University of South Carolina Libraries
X (|{je ^alntett0 ?|erali>. ? i BY 8. W. MASON AXD CO. PORT ROYAL, THURSDAY. DEC. 22. 1SU. SHERMA TV . Gen. Foster, on Friday last, opened a line of supplies to Sherman's army, on the Ogeeche? river. There was but little trouble found in navigating the river, up to a point several miles above Fort Mc Allister, plenty ot water Demg louna tor vessels of ordinary draft. Beyond that point, with a skilful pilot, the tortuous nature of the channel seemed to be the 9 only obstacle to its free navigation, and that was readily obviated by competent wheelsmen. No trouble was experienced until the U. 8. Revenue Steamer Nemaha, Capt Warner, Gen. Foster's flag-boat, had reached the bridge of the Savannah and Gulf Railroad, which angles the Ogeeehee, about twenty-four miles above Fort McAllister, by the river, and about twelve by land. Here it was discovered that the bridge had been partially destroyed by fire, and Vhe draw through which vessels passed, entirely rained, and the -passage way obstructed by the debris of the draw bridge. Gen. Foster immediately ordered the steamerlsland City to remove the obsrruct ons, by drawing oat the piles in order to enlarge the passage wt y, and to tow away the piles. This work was accomplished in an hoar and-a-half by Capt. Ketch man, of the Island City, who personally superintended ^the work, and added bis own * manual aid to carry out the order. His energy, skill and faithful devotion to the work before him soon accomplished the desired object, and the Island City immediately thereafter passed through the fnllmDaH hff fth* \pmdha And nro ceeded up the river to King s bridge, on the Savannah and Darien state turnpike. At King's bridge, the Engineers ot Howard's wing, were found constructing extension docks at which the stores to be sent to the army were to be landed, i The work has been completed before this, and bountiful supplies have reached Sherman's forces. To Gen. Foster s untiring energy, and the magnetic influence of his presence, which seemed to control all with whom he had to direct, and his ardent seal in effecting the great work before him, are due the honor of the accomplishment of the great result of opening to Gen. Sherman an ea-?y, secure Mid short line, through which he could draw all his needful supplies. His efforts received the well-merited tribute of Gen. Sherman's and Gen. Howard's praise and thanks. Our limited space will not permit us to given det tiled account of Gen. Sherman's magnificent and triumphal march from Atlauta t.) Savannah. It was so full of s range a ul interesting incidents, that it would require a hundred columns to re1 tie one-half of them. We shall, therelore, confii e ourselves to a narration of a few of them. The march was practically unobstructed by the enemy. They attempted at vari ^ ?t A aUaaW kin (VMAimklO Kut irif K_ UU3 uiues u;uinAui9|?v^iw?) vim oat tiie slightest success. A brigade or j two of militia, aud a number of Wheeler s cavalry would make a stand behind an ' intrench men t, and contest our advance, j The skirmishers would advance, reinforc- : ed by the reserve, a charge would be sounded by the bugles, a rush would fol- | low, and amid the rattle of musketry aud the -reports of field pieces, the ground would be pwept over by our gallant sol- j diers, with deafining yells, and the work j would be carried, the enemy hastily retreating in coutusion. These little tights resulted in no check to our advanciug columns. The head of the column would halt to enable it to close up, and before that object was accomplished, the ad-1 vauce guard would have cleared the way, and the column would be in motion again. The resistance w;aa most 1 (eeble and absurd. So it was, when fallen trees, or burned bridges, obstructed j -? J rrt.. ? 1 1 IUK imi. I lie piuuccia uaj uiCMcu i away the impediments, belore the columu I had closed up, and no stoppage was experienced by any column. They moved, like the sweep of the sea, grandly aud irresistably on. The M icon fi ?ht was the only one entitled to the name of a battle. A brigade from the left wing had been detached to make a diversion on Macon while the main force was p;issing. It marched up to the defences of the city, made a mock attack, and proposed, after the design had been carried out, to fall back. The enemy supposing our forces had lieen defeated, sallied out, two divisions of-milUf* string, to overwhelm our little force. They were met by a stubborn and successful resistance. Three charges were made ou our unwavering lines, and completely repulsed; and the enemy,. disheartened by defeat, fell back into their ihtrenchments, and left the field oui possession. Three hundred dead fell into our hands, and a number of wounded. The enemy lost about twelve bun-,. dred nun in the effort to gobble up a brigade. Our l(*w was less than three hundred. After the rebels retreated our forces retired, the main farce having passed in quiet and safety. In one other fight between Kil gat rick, and the rebel cavalry under Wheeler, the latter was soundly flogged, and went off flying, like a whipped child. His boasts or tnrasmng ivupatncK are based oo Ms fertile imagination, and not on anything he accomplished on any fit-hi on which lie confronted the gallant " Yankee." Slocum's grand wing had not; during the entire march, a single brigade in line of battle, the skirmishers proving strong enough to overcome auy force in their tront, and not an infantry regiment encouutered Wheeler ? cavalry, notwithstanding that doughty chieftain asserts in his sensational official reports, that he whipped Kilpatrick's cavalry and Jeff. C. Davis' 14th corps together! The annihilation of Sherman's army did not come off according to programme, and the Savannah editors will soon learn that all their prophecies were mere leather and nnineila. J Notwithstanding the long and arduous march, Sherman's brave soldiers came through in the best of spirits. They wanted for nothing on the route, except in the last days, when hard-tack would not have been unacceptable.? 1 Poultry of all kinds turned their fat j brown sides up on the wooden platters, I to the eyes of the soldiers of the grand ! army, and sweet potatoes, rich cakes, and corn-bread adorned every table. It i was a holiday "march, and whetted the i appetites of the troops for a bit of a light with Johnnie Reb, when they should meet him. They feel strong enough to take anything in their route, and we believe they will do it. Gen. Sherman lias taken Argvle Island i and King's Island on the savauuau mver, ; three or four miles above the citv, and can easily shell the city if necessary. ' The city is now completely invested, and j its fall may be predicted at any moment. ! THE LATEST FROM SHERMAN. We are informed that General Slier- j man, after having closely inv. st^d tne city of Savannah, scut a day or two since to Gen. Hardee a summons for the surrendcqpf the city and the forces therein. | Gen. Hardee, according to the report, sent a refusal, stating that the city was , not covered by our guns, and that lie was in daiy comtn micati > n with his government. The Mayor and municipal, authorities of the city had united in a re- j quest to Gen. Hardee that the city should i be surrendered, lu order to save it and ; % ' spare the effusion of innocent blood. Hardee declined to accede to the re ju *st ! at the civil authorities, and has deter- i mined to assume the responsibility for ! the loss of property and life that must necessarily ensue from a bombardment, or an assault that will finally give us possession of the city. T.ie question of the capture of the town is settled by the investment of the city by Gen. Shermvi, and the time is not tar off when its poswill full Intft rmr ltiinils Events occjonn* ???? ?w?? ?*??" . are rapidly culminating in every portion j of the grand theatre of war, and it takes j do seer to predict after a contemplation 1 of the recent victories of Thomas over 1 Hood in Tennessee; of Canby in the Gulf and Mississippi; the successful operations in North Carolina and in Virginia ; aud the grand contest atWilmington, together with the successes of Sherman, that the rebellion is receiving its last aud fiuisbing blows. God grant that the end may be near, and that the old flag, as the symbol of our government and a free people, may float over every portion of the country. visit of gen. sherman to hi f. ton head On Tuesday morning last Gen. Sherman arrived here in company with Admiral DaFUgren, on the flag ship. He gp"Ht the day with Qeu. Foster, and in the evening returned to the Ogeechee. His arrival was noticed by a general display of flags, by cheers from admiring crowds as he passed, and in the evening by a general illumination of stores, houses and offices. These demonstra tious were resjwmded to by rockets from the flag ship after the General bail gone on board. AX KX PLOSION. Last evening, between band 10 o'clock, a tremendous explosion was heard in the direction of Savannah. It was proceeded by a brilliant light, which illuminated the, whole heavens in that direction. We have not yet the solution of the phenomena. LATER FROM SH ERA AX. Savannah Captured 1 This (Thursday) morning we have the gratifying news that Savannah is ours. The information comes in an official note from Mi^jor Strong, of Gen. Foster's staff, and is consequently reliable. No particulars accompany the announcement. We suspend the printing of our regular edition to insert this pleasing intelligence, reserving the full details for our next issue. Tuk Stkamkr Gkskral S iik km an, of Whitney & Hathaway''8 line between New York and Hilton Head, arrived here on Monday, having left New York on the 18th. She is a tine steamer, and brought down quite a number of passengers. The j Melville is shortly expected here. Promotion.?Lt.-Gol. W. T. Bennett, ' of the 102(1 U. S. G. T, has been com-1 missioned Colonel of the 33d I". S. C. T. j U!a fw'un/la u?!ll l\o rr!n/l ItfjuV nf IIman > uiirmn mu uv iv u* v? ? .. liis well-deserved promotion. C. Savillk <fc Co, Proprietors of tbe Palmetto Herald Store, have Harpers for January, ami a large assortment of new books, stationery, fancy gxxls, ?&p. Tiioy have, also, Tun Palmetto Hkhald | always for .-ale. - ? , GEJT. HATCH'S COMMAND. We have no additional news of importance from Gen. Hatch's command that we can properly publish. It is believed that trains do occasionally pass over the road, but with great caution and not much regularity. We have a battery of light rilled guns within about "<>0 yards of the road ou our right, another swamp battery on our left which commands a cu vert ou the road, and our 30-pdr. Parrotts in a go >d position A t lfief- arwimita hfi l bppn vi-rv little firing lince the Dth, and wo have had but ooe or two casuahi -a. The retail papers have quite bombastic accounts of the fighting, but one or two of them are inquiring how it is if Gen. Hatch was whipped at Honey Hill as badly as represented by Gen. Smith, he succeeded in getting an advanced and better position, nearer the railroad, a day or two after, and holding it. DINNER TO ESCAPED UNION OFFICERS. We mentioned last week the escape of the following Union officers lrom Columbia, and their safe arrival here: Major 0. S. San ford/ 7th Conn. Vols; n?. l) o r*i.j 1..1 TT a A mt . (. v iijh o, o. liiurr, idi v. u. J. B. Dennis, 7th Conn. Vols.; ('apt. James Belger, 1st R. I. Battery; Capt. C. II. Nichols, Gth Conn. Vol's.; Capt. John F. Randolph, 12:$d Ohio Vols.. Capt. M. W. Wall, GiUli N. Y. Vols.; Capt. G. D Ilan, r?th Penn. Cav. Lieut; Chas. M. Granger, fc'8th N. Y. Vols.. Lieut. Geo. W lfeiulriek. Battery K. ."? h Mich. Art.; Lieut. Wm. Caulkina, 104th III. Vols.; Lieut. John Eagan, 1st U S. Art.; Lieut. John Lagan, 1st U. S Art; Lieut. Gil more, 7;>th N. Y. Vols.; Lieut. Watson. Capt. Dennis is a brother of Mi. C. W. Dennis and Capt. Oscar A. Dennis, of No. 4 Merchants' Row. On Friday evening last those gentlemen gave a diuneriu honor of the escaped officers, at the Palmetto Restaurant, Xo. lit 1-2 Merchants' Row. The escaped officers were all present, with souk1 sixty invited guests, including aliout a dozen latlii a. The dinner was prepared in elegant, substantial style, by Mrs. Higgins. After justice had been done to it, the escaped officers were introduced to the company by the hosts, and gave an account of their imprisonment and escape. Then toasts were given, songs were sung, witty sentiments culled forth brisk repartee, and the season was oue of general enjoyment. It was a noticeable fact that at this dinner six Dcuuis brothers ail met together for the first time in ten years. They have all been in the service, either in the army or navy. The officers were very much pleased with their entertainment. They went North by the Fulton to join their iommands alter brief furloughs. THE *5TI( OHIO. Editor of the Palmetto Her ail: Sip. Iu your issue of Dec. !?, in speaking of Gen. Hatch's operations at Deveaux' Neck, S. C., you said the *>StU Mass ci>t a swath through the woods to give our artillery fair play upon the liiiil road. This is a intake, and although the 55th Mass. l*>re its part, and that bravely, when ordered into any engagement. it is nothing more than just that other brave men should receive their due meed of praise lor what they have done. \ By the task of cntting the woods away ** fell to the lot of the 25th Regt. Ohio Vet. Vol. Inf., and in the action that succeeded, the 25th Ohio was engaged about two hours, and so hot was the fighting that several regiments in reserve took the cartridges from their boxes and sent them to the 25th Ohio. bcin^ ordered so to do by General Potter. G. I i !