, 1864-12-18

Just Before the Dnstle-T1le Situation
-RrcIlmluary Movements.

From tho Louisville Journal, Dec Isl
Gcn. Lyon is enforcing the rebrl conscrip-
ton law TO the very letter. In Hopkinsvillc,
all the nbtc-budtcd citizens liable to military
duty were arrested, placed under guard, and
forced to accept position in the rebel ranks.
Great excitement exists in the southern part
Of the State, and the citizens are fleeing from
home in the widest terror. General McCook
is pressing the rebel raiders closely, aud he
will soon expe1 them from the country. II
Lyon offers Battle, he will receive decent
d1ubbing for his presumption.
Important events arc on the eve OF trans.
piring at our front around Nashville. II is be-
licved that Gen. Thomas will move out and
attack the enemy to-day, aud that desper-
ute and bloody battle will be fought. The
slaughter on both sides will be terrible, yet
we entertain no fears 1og tue result. General
army under lis command, and lie will handle
it with great ability. Hc Is u well-tried aud
faithful officer. and Is stranger to defeat and
failure. lIe has concentrated his command.
and every preparation has been made for bat
tie. The hospitals Of Louisville have been
cleared, and they orc IN a state ofleadiness
fir the reception Of the wounded. Hood Is
also preparing for battle, aud he will fight
with desperation. Results ct gigantic impor-
tancc hnng upon tue ISSUE The struggle will
bc for the possession Of Tennessee and Ken
lucky. Thomas is strong, and will drive the
h.
being carried ont in East Tennessee. Brcck-
inridgc has escaped frum BurbridSc front, and
Is now In position to cooperate with Hood.
General Stoncman, ! few days ago, advanced
from Knoxville to Bean Station, Concentrated
his forces with thosc under Burbridge, and
with the entire expedition, is moving toward
Virginia. When last heard from, he was at
Rodgerville. II is possible that he meditates
an extensive raid, Just where, We cannot con-
lecture. It is our impression that he could
render far more assistance to the Union cause
by abandoumga wild goose chase (if such Is
! rcar of the rebel army confronting Nashville.
| From the Nashville Union, Dec. III
| The ground yesterday morning was covered
| BY thick slcet, which rendered any locomo-
tion, outside Of leaten paths, not only I'M
| practicable. but utterly Impossible, but the
! warm south wind and the sunshine so far
/ sotteued the icy coating that by noon It had
1nai1ed; and In the roads where there Ind
been considerable travel, only q slushy mud
was to b. found
During the prevalence Of the Ice no move;
ment could be made, and the men remained
the state Of the atmosphere and Of the day
preceding, WAS great relief to the soldiers,
aud they appeared to enjoy themselves finely.
About neon some accommodating com.
Menccd, but the chief part occurred on the
Jeff, IN front Of General Strdman's command
On the night before, TN OF twelve desertcrS
enu C.. -.,..,v.e naa pecn received ut denSra
Grntts headquarters, nni they reported hr. ,na .a
Hood was stsll in our from. in ,,,. "''s LIN
hts l'nes had been greatly CONTRACTED md .
little retired. sso "'o
The u.;rc intelligent Of these concurrrd in
1errescnttrG that Hoods right rested On tl,t
N'lenssiltc rike, md his lei on the Hardin
i ruaa: and that to the right and left Of these
there were only weak skismtsh lines,
This story appeared to be eorroboratcd b5
observation Of the cAu1r fires, there being b,ii
few except between the two roads named, anG
none TO the east Of the railroad, though f..
p!ckcts cuIid be seen at their usual places
On the right II appears that the rebels have
abandoned their first line Of works entirely
aud yesterday partict In searel, Of wood wen1
10 sonc distanrc to the 1enF Of them uulnt
Tested while in the center strong fout Was
presented.
On our left, Col. Mulloy, at the head Of 0
fcrce attarhed to Gen Cruft's division, to-
gcther with several regiments Of co!o.e1
troops, advanced soon after noon. and drov1
III the rebel skirnlsh lines, which offered ycrs
little resistance. The force thus employed
and the regiments engaged, We suppress, that
the rebels m0y obtain no information that
would be Of value to.them, for whatever otllc.
journals may do, We do not choose to give
did and co1l1urt to the enemy In the smallest
say nothing about the movements of our cav.
airy IN our yesterday Issue, but M account
| Of which some 0f our contemporaries Were In
discreet enough to publish.
The Reconnaissance made an advance, slowly
driving the rebel skiErntshers back, until near
| sundowu, when 1t WIS recalled. The negro
troops, on the left, met but few Of the JOHN.
nlcs, and only lost some half dozen men
wounaed-orc severely. They advanced some
two mtles from their works, and the recon