reports of the 1st February and 31st March, al Delafield, chief engineer. our army on the 15th and 16th of December, of engineers commenced to fortify it at that sed from time to time, by making it the depot bors of the engineers continued, and were not effort of the rebels to capture it, and thus enrch through Georgia and the Carolinas to Vire advance of Hood through Kentucky to the talent of the engineers. General Tower had 1864, and labored to perfect the incomplete e rebel General Hood, and while the army was ecessity for strengthening and completing these He then wrote to the assistant adjutant general sting that the forces of the quartermaster's dehed line over the high hills in advance of the ight expedient, (see plan No. 4.) At 12 m. rton, and informed him that about five thoulock. To his question shall they intrench the t them construct your interior line connecting old the hills and intrench them. ney, who was assisting him, directions to run s from Fort Morton around the Taylor house as assisted by Major Powell, of the Tennessee ckson, inspector of artillery of the army of the ously the construction of the large and imaptain Barlow, of the corps of engineers, took berland river to the Chattanooga railroad, south 1 210 to Hyde Ferry was laid out by Captain Major Willet. During the fifteen days prelle, more than seven miles of infantry parapet e thus constructed by the quartermaster and tinuous line (see plan No. 4) in advance of all ther structures, except the scattered houses of eHill, and held the elevated positions which n range. It is the line indicated in his report ong a line as that occupied by the army over ould effectually secure the hospitals and other over the hills was the best army line, but derton, Houston, Gillem, and Hyde Ferry, could ccupying Nashville. number of redoubts of expensive construction, soil, to have fortified the line of hills, but such way from the city, covering it effectually. It the works already described, and strengthenmediate points, would make Nashville secure the quartermaster's organized forces. Hill 210 ey position, and the Taylor House knoll should lock-houses in batteries, like the construction d arrangement when well covered by the paratructions are the most difficult of accomplishand block-house bomb-proofs cause the great ies. A great deal, however, has been accom P mud, and muddy roads. It has He was getting up a plan of gained by the United States over the rebel forces under Ge Having accompanied the co special request that he should trating them. Captain Barlow, United Sta of Nashville since the middle and heartily responded to his Jenney, aide-de-camp on Gene! there, had voluntarily assisted Forts Houston, Gillem, and in He has sent the map (see pla the dispositions of troops befor ception of sections, seems clear perceived how admirably the ba with the plan. X was the turning point on that point, to the river on the l eral Steedman, while the thre Smith, and Schofield, and the upon the enemy's centre and 1 straight line, of which the left supported by works and cover a small force in advance towa fighting army, which, though re 40,000 strong.) necessarily bro line. The second day the rebel effect of his first day's fight, h superiority of cavalry, which uted to his defeat; and the lef dash of General Smith's corps 1 General Sherman appointed him inspector general of fortifications for ary division, he requested him to look well to the defences of Nashville. called his attention to Murfreesboro' and Columbia, the line of defence rmy falling back. Murfreesboro' was known to be well defended. Cowas the position on Duck river which would have been held by our d the corps from Missouri arrived a week sooner. As things occurred, le was the threatened point, and he gave his attention to its defences, 1 his personal influence to get aid from every source possible. The bmitted will show works devised by him for the defence of this depot, rations in original works. He had to thank the railroad department for sistance rendered, and especially the quartermaster's department for aid ers and material. These laborers were mostly organized as brigades, ied out as such, and guarded two miles of the interior line during the of the 15th and 16th of December, 1864, and in case of an attack on the ld doubtless be an efficient assistance to this garrison. in Barlow understands this position well, and would doubtless do everyhis power to forward its defences. Waiting for plans has delayed this 5 of engineer operations at Nashville. as getting up a plan of the magnificent battles of December 15 and 16, by the United States army, commanded by Major General Thomas, rebel forces under General Hood. (See plan No. 4.) g accompanied the commanding general during these fights, it was his request that he should direct the survey and drawing of the plan illushem. in Barlow, United States engineers, in immediate charge of the defences ville since the middle of December, had much improved his department, rtily responded to his efforts to push forward the defensive line. Captain aide-de-camp on General Sherman's staff, in charge of topographical office ad voluntarily assisted and had done excellent service superintending at ouston, Gillem, and in the construction of infantry line of intrenchments. as sent the map (see plan No. 4) of the battles of Nashville, which shows ositions of troops before and during the battles, and which, with the exof sections, seems clear and complete. By a little attention it will be d how admirably the battle was planned. Its execution was in accordance - plan. s the turning point on which the army wheeled as on a pivot. From t, to the river on the left, the lines were held by new troops under Genedman, while the three infantry corps, commanded by Generals Wood, and Schofield, and the cavalry corps under General Wilson, were hurled e enemy's centre and left. Our army, thus in position, formed nearly a line, of which the left far refused (made up of new troops) held lines d by works and covered by a brilliant dashi of General Steedman with force in advance towards the enemy's right. The right was the old army, which, though requiring much time to swing into postiion, (about trong,) necessarily broke the enemy's left, and drove him from his main econd day the rebel general had concentrated his forces; but the moral his first day's fight, his losses, especially in artillery, together with our ity of cavalry, which dismounted and attacked his left rear, all contribis defeat; and the left of his line was broken about four o'clock by a General Smith's corps. The battle is worthy of study. vet Brigadier General O. M. Poe to the Chief dated October 8, 1865. the march of General Sherman's army, extenduthern States, were of a very rapid character. nged to the engineer department were so intiat it is impossible to separate them. In order re built and roads made in the localities where give the movements of the army somewhat in rally be evident. The labors of the engineers movements, and always with a distinct idea of ral Poe was on duty as chief engineer with the neral W. T. Sherman, then before Kenesaw neer organization for the army in the field was re within the limits of the military division the viz: mechanics. to the army of the Cumberland, and were disong the railroads, forming our lines of supply, to defend them against raiding parties of the long the important line of railroad from Nashnessee river, engaged in completing that work. ■s provided with an engineer battalion in 1863, ennessee commenced. ee was not provided with any regular engineer having an excellent pioneer organization. In ces in the military division, the major general gestion, transferred the first Missouri engineers rland to the department of the Tennessee, and the field. 1 aggregate length of 1,400 feet, were with the as follows: 800 feet, in charge of the fiftycommanded by Colonel George P. Buell, were berland; 600 feet, in charge of Captain Kosf pioneers, were attached to the army of the kind known as the "canvas bateau bridge." 1, each 600 feet in length, were held in reserve gineer department with that army was as foles engineers, chief engineer military division, of engineers, chief engineer department and nant of engineers, chief engineer department orps of engineers, chief engineer, army of the duties of chief engineer army of the Cumberin W. E. Merrill, corps of engineers, but he, nize the regiment of veteran volunteer engiongress, had gone to Chattanooga for that General Poe, and were assign In the army of the Cumber The enemy showed little Receiving instructions fr On the 4th July our skirm The next line of works was |