The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1865-01-25
HOOUs TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN.

IHOODS TENNESSEE CAMPAIGN.
An Intelligent officer" whose pro'ni-
nent position in the Confederate army
gives him peculiar means Of obtaining
correct information, and who was per
sonally cognizant of all the events OF the
recent campaign of General Hood, has
afforded the Augusta Constitutaonqt'st
4 very clear insight into the movement
Of our forces beyond the Tennessee river.
The statements Of the gentleman are SO
wholly impartial, and so emincntiy salts
factory, that the Constitutionattst thinks
the campaign was not so "illstarred
and " fruitless" as has been generally
imagined:
"From the moment General Hood en-
tered the noble old Volunteer State, he
drove the Federal forces before him until,
beleaguered within the strong defepces
of Nashville, they at last stood at bay. =
At Columbia, Thomas evidently intended
giving battle, for he planted his army in
a fine position, behind formidable earth
works. Our commander, who, though
impetuous and dashing, is not by any
means reckless, instantly saw the need
lessness Of sacrificing so many valuable
lives as would be necessary in making a
direct assault. Accordingly he quietly
evaded the FederalS, and, by crossing
Duck river at point seven miles distant,
successfully hanked the enemy. This
neccssitated the retreat of Thomas, our
forces rapidly pursuing until reaching
Franklin, where occurred the very short
yet obstinate and bloody battle of which
,ur readers have already been advised.
Unfortunately, the coming on Of night
prevented US rcaping all the advantages
of that dearly bought victory, and the
next morning developed ehc flight of the
Federals, after heavy loss in killed and
wounded, prisoners, artillery and muni-
tions of war.
"Hence, to the very gates of Nashville,
the path was plain and uncmbarrassed
J and our gallant boys trod it with light
ness of step and buoyancy of heart
About the capital, General Hood estab
lished his lines, throwing up works and
disposing his forces with the skill of ar
/ old master of the art Of war Until the
18th of December he maintained his po
sition, annoying the enemy by daily re
connoissances and expeditions against his
lines Of communication. exterior posts
and garrisons.
"0n the 10Th of December, Thomas
forced to do something by the pertina
cious demands of his master at Wash
= ington, advanced upon Hood, and wa
thoroughly worsted. The succeeding
Y dav (the 18TH he sailed forth anew, ant
attacked US with vehcmence. Beate1
completely upon each wing, he woul'
have been completely overthrown ha'
not an unfortunate contreteml's occurred
e which Immediately and disastrousl,
4 changed the whole tide Of battle. Gu
p centre, though not severely pressed, CAV
r way suddenl ly-our works were aban
doned, and flight ensued. The wings
4 unable to contend longer, yielded, ant
: what should have been victory, will
! Nashville as a prize, resulted in a sac
defeat. This was one of those inexpli
cable affairs that so mystify and darker
the pages Of history-espeoially in thi
It war. 1t was wholly unaccountable, and
!. we fear, must ever remain so. We los
!, by this unlucky accident heavily in al
tllery, from the fact that our pieces wer
{, all placed in battery behind the work:
d and the horses were in safety some dis
.. tance in the rear. Our losses in men an
- other material were insignificant, Will
. those Of the enemy must have reache
9 fully ten thousand.
le "That Thomas was very badly d.
v mayed is evident from the fact that h
:. did not follow up his singularly obtaine
:, advantage. In truth, he was quite 9
"a much surprised at the issue Of the col
J! test as our own commander. Six day
CT thereafter our army was only forty mile
r. from the battle field, and without mole
tation withdrew to the south of the Te
- nessee river, bringing with it, amor
IN other supplies, one thousand beef catt
e and ten thousand hogs.
lis "The retreat was marked by no pr
az cipitancy, the abandonment of no train
-, nor the desertion of any troops.
> Columbia the Tennessee soldiers flock
o. about their favorite leader, General Che
he than, and, though reluctant to lea
ck their native State, expressed the mob
!; and heroic determination to follow hi
wherever the good of the cause deman
nc ed. The spirit Of the people, as evinc
as both upon the advance and withdraw
l - 81 in