Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-13
DAIEY9LEADERs
THE SITUATION IN -TRONT OF
NASHVILLE.
the Decreases Of the Cffy--The AP-
PearnDee Along the Frent--HOW the
Rebels fare this Cold Weather.

Rebels fare this Cold weather.
The correspondent of the Cincinnati
Commercial, under dAte of December 9th,
writes fiom Nashville: ears
To appreciate the situation, il may be
well to briefly restate the positions Of the
two armies, and their relative advantages.
Nashville is very delensible position
against force approaching it, IS Hood is
compelled to do, from the left bank of tho
Cumberland. The 1anks are protected by
the river. There is q succession of hills,
(about dozen in number,1 with gradual
sloping sides, extending in semi-circle,
from the river above the city, clear around
to the river below. On the upper side, at
the left Of our line, these hills are near the
city-perhsps mile from the center OF il.
Passing around toward the right their
distance from it increases 20 two, and then
to three miles. Outside of this range Of
hills there is a wide irregular, rolling val
ley, in which there is no eminence from
which artillery could do much execution,
or on which, at the present time, it would |
be safe to plant battery.
On the left and center,s this valley it |
mostly open ground, and from the summit |
of these hills we have full, plain view of |
the valley, and of all that transpires |
therein. On the right center, and es-
pecislly on the right, there is less open |
ground; but at this season of the year |
when the forests are stripped of their foli-
age, no movement Of large bodies of |
men could be made, in the daytime, with
in two miles Of the hills, without attract
ing attention, and having its object at
once detected.
Every point Of this iins uf hills is vu-ily
accessible from the city. There are ten
roads leading out from Nash
vile on the left bank of the river. They
are arranged like the spokes of a wheel
and come from right TO left, in the follow
ing manner: The Lebanon, the Muir
freesboro, the NolinsYile, the Franklin,
the Granny White, the Hillsboro the
Harding, the Charlotte, the Hyde's Ferry
ond the BuenR Vista. The two latter
running in a north-westerly direction,
soon strike and cross the river below;
while the others pass out between the
hills.
Our outer line of works begin at the
river above the city, runs up and down
suS Eluos II buooo ulllhy huA hCEOos Vic var
Ieys, clear around the river aga n, below.
The summit Of eAch hill is crowned with
B fort, or strong redoubt, well supplied
with artillery; and in each depression be-
.ween the hills d battery is planted, well
with esrthworks, SO as fully to
Command and rake every approach.
Our line is six or seven miles long. From
.he Capitol it can easily be traced by the
continuous line OF tents, and the smoke
from comfortable, blazing camp-fres, that
stretch around from the river above, to the
liver again, below the city.
Going out the front, dark line can be
discovered away out in the valley. There
ire no white tents along this line-no sign
If life excepting thin cloud of blue smoke
hat arises from behind it. Excepting at
me point, this line is far beyond the range
# ordinary field artillery, and for six days
{ has not been advanced an inch. At
me point near our center, the line sp-
,roaches much closer, so close that the
laked eye clearly observes the plan and
trength Of their works. No artillery is
Visible, but in q number of places their
works are prepared with embrssures for
uns-embrasures that military eye dis
overs at q glance are constructed, not for
stack, but for defense
Here, then, we have two armies The
condition of our men is not comfortable.
They have only tents to live in, and it is
n the dead Of winter. But so far as little |
anYas houses, good, warm clothing, with |
and blankets, and plenty 70 eat,
an make an army comfortable in such
,oathor, Ghoy comfortable.
pV4 yuhof aau hn uoid q horrN fha oorSfFiov, |
# the enemy? We know that g month
of shoes and blankets. They
certainly have not been supplied since. A
ong and arduous march has only increased
heir wants. They have no tents, and to-
lay, when
--"Dread Winter spreads his LATE tflosm,
Ind reiEnS tremen lous Ger the cong leIed years"
hey lie shiyering and honseless in the
renches, much more an object of pity than
# unessiness 10 our wel-fed and warmly
lad boys. sssll
1 am not one of thoss who think an in
erior army cannot fall back before, and
,scape from, superior one. have often
cen it done. 1t msy be very hazardous
ndertsking-militarys authorities 81 say
/
orned every time it has been attempted
n this war Hood might suddenly vanish
rom before Nashville, and before no could
be oyertaken and compelled to deliver
1attle, he might be south Of the Tennessee
liver. l. is not at all certsin that he could
10 this, but it is by no means an impcfsi-
bility.
But Hood hEs obstacles in the way of
movement greater even than
The presence of a superior army. The sol
liers from Kentucky and Tennessee have
been promised that they should occupy
md possess their native States, they have
been persuaded that Thomas was weak,
and unable te stand before them, and that
1t Franklin they gained splendid victory
oveF his entire army. Besides which, the
whole army has been promised Nashville
for wine quarters.