The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-01-13
T Q M A S
Dispatches from Gen. Thomas
and Admiral Lee.
How Hood Crossed the Tennessee and
Why Lee Could Not Prevent 1t.
The Losses Of the Rebels In the
Campaign,
&C., &C., &c,

DespatCh from Admiral Lee.
WAsmsoros, Jan IL, 1867
The Navy Department today received tho following
official despatch from Acting Rear Admiral 8 p. Lee-
MISSISSIPPI SQUADRON, FIAcsmP FARY,(
CLIFTON, Tenn, JAN 8, 1852
Sn-rntenigent escaped prisoners report that Hood
crossed the Tennessee at cambridge, six miles above
Florence above Little Muscle Shoals and at the foot Of
Big Muscle Shoals. Florence is the head Of steamboat
navigation and there Hood last fall securing his
ponoons TO the piers Of the railroad bridge General
jackson crossed either ut the military ferry mile
below Florence, above the Muscle Shoals cambridge
Is not regular ferry
The rebels boosted to tho escaped prisoners that the
gunboats could not the shoals reach them and
my pilot declared 1t mpracticabo for the enemy
there, owing to the swift water for to get
there with the Neosho drawing FIVE foet owing TO the
swift and shallow water the Little Muscle Shoals
which are rocky, uneven and dangerous. l made
reconnaissance however and believe should have sue
Cecded in reaching cambridge with effective force,
capable OF destroying Hoods pontoons in spite Of all
the opposition he could make had not the sudden and
rapid fall Of the river and the prevalence Of FOG con-
strained the pilot to decline going on Little Muscle
Shoals
am gratiAed TO enclose copy OF General Thomas
last despatch, dated December 80 in which he is kind
enough TO that the efficient cooperation OF the navy
the Tennessee has contributed largely to the dcmoraii
zaton of Hoods army and tho General tenders his hearty
thanks for the cordial cooperation OF the navy during
the last thirty days.
General Smith informs mo he never knew such bad
weather General Thomas army encountered in the pur
suit Of General Hood General Croxton, Of the cavalry
makes the report Of the bad condition Of tho roads
Hood is indebted for the safety Of his shattered TO
the worst description Of winter weather and roads, and
fog II is confidently predicted that he will not again
attempt to recross tho Tennessee river.
ought to mention that the destruction Of pontoons
and ferry flats at Carrots ferry, twelve miles below
Florence and indeed all along the river from the vc
nifty OF Johnsonve to Florence, distance Of ono hun
dred and seventy five miles, has cut OF the retreat OF
Hoods domorazcd and scattered army, and filed the
woods, as General Croxton informs mo- with straggers
whom his cavalry are constantly capturing.
Tho operations OF the navy have been active and un
firing
have the honor to DO, sir very respectfully yours,
s. r. LEE, Acting Rear Admiral
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.
TO Hon. GIDEON WfLLEs, SecrctarJ, &c
Despatbh from General Thomas.
The following is the despatch from General Thomas
referred TO In Admiral Lee "a report
PULASKI, KY, Dec. %, 1854
To Rear Admiral s. p Lxx &c, 0hickasaw, Ala. =
Your two telegraphs have been received. We have
been pressing the rank hard the condition
the roads would permit and have succeeded in taking
some few prsonersprobably some Ave or six hundred
since the enemy crossed Duck river.
From tho hest information have at this time Hood
Losses since he invaded tho State Of Tennesscc up
followsSix general officers killed. wounded and
taken prisoner at Franklin-thrteen in oil; and
about six thousand killed. wounded and taken pri
the same battle On tho Sth inst Murfrees
boro, he had general officer wounded about one
thousand killed and wounded and two hundred and
taken prisoners and losing pieces OF artillery
In the two battles Of the 18th and 10th inst beorci Nash
vile, he had lieutenant general severely wounded,
major general and threo brgad generals with four
thousand four hundred and sixiytwo officers and men
made prisoners besides losing fifty thcc pieces OF arl-
lcry and over three thousand stand OF small arms
During his retreat have captured fifteen guns
and from fifteen hundred thousand prisoners
large number OF small have been picked up by
the way.
Citizens report that he passed this place with his army
completely disorganzcd, except the guard COM
posed OF about FIVE thousand He destroyed
siderable quantity OF ammunition at this place besides
abandoning ammunition train Of fifteen twenty
wagons about mile beyond.
Yolr efficient cooperation the Tennessee river has
G. II THOMAS, Major General.