New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-01-09
FROM GEN. THOMAS'S ARMY.
Escape Of Hood's Army 10 AIshnms, and
thc Reason Wby-FaiIare Of she Fe"-
toon Train dman's Failure 20 Head
on Hood - The Situation - Escaped
Union Oficeps-PerlIs cf the Wsy.
rron ON, Special Correspondent.

about Hoods shattered army escaping across the Ten
nessee founded on the stories of escaped Union prison
ers was substantially correct IF there was any dis
erepancy with the actual facts it was in the localty
from whence they crossed and not in the assertion that
the Rebels had really escaped 20 the south side OF the
Tennessee. With victory Of such extraordinary mag
uitude as that accomplished by Thomas and his noble
smy IN the defeat and IOut Of the Rebel hosts before
Nashville and the pursuit sfierward, the Pulic mind
doubtless oye-joyed and satisfied without, perhaps
looking forward 20 anything additional or expecting
she victory already grand 10 be so thoroughly I0o"ed
mp as result in the capture humiliation Of Inc
remnant of the Rebel army. That such CONTAMINATION
was within the bounds of possibiiiy-n fact reason
ably feasibe-I fully believe. But Hoods demoralized
aud mutilacd army has effected is escape INTO Ala
bama aud il Is useless indulge in vain regrets,
or sadly reflect on what might have bccn."
1t il well known chat sitter Hood crossed over The
Tennessee into this State IN Bis career Of conquest ana
Invasion his ponoons were taken pond brought along
leaving no bridge whatever across the river during his
excursion to this part of the State After bis unexpected
reception and disastrous defeat Aercabout The Rebel
chiefsin made the best possible time for the river hur
rving his rontoons along knowing very well that on
them depended his safety and tha; Of bis army Coming
Into the State Wien the river was low, II took the
Rebels thirty six hours 10 lay their bridge Even then
" was sIaODy Arrangement hlN ouICi! tiSWtitd
transferring the arry across L. the.v retreat with
Gle river swollen from recent rains AID the current
rapid the safely laying OF the bridge could be
easy matter and shoad certainly take long in the
frs, instance. With these facts in view and knowing
the strenuous excrons the enemy would make to effect
crossing in time it will be asked how that the
Rebel advance reached the Tennessee before our army
crossed Duck River, and what prevented our troops
from making more vigorous and Successful pursuit.
The answer isyery simple. Cpto Duck River. about
forty miles from Nashville army Kept close The
heels of the retreang enemy occasional skirmisl
occurring between our Advance aud the Rebel rear.
Duck River is not fOrdabe. ana requires pouioon
bridge 70 effect crossing Amer tie Rebels had safely
crossed and taken up their pOntoons FORESTS Cavalry
with few brgldes Of picked infantry, and couple OF
batteries Of artillery took position On the south bank
the river determined to contest crossing long
rs possible and allow their main army 10 continue it,
basty Inach 10 the Tennessee attend 10 the grand
object now on band-.he laying Of ter pouooD bridge
across that FORESTS eoIts 10 keep or army at
bay fur n suitable were NOT 81 al necessary.
And this suggests the cause o.
OUR FATAL pEItV.
Forrcs, was easily disposed Of after tie arr, n " our
army. b1 not 80 the main iliiicultyour pVntoonS by
,olne esrerous mistake were miles away ID the rear
How did that comet Here tire enemy on the south
side Of Duck River marching swiftly 10 tie Tennessee.
only Is miles distant while troops mist chse and
wait on the north side full A. hours before abe potOon
train up Ordinarily, the pOLiOon train Is nearly the
first on the ground bu IN the present ease the unortu
nate delay was caused by substituting one word foI
smother in the order directing the movement Of the
train. Instead Of going out on tie Franklin, u took
tie Murfree sboroueh pike according 10 She written or
der no5 ing fully miles before ordered TO return and
take the proper route After TIE train did OF last get
on the Fran ain road there we're hundreds n wagons
ahead blocking mp tic way, aad sadly impeding the
progres- Of the pontOoas. BY uaao,oultahls alb
sence 81 mind the part OF some ore high IN authority
the word Marireesborongh written instead Of
Franklin. and thu, tbs apparently small matter wa
pregnant with the most serious consequences.
Ibeleyc it 10: tue iolc, Of Thomas to Dive ne
enemy rapidly before hin IN, Tahe- allow s;eadmsuf
fauLine column efficient time round by way
of Huntsville and Decatur and arrive ut the proper
place IN time 10 Gu; of uOOds IcIest. But that Gen
eral " some strange foresight, anticipated such q
,rovemest and redonbled his exerons TO free h!Hself
from the dangers which were closing around him.
Aner crossing Duck River :he troop moved forward
T. Pulaski our cavalry meeting fOIreSts fGco. few
miles this side Of tia; town. scoagly posted end pre-
pared for RESISTANCE. Ills Was % TIE AFTERNOON Of
the ODD and b-isl lt-!e fight eDsued resulting scF
Few hOITs, IN tte enemy heating -H9'l Ae-A'o'+
IN the meantime "a. Rebr pian;.J with their s.son
train pontoons and few struggling batteries o. ar
t;lerv, reached the Tennessee rear Florsnc~. Arer
considerable trouble bridge laid. and par Of The
nrr,y crossed over Hood himself informed being
sn the edyance by the way lcl.ued isss night noln
Rebel descrer. WHO had Just arrive! Le-e tia. Hood
was superseded lays since md FORREST has now
sgpreme command. think the stoSy T. cutie prVba-
lie Before sny considerable portion OF the army had
crossed over our gunsoass hove in sight from below,
aud soon commenced YigoGOus shcIa-. The fright
sned .rgtves could not stand this and With tie Aic OF
their batteries on the river bank engage ne Snn'
boats they succeeded II tating up ito pontoons and
removing them few mills ~ tL9 stoGf, Were tie
sunbos,s coud 20. possibly reach item There Il LIZ
doubt but TIA: win oar main army closely pressing TIE
enemy from Duck River 10 the IoDneS,ee The creator
isr, Z not all Vi Hoods forVfr sd GispEitei army
you'd have been captured.
StesGnar eltaoaga having Pr.led forward rapidly.
tas no. able 10 s-rve in tine % -crec- serious resist
.nc, 30 tho esca2s Of L1e eIey Intercept their re-
s-oa. HIS advance Was go elCdea, however, Tat
Rebel regiment st,touea at HuateYLie weIe sluo.'
tskea by surprise. Afte, rruIaf from TIE town 'ao'
made temporary stand sbost uile oon'h. vhea the
,3;l and lI;h Indiana caylyv charged them, eaptuT
iaS f.y .s:r srd knins and wolniIAg h!tsen STEAD
ran pushed 10 Decatur, arriving i-eTe on the
sS.h and taxing pos. .esioG &! The town. Oar troops
IoE occupy III tie points anl od oil he TERRITORY tScj
ls.a3ned b.lye Hood s.ar.ed Ms lucIless sod III
,tsrsed campaign The any now IL superb condition.
eoufQe4t reliant. az en1,l4eaed by ropesied sue