The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-12-22

handsomely supported by Knipe's divi-
sion of cavalry, did the work, making
several beautiful charges, breaking the
rebel infantry in all directions Had it
only been light, the rebel rear guard
would have been entirely destroyed. AS
it is. it has been severely punished. The
whole army will continue vigorous pur-
suit in the morning. This attack was
made six miles beyond Franklin.
GEORGE II. Thomas,
Major General.
ANOTHER DISPATCH.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF
CUMBERLAND, MAR FRANKLIS,
TENNESSEE, Dec. 17--8 p. Nj.
We have pressed the enemy to day be-
yond Franklin, capturing his hospitals,
containing over fifteen hundred wound
ed, and about one hundred and fifty of
our wounded in addition to the above
General knipe, commanding division
of cavalry, drove the enemy's rear guard
through franklin to-day, capturing about
two hundred and fifty prisoners and five
battle flags, with very little loss on our
side. Citizens of Franklin represent
Hoods army as being completely demo-
rallied.
In addition to the captures of yester-
day, reported in my dispatches Of last
night, have the honor to report the cap
ture of General Rucker, and about two
hundred and fifty prisoners of the enc
my's cavalry, in a fight that occurred
about o'clock last night between Gene
raj Rucker and General Hatch, of our ca
valry The enemy has been pressed to-
day both in front and on both tanks
Brigadier General Johnson succeeded in
striking him on the flank just beyond
Franklin, capturing quite a number of
prisoners-Dumber not yet reported. My
cavalry is pressing him closely though,
and am very much in hopes of getting
many more prisoners tomorrow
GEORGE III. THOMAS,
Major-G General.
Other dispatches (unofliciaD from
Nashville state that one thousand pri-
soners were captured by Wilson, and
that General Rousseau, commanding at
Murfreesboro', reports Forrest killed and
fifteen hundred of his men captured
The superintendent at Nashville reports
that the railroad from Nashville would
be open to Franklin on Sunday night,
and would rapidly follow Thomas, thus
furnishing him with supplies and ena-
bling him to push on after Hood.
A letter, in the New York Tribune,
gives history of the fight of Monday.
1t says;
We were to have attacked on the 18th
instant, bat Hood, having learned this,
fell back nearly two miles to 4 better
position to await Thomas's attack.
Very little except reconnoitring was
done until after meridian, but at half
past twelve o'elocketh order to advance
was given, and the whole column moved
onward.
The rebels evidently expected that
General thomas would attempt to turn
their left flank. All the indications
would cause us to suppose this, and they
offered numerous inducements for us to
do SO, and had carefully prepared their
works to receive our forces if we should
attack them in that quarter. To keep
up the delusion, Steedmans command
was ordered to skirmish heavily on the
rebel left flank, and he moved forward
in the direction Of the point which the
rebels believed we We're threatening.
While Steedman was manouvring in
this manner. the rebels were massing on
their left, and we were concentrating the
Sixteenth and Twenty-third corps and
General Wilson's cavalry on our right
The result of this was, that when the
bugles sounded, the advance on our