The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1904-12-22

ri Shys hill by Thomas troops
on Dec. 1G. for that event de
strOyed the Confederate. left only. The
Confederate commander, General J. r.
Hood had planted his line to defend
Shy's hill on the left and Overton'S
hill. where the right of his army rest
ed in the position taken up during the
night. General Thomas had been so
far satisfied with the results of the
fighting on the 18th, by which the Con
tederates were driven back at all points,
that he made no new disposition of his
troops, but decided TO let them complete
the work so well begun the first day.
After the fall of Shys hall and the
destruction of the enemy's left Thomas
turned his mind toward Il thanking
movement to be made by General j. IL.
Wilson's cavalry in rear of Hoods dis
rupted left flank. Meanwhile the Fed
eral Skirmishers in front of Overton's
hill pushed forward and reconnoitered
the Confederate works at close view.
One of the brigade commanders i'll the
line confronting Overton's hill, Colonel
Post, thought an assault on the2 hill,
though costly, would carry the point.
He was permitted to make the attempt.
and General J. Il. Steedman's second
colored brigade, troops never before
under fire. was ordered to advance on
an opposite face of the work and make
feint i'll support of Post Posts
men moved at a run, but when within
twenty PAGES of the parapet cOncen-
trated fire of musketry and grape
checked them. Colonel Post fell severe
~ wounded, and the power of impact
was lost by the scattering of the ranks
ThOmpson'S Colored soldiers became
excited when the canister struck them
and turned the feint into Il headlong
charge up to the parapet. where they,
too, were hurled back. This was the
I failure of the day on the Federal side,
and half the losses of the whole field
occurred there.
As soon Us Shy's hill had been con-
quered and the lines adjoining gave
way General Woods men marched up
Overton's hill unopposed, ana the Con
federatc army from left to right
dropped away in Il state of wild disor-
der, soon ending in a stampede
In covering the retreat Chalmers di-
vision Of Forests cavalry corps main
tanned their fighting reputation. Gen
eral +. W. Fuckers brigade planted it.
| self SQuarely across the Franklin pike.
the main avenue of retreat, where VII
sons advance led by Hatch. thundercI
down in pursuit soon after night came
on. Ruckcr rode up and down the line
| outside the baTicades to direct ana i'll
spre his men. Turning back hastily to
avoid some obstruction. he ran into
the Tenth Tennessee O'ederaD, not dis
covering the mistake until surrounded
/ Colonel Spalding of the Tenth demand
ed his sword. which fucker offered
him saya@ely. point first Spalding
parted and knocked the weapon out
of Fuckers hand. who quickly
wrenched away that Of his antagonist.
Spalding picked up Fuckers blade. but
before the two could resume the duel
Rucker'S men began to shoot from be
hind tie barricade, receiving an an
SWer from Hatch'S carbineerS. Ruck-
er's elbow was shattered by ball. and
he surrendered to Spalding Mean
while Forests other brigade had gal
loped back to seize bridges and cross
roads on the routes of retreat With
their usual spirit his men held them
until the infantry columns had re-
crossed the Tennessee, not, however.
hlJt nc i.h In.
yielded up the glories earned in three
years of fighting to Thomas on the
heights of Nashville. And it cost but
400 Federal lives to save the city and
destroy Hood
Night was falling on the 10th when
Thomas victory over Hood was seen
to be complete. \ drenching rain set
in and, with the darkness, added to
the confusion in the Federal lines
which were converging as the troops
pressed forward upon the two roads
by which the COnfederates were re-
treating. These roads We're about two
miles apart. Wilson's cavalry in carry
ing out the flank movement directed by
Thomas earlier in the day had covered
the westerly road on Hoods left with
his guns, and this turned the mass of
retreating Confederates over to the
Franklin pike on the east. Forests
Confederate cavalry. acting as rear
guard for Hood, skillfully delayed the
advance of Wilson's troopers toward
the Franklin pike and by this means
enabled the larger part of the retreat
ing army to escape capture There was
barely a semblance of organization
among the Confederates until they
crossed the Harpeth river at Franklin.
where they had suffered a bloody re-
pulse on Nov 80, and where, in fact,
SIS Thomas declared, the fate of Nash
vile was really decided
When it was all over Hood confess
ed that he ought never to have adj
vanced on Nashville after the expert
ence at Franklin. He felt that it would
be fatal to the morals of his army to
retreat southwark from Franklin in
the face of defeat. He knew that
Thomas was getting re-enforcements
and that he would be outnumbered ut
Nashville, but thought his own men
would be better satisfied with total de-
feat if it came on the heels Of a second
trial