with A. J. Smith's, and pierce the centre, while A. J. Smith was to attack the extreme left. Hatch's division of cavalry connected with Smith's right. Some of Major-General Wilson's cavalry had wheeled on the enemy's rear, towards Brentwood, so as to cut off the rebel retreat.

FIRST DAY'S BATTLE.

The booming of guns from Forts Negley and Cassino and several batteries awakened the inhabitants of Nashville, on the morning of November 15th, to the terrible reality that a battle was raging outside their city. There was great anxiety and hurrying to and fro, for the fate of thousands hung upon the issue. Defeat would be ruin, for it meant the fall of Nashville. Thomas knew this, and therefore decided on attacking Hood before he had time to fortify his new position. At early dawn Steadman's troops were in motion. The First and Second brigades-colored troops, commanded by Colonels Thompson and Morgan-took up position to the right and left of the Chattanooga line. These were supported by an Indiana battery. Colonel Grosvenor, commanding a brigade formed of detachments of the Fourteenth corps, took up a position on their left. The colored troops drove back the enemy's skirmishers to their main lines, but wavered under the assault. Grosvenor's brigade charged, taking the advance line of works; but, as it was not Thomas's intention to bring on a general engagement at this point, General Steadman ordered them to fall back to their original position, still keeping up a brisk skirmish fire.

About six o'clock in the morning the Fourth corps broke camp, moving on the Hillsboro' pike in the following order, en echelon on the left; the Second division in front, the First division next, and the Third division in the rear. The corps moved forward, regulating its movements by those of General Smith, who was to attack the rebel left flank, it being intended to make the main assault on this part of the rebel line. The Fourth corps took up the following position. General Samuel Beatty, commanding the Third division, on the left, held the front line, the division of General Nathan Kimball in the centre, came second, and the division of General Elliot, in the rear, connecting with Garrard's division, of Smith's corps; then came McArthur's division.

There was heavy cannonading all the morning. About noon Smith's and Wood's skirmishers became engaged. General Wood ordered General Beatty to charge a hill in his front, held by a strong force of the enemy, heavily intrenched. The Second brigade of Beatty's division, commanded by Colonel Post, was ordered to make the charge. The First brigade, Colonel Straight, moved en echelon on the left, and in support, while the Third brigade of Colonel Kneppler (Seventy-ninth Ohio) was. held in reserve. The order was no sooner given for the charge than the

Second brigade rushed forward with a yell. The First brigade supported it by a spirited fire, and on the order to charge being given, sprang for ward in a spirit of emulation. The rebels occupied a strong position around Montgomery's house, near the Granny White pike, which now became the central point of the battle. The defence of the rebels at this point was of the most stubborn character. The Unionists fired volley upon volley, charged them repeatedly, and at last drove them in great confusion through the grounds of the mansion. Though ordered to halt on dislodg. ing the rebels from this position, the National troops charged on them as they fled, capturing over two hundred, and securing their entire line of works in front of Wood. In the mean time the First and Second divisions were sharply engaged, pressing back the rebels, and advancing slowly. The batteries were moved forward to the hills abandoned by the rebels, and the fight was carried on heavily all the while by Smith's corps. About two o'clock General Schofield, who had been in the rear of the Fourth corps, took up a position on the right of Smith, thus extending the Union line without weakening it, and soon became engaged. The roar of artillery and musketry continued fierce along the whole line.

About three o'clock Post's and Straight's brigades, abandoning their echelon formation, formed in line with the First brigade of Beatty's division and the Second division of Wood's corps, and the whole line again advanced, protected by a fierce artillery fire from Battery H, Fifth regu lar, the Second Pennsylvania, the First Illinois, the Fourth regular, First and Sixth Ohio batteries. The advance of this line was magnificent, the columns extending in one long line of battle, marching steadily and strongly forward over a clear plateau and driving the enemy before it, Post and Straight moving in simple line of battle, with Kimball's and Ellicott's divisions, in column of brigade front. Smith and Schofield continued to press back the rebel left flank to the hills in rear of their first position. Garrard's and McArthur's divisions captured the rebel works, and succeeded in turning their left flank and driving them from hill to hill. The line of the Fourth corps for a moment halted and laid down to allow batteries to rake the rebel line. The fire grew nearer and nearer on the right. Soon the rebel lines and columns were seen to be breaking up in mad panic and confusion A wild chcer ran along the lines. The Fourth corps rose and again advanced at a double quick. The batteries poured shot and shell on the panic-stricken fugitives. So wild was the enthusiasm that civilians rushed to the batteries to help the gunners. Union columns now appeared on the right and connected with the centre, thus forming a V out of their lines.

A deafening cheer went up when Smith's and Schofield's columns. emerged with flaunting flags, the rebels flying in confusion before them. A gallant charge followed the wild cheering, and accompanied by the

roar of artillery, the enemy was pressed back on the centre in confusion, and only night ended the pursuit.

SECOND DAY'S BATTLE.

During the night of the 15th, Hood withdrew both his wings from the river, contracted his lines everywhere, and, on the morning of the 16th, was holding a strong position along Granny White Hills, with his centre protected by two lines of intrenchments.

The Union troops were disposed in the following order :-Wilson's cavalry was on the extreme right. Schofield's Twenty-third corps, consisting of Couch's and Cox's divisions, was at first held in reserve, but before the main battle opened it had to take a position on the left of the cavalry, thus forming the right of the infantry line. A. J. Smith's Sixteenth corps, consisting of the divisions of McArthur, Garrard and Moore, came next on the left of Schofield. On the left of Smith, the magnificent Fourth corps, General T. J. Wood commanding, comprising the divisions of Kimball, Elliott, and Beatty, was formed in close order of battle; and, partially massed, Steadman, with Croft's division and two brigades of colored troops, held the left. The Union plan of battle was to press the advantage gained on the enemy's left. At about half-past eight o'clock a hundred pieces opened fire simultaneously along the Union line. The rebel artillery replied feebly. Schofield, marching down Granny White pike, carefully concealing his strength, placed his corps directly upon the enemy's left flank. Steadman at the same time worked his force forward. The enemy in the mean time strengthened his advance line. It was determined to carry this line without delay. Kimball's First division moved forward to the charge, firing volley after volley, but still steadily pressing on until within half a pistol shot, when the enemy's fire became so deadly that the patriots, in order to return it more effectually, came to the "halt." They remained here, perhaps, longer than any troops ever remained in such a position. They stood and fired fast and furious at the enemy, but they could not remain and live. A few gave way and fled in disorder, and the whole line staggered. Had the rebels done nothing more than keep up their deadly fire, the Federals would have been driven back; but the enemy shifted their artillery, which was received as an indication that they were about to abandon their lines and retire. Raising a loud shout, the division, with fixed bayonets, rushed impetuously forward, and swarming over the works captured such rebels as had not fled, and all the guns except two.

As soon as this preliminary success was achieved, General Thomas, who was seen during the day in the very front of the line of battle, ordered a charge along the entire line.

Schofield moved upon the left flank of the enemy, and before his vete. rans the rebel lines gave way like frostwork

The assailed flank crumbled to pieces as Schofield advanced, and rolled back upon that portion of the line which was just then attacked by A. J. Smith's troops with a weight and energy nothing could withstand. McMillan's brigade, foremost in the battle, as on the previous day, rushed right up in the face of three powerful rebel batteries, and carried at the point of the bayonet the salient point of the enemy's works. In a few moments their works were everywhere overwhelmed, their forces utterly routed, their soldiers captured by thousands, and every piece of their artillery taken.

Such as escaped death or capture fled towards Franklin pike, to a refuge behind A. D. Lee's corps, which held the gap in the hills.

Wood and Steadman had now united on the left, and prepared to as sault the rebel right, which was still unbroken. Under cover of a tremendous fire from the national guns, Colonel Post's brigade moved for. ward. Straight's brigade, of Beatty's division, formed on his right. In support, immediately on Post's left, Thomas' colored brigade was drawn up, and Morgan's colored brigade was next on the left.

The enemy reserved his fire until Post's brigade commenced climbing the hill, when a perfect hurricane of shot, shell and canister tore through his ranks. In the face of this fire the men steadily advanced.

Thompson's men, in endeavoring to pass around to the left, met a terrible flank fire, which confused their ranks. The troops on the right, torn in picces by the fire, paused an instant, and at this juncture the brave Colonel Post was mortally wounded. In a moment all order was lost, and the men, whose conduct had ennobled them, rushed back, confused and scattering, to the line from which they started. Wood soon reformed his broken battalions and issued orders for the renewal of the assault, while Post's veterans again assailed the hill directly, and Thompson's Africans moved on the rebel right. Elliott's and Kimball's divisions were hurled like a thunderbolt against the rebel left. Wood himself, accompanied by all his staff, followed and directed the charge. The rebel force blazed forth anew, and the patriots, without hesitation or panic, carried the entire works with all their guns, and drove the rebels in dismay from the hill. This was the last stand that the rebels made, and their whole army was now fleeing in rout and panic. The results of the battle were five thousand prisoners, thirty guns, and seven thousand small arms.

THIRD DAY.-PURSUIT.

During the night of the 16th, Hood's army duly improved the opportunity of retreat, falling back in the direction whence they had advanced.

At eight o'clock, on the morning of the 17th, the pursuit was commenced, the fighting, of course, being chiefly done by the cavalry, and was continued beyond Franklin. Many prisoners were captured. The pursuit thus commenced went on from day to day, till before the close of the year, the rebels had been fairly chased out of Tennessee. The loss of the enemy, in prisoners, at the battle of Nashville, was thirteen thousand one hundred and eighty-nine, including numerous officers of various grades, and seventy-two pieces of artillery. The National loss was about ten thousand. Hood retreated into Alabama.

CONTINUATION OF THE SIEGE OF CHARLESTON IN 1864. The siege of Charleston was prosecuted with intermittent activity, during many months of this year. On the third of January, the besiegers threw a large number of shells into the city, loaded with Greek firc. This is one of the most dangerous and deadly agencies of war, and its use, on this occasion, has been condemned, as barbarous. But, as said by General Sherman, war is cruelty, and you cannot refine it." A confiagration of considerable violence and extent, was the result of this bombardment. Its scene was the southern part of the city. The shelling was continued at intervals, for several weeks. On the sixteenth of January the Union headquarters were removed from Folly Island to Hilton Head, General A. H. Terry being left in command at the former place. Port Royal was all along held as the basis of military operations on the coast of the State. From this time forward no event of magnitude occurred in the vicinity of Charleston. The guns and mortars of the Union rained on it, now and then, from Morris Island, and from the blockading gunboats, and the rebels responded with occasional shells. The harbor had been filled with insurmountable obstacles, and the city was well fortified and bravely defended. Looked at in the light of succeeding events, it would almost seem as if the capture of Charleston, at this time, were not especially desired by the United States Government. But, however that might have been, the city held out against such assaults as were made, and was only abandoned at last, on the approach of General Sherman from Savannah, after his great march from Atlanta, which will be presently described. The Secession State Government of South Caro lina held control of the greater part of the State throughout the year.