The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-24
A GREAT BATTLE.

How many, in civil lite, understand what
great battle isP They have dim ideas of its
being rapidly shifting panorama, in which
blood, and agony, and strife, and thunder, and
confusion are inextricably blended. But they
cannot conceive its details They do not pic
ture to themselves correctly the parts which
make up the whole. The reports of war cor
respondents, although they give singularly
correct information and graphic descriptions,
give but a very feeble idea of what battle is
In reading them we too often regard them as
mere list of casualties, and omit to attach
intelligent ideas to the words.
As a sample of what battle Is take the late
struggle between THOMAS and HOOP. The
Nashville Union gives detailed account of
its progress. From it we learn that Genera!
THOMAS order of attack was as iollows:-
"l. A. j. Smith Corps on the right, and cover
irg ihs Granny White pike.
-. The 4th Corps Immediately to the left the
LIST Division in the centre the I'd on the left, and
the Sd on the right. The LIST Division was com
| munded by General Kimbal the ID by General
Elliott, aud the 30 by General Beatty These ad-
VaLced on FranklinP ike, the LIST Division resting
| its left upon IT,.
| "3. steadman's Corps moved out the Murfr ees-
| boro nike With instructions to gradually IN owe
| to the right and j1n on the 4th Corps. His COM
mand consisted Of the division Of General Cruit
| and TWO brigades of colOred troops, the .,
being on the extreme left. - --0 i'''Si
al. The 23u Corps, unra 60, s.,.-e-,,
was placed in reserve oar I OGnoiat S,s SonUuoiu
! Oo ,S " Tss sa' s'sssLse for thanking purposes
! nuo ~ cavalry were sent down the Hillsboro
! - with orders TO operate on the range of hills
to which have referred, and ifpossible intercept
! the Rebel retreat or worry his hanks.
cat each step of our advance a heavy line of
skirmishers was thrown out, as pioneers, and
when these had reported all clear, OF driven the
Rebels back, batteries were pushed forward,
which INDUCED in few shells, when the skir-
misheTs were again ordered on, In this way a
mile and a half OF ground was passed over until
our liuCs had advanced about half a mile beyond
the Thompson place, which Is four and haf
| nj es from the city, when the Rebel skirmish
line came into full view aud definite in form ,tion
rs 10 their general position began to be Attainable
their main works were yet invisible, though their
| front line was plainly seen. Here a halt was
ordered.
In describing the carrying of the first line
Of works the shout raised by the 4th Corps is
| represented as having been loud and long.
cone YOlley," says tue account, "was fired and
then with bayOnets fixed onward went the men,
until more Than half the space over which they
had TO go was passed, when a slight halt load
and another YOlley was the prelude 10 a second
yell and charge. The men halted no more till
deadly fire which met them caused them 20 halt
and relnIn IL. In this posiiOn-bOIh parties
firing furiOusy-the bglligerents remained at
least five minutes. section VI artillery
employed by the Rebels could no longer
DC used, so close was the range, and there
were indications that the gunners were about to
attempt 10 move them off, when our gallant men
determined 20 secure them as trophies, and once
mere essayed 10 the charge. But the terrific
storm OF bullets was too much again they halted,
and a few men-Very few indeed, not more than
one in ten-brOke for the rear; and the Rebels
raised shout Of triumph. But this only mad
dened the aSsailants, who now defed them and
rushed up 10 the works. The few who had com
menced 70 retreat seeing this, wheeled around,
and in few moments were once more in their
posts; and with one wild shout their standards
were planted on the Rebel battlements, and those
who had so stoutly held them fed in confusion 10
the rear"
The ensuing passage viii give some idea of
the breakneck fight Of the Rebels -
"From this time the retreat of the Rebels
became miscellaneous and disorderly rOut
Hundreds Of them threw down their arms and
surrendered, among them a brigadier- general
General Jackson. Our men rushed on. They
were resisted no longer; all they had TO do was
70 pursue and they did this with the same will
charge. Though greatly fatigued, they rushed
on headlong, gathering up prisoners by scores at
every rod OF their progress"
When II has facts to work upon, imagina-
tion can do much in picturing viyidly war
scene. The battle between HOOP and
THOMAS was great one. The more truth
ful are our conceptions Of the scenes amid
which victory is won, the more truly viii we
honor those who help to win it,