Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1864-12-29

thus completely covering the Franklin pike
0y which he hoped and expecto to retreat
II compelled 10 do so at all and the lesso
ne mad received on the day previous. va
such as TO prepare him for retrograd
movement, notwithstanding his bellizeren
qualities. At about seven hundred wards i
front OF the color lines, was a weak line O
entertainments Or skirmishers: then som
three hundred yards to the rear, Was lin
OF breastEorks Of considerable strength
which was strongly defended bv infantry AM
artillery; thus leaving a space Of about fou
hundred yards in front Of the main line
which was nearly level, open corn field
over which our meu would have to charge
even after they had secured the first line 0
works; though Hood believed himself capabI,
OF holding even them, as the position wa
very commanding.
Being thus protected on either flank, tn,
rebel General was confident that nothing bu
direct attack could be possible; but ample
preparations had been made to meet it. Lee'
corps was posted on the right Stuart hell
the centre, and Cheatham the left, ard HOOD
enJolned them, as | learned from prisoners
not to yield an inch, " but rather die in thei
tracks"
OUR POSITION.
Our forces moved out in the morning il
the following order:
l. A. j. Smiths corps on the right, anG
covering the Granny White Pike
! :. The 4th corps immediately to the left
the lst division in the centre, the I'd on the
left, and the Sd on the right. The Ist divi
| sion was commanded by Gen. Kimball, the
I'd by Gen. Elliott, and the Sd by General
Beatty. These advanced on the Franklin
Pike, the lst division resting its left upon it.
| 3. Steedman's corps moved out on the Mur
| treesboro Pike, with instructions to gradually
move to the right, and join On the 4th corps
! His command consisted of the division OF
General Cruft, and two brgades of colored
trooPs-the latter being on the extreme left.
4. The 23d corps, under Gen. Schofeld,
was placed IN reserve, near the right OF
Smith, to be brought into use for thanking
! purposes.
8. The cavalry were sent down the Hills.
boro Pike, with orders to operate on the
south of the range of hills, to which l have
referred, and if possible intercept the rebel
| retreat or worry his tanks.
RECoNNOITERING.
| Accommodating along the lines commenced
about sunrise; and as the rebels had fallen
| back considerable distance, the impression
| began to gain ground, that Hood had retreat
ed to Franklin during the night; but this was
| speedily proved to be a mistake the rebels
having taken up the line indicated, and con-
tracted their wings till their front did not
exceed mile and a half in length, which was
the more readily and safely done, as the
ground favored them.
Their wagon train was not, as was expect
ed, on the Franklin pike, but placed on roads
on the side of the hill, to the rear of their
! left. They had doubtless been on the Granny
White pike, and circumstances having COM
PEELED it, they were being removed across the
country to the Franklin road.
At each step OF our advance a heavy line
ct sklrmlshers was thrown out, as pioneers,
and when these had reported all clear, or
driven the rebels back, batteries were pushed
forward, which INDUCED in a few shells, when
the skirmishers were again ordered on. In
this way, mile and half of ground was
passed over, until our lines had advanced
about half 4 mile beyond the Thompson place,
which is four and half miles from the city,
I when the rebel skirmish line came into full
view, and definite information as to their
general position began to be attainabe,
though thelr main works were yet invisible,
their front line, however, was plainly seen
Here halt was ordered, and our troops COM
menCed
FEELING THE ENEMY.
1t was now about 10 o'clock, and all the
batteries that could be advantageously en-
plQyed were brought to the front, and COM
menced Smelling the rebels with great vigor,
which they continued to do for half an hour
The roar Of the cannon, at this time, was
deafening, and SO many were the guns at
work, that il was continuous. The rebels re-
piled out feebly; but this was not for lack of
artillery, so much as desire to keep the ex-
act position of most of their guns concealed,
and to save ammunition, Having ascertain
ed all that was necessary, the 23d Corps was
ordered out on the Granny White pike, with
directions to take up position directly on
the left flank of the enemy, skirmish with
him till his position vas ascertained, and then
carefully concealing their strength. remain
quiet till certain signals were given, when
they were to go for the rebel left With ail the
yigor and dash il their power.
ON THE EXTREME LEFT,
Gen, Steedman pushed out upon the Muir
freesboro pike, till he was satisfied that there
were no rebels upon it, when he brought his
column to a half wheel, and moved in the
the direction of the Franklin road, to turn
Hoods right, and 10 form a junction with
Woods 4th Corps. At first he met little re
sistance but as he pressed OH the resistance
was strengthened, and by the time he had
formed the junction, which was about half
past two in the afternoon, he was confronted
by strong force of Lees Corps, ready to
fight as long and stoutly as they could.
While these fanking operations were IN
progress, it became necessary TO capture the
FIRST LINE OF REBEL WORKS.
q IL, r., ~,
lst Division of the 4th Corps, though it was
supported by the others as Ear as necessary.
The position, as I have before stated, was
very strong, and the Notifications themselves
were by no means weak; and the ground tt
be charged over was an ascent of at least ten
degrees, mostly through wood, with only
large trees, which were poor shelter for as
sailants The men moved up in most gal
liant style-and who ever heard Of the 4th
Corps doing otherwise? The shout was rails
ed loud and long; one yolley was fred, and
then. with bayonets fixed, onward went the
men, until more than half the space over
which they had to so was passed, when a
slight halt, load, and another volley was
| the prelude to a second yell and charge.
The men halted no more till within fifty
Yards of the rebel works, when the deadly
! fire which met them caused them to halt, and
/ return it. In this position-both parties
| firing furiously-the belligerents remained at
| least five minutes. i section of artillery
employed by the rebels could no longer be
used, so close was the range, and there were
| indications that the gunners were about to
attempt TO move them off, when our gallant
men determined to secure them as trophies
and once more essayed to the charge. But
the terrific storm of bullets was too much
! al taW ta u