extreme right; Schofeld's
23d corps, consisting of Coueh's and Cox's
divisions, at first held in reserve, but be
fore the main battle opened had taken
position on the left of tho cavalry, thus
| forming on the right of our infantry line.
A. ]. Smiths 16th corps, consisting of the
divisions of Macarthur, Garrard and Moore,
came next on the left of SchO6eld, On
the left of Smith the magnificent 4th corps
of T. J. Wood, consisting Of the divisions
of Kimball, Elliott and Sam. Beatty, was
formed in close order of battle and partial
ly massed: SteadmAn with Crafts divis-
ion and two brigades of colored troops
held the extreme left.
Our plan of battle WAS "a continuation of
that on the 18th. In pressing the adVan.
tage We gained on the enemJ's left and at
about half past eight o'clock our batteries
opened from a hundred pieces simultane-
ousIy along the entire lines. The rebel
artillery replied feebly. SchOfield march
Jug down Granny Whites pike carefully
ooncealiDg his strength placed his corps
| directly upon the enemy's eft flank, white
Steadman at the same time worked his
way foFWari, IA D
The enemy in the meantime 6trelgtd-
ened his line. This determined Wood TO
carry this line without delay and iu spirited
order. Kimbslrs first division moved for
ward to charge, firing VOlley after Tolley,
still they pressed on within half mile OF
the spot, when the enemy's fire became 80
deadly that our meu, in order to return 1t
more effectu ally, came to a halt, longer,
perhaps, than any trOOps ever remained in
such positions. They stood and fired fast
and furiously at the enemy, but they could
not remain there and live. A few gave
way and fed in disorder. The whole line
staggered, and had the rebels done no.
thing more than keep up their deadly FIRE,
| we should have been driven back. But
they made D movement to shit their ar
tillery, which our men took as an indica'
ton that they we're about TO abandon their
line and retire.
Raising loud shout, the division with
fixed buyOnets rushed imPstuously foe-
ward, and swarmipg over the works. cap
tured GuCh rebels as had not tied' They
had time to get away two guns, but the
rest fell into our hands.
As soon as this preliminary success was
achieved, Gen. Thomas, who was seen du'
ring the day in the very front of the line
of battle, ordereI a charge along the en-
tire line.
Schofield moved upon the left faux of
the enemy, and before his veterans the
rebels gave way like frost work. The as
sailed flank crumbled to pieces as Scho-
field advanced, and was rolled back upon
that portion of the line which just now
was attacked by A. J. Smiths troops, with
a weight and. energy which nothing could
Withstand.
McMullen's brigade, foremost in battle
as on the previous day, rushed right up
in the very .eeth of three powerful rebel
batteries, aud carried at the point of the
bayonet the salient point of the enemy's
works. la a few moments their works
we're everywhere carried, their forces ut
terly routed, their soldiers captured BY
thousands, and every piece OF their artil'
Iery 10 our hands. Such as escaped death
or capture fed toward the Franklin pike
and took refuge bshiad s. D. Lees corps
which held this gap 10 the hills, Wood
and Steadmaa on the left, were soon united
and prepared to assault the rebel right
which WAS still uubroken. Col. PosiI
brigade moved forward. Streight's briR-
ade, of Sam Bestty's division, formed or
his right. In support Immediately y o
Post's left, Thompsoh's eOlOFed brigade
-. and Mor1arla r0lOPad hFiU,
ade was next on the left. The enemy re
served their Ere until Posts men com
, menced to climb the mill, when a perfec
| hurricane OF shot, shell, and Canniste
bowed through his ranks. Ia the laes oil
this ere our men steadily advanced. Th'
colored troops We'd with the white in Ih
peIsisteut energy with which they forced
their way up the hill. Thompson men il
endeavoring 10 pass around to the left
met with o terrible flank Ere which con
fused their ranks. The troops on th
3 right, torn to pieces. paused an instant
= and at this juncture the brave Col. Posi-
, was mortalIy wounded
In moment Ell order was lost and on
men, whoss conduct had imm0rtalizet
Q them, rushed back confused and bleeding
, to the line from whence they started
Wood soon reformed his broken battalioul
and issued an order for arensWal of the as
: sault, while Posts veterans again assaile,
the bill directly, and Thompsoa's African
6 moved on Ihs rebel right, ElliOtPs ant
4 | Kimbalps divisions were hurled like
|. ltbuudeFbolt agAinst.the rebel left. Woo,
himself accompanied by all bis staff fol
4 IIo1ed and directed the charge. The FebC
5 firs bla5ed lSEthsaasw, bat our soldier
a without hesitsuDn OF pause carried Tb
: entire Works with an their guns, aud droT
!. the rebels 10 disney from the hill. Thi