The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-12-22

erS captured yesterday, greSsy cAoouo wv
number reported by sslesraph last evening.
The woods, fields and entertainments are
strewn with the eeemy.
In conclusion. am happy to state that
all this has been effected with but very
small loss to us. Our loss propably does
not exceed 800 and very few killed.
(Signed) Gso H. THOMAS.
Maj. Gen. Com.
Gen. Thomas Great Battle Of
Friday.
CINCINNATI, Dec. 19.-The Gazette pub
fishes vivid 5sscription of the battle Of the
10th:
There was q dense fog at ap, early hour,
but this soon cleared away, and at o clock
we were able to determine the enemy's pos
ition. During the night Of the 18th Hood
withdrew both his wings from the river,
contracted his lines everywhere, and was
holding strong position along the Granny
White Hills, his center protected by two
lines of entertainments. Our own troops
we're disposed in The following order: on
wilson'ssright, SchoAelds 2sd corps, con.
ssting of COUGHS and Cox's divisions, at
first held in reserve, but before the main
hattie opened had taken position on the
left of the cavalry thus forming the right Of
our infantry line NJ Smiths 9Th Corps,
consisting Of the divisions ofMcArthur, Gar
rard and Moore, came next. On the left Of
the 4th Corps, T. j. Woods, consisting Of
T the divisions Of Kimball. Elliott and Sam
Beattie. was formed IN close order Of battle
and partially massed. Steadman with Croft's
division and two brlgades Of colored troops
held the extreme left.
. Our plan OF battle was a continuation OF
that of the 18th in pressing the advantage
, gained on the enemy's left. At about half.
. past o'clock our batteries opened from a
hundred pieces simultaneously along the
entire lines. The rebel artillery replied fee
bly,. Schofeld marching dswn,the Granny
White Pike, carefully concealing his
strength, placed his corps directly upon the
enemy's left flank. Steadman at the sans
time worked his way forward. The enemy
in the meantime strengthened his advanced
line This determined Wood to carry this
! line without delay. In splendid order Kim
balls first division moved forward to charge
firing volley after volley as they rushed to
ward the rebel works. A whitening fire o
z musketry and canister made them, waye
9 more than once, but still they pressed OF
) until within half pistol shot, when the enc
J. my's fire became 81 deadly that our men il
y order to return ignore effsctu1llys, came to
e halt, longer perhaps than any troops eve
y remained in such position. They stoo
i. and fred fast and furiously at the enemy
l. but they could not remain there and live
q A few gave way and fed in disorder, til
!, whole line staggered, aud had the rebel
a, done nothing more than keep up their dead
7 Y 8ss We sRaR'd aaks Aaal MD SEikaR haG
g ana retire. Raising loud shont, the divi,
d ION with ixed bayonets rushed i.npetuo,sl
forward and swarmng over the works. can
lie tured such rebels as had not fel. They ha
J. tune to get away two guns, but the rest fl
/ into our hands.
AS soon as this preliminary success wa
achieved. Gen. Thomas, who was seen 4, ,
! ing the day in the very front lima of battl,
ordered chEge along the entire line
Schofied moved upon the left flank Of tn
: enemy, and before bis veterans, the rebel
gave way like fsost work. The ass.ilef
hank crumhled to pieces as schoscld .d
sa"ced' and was rolled back upon that DOR
non Of the line which just now was ATTACKED
oy General A. j. Smiths troops. with
weight and energy tina. nothing con,d w;.,
sand McMillen's brigade was for emos,
ana 'nfiamed as on the previous day rushed
right up in the very teeth Of the powerf,,,
batteries and carried them at the mint of
the bayonet In few moperts their
WORKS were everywhere carried, their forces
utterly routed, their soldiers captured by
snousapds and every piece of their artillerv
IN our hands. Such as escaped do,t, Or
capture fed towards the franklin pike and
look refuge behind 8. D. Lees corDs which
held the gap in the hills.
Wood and Steadman on the left had nou
united and prepared 60 assault the reb.,
right, which was still unbroken. Under
cover OF tremendous fire from our guns.
VOL Posts brigade moved forward. Col
otra'ghfs brigade, of Beattie's division.
formed on his left. in support; Immediately
on Posts left Thqmpso4's colored brigade
was drawn up, and Morgan's colored brig
ade was next on the LEFT.
Inc enemy reserved their Gre until Posts
or'gade commenced to climb the bin, when
. perfect hurricane of shot, shell and CAMS.
ter tore through his ranks. In the face of
TINS nre our men steadily advanced, the col
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