The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-12-24

making to arrest him at some unmentiona-
Die point, &c, Gc.-the collection would not
only be read with amusement, but would
serve to throw light on rebel resources and
Ienel rhetoric generally. The proclama-
Mons nred at Gen. s. by Governor Brown
alone would have sufficed to annihilate his
whole army II proclamations were cart
ridges and contained bullets. The calling
out en- mGsse Of the militia and reserves Of
Georgia and South CarOlina-the summon
ing OF Alabama to the aid OF her northerly
sisten-tbe spirits called from all manner
81 Vastly deeps-surely, something should
nave been realized from ali these devices
that should have suificed to arrest Sher-
mans march for at least day. It seems,
however. that slaveholding gasconade is to
ne taken with even more than the average
discount, though those who fire proclama-
lions IN voileys are seldom expected to
discharge more substantial missiles.
The result of Hoods Lacquer of Nash
viile appears even more disastrous than
the issue OF that warriors usual undertake
ings. We cannot doubt that Gen. Sherman
when he parted from Gen. Thomas, direct.
ed nim TO lure Rood's army so far north,
and Keep 1t across the Tennessee river so
long, az possible. Sti|, the audacity OF
laying siege to fortified city or depot like
Nashville, with an army inferior at least
numerically, to that Of its defenders. and
Ake Thomas, has had no parallel since Lee
with less than 50, 600 men, held McClellan's
1OO,OO spell-bound in front of Washington,
overlapping our mighty host on both wings.
With Buel at the head of our forces in Ten.
nessee, Hood might safely have passed
Nashville and invaded Kentucky; but
with Thomas in command, he could pru-
IDENTIFY do nothing but get ont of the neigh
borhood at the earliest moment. This he
was doubtless on the point of doing, il the
movement had not already begun, when
Gen. Thomas decided to force battle, and
thoreupOn made the movement. whose re-
suit now electrities the country.
Until Hoods account of the fight at
Franklin was received, there was pretext
for doubt or cavil as 20 the reality Of our
success there; but We see not how there
can be any longer. Our army was retreat-
ing to concentrate, and, being sharply
pressed, was compelled to fight or abandon
its trains. Schotield decided to tight, fully
aware of the eremy's superiority in num-
bers, but trusting to the position to enable
him to check the Rebel advance until his
trains could be safely got away. And the
calculation proved = sound one. Though
his center was once broken by the great
momentum and vehemence Of the Rebel
charge, it was reformed and the lost ground
regained in counter charge which gave
US nearly thousand prisoners. On this
point, Hoods report is uncandid; but, as
he does not claim TO have captured gun
nor wagon, and admits q loss Of 8, SOC
men, including Maj. Gen. Cleburne and
three Brigadiers killed, with as many
wounded or captured, 1t is clear that Scho-
fields account Is the true one. The Rebels
were repulsed with fearful loss, and our
retreat during the following night was pre-
cisely what Schotield had purposed. He
had not proposed with two corps to fight a
pitched battle with the whole Rebel army;
he meant to stop it till he got his trains
away; and that he achieved, inflicting q
loss at least twice as heavy as he incurred.
The Rebels had no officer out of Virginia
SO effective in a fight as Pet. Cleburne, and
his loss cannot we'll be repaired.
On the whole, it seems plain that the
Rebels are decidedly over-matched, and
are going rapidly to the wall. II more sol.
diers are needed to make q speedy end Of
the war, we trust the President will no,
hesitate to call for them promptly and
frankly. With 1000 more men in oul
armies, the 4th Of March next should see
Mr.. Lincoln inaugurated President OF .
nation reunited and at peace.-NeU YorA
Tribune.