New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-06
an offensive campaign, ef The whole country open, and

an Offensive campo len the whole country open, anu
Shermans route 10 his own choice.
i How that campaign was conducted, how little o1pon
ton with, the condition Of the country through
which the armies passed, the capture Of Fort McAlis-
ter, the Savannah river and the occupation OF IA
vnna the 2st OF December all clearly set fortn
In General Shermans admirable report.
| Soon after General Sherman commenced his march
from Atlanta two eXpedt ons, one from Blton lou5e'
Louisiana, and from Vcksburg, Mississippi, were
communication with Mobile and retain troops In that
held General Foster, commanding department OF t.e
south, also sent an expedition, ria Broad river 10 DC
stroy the railroad between Charleston and Savannah:
The expedition from Vicksburg, under command OF
Brevet Brigader General K. ID. Osband, (co.onei
81 United States eolorcd cavalryD captured on We
9th Of November, and destroyed the Mississippi
Central railroad bridge and trest!e-work over big
Black river, near Canton, thirty miles OF the foaa
and two locomotives, besides large amounts oil
stores. The expedition from Baton Rouge without
favorable resuits The exped toa from tho Department
of the south under the immediate command OF Brgde'
General John F. Hatch, consisting OF about i've thou
sand men Of al arms, including brigade from tne
navy proceeded up Broad river and dcbarked a. Boyds
Neck on the Goth Of November, from where Il moved 10
strike the railroad at Grahamsville. Al Honey HUI,
shout three mles from Grabamsvlle, tie enemy was
found and attacked in strongly filed position when
resulted after fighting IN repue with loes
Of TAG In killed, wounded, and missing During The
night General Hatch withdrew. On the 9th of Decem-
Der General Foster obtained position covering vel, the
Charleston and Savannah railroad, between the Coosa
ba,chie and Talihnny rivers
Hood, instead OF following sherman, continued his
move norhward which seemed to me 10 be Leading 20 20
command both armies, should not have changed me
orders under which he seemed 10 be acting On the 10Th
OF October the advance Of Hoods attacked the gar
rson Decatur Alabama but failing 10 carry the place,
withdrew towards CORTLAND and succeeded Ia the face
of our cavalry, In efecting lodgmen on the norte
side Of the Tennessee rver Florence On the Zsth
Forrest reached tho Tennessee Mt Fort Human, and
captured gunboat and three transports On the ~ oil
November he planted batteries above and below John
sonve the opposite side Of the river soalng three
gunboas and eight transports On the @th the enemy
opened his batteries upon the place. aid was repued 10
sl1 ,heafa apAsl a h4
coming disabled set fire. also were The trans
ports prevent their falling INTO the hands OF the enc
my; About million and half do,larr worth OF s'oIes
and property the levee and In sorehouses was con.
sumed by fre On the 9Th the enemy disappeared and
crossed To the north sdc Of the Tennessee river above
Johnsonve, moving towards C fton and subsequently
ned Hood On the night Of the 9Th General schohed,
with the advance Of tho sd cops reached Johnsonse
but finding the enemy gone, was ordered TO Pulaski,
and mt i'm command of All The troops there with In
strucons TO watch the movements Of Hood aud rcard
HE advance but not TO risk general engagement until
the arrival Of General 4. D. Smiths command from Nile
souri, and uatil General Wilson could get ts cavalry
remounted.
On the 10Th General Hood continued his advance.
i General Thomas retarding him much as possible,
fell back towards Nashville for the purpose Of concen.
rating his command and gaining time for the arrival OF
re endorsements The enemy coming up WIN our
main force commanded by General Schoned, at Frank
lin on the 3Oth assaulted our works repeatedly during
the afternoon until late AT night but were IN every IN
stance repusod III lo.s in this battle was $50 Killed,
~ prisoners, and $500 wounded Among his losses
were six general officers kled,-ix wounded, and one
captured. Our entire loss was 200 THIS ras the hrs'
serious opposition the enemy met with, and am salts
:, ned was the fatal blow TO all his expectations During
The night General schohed fell back towards Nash
vile. This left the field TO the enemy-not lost ~
battle, but voluntarily abandoned-so tina. General
Thomas whole force light be brought together The
enemy followed up and commenced the establishments
Of his line In front Of Nashville on The "a OF December
A soon as II was asceraned that Hood crossing
the 1onnessee river, aud that Price going out OF
Missouri, General Rosecrans was ordered TO end to
General Thomas the troops Of General A. j. Smiths
command and such other troops he could spare The
Both Of November.
i On the morning Of the 18th Of December General
Thomas attacked Hood in position and, In battle last
ing two days defeated and drove him from the field
IN the utmost confusion, leaving In our hands moot VI
his artillery and many thousand prisoners, including
ionr general officers.
Before The battle OF Nashville rev very impatient
over as appeared TO me- the unnecessary delay. This
Impotence increased upon learning tha. the enc
my Lad force OF cavalry across the Cumberland
iGto Kentucky ! feared Hood would cross hi, whole
army, and give Va great trouble there. Amer urging
upon General Thomas the neoes-ity OF Immediately
-umng the offensive l started west, TO supcrlntend
matters there in person Reaching Washington City,
received General Thomass despatch announcing his At
upon the enemy and the result far ~ the battle
hrn-sons were dIspelled yet satisfied but thA
General Thomas, Immediately upon the appearance OF
HoDd beore Nashville and before be had tine Ia forth
~, shond have moved out with his whole force and
given him battle, Dstesd Of waiting 10 remount he cav
airy which delayed HIM until the inclemeney Of the
weather made II improbable TO attack earlier than he
did But biz hnal defeat OF Hood was complete that
will be accepted q vndIcat.on of that distinguished
onicers judgment.
pursued by cavalry and infantry 10 the Tennessee rver
being forced TO abandon many pieces OF artillery, and
most OF his transportation. On the 18Th Of December
our advance forces asceaned that he had made good
his escape TO the south side OF the river.
About this time, the rains having set Ia heavily In
Tennessee and North Alabama making II difficult 10
army transportation and Artillery General Thomas
stopped the pursuit by his main force at the Tcnne.
pa I'm, volunteers, continued
follow Hood for somo distance, capturing considerable
transportation and the enomy's poatocn bridge The
details Of these operations will DO found clearly SET
forth In General Thomas report.
cavalry expedition, under Brcvet Major General
Grerson, started from Memphis on the A-t Of De
oenber. On the 18th he surprised and captured For
rests dsinouned camp at Verona, Mississippi, on the
Mobile and Ohio railroad destroyed the railroad, siI
teen loaded with wagons and ponioons for Hoods
army, 1900 English esrblne- and large amounts Of
public On the morning OF the 10Th he attacked
and captured force OF the army at Egypt and dc.
sroyed train OF fourteen thence turning To the
southwest he struck the Mississippi Central railroad at
Wnona destroyed the factories and large amounts Of
stores at Bank-ton and the machine chops aud pubic
property at Grenada, %rvng at Veksbnrg, January D.
During these operations In Middle Tennessee, the
enemy, with force undor General Brecknrdse, enter
ed East Tennessee. On the 18th Of November be At
tackled General Gilleu. Morrstown capturing his
artillery and several hundred pr.ooor Giem with
what was left Of bis command retreaied To Knoxville
Following I'D bis success Breckenridge moved 10
Knoxville, but Withdrew on the 18th, followed b Gen
, Ammen Under the directions Of General Thomas,
General Stonernan concentrated the commands OF Gen
erals Burbridge and Gillem near Beam station, TO
operate against Breckindgc and destroy or drive him
into vrgnla-do-troy the salt works at saltve, and
the railroad into Virginia far bc could 20 without
endangenng his cominaod. On the 18th Of December
he commenced his movement capturing and dspersng
the enemys forces wherever he met them. On the 18th
he struck the enemy, under Vaughn, at Marion com.
. pleely routing and pursuing him 10 Wythevlc cap.
turing all his artillery, trains, and l9s prisoners and
destroyed Wythevie with ts storcs, and supplies and
the extensive lead works there. Returning to
Maroon he met force under Brecknrdge, consisting
among other troops Of the garrison Of saltve thai had
lstarted In pursut He at once nla1e arsngomeots 70