Litchfield Enquirer

Thomas.-Our forces advancing this morning about 8 o'clock, they captured a body of rebel prisoners estimated at 3000 in number. Among them are one general, and a number of commissioned officers. The capture was made between Brentwood, 10 miles south of this city, and Harpeth river. An order for 1000 men to guard the prisoners was just received by Gen. Miller, commandant at this post. They expected to reach here during the day.

Additional particulars of yesterday's engagement are especially creditable to our cavalry. Gen. R. M. Johnson instead of being killed as reported has turned the rebel flank and crossed Harpeth river, seven miles hence. Large numbers of rebel prisoners reached the city last night and this morning. They will be forwarded north at once. About 100 deserters came into our lines yesterday. The army today is undoubtedly attacking the rear of the rebels.
The detailed account of the great battle fought before Nashville, on Thursday, the 15th inst., exhibits, in a clear light, the skillful strategy of our Generals and the intrepid bravery of our soldiers. The enemy, according to this account, were completely outmaneuvered, and taken by surprise. Expecting that Gen. Thomas would attempt to turn their left flank, they had carefully prepared their works, and made every preparation to repel an onslaught by our forces in that quarter. To keep up this fatal delusion, Gen. Steedman's command was ordered to skirmish heavily on the rebel left, inducing them to mass their troops at that point, while Gen. Thomas was quietly concentrating the Sixteenth and Twenty-third Corps and Wilson's cavalry on the right. The result was that when the buglers sounded the advance, our right wing advanced rapidly between the left of the rebels and the Cumberland river, completely doubling upon a rebel division which the rebels had posted to block the river. A battery was taken here by our forces and sent to the rear. The rebels had by this time perceived that our attack on the right was a feint, and Hood attempted to atone for his mistake, but he was too late, as our right had established a force on the main bank of the river, and were steadily advancing.

In front of the Fourth Corps, about a mile beyond Hillsboro, the rebels had a strong line of works, defended by skirmishers. These were carried gallantly by assault, and our men, pressing forward, captured a second line of works, with one thousand prisoners. After maneuvering for some time for position, our force advanced upon the second line of intrenchments, that ran along the brow of a hill about a mile beyond their skirmish line. This was gallantly carried in the face of a tremendous fire, and the enemy were driven in confusion from their strong position.

It was in this charge that Lieut. John Watson, of the 5th Iowa Cavalry, so well known and beloved in this town, met his death wound, being shot in the breast while gallantly charging the enemy's batteries.