The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1864-12-09
Great Battle in Tennessee.
n ashyit.e, Dec. [

has been received at headquarters
Franklin, Nov 80.
To Maj Gen. Thomas:
The enemy made a heavy and persistent
attack with about two corps, commencing
at about four o'clock in the afternoon and
lasting until after dark, and was repulsed
al all points with very heavy loss, probably
5000 or 5000 men. Our loss is probab-
ly no: more than one tenth of that num-
Der. We captured about 1000 meu, in
Guiding one Brigadier General.
(Signed) SCHOFlELD.
Parties who have arrived from the front
and were witness to the battle of yester-
day, describe the attack OF the rebels as
desperate. -Four charges were made upon
Federal line Of masked batteries, III a
body four lines deep. Each time the reb-
Ella we're repulsed Will fearful loss. The
for. is on the north bank of the river op
posite the town; extending up the river
and encircI;ng the town WAS line of mask,
ed batteries. Eye witnesses say this en-
gagemert, in desperation and furious fight,
ing, was hardly equalled 5y the battle Of
Stone river. Forrest in person was on tie
field rallying his man. y ruInor is in cir
culation tha. lie was killed, but it lacks
confirmation About 7 o'clock last night
Aeavy reinforcemen.s reached Schofield,
which caused a complete .out of the rebel
forces.
The city to day is full Of flying residents
of Williamson and other counties South.
They state that Hood is gathering up all
the horses, hogs and mules he can lind,
sending them south. There is panic
among the negroes in the counties south Of
Nashville, and numbers are hocking 10 the
city for protection. The federal forces re-
tired from franklin last night, and have
taken position for line Of battle south OF
Nashville about two miles. Shirnishiug
has been going on all day about five miles
south of here. Heavy cannonading can
be distinctly heard in the city. No want
Of confidence is felt by the citizens of the
ultimate success Of the iederals. The en,
poyees OF the quartormas;er department
are under arms ana in the trenches. Cue
hundred and seven Confederate officers,
including one Brigadicr General and sever
al Colonies, and geo prisoners, arrived in
last night near Franklin, Tenn. a grea!
battle may momenlaril, Be expected.
Nashville, Dec, 2.
have received full accounts of the bat
tie at Franklin. For three days sharp
skiguIishing was keps uD during the retire
men. of our army from Duck river to
Franklin, during which time multiplicity
Of exploits and successes resulted to the
national arms. Gen. Cox conducted the
rear guard, and on the ooh achieved a
| splendid victory over the rebels at Spring
Hill, while Wilson's cavalry gained a Sc
rics OF important successes over Forress'S
advance, under Rodney, on tie pike be-
tween Triune and Spring Hill. Duling
the afternoon Of the 3Oth the rebel army
sorey pressed US. Hood had Cheatham's
and Stewards corps aud a portion of Dick
Iayior's command, numbering in all over
$4,000 men. Owing to Gan. Cox's gal,
liant cheek at Spring Hill portion of the
18Th and 23d () corps were enabled to
reach ftauNlin early in the day, where
they threw up liue of b-easlw FORKS, eX@
tending from one end to the other OF the
curves 10 the lIvoI, behind Which our in
fantry took position. At precisely ( P m.
the entire rebel force made charge and
succeeded n making temporary break
in the centre, commanded By Wagner
With characteristic Impetuosity the SOL
dlers composing Cheatham's corps dashed
into the hreaslwoiks, and cooperating
with an attacking party on the left, at
tempted to enveop and destroy our right.
In the nick OF time the troops Of Wagner
were rallied, aud throwing their whole
force upon the rebel column, drove back
their storniDg party IN great disorder, cap
turing several hundred prisoners. The
rebels made four charges in three lines but
were repu!sed as often with great sIaugh-
ter. The rebels numbered a. least two to
our one, nearly half of the 4:h, and 23d
corps (9 were in reserve. Our breast
works were knee high and the rebel loss
in killed is three times as great as our
own, while their wounded is at least six
times as great as ours, most of ours oeirg
wounded in the head, arms and body.
The artillery FIRE of the enemy was made
with great precision, but their ammunition
consisted chiefly Of shot and shell while
for two hours immense quantities of more
murderous missiles were hurled with fear
ful fury into rebel lines. All attempts of
r2beis to gain permanent advance, were
frustrated, aud at dark the federal position
was unchanged, while the rebels retired to
cove of woods south Of the Columbia
pike The rebel loss as before stated, is
fully G,00e, including over 1000 prison
ers, an unusual number Of which were of
iicers. Our loss reached a total of about
1000. The artillery duel was kept up till
nearly midnight, when our troops COM
menced crossing Harpeth river, bringing
all onr traius and paraphernalia over in
safety before daylight, and the army re
tired to within four miles Of this city, at
which point our front line confronts the
enemy.
Louisville, Dec. 2.
This mornings Journal says Gen.
Thomas has abandoned bis slrong position
at Franklin and formed his line Of battle
within three miles Of Nashville. Yester-
day evening the two hostile armies were
engaged in skirmshing and the rattle OF
nustetrv couid mainly be heard in tho