The Washington herald., 1914-12-20
HOOD CRUSHED IN SECOND
DAYS FIGHTING.
December 16.

Fifty wears ago today the Confederate
army under Gen. John L. Hood. which
had invaded Middle Tennessee In hope
of regaining the State for the South was
crushed by the Federals under Gen.
George II. Thomas. in the second day S
fighting at Nashville.
The defeat of the Conf, dcrates was
Hoods army in full flight for the Ten
nessee River. eighty miles to the south,
behind which they were to find shelter.
The character OF the battle reflected
the personality of the Federal command
er. Thomas. patient, deliberate and aim
amidst the greatest excitement around
him, spent the greater part OF the day
inspecting his battle line. instructing his
generals and carefully adjusting his COM
binations. Then, when all was ready. he
struck a single crushing blow. that crum-
bled the Confederate army into a dis
ordered. fleeing horde.
The day before, by a careful and or
derby msssinG of almost his entire
strength against the Confederate left
flank. Thomas had driven Hood from a
position which he had taken up on the
hills on the 6ptskirts OF Nashville. and.
capturing mafy guns and prisoners, had
forced the enemy 10 retreat in the night
to a second defensive line, two miles
in the rear Of the first.
Right Angle in Hoods Line.
In the first days battle Gen. Hood had
been unable to protect his flank from
the attacks of Gen. James II. Wilson, S
cavalry corps. as the bulk OF his own
cavalry had been previously sent away
for operations far distant from Nashville
Only 1000 men remained, under Gen.
James Chalmers, and these had been
pushed back by Wilson's men.
Realizing that he must do something
to remedy that evil, Gen. Hood. in form
ing his new line, made his front less
than half as long as in the old one. That
allowed him to refuse" his fanks.
Cheatham's corps Joined Stewards
corps where the Confederate left-center
rested on a steep hill. afterward called
Shys, west of the Granny White pike.
Stewards men faced north. connecting
with Lees corps, which formed the ex-
treme right of Gen. Hoods army, and
whose right flank rested upon a, hight
called Overtons Hills.
Chalmers Confederate Cavalry were
on Cheatham's left flank, facing south
on the Granny White pike, where part
Of Gen. Wilson's Federal troops had
gained a foothold in Hoods rear the
night before.
Gen. Thomas, too had made adjustment
in his army at the close of the previous
day. but night had prevented his lines
from being formed as he desired. So at
o'clock in the morning OF December 16
the Federals continued their adjustment
in front OF Hoods new position.
Federal Cavalry I'm Hoods Rear.
Before o'clock Gen. Thomas and his
aids rode out from Nashville, where he
had spent the night, to the extreme left
of his lin, where a division under Gen.
J. B. Steedman was stationed. Next to
Steedman was Gen. 7. ]. Woods Fourth
Corps, facing Lees Confederate corps at
Overtons Hills; then came Gen. A. ].
Smiths Sixteenth Corps, fronting on
Stewart at Shys Hill. At that point the
Federal line formed a right angle to con-
form with the Confederate positions. Gen.
J. NJ. Schoheld's Twenty-third Corps fac
ing east in front of Cheatham's corps.
Wilson's Federal cavalry WAS on the
right (south) of Schofield, threatening the
Confederate rear.
Thomas made his way slowly along his
line from left to right, talking with his
suggesting changes in for
nation. and outlining his plans for at
tack A furious ARTILLERY fire was direct
ed upon the -Gonfederatg 'iine from every