Canyon City news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1903-1908, 1905-03-17
Copyright. 1904, by G. l.. Kllmerl

Shy's hill by Thomas troops
on Dec. IL. for that event de-
stroycd the Confederate left only. The
Confederate commander. General ]. b.
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
fur satisfied with the results Of the
fighting on the 10Th, by which the Con-
federates were driven back mt nll 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 Shy's hall and the
destruction OF the enemy's left Thomas
turned his mind toward tlanking
movement to be made by General J. III.
Wilson's cavalry in rear of Hoods dis
rupted left flank. Meanwhile the Fed
eral sklrmishers In front of Overton's
hill pushed forward and rcconnoltered
the Confederate works at close view.
One Of the brigade commanders In the
line confronting Overton's hill, Colonel
Post, thought an assault on the hill.
though costly. would carry the point.
He was permitted TO make the attempt,
ana General J. B. Stcedmans second
colorrd brigade. troops never before
under fire, was ordered to advance on
an opposite face OF the work and make
O fclnt in support Of Post. Posts
.n1 pt rVir
twenty pnccs Of the pnrapct concen-
trntel fire of muskctry and grape
checked them. Colonel Post fell severe
ly wounded. and the power Of impact
was lost by the scattering Of the ranks.
Thompsons colored soldiers became
excited when the canister struck them
and turned the fcInt into a. hcadlong
charge up to the parapet, where they.
too. were hurled back. This was the
failure of the day on the Federal side,
aud half the losses of the whole field
occurred there.
AS soon as Shy's hill had been con
ouercsl and the lines adjoining gave
way General Woods men marched up
Overton's hill unopposed. and the Con-
federatc army from left to right
droppcd away in state of wild disor-
der. soon ending in 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 Will
sons advance. led by Hatch. thundered
down in pursuit soon after night came
on. Ruckcr rode up and down the line
outside the barricades to direct and IN
spire his men. Turning back hastily to
avoid some obstruction, he ran into
the Tenth Tennessee QFederaD. not dis
covering the mistake until surrounded
Colonel Spalling Of the Tenth demand
ed his sword, which Rucker offered
him savagely, point first. Spalding
parricl and knocked tho weapon out
of Fuckers hand, who quickly
wrenched away that of his antagonist
Spalding picked up Rucker's blade. but
before the two could resume the due
Fuckers men began to shoot from be
hind the barrlcade, receiving an an
swer from Hatchs carbineers. Ruck
ers elbow was shattered by ball. ana
he surrendered to Spalding. Mean
while FORESTS other brigade had gal
loped back to seize bridges and cross
roads on the routes of retreat Will
their usual spirit his men held then
until the infantry columns had re
crossed the Tennessee. not, however
rs an army, but as n mob which had
yielded up the glories earned In three
years of fighting to Thomas on th'
heights of Nashville. And 1t cost bu
400 Federal lives to save the city ant
destroy Hood.
Night was falling on the 10th whei
Thomas victory over Hood was seel
to be complete. A drenching rain Sc
in and. with the darkness. added Il
the confusion in the Federal line
which were convergng as the troop
pressed forward upon the two road
by which the COnfederates were re
treating. These roads We're about tw'
miles apart. Wilson's cavalry in carry
ing out the flank movement directed b.
Thomas earlier in the day had coveret