Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-01
DAILY LEADER.
From Gen, Thomas Army.
The Evacuation Of Pulaski and
Fighting About Columbia.
A VIEW OF THE SITUATION I!
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial ]
NASHVILLE, November 27.

NAEhNAAzAnsJ WV 0AAbOA = -
have Just returned from Columbis
which 1 left at o'clock yesterday after
moon. Our forces evacuated Pulaski OF
| Wednesday night, removing all stores, am
munition and supplies, leaving the empty
/ deserted town to the enemy. On Thurs
day night the advance If Hoods army
comprising about FIVE thousand infantry
took possession of the place. Forrest
cavalry moved on the fsuks of Hoods
army, and on Thursday afternoon becsm'
rather sharply engaged with Genera
Hatch, who commanded our cavalry OF
the right flank. Hatch had TO fall bacl
gradually so as to cover Columbia. In thu
afternoon the enemy drove back Colone
Cspron towards Meuat Pleasant, some
eleven miles southwest of Columbia, driv
in him through the town and back as fal
as Little Begly Creek, some four mile
west of Columbia.
Though Colonel CspTon was opposed BY
a much superior force, he kept them Al
bay long enough to allow our infantry tC
take possession of Columbia In so doing
| he lost several men and small squad
taken prisoners.
About 8 o'clock on Thursday morning,
our advance, under General Cox, Sd Di-
vision, 23d Army Corps, arrived in Colum-
bia, after rapid march of about thirty
miles, and Just in time to support Cspron's
brigade Of cavalry, which, being over
powered and fatig ued in trying to resist q
much larger force, was falling back on the
town. General Cox Immediately deploJed
his skirmisheTs right and left of the Mount
Pleasant Pike, checking the advance of
the enemy. Woods division Of the 4th
Corps soon came up and formed on Cox's
left, about mile in front Of the town,
while the rest Of the troops took up pO-
sitiOn between the town and Duck River.
The right of our advance line WIS
swung round, in kind of seni-circle, to
within about a mile Of the river, thus
placing the town within our advance and
rear lines. There was some slight skir-
snishing along the lines on Friday, Early
On Saturday morning the enemy's dis
mounted cavalry vigorously attacked our
position. They first dashed on Cox s
front, extending the attack to Woods and
succeeded in driving in our pickets at some
points, but were steadily met by our heavy
skirInish line.
They next opened several batteries in
our front, throwing some shells over our
line into the town. We replied, and q
sharp artillery fire ensued, which continued,
with occasional Interruptions, all day. Our
line crossed tho Mount Pleasant and Pu-
lssi Pixies, for which the enemy skirmish-
ed hard all day.
Toward night Forrest hod swung con-
siderably to our right, and crossed over a
large force with the evident intention of
sweeping on our rear and cutting the
Nashville and Decstur line near Franklin.
As the Cumberland river is swollen to nine
feet over the shoals, he could not possibly
ford it to operate On the Louisville line
This move might compel US to mako cor
responding movement in order to cover our
flank and rear We have by this lime, 1
expect, fallen back behind Duck River,
leaving the river to cover our front. When
leaving Columbia, last night, the sick and
wounded, and surplus stores were being
cent back TO Nashville. From this in
ferred that we were about falling back be-
tween Duck River and Franklin.
Our loss in killed and wounded during
the three days skirmishing would not
much exceed one hundred. Captain
Green, of the 49th Ohio, was mortally
wounded. From all the information [
could CLEAN, 1 think that Hoods main
army IS moving round to our left, east Of
Nashville. If so, he is marching along
the pike toward Lynchburg, with the in
tention of striking the Chattanooga line
st Wartrace or Tullahoma, and perhaps
send column as far as Bridgeport 70 burn
the bridges acrcss the Tennessee; thence
move through Eastern Tennessee by Nc
Minnville, and form a junction with
Breckinridge between Knoxville and Gum
berlsnd Gap. The joint rebel army could
then strike through the richest part Of
Eastern Tennessee, with Kentucl 3 sup
plying his army both in men and supplies.
In doing this he must cut loose from his
base, which is at Florence. His supplies
are said to be so reduced that he would not
suffer much on that account; besi les, he
would be operating in q rich country on
which he could well subsist. Having form
ed a junction with Breckinridge, b might
strike through Western Virginia, or fall
back Toward Alabama. This is all coojec-
tuve. His movements have been so uncer-
tain that we can not come to any definite
conclusion.
My own impression is that his cavalry
is operating extensively on our flank, in
order to Keep Thomas army scattered,
while he is keeping his main force we'll in
hand SO IS to pounce on some point.
This maneuVering will force Thomas to
give up many important points in order to
concentrate his army. hood has pretty
large army, and both for the moral effect
Of il and as set-of to Sherman's move
ments, he must do something. In this case
We will have battle most lihely between
Sbelbyville and Murfreesboro.
In evacuating Pulaski and Huntsville we
removed all Government and private stores
leaving nothingo importance in the hands
of the rebels. Most Of the inhsbitsnts
lett the plaza, but several remained, know
ing that they would find friends and rel
atives TO protect them, in the rebel army.
Ameng these who fed we're large
number Of contrabands, including old wo-
me1i and children.
There is no alarm or scare here. The
fullest confidence is felt in Thomas
Though apparently quiet, he is not inactive.
He is maturing his plans, and abb Ling his
time.
No one here believes that Hood would
be mad enough to attack Nashville or
Murfresboro. This is the very thing we
wish him to do.
General Schofeld IS in commsnl of the
forces in the field. General L snley is
commanding the 4th Corps,
a united States senator Gets Duck.