The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-12-17

and here and there sharp shooter
fred bis Enfield But the time had
came for the final,
GRAND CHARGE
which was TO decide the fortunes of the
day. Schofeld and Steedman had re-
ported that they were in position, and
ready; and as it was O clock, the sig
nal was given, and the ball opened.
The heroic men of the sd corps were
the first in action, as had been arranged,
and soon the rebel left was greeted with
furious volley, which called out all
their artillery and musketry that could
be brought to bear. One battery, which |
had been concealed not more than
three hundred yards .from Thomas
headquarters, was particularly vigorous.
It was the second Maryland (rebel),
and was evidently managed with the
greatest skill There were four pieces
in front, and so placed as to play either
upon Schofelds advancing columns, or
upon the headquarters of Gen. Thomas
and in this instance, two pieces were
pointed in each direction, and were
worked rapidly It was evident that
Schoiield was rapidly gaining ground,
when Smiths corps, which was lying at
right angles with it, was ordered for
ward, thus not only assailing the Mary
land battery, but two or three others,
in two directions, at once The strug
gle.was brief, but severe. The advance
Of our columns was irresistible Cheat:
ham s and Stewards corps, which had
to bear the brunt of the assault, were
no match for the veterans under Seho
field and Smith, though protected by
formidable works; and the time re-
quired to capture every cannon in the
hands of both these rebel Generals,
was just the time required for our men
to advance four hundred yards on the
double quick-perhaps about FIVE min
utes.
The rebel centre and left broke on
our approach, and did not succeed in
getting off single piece of artillery |
while the number of prisoners who fell |
into our hands was over 700, at this
point alone, and before the pursuit COM
menced.
While these things were in progress
on the right, and right centre, Steed-
man was making vigorous and sue
cessfUl charge on Lees corps-the rebel
right wing-wbile portion Of the
wearied 4th corps was rushing on in
the centre.
The commands of Schofeld and
smith push vigorously on, the one on
the right, and the other on the left of
the rebel line of entertainments, and |.
parallel to them, and it was surprising
with what swiftness the soldiers march
ed. As soon as / saw that the fortunes
of the day were decided in our favor
on our right l went down toward the
left, to observe what was going on there;
and for few minutes the battle field
was obscured from my view by fog and
smoke, and when once more in a clear
atmosphere, cast my eye down to
point where the rebels had been the
strongest, expecting to see a desperate
and bloody struggle. A flag was waving
in the distance, but l could not ascer-
tain whose it was bat observed that it
vas moving in direction to indicate
5hat the rebels were retreating. l has
.ened on until got a still clearer view,
when, to my establishment, it was the
Did Tag waving in triumph, the bearer
pushing on, and our men pouring yo'-
ey after yolley upon Cheatham's ana
Staart's retreating fugitives At this
all the reserves were brought
INTO action, and Whitaker's iron bri-
yade struck the only part in the rebel
line which had not yet been broken,
capturing four guns and four hundred
prisoners
From this time, the retreat Of
The rebels became 3 miscellaneous,
and di.orderly roak Hundreds Of
them threw down their arms, and
among them Brigadier
5eaerAl-Gensral Jackson. Our men
rushed on. They were resisted no longs
err; all they had TO do, was 10 pursue,
and they did this with the same viii,
and spirit that they had exhibited on
making the charge Theugh greatly
faagred, they rushed on heAdlong,
UP prisoners, by scores at ey-
cry rod of their progress.
Il was near shutdown, and left to re-
turn home; but l could he&r the re-
ports Of the cannon, and the shoots Of
our men, farther and farther of, indi-
dicating that the rebel fight was