About a million and a half dollars’ worth of store and property on the levee and in storehouses was consumed by fire.  On the 5th the enemy disappeared and crossed to the north side of the Tennessee River, above Johnsonville, moving towards Clifton, and subsequently joined Hood.  On the night of the 5th, General Schofield, with the advance of the 23d corps, reached Johnsonville, but finding the enemy gone, was ordered to Pulaski, and was put in command of all the troopers there, with instruction to watch the movements of Hood and retard his advance, but not to risk a general engagement until the arrival of General A. J. Smith’s command from Missouri, and until General Wilson could get his cavalry remounted.

On the 19th, General Hood continued his advance.  General Thomas, retarding him as much as possible, fell back towards Nashville for the purpose of concentrating his command and gaining time for the arrival of reinforcements.  The enemy coming up with our main force, commanded by General Schofield, at Franklin, on the 30th, assaulted our works repeatedly during the afternoon until late at night, but were in every instance repulsed.  His loss in this battle was one thousand seven hundred and fifty killed, seven hundred and two prisoners, and three thousand eight hundred wounded.  Among his losses were six general officers killed, six wounded, and one captured.  Our entire loss was two thousand three hundred.  This was the first serious opposition the enemy met with, and I am satisfied was the fatal blow to all his expectations.  During the night, General Schofield fell back towards Nashville.  This left the field to the enemy—­not lost by battle, but voluntarily abandoned—­so that General Thomas’s whole force might be brought together.  The enemy followed up and commenced the establishment of his line in front of Nashville on the 2d of December.

As soon as it was ascertained that Hood was crossing the Tennessee River, and that Price was going out of Missouri, General Rosecrans was ordered to send to General Thomas the troops of General A. J. Smith’s command, and such other troops as he could spare.  The advance of this reinforcement reached Nashville on the 30th of November.

On the morning of the 15th December, General Thomas attacked Hood in position, and, in a battle lasting two days, defeated and drove him from the field in the utmost confusion, leaving in our hand most of his artillery and many thousand prisoners, including four general officers.

Before the battle of Nashville I grew very impatient over, as it appeared to me, the unnecessary delay.  This impatience was increased upon learning that the enemy had sent a force of cavalry across the Cumberland into Kentucky.  I feared Hood would cross his whole army and give us great trouble there.  After urging upon General Thomas the necessity of immediately assuming the offensive, I started West to superintend matters there in person.  Reaching Washington