The New York herald., 1864-12-22
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Our position remained usshangcl fou ~ Arss day
sAas - sssamas ss ~ sxirsms NJ, Wood spsDss,ng
win - - ~ IN q Ne Fraskiss PIKE. 6arsrd's
lvsss a A. Smiths corps, connected the right q
wOsA next ans neArshurs; shsa COsssa hesrs, css-
Meeting with Sshodelds lsn. Cor rornsd scbsnslds
right and Couch his ie,t Wilson'S sav.sy oAae up
schonsd right, along the Hsboro pike. With orders
south Of tho hills. and possiblo TO snrn the
rebel hanK and Ont on hb retreat Schodsld occupied
deep valley, with hrs flank extended well towards lie
head, facing ho rebel iae. which drawn like
bow along the slope Of the his; Couchs division ran
dagonsly scroes spur Of the bills u angle with
Cox About O'Clock the mist cleared away revealing
the scmbrs forest erownipg the steep bu with
their crests sides scoaped into murderous rae pits
and ridged with grim batteries.
sseedman's corps was the nrst TO advance he moved
out the nurfreesboro pike with instructions 70 con.
with Wood outEank the rebel right His COM
mand consisted Of two coored brigades under Coones
Thompson and Morgan, and division Of white troops,
under General crufl
Our skirmishers advanced without opposition for
considerable distance they struck the bet
Of wood in front OF the enemys position brisk skr.
mishang commenced
rrR BATTLE FIELD.
Between the Granny White and Franklin pike kind
st plateau, sloping towards the range Of bluffs which
seem 70 be bounded by Little Harper and Mil creeks
Fine residences and well cared plantations cover tho
landscape back to Nashville Here the city ahut out
from your by the hills crowned with forts and
batteries and their sides dotted with white tents,
and the dark forms Of citizens crowdng to the bat
tie, or at least hear its din.
Behind the and stesples OF the city.
Tho cupola OF the Capitol crowded with anxious
spectators.
We had now struck tho rebel skirmsbers, and the
| fierce musketry nre commenced. Our batteries
ma lima he asndad
position. The rebel skmishers fell back slowly on their
works. Between whtAkers and Grose's brigades Kem
bas division, and Garrard's division lay on HILL on
| the top Of which q fsrm house and out Offices
From shelter OF these the rebel skirmshers and secon
Of artillery harassed advance. Whiakers brigade
comprising the Ninety sixth and One Hundred and Fif
teen,h Illinois, Forty fifth and Fty-nrst Ohio, Twenty
first and Twenty third Kentucky and Thirty NTH Indiana,
rdere to take this position supported by the Lett
| Of Gerrards line, and on the righ, by Crosse.
The brunt OF this gallant charge fell upon Brigac,er
1 Generals Whtakers and Crosses brigades. Noby did
they behave There seemed to be isudable spirit or
State vivslry between them. They formed into ccsumn
In double lines by brigadss and forward in quick
pace They had nearly crossed the plain front of the
onemy's works when witherlnR fire Of artillery and
muhketry swept, 10 sheet OF lead ard flame, right In
their has been tho rebel tactics suffer
troops TO advance close their works, that their
| voleys would have effect The received this
| with tauntipg cheer and regular voley along the
| line. stIl on We advanced, until just clcaDg upon
| them, when the works In our front seemed
70 belch forth sweeping, withering Are deadly
than BEFORE hnned lines aud made the stoutest
veterans ree and created temporary confession Tho
rebels In front loudly cheerod and some jumped on the
parapet Cur men rallied turned and fred, thinning hs
number OF spectators The momentary reaction uervod
our men, and on they fought, in double quick time
rushing the works. and bayooeting the rebels in
them. II gallant charge, and calamity led. fer
| both Kimba and whtaker were conspicuous In the
thickest or the bloody strife Here the rebels left
OF their guns aud arsenal Of small In banda
l Tho Fourth corps had now driven the rebels from
their advance lnes and pressing them back their
reserves. Beatys division occupied the right Of the
Franklin pike the Second dvision on the left OF tho
pike and the First division connecting with Garrard
We we're closing In on the enemy's main works,
and II was evident that tho grand charge would
take place. Our batteries having advanced close 10 the
enemys work, now opened from hundred guns
nerce continuous IRE upon the rebel nes making
the hdeous with the horrd din Of shrieking
she. and obscuring tho valley with thick, suphurous
| canopy Of smoke
Tho Ninth Indiana battery from the hill Gsrrard's
'front.' sweps the rebel lines, which we're open its
range.
Near this stood General Thomas and his stan,
panied by General Webster. Thsmas surveyed the posi-
tion with hs usual cool camness, closely scrutDziDg
every OF the enemy and taking the necessary
precautions 10 Illustrate their desgus. He ooDvsrsed
with the oicers around him the situation, evinciDg
full and appreciation Of the rebel generals
ments and intentions All the time preparations were
making general assault and batteries
erng the sdvance by Of the dercest artillery fires
| have beard.
Our artillery all through did excellent service. rupsira
guns close up the rese! works. tearing them
pieces and making tho rebels ny from their intrepch
| ments Major Goodspeed, Chief Of Artillery, Fourth
corps, worked bis different batteries admirably placing
| them in the most effective positions.
IN trout Of tie Fourth corpe remarked the Fourth
regular battery, Captain Corny Battery B. Independent.
PennsyvaniA-ths had two guns dismounted and trun.
mons Sixth Ohio, Lieutenant Baldwin and seve.
raj others prominent In front OF our lines hurting their
missiles Of death upon the enemy blasting their lines
4 with their volcanic breath IL was near ocock
General Thomas J. Wood surveyed the rebel position
from hill TO the left Of the Franklin Pike, Mr.
Mullen's house. seedman, looking nercely calm and
solved General Beatty, unnoved and calm, no,bng
s Importance transpir,ng; Kimbal ard Elliot, both
looking resoute their pars al 10 consutaoa
! with him. hut moved TO their different commands.
10 iron, OF the rebel lines, commanding the Franklin
pike strong fort This occupied the crest Of the
snI, with strongly intrenched works all round and
slashed trees In 'front.'
This hill the 0rst important one Of the overtos
rangs--tne extreme spur Of the Cumberland
range o; mountsns Is about mile front OF ar
ThompsoD's house, where s. d. Lee had hs heaiquar
ters, and about FIVE niea from Nashville.
From this position the rebels not only checked the nd
vance OF Beattys division, but also commanded salient
/ IRE advancing coumne. Wood, calm and rigid,
sat HE horse for time surveying the hill He
for Colonel Post, OF toe Seventy fourth Illinois Acting
Brgsdier Post, young, brave snd cnvaous, dash
| ing up.
"WeIl, Post" said Wood, "what do you think Of that
| hill; you take ~"
| "yes, General" was bis reply