158 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



don, which was captured by Burbridge, with 

 much stores. A portion of the salt-works at 

 this point was also destroyed. The pursuit of 

 Vaughn was continued by Gen. Gillem, with 

 the support of Brown's brigade, and some loss 

 inflicted on him. A force was also sent to the 

 Virginia railroad near Glade Springs, which 

 destroyed a large number of bridges and depots, 

 a large amount of rolling stock, and the exten- 

 sive iron works near Marion. Upon the ad- 

 vance of the Confederate Gen. Breckinridge 

 it withdrew to Kentucky. 



The operations in Middle Tennessee became 

 very important near the close of the year. On 

 Nov. 4th, Johnsonville, a depot for supplies on 

 the Tennessee River, was attacked and destroyed 

 by Col. Forrest. The value of property burned 

 was estimated at more than six million dollars. 

 This result was achieved by planting batteries 

 on the opposite bank of the river and destroy- 

 ing the small gunboats which lay near the 

 place for its protection. 



The movement of Gen. Sherman's force tow- 

 ard Savannah, with the necessary reduction 

 of the Federal forces in Tennessee, tempted 

 Gen. Hood to advance into that State with the 

 hope that by the cooperation of Gen. Breckin- 

 ridge in East Tennessee, the entire State 

 might be recovered and restored to the Con- 

 federacy. On Nov. 21st Gen. Hood began to 

 move north from the Tennessee River for the 

 capture of Nashville, and on the 23d his army 

 took possession of Pulaski, which had been just 

 evacuated by the small Federal force under 

 Gen. Hatch. Pushing forward with some 

 skirmishing, Columbia was occupied on the 

 26th. Meanwhile the force left under Gen. 

 Thomas by Gen. Sherman, continued to fall 

 back toward Nashville. The enemy appeared 

 before Franklin on the 30th, and Gen. Scho- 

 field prepared to make a stand. The force of 

 Gen. Hood, however, was divided into two 

 columns, one to attack Franklin in front, and 

 the other to move down Harpeth River, cross 

 over it some distance east of Franklin, and en- 

 deavor to get into the Federal rear. At 4 p. M. 

 on Wednesday, the 30th, Gen. Hood's main 

 column made a heavy and persistent attack on 

 Franklin in front, but Gen. Schofield, who was 

 in command with 15,000 men, managed to hold 

 his own until dusk, and then ordered a retreat. 

 This was accelerated by the news of the flank- 

 ing column having crossed Harpeth River 

 several miles east of Franklin. The retreat 

 was continued all night, and on Thursday at 

 daylight reached a point seven miles south of 

 Nashville, where Gen. A. J. Smith's corps was 

 posted. The Confederate flanking column, 

 after crossing Harpeth River attacked a Federal 

 cavalry brigade, and compelled it to retreat. 

 The force reached Gen. Smith's position about 

 the same time as Gen. Schofield. The enemy 

 followed both, and Gen. Smith being hard 

 pressed abandoned his position and fell back to 

 the outer line of the Nashville intrenchments, 

 three miles from the town. 



Great consternation prevailed in Nashville. 

 Business was suspended. The citizens and the 

 vast army of Government laborers were put 

 under arms. The army of Gen. Thomas was 

 put in line of battle three miles south of Nash- 

 ville, and the enemy advanced to a point five 

 miles distant. The intervening space became a 

 scene of constant skirmishing. Meantime Gen. 

 Hood proposed to blockade the Cumberland 

 River, cut the Louisville and Nashville road, 

 and thus compel Gen. Thomas to evacuate the 

 city. To execute this purpose more effectively, 

 he fell back from his works before the city to in- 

 trench himself in the Overton range of hills, and 

 thus cut off Thomas from Rousseau at Murfrees- 

 boro, and with his cavalry and Breckinridge's 

 forces cut off Bridgeport and Chattanooga. 



Reinforcements were now sent to Gen. 

 Thomas with the greatest despatch, and he 

 determined to dislodge Gen. Hood from his 

 position, which he had already begun to 

 strengthen. Accordingly, early on Dec. lo.th, 

 a feint was made on Hood's right and a real 

 attack upon his left, which resulted in driving 

 it from the river below the city as far as Frank- 

 lin's pike, a distance of eight miles. The train 

 and headquarters of Gen. Chalmers were cap- 

 tured ; another tram of twenty wagons, to- 

 gether with a thousand prisoners and sixteen 

 pieces of artillery. During the ensuing night 

 Gen. Hood contracted his lines back to the 

 Brentwood range of hills, massing on the Frank- 

 lin pike to keep it open, in case of retreat, and 

 to cover his large wagon train, which was mov- 

 ing by by-roads into the pike. On the next 

 morning the battle was renewed. The Federal 

 position remained unchanged from the previous 

 day. Steedman on the extreme left, Wood con- 

 necting with him on the left of the Franklin 

 pike. Garrard's division of A. J. Smith's corps 

 connecting with the right of Wood's; next 

 came McArthur, then Col. Moore, connecting 

 with Gen. Schofield's left. Gen. Cox formed 

 Schofield's right and Gen. Couch his left. Wil- 

 son's cavalry came up on Schofield's right, along 

 the Hillsboro pike, with orders to operate south 

 of the hills, and, if possible, turn the enemy's 

 flank and cut off his retreat. Movements com- 

 menced at 10 A.M., and in the afternoon the 

 action became" close and obstinate. Near dusk 

 the enemy began to give way, and a rout soon 

 followed. They were pursued until dark through 

 the gap of the hills and along the Franklin pike. 

 Some four thousand prisoners were captured. 



The following is Gen. Thomas's report of this 

 day's conflict : 



HEADQUARTERS DEP'T OF THE CUMBERLAND, EIGHT ) 



MILES FROM NA8HTILLE, DeC. 16 6 P. M. f 



To the President of the United, States, Hon. E. M. 



Stanton, and Lieut.- General Grant: 



This army thanks you for your approbation of Ha 

 conduct yesterday, and assure you that it is not mis- 

 placed. I have the honor to report that the enemy 

 has been pressed at all points to-day on his line of re- 

 treat to the Brentwood Hill. Brig.-Gen. Hatch, of 

 Wilson's corps of cavalry, on the right, turned the 

 enemy's left, and captured a large number of prison- 

 ers. The number is not reported. 



