Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-29
Battles Of Thursday & Friday.
FULL AND GRAPHIC DETAILS.
Correspondence Of the Cincinnati Gazette.
WHY WE FOUGHT

NASHVILLE, Dec. Is.
WHY WE FOUGHT
For more than a week past our military
authorities, have reason to believe, contem-
plated an assault upon the rebel lines.
Our situation here vas growing decidedly
uncomfortable. Of our three channels OF
communication with the North, viz: the
Cumberland river the Nashville and North
western Railroad, and the Louisville and
Nashville road, the operations Of the rebels
had left US only the last; and that was very
uncertain as long as Forrest with 10000
horsemen, hung along tie south bank Of the
Cumberland MurfreCsboro, Stevenson,
Bridgeport and Chattanooga were entirely
cut off from the rest Of the world, and ex-
posed to attack from the mass Of the rebel
army, at any time it should have an opportu-
nifty of slipping away from Us. The rebels
were every day Strengthening their lines in
the vicinity of Nashville, and each day was
making the task of driving them away more
difficult. We could not forage any around
the city; and although there was no danger
of starving, still we have been cut off from
the Injuries Of life, and were being each day
more and more thoroughly Strengthened for
its necessaries. All these things rendered it
the plain duty of Gen. Thomas to attack
Hood, in case the latter should show too de-
cided dissemination to assault our lines
WHY WE DIDN'T Fight SOONER
Several things delayed u.s. First, we had
not horses enough to mount our cavalry and
had to hunt them up in the country round
about Nashville, az well as in the vicinity of
Louisville, and all along the whole line Of the
\. & L. Railroad. Second, it was too slip
perry after the prodigious fall of sleet few
DAYS ago, for either infantry, cavalry or artil-
lcry to operate. Third, General Thomas is a
man who never moves without deiberation
and care.
THE PLAN or BATTLE
was very simple [ have heretofore mention
ed the fact that the enemy did not, on his
left extend in a continuous line to the river
He had a fort on the Cumberland, near Bells
Mills, and but a line of skirmishers to connect
this fort with what was really his left wing
Our cavalry was to proceed down the river
and with the assistance of the gunboats, was
TO drive the rebels into the fort, and then pay
their respects to the latter. The 10th Corps
"a j. Smith's) was to throw itself vigorously
between this fort On the river and the real
rebel left wing, and Obiquing toward the left
syas 10 double up the rebel line as it vent
The 2ad Corps (SchofelPs) was to shift sud
denly from its position on the left of the 4th,
and support the 10th IN It's operations. The
powerful 18th Corps ct. j. Woods was to
move upon tha left Of the 10th, and as soon
rs the latter had fairly established itself upon
the encmy's left, was to bear down upon him
~ front.
TIE DAY OPENS.
Thursday morning came. \ dense fog
covered the face of the earth, and entirely
,,bscured objects only few feet distant A
thaw had been going on fer twenty-tour
hours previous, and Nashville was u SEA af
slush and mud But at about half past eight
the fog lifted. The sun peeped cautiously
through the clouds. A warm breeze blew
over the hills. As if by magic, our camps
,ycre st once instinct with life. Mounting
my horse, | rode out upon the Harding turn
pike, and shall never forget the scene that
burst upon my view. All the hills around
Nashville were swarming with blue coated
loIdiers. Here a brigade was moving in mass
Uges the plain; there long column was
Cling by thousands Of hOTsenen swept across
the fields; a hundred pieces of artillery were
being dragged forward to the front; the mu-
sic of a score of bands filed the air; 1t hun
dred banners Auttered gaily over the multi
tude
40 -5lEETG on TIE RIGHT.
The 10th corps was moving against the Ell
emy's left. Our cavalry, under its able lead
ers, Johnston, Cronton, knipc and Hatch,
had commenced moving early in the morn
ing, and drove the enemy helter-sllelter along
the river bank until it brought up against
the fort near Bells Mills. 1t was at the very
5tmo that the 10th corps got fairly i'll motion,
that could hear tbs deep thunder of our
heavy cmnong on the gunboats, az they
threw enormous masses of iron into this fort
The noise of the explosions fairly shook the
4arth. Several desperate charges were
made by cur cavalry lighting dismounted)
against the fort. No Drawer struggle took
place in any part of the field than here. No
more skiltul management was exhibited on
the part of officers. The fort was nearly de-
molished by the terrible fire from the gun
boats but, after all, it remained at nightfall
in the hands of the enemy. The 18th Ohio
Cavalry suffered severely IN 4 charge made
Upon this part of the field.
bEBEL POSITION DISCOVERED.
All the forenoon the different portions of
the 10th Corps were engaged in advancing,
driving the rebel skirmishers, and feeling for
the eremy's position. The latter was at
length discovered but instead of continu.
Gus line of works, it consisted of series of
detached Notifications occupying the sum-
mits of a range of low hills between the Har-
ding and Hillsboro' turnpike, and extending
east of the latter to an indefinite distance
These hills are usually called the Granny
White Hills.
ARTILLERY FIGHT.
1t was perhaps half past two o'clock when
Battery |, ID Missouri Artillery, taking po-
stion upon low eminence in full view and
range of several rebel batteries, opened its
thunders upon the enemy, Instantly from
half dozen different points all the batteries
Of the 10th Corps commenced hurting shot
and shell. From score Of eannons the en-
envy replied and for half an hour the air
was filled with rushing, shrieking missiles of
death.
The country was mostly open, consisting
of meadows and corn-6elds, with farm houses
here and there. All the operations of both
gunners could be distinctly seen by the spec
tators
From three hills the rebels particularly an
noyed US with their FIRE. One IS situated i'm
mediately in front of the low eminence upon
which the Missouri battery was posted, and
perhaps seven hundred yards from the same.
Another is about the same distance forward
and little to the right of the first. The
third is just to the right of the Rillsboro
turnpike, and perhaps seven hundred yards to
the left of the second hill noticed that a
mile stone near this third eminence indicates
that it is just five miles distant from Nash
vile.
On the first hill the rebels had four pieces
of artillery, (1&-pound Napoeons) on the
second, two; on the third, TWO. Troops be-
longing to Lees and Stewards corps supported
these batteries. A whole brigade of W aithalrs
division of the latter corps, together with
some troops belonging to lohnson's division
of Lees. were posted behind some stone