, 1864-12-20

"our buglcs Gang truce, for tho nlght-elouds had
lowered; "a. ~, x.,.,, }, ~. .zx.
Az MnH tonsards v an asni on thn trnnnd nycrnox
<4 cred.
What next? Perhaps tho guns Of Yestor-
day only played the prelude, introducing
more awful theme today, and the morning
1nny bring TO our cays
3The cannon'e opcninr roar."
Sounding
..ra.:o, c,c.rer dc.d,,.r th,, hs,,r.-
NeAto'' e''A4e.. .-.U---e 1c-1-e' ''A' o''o'''
,r,>. r-.,+x,ntt1c and V,etorv Mt yn.r,,
AEstseHG;rnnhic nnd Thrii1ine Ic-
counts OF lnst Fridays Battle.
ux,,.r, nJo,a.v H., ia -r,o <1ux.+,.
ss Gh.nnAI; .Is;d Jnso+f,t;s I'm hattde aaF ~
tiha 1GiS - 'A0 oN'''o ~
-0;n Ticra was a dense for 1t an early hnur
hnt i,,,a soon cleared nWay, and At 9'cIock
~ ,roro nh3s H. dafern,ine thn ennmv,s nosi.
lion During the nicht Of the 18Th Hond
witid, ew both his wings from the river. con
tracted Ills Lines every where, and was holding
a strong position along tho Granny White
Entertainments,
Our own troops were disposed In the follow
ing order: Wilson'S cavalry on the extreme
rjght, Schofleld's 23d corps, consisting OF
C0uch's and Cox's divisions. at first held in
reserve, but before the main battle opened
I,ad taken position on the left Of the cavalry,
thus forming the right. Our iniautry lines,
A. j, Smiths 10th corps, consisting of the d.
visions of Macarthur, Garrari and Moore.
came next on the left of Schof1cld. On the
left Of Smith, the magnificent 4th corps, T.
j. Wood, consisting Of the divisions Of Kim
b. bali Elliott and Samuel Beatty, was formed
Stedman, with Cruft's division and two brig
ndes Of colorcd troops, held the extreme
Icft,
Our plan Of battle was continuation Of
That Of the 18th, in pressing the advantage
gained on the cnemy's left.
;. At about half:past o'clock our batteries
opened from hundred pieces simultaneously
along the entire lines. The rebel artillery
replied feebly. schofeld, marching down the
Granny White pike, carefully c0nceallng his
strength, placed his corps directly upon the
enemy LETT flank. Stedman, at the same
time, worked his way forward. Tho enemy
in the meantime strengthened his advanced
line. This determined Wood to carry this
line without delay. In splendid order Kim
balls first division moved forward to the
charge, firing rolley alter Volley as they rush.
ed toward the rebel Works. A "1thering lire
Of musketry and canister made thcm WaVer
more than once, but still they pressed on,
until within lalf pistol shot, when the enc
my's fire became 50 deadly that our men, IN
order to return 1t more etfectualiy, came to
halt.
Longer, perhnps, than any troops ever re-
manned in such q position, they stood and
fired fast and furiou6ly at the enemy, but
they could not remain there and live. 4 few
gave way and fed in confusion. The whole.
line staggered, and had tho rebels done
nothing more than keep up their deadly fire,
we should have been driven back but they
made movement to shift their artillery,
which our men received us an Indication that
they we're about to abandon their line and
retire. Raising loud shout, the division,
with fixed bayonets, rushed impetuously for.
ward. and swarmlne over the works, captured
such rebels as Ind not fled. They had time
to rct nyay two guns. but tho rest fell into
our hands.
As soon rs this preliminary SUCCESS was
achievcd. Gen. Thon,as. who was seen ilnrInr
the div In the very front line Of the battle
ordered a charre along the entire line. Sim
fieid moved m T upou thc iisht flank T Of the etis3s
nv. and before lis yeteTans the rebels eays
WV ike frost.work. The nssaiicd flank
crrmbled to pieces as schofeld ADVANCED and
Was rolled back upon that portion Of The line
which i1,st now wis attacked by 4; j, Smith's
froons syitl, xeiyht and eners-v that moth.
ing could Withstand. McMillen's brigade was
f,femosf. and as on the nrey;ous dnv' rnsheI
r;rht m Ia thr very trefb Of Tires nnSe1fui
81 t.tosas ~ ~ a,s;oa ~ ~ .,iFt 49,