The New York herald., 1864-12-05

Z, occupy the town soon a. Hoods movements should
compel us 70 place. aui finding BY this re
pulse that still remained 10 force he dessed for the
day On the Goth be AGAIN tried our nes but found We
still In force, s,d renamed qu'e, patiently await
ing Hood passage Of Duck river and bs nankng Of the
position. Dur ng she night OF the 2oth Hood was dis
covered making he passage OF the stream and early on
the mornnRf the 27h the stores and sick and wounded
we're removed rom Columbia 10 Nashville and on the
2Sth our troops marched out Of the town. destroying the
two bridges at that pont. General wilson's cavalry
covered ihs retreat The enemy nndng our troops had
again escaped ON, emp,yed tue day IN making new os
positions for advancing by Tx ng possession OF lhs prn
opal roads .ead.ng TO franklin.
The enemy's infantry and cavalry were al acrorA
Duck river early the prnipg OF tho goth, and pre-
pared for vigorous pursuit OF the rereatng forces now
under General Scnoned. Forrest casght up with VIII
sois cavary Spring Hill. rhompsons stst'ou, on
the 23th Immediately attacked him. General ,od
who form the guard Of the retiring aalry
and on whom cavalry driven back by Forrest,
immediately went into Line Of battle and received the
attack which cavalry had bsen unable resis'.
Forrest repuset with heavy loss ana tho rebel N.
fantry was called upon 10 drive Wood from his position
While the necessary dispositions Tor doing ths were
beng made by the enemy, Wood retired and continued
tina retreat towari, Fran Kim
On tho 3o.n Hoids infantry was found TO be pressag
forward vigf rcusy and It became evident that but little
time be allowed Schoded to his artillery and
trans Harpetn river. This stream had TO be crossed
at single bridge at Franklin, and at least day
necessary to its accomplishment. Gen. Hood was not
disposed to give this time, but appeared bent upon
striking the army ere could cross the river Gen.
Scno6ed thus compelled TO turn and offer defence
at Franklin, while his trains crossed the stream
that point This the necessity which occasoned the
battle part. That which induced Hood to attack
the hope OF crushing army before could
the river and capture all it's artillery and trains Had
he succeeded in his effort TO break centre, Thomas
would have been rrerieviably crippled and defeated.
But, a shall see, the rebel failed
THE FIELD OF BATTLE.
have only time TO give you the salient points Of the
story There interesting details which cannot be oo
leced and told for days to come. send you diagram
Of the ned, showing the peculiar Of the
the point selected for the deenoe aud also the position
assumed by General SchoAeld II will be necessary
add 70 this very complete map only few words descrp
tive Of The field Of battle
standing the paaret Of the FORT the north side
Hapeth river you look down upon the Of Franklin.
The little hill upon which the fort built year ago by
General Gordon Granger is not hgn abrupt; but
commands the beautiful plain in every direction. Below
IL, and At It's very feet, may say. the river rail
road and turnpike Nashville aud the monster guns
which peep bar5eae the parapeis md the
two bridges the stream. neither OF which 10
than dve hundred yards distant Franklin lies spread
out rreguary, but not without beauty, the
plain upon which you look down from the fort The plain
Is not praire-not q plain in the proper OF
term, for Is dotted by many low hillsmolc hills you
mighs call Ehem-lron any Of which you get q
glimpse OF the country n any direction Tbs country Is
well cultivated the opea fields being ver numerous;
the plain is dotted by small forests OF grown trees
which would serve to mask column or hide battery.
THE LINE OF BATTLE AND HOW WAS FORTIFIED.
General SchoGeld hastily chose his line OF battle. II
was semicircular in form, and with each flank resting
upon Harpeth river east and west Of the town seemed to
complete the semtcirce described BY the river. The
town, In which the trains crowded. entirety
covered and protected and the bridge which they
being removed, thus completely defended from
approach The cavalry OF General Wilson either
flank, guarding the fords above and below the town.
Tho infantry columns had been nss their
position than they fastened 70 iurench themselves
best they could under the circumstances surrounding
them and in the time allotted them Rude bresstVorks
Of logs and rails covered tere and there by little earth
thrown up from the inside, formed protection to the
bodies which was not to DO despised. The worked
like beavers, while the skirmshers sharpy
engaged with the rebel cavalry not i've hundred yards
In their front General schoaeld rode along 'ues and
closely inspected the positions nksn, and used every
energy to strengthen the line All the time he cool
and calm and evnced Gear appreciation o. the situa
t0n, recognizing now was 10 safety or
tho army that the line remained intact for the approach
ing night He conversed anxiousy with Stanley and
Wood; the latter, careful and thoughtful running aloag
the line OF his division and mparting his courage aud
ndom!taole spirit TO his aad ohsers while St,nsy
appeared In high CLEO at the prospect OF fight before
nighall. Stanley used TO be called seye Rose.
army, and tie strong right arm Of Thomas
On this Geld his sslSart FORM ever led the van aod
his battle flag
Full high advanced
shone like q meteor streaming TO the WIND.
The several batteries Of the corps posted by
Colonel scho6eld, Chief OF Artillery OF the, Army
OF the Ohio, and Captain Lyman, who commanded
the artillery brigade Of the Fourth corps. Each hill
along the line of the rude which had thrown
up crowned with OF batcres until the line
looked like vast bow Of Iron bent aroand the town. and
ready strung throw its deadly missiles the adyanc
ing foe.
Tng REBEL GENERALS ISsPEcr sonosIELn's POSITION.
While these preparations going the skirmish.
ing at the front continued ard the musketry fell on the
OF the laborers ike the long roll of the drum. The
cavalry made desperate efforts to drive skir.
mshsrs, but continued TO keep ihom bfskiy employed
while the rebel infantry, which hal press
ed TO the position, proceeded TO mako dispo
sitions the attack. Some hours employed in
doing this, during which the rebel geueras closely
examined schoncds position Prisoners state that Gen
erals Hood, Stewart and Chea,ham personally
gagged In inspecting our line and p calculating the chances
OF breaking IL. Hood, as ever, saogune, deter
mined upon persistent assault OF the CENTRE hoping to
break through the line and push in upon the town and
reach the bridges. thus capturing the trains aud cutting
the army in two. THIS result II acnieved, would have
justified the means and such tho argument OF Hood
lie right when he said TO his troops he rode along
the line as arranged for tho assault
'These lines must be broken, boys. They weak
and cannot Withstand you. Broak them and you have
finished the campaign Tennessee. Break them, say and
enemy win exis, who Will dare To oppose your march
to the Ohio" These prsonors say that Hood rerelted
this speech scvera times at various parts his line aud
that IL was received with loud cheers from tho rebels
now esger to advance.