Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-12-09
PrObabls Strength of the Rebels.


Ger, we have been furnished with SON,
interesting details of The movements o
the armies south Of Nashville, and 0
the recent desperate battle at Franklin
Tennessee. On Saturday, the 18th o
November, the rebel army was concen
trated az Florence, Ala, sn the Tsnnes.
see river, and preparations we're mads
for an advance and hostile demoussra
tioa upon our lines Gen. Hatch. who
had ssroAely picketed the entire front
intercepted despatch from Gen. Hood
directing Forrest to have his command
prepare foar days rations, aud 10 be
ready 70 move forward on Monday. The
weather about this time was very In.
element, aud the roads we're barely PAS
sable The trains foandsred in the
mud, and to move them repaired la-
bored effort
On Tuesday Gen Thomas received
information that ths rebel columns were
IN motion, aud on Wednesday he started
with bis own army for Columbia Hood
vas nos eneumbered sith heavy trains.
consequently his march was more rapid
tban that Of Thomas Both armies we're
moving Northward from different bases
+ IN concentrating lines, Columbia being
+ the objective point The rebels had
further to travel, bat their march was
/ more rapid than ours. Colonel Captesl' >
cavalry brigade was hurried forward By
Gen. Thomas to occupy Columbia On
Thursday, Gen. Cox, With the second d.
vision Of The 23d army corps, leading our
infantry advance, arrived near Colnmbia
and found Capron hotly engaged With
sAs advance rebel column. Oar cavalry
foughs gallantIy, bat we're outuumbered.
and, 0eisw siowly driven BIZ the enemy.
/ Cox charged forward With bis division
aud drove the rebels back. He arrived
az a tune most opPortuue, for he turned
j the tide 0f Affairs and defeated the plans
OF the enemy II the rebels had sue
/ eeedsd 10 capturing the town, our army
would have had 10 accaps battle under
great disadvantages, aud ChickamaagA
would base been acted ovsr again. per.
haps, with more damaging result.
/ Thomas arrived At Columbia during the
day Sith bis trains and army, aud 10.
tTenehed himself, Cox taxing p0ait.on on
( ihe right On the afternoon Of the same
day, an inner line Of works was con-
siruetsd, and, on Friday night, ell Of the
army, except Woods division, ret red
behind this line. Wood, assisted by
/ Hsndersou's brigade, held the outer
works until Sunday night, when the en-.
tire army Withdrew and took position on
the opposite bank Of Duck river The
troops we're engaged on Monday in
throwing ap new line Of Notifications
Tuesday evening another retreat was de
iermined upon. Wagners division oi
the 4th corps, led the advance. Hood
discovered our movement and soon biz
columns were in motion Cleburns
pashsd rapidly forward, in hopes
Of interceptiug as at Spring Hill
Wagner and Cleburps came in
| sight OF the town nearly al the same
time. A sharp 6gbt ensued, ia which th,
re6elswere repalsed During the mig ght she
two arnies concentrated ia the vieinity
Of Spring bill. Hoods columns wers
more compact than our own, and the ad-
vantage OF position was evidently in his
favor, as be bad mis- army massed and ia
b@ttle-iine, while our divisions we're vel
on the road Ii looks as If a crisis wa
AZ hand The situation was deeply in
terestirg, and battle was thought to b
imminent Oar troops were deployed
IN line as fast as they arrived Between
5 aud clock Wood aud Kimball. with
their respective divisions Of the 4th (Gen
StAnley'sl Corps, moved up the Frank
iln pike IN the immediate front Of ID,
rebel sattle-line, and NOT more than foul
/ hundred yards from their position. Ths
rebels cred upon them with muskesry a.
they passed, but did not offer to attael
them. The Conduct Of Hood seems in
explieAble. He was master Of the sita.
ations yet be did not avail himself Of ths
advantage. IL an attack had been mad,
as soon IS the rebel army vas massed,
. the fortunes of the dAy woald have been
against rs He might have checked as
whipping each division in detail as i
arrived, and was thrown into position
as soon az the rear Of our army had ar
rived, and the concentration was CON
plete, the retreat again was commenced
Cox, Of the 23d Corps, took the advance
marching for Franklin. The wagon auc
artillery trains followed close upon BIZ
rear. Wagner remained AZ Spring Hill
TO present q front to ttse enemy and Dol;
them in check. Our train was ten mile
long aad on the march was greatly ex
posed In the retreat oar army va
necessarily much scattered, aud if Hoo.
bad been on The alert, be might have se
cured another advantage Early thl
next morning Gen. Coz occupied Frank
lin, and during the day the entire arm
arrived and was massed, with both fAnk
resting upon the river. 4 line Of forti
heations vas thrown up. stretching semi
ciTcle-hke around the town.
The trains we're started across The
river, the movement covered by Wood
division. The army remained in posi-
ton, kimoall on the right, Ruzer in ID,
centre, and Cox on the left Gen. waq
nsr held an advanced line IN front of "a
main position. The enemy's eavsIr
crossed Harpeth river on both of on
haaks, but was sharply engaged bY vii
con aud driven back About half-past
clock IN the afternoon, Hood began t.
manure hrs command as if intendinl
70 make 3 hostile Gsuouslr~tion- Il
the mea ntiue, Gen Thomas had Pre-
. ceeGf to Nashville, ss il vas no
J dreamed that the rebels would attack Us
Tie battle % as vas unexpected, but nc
. 9 surPriss. Oar battle has vas about