The National tribune., 1905-11-23
Al indicated IN one Of Gen. Thomass

| ton would doubtless have been made
Dec. 10 but for the extraordinary con-
dition Of the elements. A storm OF sleet
| freezing as II fell had covered the earth
with an icy crust, on which neither men
nor animals could keep their feet In
their efforts to move over the rolling
and hilly surface that characterfzes the
| topography Of the country In the vicfn-
ity of Nashville. A large number OF
horses had been disabled in attempts to
place cavalry in position, and many
serious accidents to the men had oc-
CURED while moving to their posts in
the performance Of routine duties In
maintaining the guard and picket lines.
This ice embargo was raised by mod
Grafton in the weather on the 14th. and
orders were issued in the evening of
| that day for an advance against the
enemy early on the morning OF the 18TH.
Gen. Thomas's Order Of Battle.
| The disposition OF Gen. Thomas's
forces and their initial movements as
directed In his General Order for the
day were substantially as follows:
Gen. A. ]. Smith, commanding de-
tachment Of the Army OF the Tennessee,
after forming his troops on and near the
Harding pike in front Of his present po-
stion, will make q vigorous assault on
the enemy's left. Maj.-Gen. Wilson,
commanding Cavalry Corps, with three
divisions will support Cen Smiths a
Il l., L.
commanding Fourth Corps,
will form on the Hillsboro pike to sup
port Gen. Smiths left, and operate on
the left and rear of the enemys ad-
vanced position on Montgomery Hill.
Maj.-Gen. Schofield, commanding
Twenty-third Corps, will occupy the
trenches from Fort Negley to Lawrens
Hill with a strong skirmish line, moving
the remainder Of his forces in front Of
| the works and cooperate with Gen.
Wood, protecting the latter's left flank
lagainst an attack by the enemy. MAJ
Gen. Steedman will occupy the interior
line in rear Of his present position
II with a strong skirmish line,
and mass the remainder OF his force to
act according to the exigencies which
may arise during these operations
Brig. Gen. Miller with the troops form
ing the garrison of Nashville will oc-
cupy the interior line, and
also the Quartermaster's troops under
Brig. Gen. Donaldson. The troops &C.
cupying the interior line will be under
the direction of Gen. Steedman, who Is
| charged with the immediate defense OF
Nashville during operations around the
CITY,"
AS the battle progressed these dispo-
sitions were of course greatly changed,
but will refer to such changes only as
| they relate to or in some manner affect
| the movements Of Gen. Smiths Corps
to which the Minnesota regiments were
attached.
It will be noted that in Gen. Thomas's
disposition of his forces he apparently
made ample arrangements for the de-
and it will also be noted that Gen.
Smiths command was designated to
make the main assault upon the enemy.
Beginning of the Battle.
At a. m. Of the 18th the army left
it's intrenchments and moved to the
front. A thick fog hung over the coun-
try and enyeloped both armies, but the
rising sun and a moderate southern
breeze lifted the mists, and by 10 o'clock
Gen. Thomas's order to Smith to make
a vigorous assault on the enemy's left
was in full process Of execution. The
enemy in that part of the field was ap-
parently unprepared to meet SO deter
mined an advance as he offered, and
made but a feeble resistance to Smith
initial attack, retiring in fairly good
order until a line Of redoubts was
reached about two miles to the rear of
where he was first encountered. Here
a more stubborn resistance was offered
and our advance brought to momen-
tary halt. Gen. Macarthur was ordered
to test the mettle of his division, which
included the four Minnesota regiments,
in an assault upon two of the redOubts
that were particularly spiteful in the
delivery of shell and canister along our
thing of a speciality Of that kind Of
work in former conflicts Of the war, and
had become expert in it's own cOnceit
lalong that line. The artillery of the di-
vision gave its customary response to
the fire Of the rebel batteries, and the
infantry, imassed in double lines, was
hurled with such force against the re-
doubts that the enemy, apparently stag
gered by the yigor of the blow, scarcely
checked the onslaught. The redoubts,
with their contents Of men and guns,
and most OF their supporting force,
were gathered in as trophies Of the af-
fair. AS if eager to reach the next OBJ
stacle to their progress, the division
pushed onward. The impetus of the
charge had been but slightly checked
by the impact with the enemy, and the
fleeing rebels realized that their Meme
sis was close upon their heels. few
escaped to report to their comrades
what had happened, aided by the fact
that a strong column Of the enemy was
now advancing from their rear, and
which naturally checked the pursuit.
This new development suggested a
pause, as it involved realignment and
a partial change of front.
A Realignment.
The troops of the Second Division Of
Smiths Corps, upon the left, had not
advanced as rapidly as McArthur's Di-
vision, for the reason that fortified po-
sitions of the enemy were sooner en-
lcountered, and perhaps were more
Istubbornly defended. In consequence
of this condition there occurred con-
siderable interval to the left and rear
between the two divisions as the adj
vance progressed beyond the captured
Iredoubts. The Third Brigade was there
fore swung to the left, and participated
with the Second Division in an assault
upon and the capture of strong posi-
ton Of the enemy, in the course of
which it's commander, Col. HILL a. much
respected and most accomplished and
gallant officer, was killed. Most for
tunate for the service, there was an
able and skillful officer at hand to take
his place in the person of Col. VIM, r.
Marshall, of the 7th Mimi, who there
after commanded the Third Brigade.
/ The First Brigade of McArthur's Divi-
sion had been diverted somewhat to the
right in pursuit of body of the enemy,
and thus the Second Brigade found it
self considerably in advance of and
somewhat isolated from the rest of the
| division. 1t seemed for the moment
i that the Second Brigade would have a
fight on it's own account with the adj