The following article is transcribed from Harper's Weekly, Journal of Civilization, dated December 17, 1864:

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BATTLE OF FRANKLIN

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          Hood's army began to move on the 22d of November. Up to this date Forrest had remained on the Tennessee River, in the neighborhood of Savannah, while the main body of Hood's army was in the vicinity of Florence and Tuscumbia, with its base at Corinth. Forrest's cavalry, amounting to from 12,000 to 15,000, moved westward, Hood at the same time moving northward. Both columns by this advance flanked our positions at Decatur, Huntsville, and Pulaski, which were evacuated on the 23d. Thomas's army failing back on Columbia, 45 miles south of Nashville. On the 24th and 25th skirmishing was kept up between our cavalry and General Forrest, the latter being repulsed with the help of the infantry. In the mean time Hood was moving past our left northward aria's the Duck River and against Spring Hill, to cut off Schofield who was at Columbia, from Nashville. He had crowed Duck River by the 28th. As soon as this movement was discovered Schofield continued the retreat from Columbia toward NashviIle, his flanks being covered by Wilson's cavalry. So vigorous was Hood's pursuit that Forrest caught up with Wilson at Spring Hill on the 29th. A severe fight followed, in which Wilson, assisted by a portion of the infantry, repulsed Forrest. The enemy tried to bring on a general engagement, but our feces with drew to Franklin, which is on the south side of Big Harpeth River, and 18 miles south from Nashville. The next day, November 30, Hood pressed so closely that Schofield determined to await attack before erasing the river. Breast works were hastily thrown up south of the river, the army being drawn up in semicircular line around Franklin. Schofield's head-quarters were established at the strong fort on the north side of the stream. His army consisted of two corps—the Fourth, under Stanley, and the Twenty-third under Cox; the former held the right, and the latter the left wing Wagner's Brigade of COX'S Corps and Riley's of Stanley's connected, forming the centre. The rebel army consisted of three corps, under Cheatham, Stewart, and Lee. These corps attacked our lines at half past three P.M. The rebel attack was made chiefly on the centre. Charge after charge was made, ending always in repulse in ore of these Major-General Cleburne was killed; in another fell Brigadier-General Adams; and our artillery and hot musketry fire swept and decimated their rank end file. Still the assaults were repeated until at last the two brigades holding the centre wavered and fell back. As the enemy advanced to pursue his advantage, he was encountered by a new line consisting of Colonel Opdyke's brigade. General Stanley ordered Opdyke to restore the line, and himself led a countercharge against the enemy, in which he was wounded. But the rebels were driven back, a large number of them having been captured. The battle continued till night, when, under cover of the darkness, Schofield abandoned Franklin; and having been reinforced by A. J. Smith, the army was concentrated just south of Nashville. In the battle of Franklin the rebel loss was between four and five thousand, ours was about twelve hundred. General Wood has taken command of Stanley's corps during the temporary absence of the latter from the field.

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          The country around Nashville has been strongly fortified. A large amount of property belonging to rebel sympathizers has been destroyed to facilitate the defense of the city.