The New York herald., 1864-12-05

silently awaiting the appearance OF TIA enemy From
the woods in which their dispositions had been made the
rebel line soon after appeared the skrmshers appearing
from our position the fort like q flock OF birds
rising from neld Our skirmshers fell oack slowly on
the line and became swallowed up it. The line
Of rebel infantry followed that Of the skirmishers
and sharpshooters and did the sharp but desul.
tory nre with which our line had received the
sklrmshers was changed In an instant TO q
rapid discharge along the whole lipe From end Of
the line TO the other the fame OF are flashed for
moment uliy and then the white smoke OF the burnt
powder enveoped the plain and hid the enemy from
view. II was only for q moment. II drfted away to
reveal the long line Of gray coats steadily advancing
pouring into line fire less rapid and continuous
but far loss destructive than They pressed
with loud cheers to within few hundred feet Of
ne continuing their Gre aud receiving with much
rmress; but at last human nature gave way, and the
first line Of rebels turned and fed behind the second,
which came forward in not less handsome style than
the n+sy had done TIE fght,ug continued thus for
half hour more when attention directed to the
centre q the field BY the evident preparations making
the part of the rebos to make still desperate
charge Their firing ceased for time Amid the nre
nxcd bayone,s. the command advanced at
e"charee bayoues' and made desh upon Wagpers
part os the army Colonel Riley comm andine brigade
OF the twenty third corps upon his eft and these
Two Thus formed the centre Of our Ire The assaul, Of
the rest their troops engaging In the rapid discharge Of
muskctry witch served 70 attract the attention OF
wings 1hrs theahams whole corps, led in ccie
ioq, by div sons. ard supported by Iees corps
thrown upon these two small eripaies But nobiy hey
stood TO their work The irst line was crumblsd and
br ken, and lehurne their leader left dead the
field. 1he second line OF Cheatham advanced not less
boldly, and even nearer. Ono OF Their leaders, General
Adams, fell under the very shadow Of breastw
But IN vain the desperate struggle Not until the
the assault did Riley and Wagner give way. Then the
charge imfetuous the exhaustion OF our men
great, that the centre was broken lhe two DrTades
swung wide apart as you have seen huge gates swung
opcu Ia this case they swung o9cn 70 reveal Opdykes
brigade serve.
1t .ured but moment for General Stanley TO give
the order and this gallant brigade pushed forward iu
counter charge to retrieve the disaster and the day.
.Opdyke want that line restored" cried Stanley.
"Concuie II done Genera'' was the promp reply.
The rebels OF lee were now within our works. yelling
like demons aud In the OF partial success
what ip disorder. wsgpers on their ieit, md
Rey's their right continued Ia upon their TANKS
an effective muskery nre ard soon after few pieces
Of artillery wefc brought TO bear upou them Their
confession sas increased, and when Colonel Opdyke
charged randiy upon them tho rebels turned 10 still
greater confusion and ned, leaving large number OF
wounded aud not less than seven battle Tags Colonel
opdyke possession The enemy thus hurled umul,uousy
back aud retired In confusion to the woods whore We
continued to shcl them while they were reforming their
lines.
During this time tho guns IN tho fort from which Gene
raj Schoied directed The Gaht, continued to IRE upon The
the ext The PLAIN before us ared with the fire
the contendng lines while the dusE or evening, which
now rapidly sestlfng the scene. lighted
by the great flames which nged the bastion from which
viewed the spocac'e
The enemy did not abandon the attack. His lines re-
formed soon again made their appeararce and engaged
Us; but for the remainder OF the day the purp1ee
OF tho rebel commander did not appear 10
bo well defined HIS nrst failure appeared 10 crDroupd
Hood and in pushing forward again TO other attacks he
did not appear TO concentrate his efforts against any part
OF the line but regarded 1t all as f hoping to crush
by main strength. All the afternoon the battle ragged
aud extended Far into the night, illustrated by decde Of
daring cannot now relate and ending IN the complete
repulse OF the enemy
wagner apd Riley succeeded in rallyng their brigades
aud reforming them Ia line assio aud they d'd admirable
service through the OF the 0ay they bad done
before The latter brigade is reported TO have captured
eight Hags from the enemy three % them having been
taken Tor tho troops were rallied.
When the rebels were charged by Colonel 0pdyke
vey desperate hand TO hand conflict oak place between
his brigade and the second lac or Lees corps which
was advanced TO mold tho captured works; but 80 i'm
pctuous was the charge Il these galsDi men that the
our hands.
General stanley, commanding the Fourth oorps, WAS
wounded whle leading Opdtkos brigade tn this charge
Al time no moeed With the rebel troops ms IL
part OF them nd his escape from death capture s
mrAce. Ills wound Is seveIe-painiu--but not dap
ous. le commauded the corrs In the retirement from
noop RRsuxEs MS FLAMING MOVEMENTS
Tho enemy finding all attempts carry our position IN
vain, returned 70 his former manuuyres aud connned
his naekug operations. General wilson, protecting our
1nk during he day, had prevented The rebel cavalry
from crossing heryar; bui lcw hours after rignifhl
he reported ,ue rebel infantry preparing aud
tauk our position ne trains now bang R over toe
river aod we on their way to Nashville, General scho
nell ordered me retirement o tho army, ami by
O'Clock at nisht tho retreat g Nashytc hid botun ms
aiternoon as write, The corps arc gong posi
ion rear ths city conscious and proud Of Tie victory
they baye
toeswl
Tho enemy h0s lost heayhv suppose four Thousand
AZ 10 SIT. Mbe We have not cs lhan cghtean hattie fags
aud oihcr trophies inuumerlbe. I hear II 20 ctptuud
artillery OR losses amornt 20 peYhlps ore thousand
two hundred killed aud wounded The tt,ter
sac tue hospitals bere. 1hero Eastern III.
amoeg q en- stve few cava y men VI tho seventh a0i
FhtecaM ienusylSanA cavalry regiments, ! W.T. 'or
wWd their names tomorrow. AIn1tg flo officers On.
kHca and Nounfed.--
Brisadier General Bradley, wounded,
Colo0el obehr, 36tb illaos, kiicf
lieut., Rurdick, I'D Ono battery. Killed,
Captain Coulghu, toxe stan st1ed,
Captain sdovilc.lSth OHIO Hrtpe.y wcusHrf,
captain Wssen ~ hndI nl, kthcL
- Sielsy, l2!tn Indiana, sl'ei.
ficutrn tiit nlNnel ~tcthtnn I'D fln1ia woua dod
M9 > Jaacs, g2i Illinois, wounded.
tsut4ln llunlDr i2Jfh iOdtapr Wounded
lirultldut ". kmbeb. t0s,n Ohio k,lai