New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-02

under General Cox I'd Division. ed Army Corps. AZ
rived in Columbia aer rapid march OF about thirty
rrilcs and Just in tine TO support CapIons brigade oil
cavalry, which, being overpowered and atgued IN try
ing resist much larger force wac ia'ing hack on
the town. General Cox Immediately teEoyed BIS skr
mishers right and left OF tic Mount pieosant Pie
checking the advance o. the enemy. Woods division
Of the 4th Corps came mp and formed on Co.'s iei
abou! mile in front If the town. while the resi- OF the
troops took up position between he Town ahd bcek
River
The right OF our advance line was swunf round ~
kind Of mcirole TO within about nile OF the r'er'
thus placing the town within our advance and rear
lines. There some slight diminishing along the
lines on Friday. Early Saturday morning the enc
mys dsmouned cavalry vigorously attacked our posi-
ton They first dashed CoAs front, extending the
attack 10 Woods and succeeded in dryiI; in urrek-
e,s OF points bat were s'eady net 2! our LeH'!
They next opened several batteries in our front
throwing some shells line into tie town. We
replied and sharp artillery FIRE ensuec. which con
tnued with occasional interruptions al day oar rue
crossed the MoaIt Pleasant and Pulaski Tlkes' ior
which the enemy skirmished hard oil day.
Toward night Forrest had swung CONSIDERABLY 10 our
right and crossed large force with the evient
intention OF sweeping on our rear ana 'nItihs .e
land River is swoen,to nine feet over The shoals ;r
could possibly ford il 10 operate on the Louisville
line. This move might compel US 10 make a solrespohd
We have by this time, expect, fallen back behind
Duck River, leaving the river 10 cover our hoh'
When leaving Columbia, last night the sicE OF"
VILE From this inferred that We were about 'hi -
back between Duck River and frdnklIn.
Our loss In killed and wounded during the three da
diminishing would not much exceed one hDndi .
Capt Green " the 49th Ohio. was inortaly woundr
From all the information l could CLEAN. i think Is.
Hoods main army is moving rouna 70 orr iei,, eas.
Nashville II 50, be IL marching along the PIKE to" c
IynchhuTg with the intention OF striking the Cbni'
noosa line at Wartraeo or Iuiiahomn, and, perm
send column as far as Bridgeport to burn tie 6ria
across the Tennessee; thence move through Last .
Tennessee by McNnnyil.e, and form Junction " ,
eckinridgc between Knoxville and Cumberland q -.
The Joint Rebel army could then strike through lie
richest part of Eastern Tennessee. with kentucky sup
plying Lis army both in men and supplies:
In doing this be mast cnt loose nom his base when
is at Florence His supplies ar said 10 DO so redcG
that be would not suffer much on that account besides
he would be operating IN rich country on which he
could well subsist. Having formed Junction WIN
Breckenridge, he might strike through Western var
GINA or fall back toward Alabama This Is oil conjec-
ture. His movements have been so uncertain tia; we
cannot come 10 any definite conclusion.
NV own impression IL tina. his cavalry Is operating
extensively on our flank. IN order 70 keep Thomas,
army scattered while he Is keeping his main force well
III hand % "a 10 pOnrce on some point.
This maneuycring Ill force Thomas 10 give up many
.mportant points Ia order 10 concentrate his army.
Hood has pretty large army and both for the moral
effect Of il aud set0fi 70 shcrmans movements lie
must DO something In this case we WI have hatte'
in eyacuAiing Pulaski and Huntsville We removed al
Government and private stores leaving nothing Of i'm
poI,anoe IN the hands Of the Rebels. Most Of tie In
habants cf the place but several remained. knowing
ful well taat they would find friends and relatives To
protect them in the Rebel army.
Apong those who fed were large number OF con
trabands including old women and children.
They had a confGband camp near Coumb,. vita at
least 800 Of these ipeIant southern chaitels Ihcse
poor wTeches sssu cd much frightened q, the idea o!
being fotaken.
How much are you WORTH said 70 one stout stall
waT fellow. who had lately leeD slave.
why, Llassa," said he. scratching his head. 81
guess I'm worth nothing. now. You zee there vas
money lost this ere Niger. The old nassa Prank
lin paid one orsand dollars Tor and then tried 10
sell me but I'd fetch nothing. - was thrown away
There il no alarm or here. Tho fllesi comb
dence Is icli in Thomas. Though apparently luici nc
/. rot inactive He is maturing bis plans aud abiding
his time. ,.,
No one here believes that Hood would be md enough
10 attack Nashy lie AurlrecsboIough. Ihs - 'he
very thing we wish him 10 do.
Gen schoicld il In command Of tho forces - TIC
field. Gen. Henley Is commanding the Fourth COPS
H. A