Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1864-12-22
UNOFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE

UNOFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE BATTLE
NASHVILLE, (TENN,) DEC Is, 1864
Inc army commenced moving at daybreak to day with
Gen. stesdmans Corps on our left the Fourth Corps
next and then A. j. Smiths Corps. The cavalry force
moved to the right and the Twenty third Corps held
in reserve.
Very little except accommodating was doae until after
meridian, but at hapast twelve o'clock the order TO ad
vance was given and the whole column moved onward
The rebels evidently expected that Gen. Thomas would
attempt TO turn their left flank All the Indications would
Us to suppose this and they offered numerous induce
mens for to do and had carefully prepared their
| that quarter.
To keep up the deluson SteedHans command was or
dered to skrmsh heavily the rebel left flank and he
moved forward in the direction of the point which the
rebels believed were threatening.
While Steedman was maneuvering in this manner the
reDles were massDg on their left and coucentrat-
ing the Sixteenth and Twenty third Corps and Gen. Will
sous cavalry on our right
The result of this that when the buges sounded the
advance our right wing advanced rapidly betwesn the left
OF the rebels and the Cumberland river completely doub-
ling upon rebel division which the rebels had posted to
blockade the river battery taken here by for
ces and sent to the rear
The rebels had by this time perceived that our attack
on the right ein and Hood soon attempted to atone
for his mistake but he too late right had estab
lshea force on the main bank of the river, and
steadily advancing
The whole Twenty third Corps had taken position on
the extreme right while Smiths Corps executed half
rapidly Soon the hill where the rebels posted
taken with little loss and less difficulty In hour or so
the rebels had presented strong 'front.' our
for the moment was checked.
1t visible that The contest was about to com
mence Another diversion the left made to enable
our men on the right to get into position and strengthen
themselves so az 10 be ready for charge. In front of
the Fourth Corps and about mile beyond Ackn the
rebels had strong line of works. defended by heavy line
of skirmshers Gen. Wood ordered charge upon it, and
the word forward shouted by the division, brigade
nd imam
cson the eaped the breastwoks aud advanced
10 less than twenty minutes forces had possession of
the rebel works, and the banners OF the Fourth Corps
were planted on them.
Our men, flushed with victory, without orders pushed
forward and reached the second line of rebel works by
the at strenuous exeons and captured prisoners
which with those taken previously, amounted to
thousand.
The second line of rebel entertainments were now in
sight, located the verge of hill, mile from their
skrmish line. These entertainments built with great
skill, and time elapsed got in posi-
ton to advance upon them.
Our cavalry had advanced meanwhile until its right
rested the hills, miles beyond Nashville Moving
from the river they could without difficulty.
Instead OF facing to the west they now faced directly
south The Second Corps of Schofed and Smiths corps
were IN position directly parallel the left The Skin
mshers advanced 10 the Hisboroush pike shelter
ing themselves behind fenoeson the north side while the
Fourth Corps Was formed angles the front division
lying directly the Marlborough pike and the re-
mainder being to the left Of il.
While these movements going on, and our Ines
forming and batteries being placed the rebels could
be distinctly seen moving TO the Left towards Hsborough
with the view to prevent turning their right flank
As far could be ascetaned the entire rebel
thus thrown in front Of right and centre In the mean
time commanders sent reintocements equally strong
to posts menaced by the rebels.
At hspast three all ready for the charge On the &c
cond line of The rebel works The position was strong
to reach which forces had to ascend hills elevation
of fifteen degrees without any protection but the lines
were four columns deep with ample reserves Our forces
we're massed against the rebel lines and the veteran
columns hurled against the rebels with irresistible
force and at ten minutes before five NJ the charge
commenced The frat and second divisions of the Fourth
Corps moved west and the third division right angles
with it, moved south. On the right OF the Fourth Corps
the corps of A. j. Smith
The first and second divisions OF the Fourth Corps had
the hardest part of the talk to perform They had to
move in exposed position to the rebel works in their
'front.' aud these works were more formidable aud stronger
than those elsewhere.
Under heavy fire Of grape canister and musketry our
men moved steadily forward but owing to the rebels
firing high 1t mostly passed themotherwise the
slaughter would have been terrible. Some Of our men
killed. but the lat of casualties less than
pected.
After advancing within one hundred and fifty yards of
the rebel works their fire became very Our troops
wavered but with shout along the lines, and ring
ing along the Hsborough pike they again advanced and
almost Immediately upon the entertainments The
distance yet TO be passed did not exceed hundred
yards and renforcements in sight coming yet the
rebels eynced signs of retiring and discharged voey
after voey into ranks at distance OF twenty FIVE
yards few of our had reached the works and
usng the bayonet when Of the rebels fed fol
lowed by others ADD all broke and hsd in the widest
confusion -Four l2pounder Napoleon guns their
attempted to but they only succeeded getting
OF them of the field.
We secured three and two cassons with large
lot Of small arms. We also captured this charge about
four hundred pr Our in this charge did not
exceed one hundred killed and wounded
Smiths and hchOfed's corps had in the time a6-
vanced bali mile TO the south of the Marlborough pike
capturing there whole battery of six guns This makes
the total of artillery captured-fve guns being taken
the extreme left by the Fifteenth Ohtosmount TO eigh-
teen guns. Several battle flags we're sso taken. The
rebel loss ia killed and wounded s not less than six hun
dred, while ours is only about three hundred
The rebels have taken up another ne and may defend
it tomorrow If they do not retreat tonight
j.