John M. Schofield, Forty-six years in the Army

headquarters, army of the Ohio, December 16, 1864, 7:45 P. M.
Major-General George H. Thomas, Commanding Department of the Cumberland.

General: I have the honor to report four pieces of artillery and a considerable number of prisoners captured by General Cox's division this afternoon. General Cox also reported four other pieces and caissons captured in the valley between the hill carried by General McArthur and that taken by General Cox. I learned, however, upon inquiry, that General McArthur's troops claimed, and I have no doubt justly, the honor of capturing the last four. My provost-marshal reports seventy-four prisoners captured this P. M. I have conversed with some of the officers captured, and am satisfied Hood's army is more thoroughly beaten than any troops I have ever seen.

I congratulate you most heartily upon the result of the two days operations. My messenger will wait for any orders you may have to send me.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. M. Schofield, Major-General.

It now appears to be fully established by the records that Hood's infantry force in the battle of Nashville was very far inferior to that of Thomas, and he had sent a large part of his cavalry, with some infantry, away to Murfreesboroa. This disparity must have been perfectly well known to Hood, though not to Thomas. Hence it would seem that Hood must have known that it was utterly