The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1864-12-21

following order: 0eneral aseeomans
corps occupied the left; the Fourth corps,
- q Wood, tie center; md General T. J.
Smith's corps the right. The cavalry
force was stationed ON the extreme right,
and the Twenty-third corps formed the
reserve. In spursuanee Of the plan Of
battle adopted at 4 council of war held
at General Thomas headquarters on the
previous day, General Stsedmau's com
nand made a heavy demonstration ON
the rebel right, and 80 completely
were they deceived that they massed
the main portion of their forces ct
that point. When the rebel LEFT had
been thus materially weakened, the
Fourth corps and General Smiths corps
assaulted it, and succeeded In doubling
mn 4 portion-one edivision-and compeu-
ing the whole line to fall back. Here
several pieces of artillery, constituting an
entire battery, were captured In the
meantime, however, on the federal LETT,
the only reverse Of the day had occurred,
if it be proper to use the word reverse.
The brigade under Colonel GrOsvener at.
tackled what proved to be strepg line OF
the enemy, and were, after a spirited
fight, compelled to retire. The rebels al
ter their disaster on the left, had fallen
back to strong line Of works. Cannon.
aiding was continued all the morning, and
at noon another advance was ordered.
"In twenty minutes" the dispatch says,
"our forces had possession Of the rebel
works." the enemy retreating to another
line. Upon the hills 80 suddenly de-
serted by the rebels, our batteries were
Immediately posted, and every inch OF
ground abandoned by them was instantly
occupied by our forces, who slowly. but
cautiously, advanced At o'clock, the
battle became general, our whole line
being engaged At 3o'clock, 3 the entire
federal line advanced against the rebel
position. The rebelle flank was turn
ed in remarkably short space of time,
and now the contest became fiercer than
at any time during the day-the rebels
making desperate efforts to recover the
ground they had lost; but finally the
whole line seemed to have become panic
stricken, and fell back in the utmost dis
order The pursuit of the flying columns
of the enemy was kept up until nightfall
large numbers of prisoners being cap
tured, and, as General Thomas has in
formed the public, the rebels were press
ed back distance of some eight miles
The first days fight was ended, and the
federal commander had secured possession
of the Hardin pike, one of the three lines
absolutely of vital importance to Hood
in securing his retreat. Two roads were
still left open to him, covered by his army,
and to obtain these another battle be-
came necessary.
On Friday, therefore, the rebels were
attacked in their new position; and Gen,
Thomas stirring dispatch conveys the
impression that not the slightest reverse
was suffered by our forces. The rebels
were everywhere driven, and at nightfall
their army broken in two. was retreat
ing in hot haste over the Granny White
and Franklin pike, the ground it had
abandoned being covered with the small
arms thrown away by the panic-stricken
foe. Forty-nine pieces of captured artil.
lery had arrived at Nashville, and over
five thousand prisoners. But, what is
better than all, we have the assurance,
from Gen. Thomas himself, that the pur.
suit of the enemy would be continued in
the morning Saturday., and we know,
from experience, the meaning of such O
statement from such commander
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