Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-29

gageo IN vigorous Smelling, al here ana
there sharp-shooter fred his field But
the time had come for the final. -
GRAND CHARGE
which was to decide the fortune of the dav
Schoheld and Steedman had rsported thai
tEeF were IN position. and FeaUv; and as il
was o'clock, the signal vas given. and the
ball opened
The heroic men Of the Esd corps were the
frst in action, as had been arranged. and soon
the rebel left was greeted with a furious vol
ley, which called out all their artillery and
musketry that could be brought to bear, One
battery, which had been concealed not more
than three hundred yards from Thomas head.
quarters, was particularly vigorous. It was
the second Maryland (rebeD. and was ev:-
IDENTITY managed with the greatest skill
| There were four pieces in front, and so placed
as to play either upon Schofelds advancing
| columns, or upon the Headquarters of Gen
Thomas; and in this instance two pieces were
pointed in each direction, and were worked
| rapidly. 1t was evident that SchcfeId was
rapidly gaining ground, when Smiths corps,
| which was lying at right angles with it. was
ordered forward, thus not only assailing the
| Maryland battery, but two or three others
| in two directions at once. The struggle was
brief but severe. The advance Of our COL
umns was irresistible. Cheatham's and Stew
arts corps, which had to bear the br1lnt ri
the assault, were no match for the veterans
under Schofeld and Smith, though protected
| by formidable works; and the time reonirad
| to capture every cannon in the hands of ho+h
| these rebel Generals, was just the time re-
! qGired for our men to advance four hundred
yards on the double quick-perhaps about
| FIVE minutes.
! The rebel centre and left broke on orr an.
proach, and did not succeed in getting off a
single piece of artillery; while the number
Of prisoners who fell into our hands was over
| TOO, at this point alone, and before the pur
| suit commenced.
While these things were in progress on the
! right, and right centre, Steedman was making
vigorous and successful charge on Lees
corps-the rebel right wing-while portion
| of the wearied 4th Corps was rushing on in
| the centre.
The commands of Schofeld and Smith push
on, the one on the right and the other on the
left Of the rebel line of entertainments, and
| parallel to them. 1t was surprising TO see
with what swiftness the soldiers marched
| As soon as l saw that the fortunes of the day
| were decided in our favor on our right, /
| went down toward the left to observe what
| was going on there, and for few minutes
| the battle field was obscured from nv view
| by fog and smoke When once more in
| clear atmosphere, l cast my eyes down to a
| point where the rebels had been strongest,
| expecting to see a desperate and bloody
struggle. A flag was waving in the distance.
but | could not ascertain whose it was, but
observed that it was moving in the direction
to indicate that the rebels were retreating.
| fastened on until | got clearer view,
when, to my establishment, it was the old fac
waving III triumph the bearer pushing on,
and our men pouring volley upon volley upon
Cheatham's and Stuart's retreating fugitives.
At this moment all the reserves were brought
into action, and Whitakcr's iron brigade
struck the only part in the rebel line which
had not yet been broken, capturing four guns
and four hundred prisoners.
From this time, the retreat of the rebels
became miscellaneous and disorderly rout.
Hundreds OF them threw down their arms and
surrendered; among them Brigadier Gen
eral-Gen. Jackson. Our men rushed on
They were resisted no longer; all they had
to 90 was TO pursue, anc they did this with
the same will and spirit that they had ex-
hibited inmaking the charge. Though greatly
Iatigued, they rushed on headlong, gathering
up prisoners by scores at every rod of their
progress.
1t was near shutdown when left to return
home, but could hear the report Of the can,
non and the shouts of our men, farther and
farther off, indicating that the rebel flight
was swift, but that without our boys were
continually gathering them up and pressing
them closely,
CAVALRY OPERATIONS,
The cavalry succeeded in passing through
the gaps on the Hillsboro pike without diff
Guilty; and a portion had reached Brentwood
by the middle Of the afternoon This was
Gen. Knipe's division Of ten regiments, all
well armed, and finely mounted. 1t was their
intention to do AL in their power 10 cut Hood
off, and heard them skirmishing with the
fugitiyas when ! left Hatch's division, of
about equal strength, held the passes on the
hills, till they heard our infantry making their
grand charge, when, after having captured i
large number of prisoners, 1.-THE 18th Tennes-
see alone having 1857 they hurried on to
Join knipe at Brentwood; but whether or not
the junction was formed, do not know. Al
our cavalry are down in that regioR, and
Hood will not find his retreat easy Of accom-
! phsh,aant.
SUMMARY.
es innate our loss in killed and wounded,
at 1000 and think these figures will not
be wide of the mark. The rebel loss in
killed and wounded, will reach 600, while we
captured at least 5000 prisoners before night
fall, and 80 cannon. | know Of six squads Of
prisoners the aggregate Of which was 2,lG2 !;
and in every direction, while was returning
tQ the city, I could see droyes of them march
ed along by our men,
Few victories have been won of equal i'm
portance to that of yesterday. It seals
Hoods fate. and viii convince the rebels not
! only Of the Lopelessness Of regaining Tenn
| essee, but Of the cause at large. J. B. W.
The Rebels Getting stost OF Ammunition.
Secretary STANTON telegraphs to Gen. DIX
the following significant documents, copies Of
1rora found in Damn in,