Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-29


io1h instant IRON which we cot4he following:
THE REBEL POSITION en- FL ~ MORNING.
Hood had fallen back to strong pos. - ~; ,f, ,otin
on range of hills some six miles souL ~ -, SS
his right what is sometimes called the OSoo S Sus
completely covering the Franklin pike, by viii ~ hoS
and expected to retreat if compelled to do n pa
the lesson he had received the day previous 0uch
as to prepare him for retrograde movement nots.b
standing his belgerent qualities. At about hG.
dred yards in front of the color lines was weak line of
entertainments for skrmshers then some three hundred
yards to the line OF breasworks OF consldera
BILE strength which strongly defended by infantry and
artillery thus leaving space OF about four hundred yards
in front of the main hae, which was nearly level open
cornhed over which our men would have TO charge even
after they had secured the first line OF works. though
Hood believed himself capable OF holding them, as
the position was very commanding.
Being thus protected either flank the rebel General
confident that nothing but direct attack could be
possible and ample preparations had been made to meet It,
Lees corps posted the right Stuart held the cen
tire, and Cheaham the left and Hood enjolned them, as
learned from prisoners, not to yield an inch but rather
die in their tracks"
TIIoMAs's ORDER OF ATTACK.
Our forces moved out in the morning in the following
order:
Smiths corps the right and covering the Gran
. The Fourth Corps Immediately to the left the first div
In the centre the second the left and the third the
right The first division was commanded by Gen kimball,
the second by Gen Elliott and the third by Gen Beatty
These advanced on Franklin pke the first division resting
its left upon it.
with instructions TO gradually to the night and JOIN on
the Fourth Corps His command consisted OF the division of
Gen Cut and two bgades of coored troops the latter be-
ing on the extreme left.
a The Twenty third Corps under General schofed, was
placed III the right of Smith, 10 be brought into
use for thanking purposes.
The cavalry down the Marlborough pike, with
orders TO operate the range of hills to which have
ered aud if possible intercept the rebel retreat worry his
haqks.
At each step of advance heavy line Of skirmshers
thrown out pioneers and when these had reported
rpb
forward, which INDUCED in a few Shells when the skrm-
shers were again ordered La this way mile and
half of ground passed over until our lines had ad
vanced about half mile beyond the Thompson place,
which four and half miles from the city, when the rebel
skrmish line into full view, and definite information
to their general position began to be aainabe their
main works yet nVsbe, though their front line was
plainly seen. Here a halt was ordered.
FEELING THE ENEMY.
1t about ten O'clock and all the batteries that
could be advantageousy employed brought to the
'front.' and commenced Smelling the rebels with great vgor
which they continued to do for half hour The rear OF
the at this time deafening, and many
the guns at work that it continuous The rebels
piled but feeby but this not for lack of artillery
much desire to keep the exact position of most of their
guns concealed and to save ammunition Having ascer
tanned all that necessary the Twentythr Corps
ordered out the Granny White pike with directions to
take up position the left flank of the enemy, skrmish
with HIM until his position ascertaned, and them
fully concesng their strength remain quiet until certain
signals given, when they to go for the rebel left
Gen. Seedman pushed out upon the Murreesboro pike
till he satisfied that there rebels upon it, when
he brought his column to hslwheel and moved in the
direction of the Franklin road to turn Hoods right and
to form Woods Fourth Corps. At first he met little re-
sstance but he pressed the resistance strength
ened and BY the time ne had formed the Junction which
about "a o'clock in the afternoon he confronted
by strong force of Lees corps ready TO fight long and
stoutly as they could.
TERRIBLE FIGHTING,
While these thanking operations in progress it be-
necessary to capture the first line Of rebel works
and the chief part of the task fell upon the first division
the Fourth Corps though it supported by the others
far necessary The position, have before
stated very strong, and the Notifications themselves
were by means weak and the ground to be charged
over was accent Of at least ten degrees and though
mostly wood there only large trees which operated
| as very poor shelter for assalants
The men moved up in most gallant style; for whoever
heard of the Fourth Corps doing otherwise The shout
raised was loud and long; voley fired and then,
with bayonets fixed onward went the men, until
than half the space which they had to 90 passed.
when slight halt load, and another voey the pre-
Jude TO second yell and charge. The men halted no
more till within fifty yards of the rebel works, when the
deadly fire which met them caused them to halt and re-
turn it In This poston-both parties firing furiousy-
the belserens remained at least FIVE minutes section
Of artillery employed by the rebels could no longer be
used close the range and there indications
that the gunners we're about to attempt to them off,
when gallant determined IL secure them as tro.
phies and esssyed to the charge But the ter
rife storm of bullets too much again they ha ted and
few men-very few indeed, not than in ten
broke for the and the rebels raised shout of triumph
But this only maddened the assaants who now defed
them and rushed to the works The few who had com
menced to retreat, seeing this wheeled around and in
few moments at their posts; and, with
wild shout their standards planted the rebel
battemen and thoEe who had stouty held them fed in
confusion to the Did capture their guns That
the question asked myself after that the rebels
were flying and in moment1 answered by di.-
charge Of both pieces by men, who turned them upon
the fugyes
TIE MAIN LINE
The work having been accomplished with loss Of
about two hundred men, the main line Of the rebel works
was full in view and batteries were at once brought
his headquarters in commanding position to await the
reports of his subOrdnstes and take observation OF the
work to be done Up to this time right had done little
else hsn TO get into position and skrmsh with the rebels
but to the Fourth Corps another task assigned
Gen Beatty ordered to get possession of the r. bel
works the Franklin pike, if possible, so a to com
peely double up his nes and to end all possibility Of
treat and to accomplish this charge was made but il
failed This about two o'clock in the afternoon and
two batteries engaged in vigorous shelng,
and here and there sharpshooter fired his Enfield.
THE GRAND CHARGE.
But the time had come for the final grand charge
which 10 decide the fortunes of the day. Schofsd
and Seedman had reported that they in position and
ready and it three O'clock the signal was given
aud the ball opened The heroic of the Twenty third
Corps the first in action had been arranged and
the rebel left greeted with serious voey which
called out all their artillery and musketry that could be
brought to bear One battery, which had been concealed
not than three hundred yards from Thomas head
quarters, particularly vigorous 1t the Second