AMERICAN JflK B. BRATTON, Editor k Proprietor. CARLISLE, PA., DEC. 22, 18G4. [C7" Tlie absence of the editor this week ii suffiolent apology Tor the non-appearance of our usual variety of editorial matter. NO PAPER NEXT WEEK. In compliance with the usual custom, and for the purpose of giving the hands employ ed on the Volunteer a few days recreation, no paper will be issued from this office next week. In the meantime if our customers de tire job work done, wo will try to -accomo date them. AVe will be also on hand to re ceive subscription money,‘&o. Wj* Our carrier will be about on New Year, with his “ Annual Message,” and ho hopes his friends will extend to him the “ material aid” he requires. O” The Boiling Springs IHolel os Tor rent from tho Ist of April, 1805. Apply to Peter F. Eon, Carlisle, Pa. * Furs Lost !—On Tuesday evening tho 13th lost, somewhere en South Hanover St., and the Engine House )tho Railroad, a set of Furs. The’finder will bo suitably rewar ded by leaving them at Ralston’s Drug Store, Carlisle. , Lost. —On Saturday afternoon, between the Railroad Depot and Mrs. Kieffer’s Con fectionary store, on Main street, a Silver Lo pine hunting case watch. Anyjpecscn find ing said watch will be liberally rewarded by leaving it at this office or Conlyn's jewelry store* “ f Cheaper than' Cheapest. —lf you want to save money by purchasing Clothing and Gent's furnishing Goods, call at Julius Neuwahl'# now Clothing Hall, Samuel Ar nold's old stand, in North Hanover street, between Drs. Kieffer and Zltzer. 4b IC7* We h*ve been requested to announce that the Carlisle Deposit Bank will be closed on Monday, the 2Gth insfc., (Christmas) and January 2, 1865 (New Year's). Christmas Gifts,— Let not» this-cheering custom be overlooked. The lively-emotion and good nature they engender, are worthy of cultivation. Children especially should not bo neglected. Make the little ones hap- P7* The Poor op our Town. —That many poor people in our town are suffering for want of proper clothing and food, is an undeniable fact. In many instances, too, these sufferers are soldiers families, who have been depri ved of their protectors. As a general thing the soldiers in our armies are only paid off about twice a year, and by this criminal care lessnes on tho part of the Government, much distress and misery, is felt by soldiers wives and little ones. We hope all our citizens who are able will make it a point to hunt up these families, and all others, white and black, who are suffering for the necessaries of life.— Their wants should be and must be attended io at once. Give them something substantial —moat, flour, potatoes, cabbage, wood, cloth ing, &c. We repeat, let one and all who are able to give think of this duty and attend to it. Oue .Markets. —Our markets are now well supplied with poultry, hulter, eggs, &0., but which sell at such shockingly high prices that none but the rich can think of buying. Indoed.'we can agree with the old lady, who remarked some time ago, that when you go to market now-a-days “ you should carry your money in your basket and your market ing in your pocket-book.” How truthfully this saying strikes the mind when we hear ■ the inconscieniious farmer, demand “fifty cents” for a pound of butter, and the siimo shameless price for a dozen of eggs. Poor comfort, that, for the . poor. ' Me would call it broad-daylight imposition. C'isaji otp Your Pavements.— lf We are not mistaken there was an ordinance passed by the Town Council of this borough several years ago, which ordained that after the fall of a snow the pavements should be cleaned off within twenty-four hours after the abate ment of the snow-storm ; and which also in dicted a penalty of five dollars on the tenant' or property holder who did not comply with the provisions of the law. It also empowered the Borough Constable to enforce the penalty on all those who neglected the duty of the law. How beautifully this ordinance is be ing obeyed 1 How energetically is our inde fatigable (?) Borough Constable attending to his duties 1 It is now nearly two weeks since the last fall of snow, and yet, at the time of writing this article-(Monday), wo see a great number of,pavements all over the town that have not been touched by the shovel. And what are the results of all this negligence? The snow is allowed to melt under the burn ing rays of “ Old Sol,” until the pavements are overflowing with slush and water, which freezes through the night into one solid mass of hard slippery ice, rendering it very unsafe for persons to walk over, and placing life and limb in danger. . That such is the condition . of our nnshoveled pavements no one will de ny. It is no laborious task to clean off your pavements immediately after it stops snow ing. A good shovel and a little elbow-grease is all thal-i's required • and then wlmt looks more cheerful in winter’ than a clean pave ment, free from slush and ice. If the above law is yet in operation, we hspe it will be enforced upon those who do not voluntarily comply with itsjprovisioflß; Bet the Borough Constable. : be bn the look-ont after a snow storm. ZJ- The country is full of horse .thieves, -and we would advise those who hare good nags to keep them’under loek or guard.' TBE FDTCRR OF THE DEMOCRACY. 'Considering the fierceness 'with which tlie date Presidential canvass Was 'conducted by 'tho friends of the Administration, and the ■extraordinary means resorted to by them to secure a triumph, it is really amazing and gratifying to witness the courage and resig nation of the defeated Democracy. AYhon, in 1852, the'gallant AVhig party was defoatod, (after having been in pow'or for four years,) it was never after heard of as a national or ganization. It lingered a while, in certain localities, but it totally disappeared in, and was swallowed =qp by the Fremont movement of 1856. Pour years alter this the Democracy was' torn nsaundor by the Southern secession move ment at Charleston, which completed its work afterwards in Baltimore ; tho consequence of which was the overwhelming election of the' present Executive. Since then, notwithstan ding our almost crushed condition in 1860,- and tho overwhelming odds arrayed against us in tho way of patronage—made necessary by tho necessities of the war—besides deser tion of our prominentleaders who, were lured into Abolitionism by prominent appoint ments, our intrepid organization has weath ored the storm of unrelenting pdrtizan per secution, and is now tho moat formidable and compact party that ever was defoatod-in this country. This vitality is caused by tho dia mond strength and beauty of its principles and teachings. It is not an ephemeral par ty; nor does it change its name and purposed to suit every wind of political doctrine. Tri umph never caused it to forget its duty to the country; nor is it now disposed (n dc<m|jj- of the Republic, because of its defeat; Such a party may occasionally bo defeated, but nev er entirely vanquished; and from, this time forth, no matter how tbe war may be conduc ted or terminated, it is certain to grow" in strength until it is again'ealied upon to con trol the Government of tho country. But in order to be succoessful when the time for ac tion again arrives, it will bo necessary to get rid of many inoumborancos which .impeded our efforts in the lafe canvass. 1 AYb quite agree with an intelligent ctntemporary who says: • ; “ This great work should spring from tho ■ inspiration of the people, led by fresh and vigorous minds, uncontaminatcd with the fa tal propensity ,to official position which has. corrupted so many of our politcians. Prin ciples must be sought out and followed, rath er than a shiftless vacilUnting policy in our public affairs. Ifanything is to be preserved from the wreck, of our country's greatness, it must be the work of honest, patriotic men, fully impressed with the necessities of the hour and the peril of the republic. Upon the Democratic press will rest to a great degree the responsibility of -enlighten ing the people in reference to this important subject, and as a member of that fraternity, wo will take an early opportunity to enter upon a discussion of those grave questions which have yet a vital interest to tho Amer ican people. Wo have heretofore never fail ed to raise our voice in behalf of what we have believed to be Democratic principles, and wo regard the present as the proper time for a full and candid discussion of the condi tion of the country. By way of illustrating tho 4 ‘ inspiration of the people," it is but necessary to allude to tho latcCbicngo Convention. There the peo- - pie’s inspiration forced tho nomination of McClellan, in spite of tho politicians, who were generally opposed to him; but still the record of those who had conceived certain crotchets exclusively their own, succeeded in loading the candidate with an obnoxious weight which defeated him. Yallamdino ham, for instance, not content with his own defeat of a hundred thousand majority a year before, took especial pains to inform the coun try that 7ie framed the Chicago Platform, as if determined to make our candidate as un popular with the masses as he was himself. If we are to succeed hereafter, tho party, in deed, must act from the. “ inspiration of the people, led by fresh and vigorous minds, un contaminatcd with the fatal propensity to of ficial position, which has corrupted bo many of our politicians." So says the Pittsburg Post. Short Bays. —The days are intensely short at each end just now—about as short as they make them in this latitude, we think, without consulting the almanac. It is true the nights are longer, and one can make the rounds of all the loafing places and still have a long tirrr'o to spend at homo before bed time; hut those who have a given amount of labor to per form find it difficult to do- so without tho use of artificial light. The breakfast alarm breaks our morning nap just as the red tints of the rising sun appear in the eastern hori zon, and yot wo are surprised to find before tho morning meal is concluded that tho Town clock has told the hour of eight. Stopping on tho way to your business to chat with a few friends on tho current events of the day, you find tho minute band has passed tho cy phers marking twelve, and nine o’clock is upon you—in fact you scarcely get a fair and regular built start before tho dinner gongs sound. The afternoon runs away in tho name manner, especially when the day is cloudy, and you are compelled to light the gas at -1 o’clock. Short days, although sometimes in convenient, are not without their benefits,if for nothing else than, tho contrast they afford to the long summer days, which commence at four in tho morning and ond when it is al most bed time. The Week of Prayer— January 1-8,1805. According to custom, there will bo united ser vices in tho following churches of this place in observing the week of Prayer: Monday, Jan. 2.—Lutheran Church. Tuesday, Jan.3.—2d Presbyterian Church, Wednesday, Jnn. 4 —lst “ . “ Church, Thursday, Jan. 4—Ger. Reformed Church, Friday, Jan. G.—First Methodist Churoh, Saturday, Jan. 7. —Church of God Chapel, Sunday, Jab. B.—Emory (M. lE.) Chapel. Tho topics for each day will be fonnd in tho religious papers. Services to be held in the evening at 7 o’clock, except the last nam ed, which will be at 3}, P. M. At each mooting an appropriate sermon will be-deliv ered. All are Cordially invited to attend. Farmers.— You are required to report to the United States assessors all cuttle, hogs, .calves and sheep which you slaughter for sale. The tax on each head of horned cattle is for ty cents, on each hog ten cents, on each calf five cents. Reports must be made during the first ten days of each month. Persons fail ing to make returns as required by law, sub ject themselves to a severe penalty. DISTURBANCE IN CLEARFIELD COUNTY. A correspondent of tho Age gives the fol lowing account of the late "great battle” in Clearfield county, this State': Editors Phi la dr antra Age: I propose to give you a brief and truthful history of tho “great battle” recently fought in the county of Clearfield, of which wo have so many ab surdly distorted accounts. On the night of the J3th, or morning of tho 14th instant, (Tuesday and AVcdnesday of this week,) Cap tain Soutlmurth, commanding a squad oi U. S. Soldiers, surrounded tlie house of ono Thomns Adams, a deserter, residing in Knox township, Clearfield county. Adftnoo or frol ic was in full progress. After disposing his men to command thepremesis, with ono man ho advanced to the door, opened it. and with a revolver in hand walked into the room. II» declared his rank as an officer of the army, and-requested all to keep their scats, addjrig that ho would shoot down tlie first who resist ed. Tbonins Adame, who was in the house, (a one story and a half,) gnt up-stairs without being seen, kicked tho weather-boarding off tho gable'end, looked out, anil seeing a soldier standing prepared to intercept him, took n loaded gup which, was at hand and shot the soldier, killing -him instantly. Adams thon went to the opposite gable end, kicked the' boards loose, got out upon a shell, ilocended thence to the ground, ran a short distance, when a volly was fired at him, and ho Was mortally wounded, dying a short tims'after 'torwards. ’Capt.Southworth' arrested nine teen men, among them being the fiddier, an other a young man who had a team and had boon hired to.convey some of the men to the dance, and a third man who accompanied him. Neither of these three worfljsUtal'tod men .nor bounty jumpers ; but the writer believes, from information received of a character that commands implicit faith, that tho whole three volunteered into the service when the "emer gency”. in 1863 called out citizens for the de fense of tlie State; and that they served un der Capt, 11. B. Swoope until lioioifaiuly dis charged, Of tho remaining captures not one man was a citizen of Clearfield county. The “terrible war,” sharp and d“cisive, was a shot from one Thomas Adams alone on our side, and one volly from U. S', soldiers on tho other. Captain Southworth took all the arms in the poscssion of the arrested parties, con sisting of ten loaded revolvers, and the pris oners are hold to answer under tho law,. This plain story strips the highly colored statements in regard to the affair of many of their sensational points, for which the public havebecn indebted to the fertile imaginations of Abolition journalists and correspondents. - Yours, Clearfield. “They can at any time have peacesijnply by laying down their arms and snbmittingto thfc National authority under (he Constitu tion.”—President's Message. The Patriot & Union pertinently asks what Constitution?—the one that has beou viola ted—ignored—torn in tatters by Lincoln and his Congress, or the one that the whole shod dy management are now hastening to patch up and fasten upon the, people by any and every species of knaVery ? Yen, what Consti tution f Certainly not that old Federal Con stitution, fer V, President Andrew Johnson said : “ When you hear a man talking about the Constitution, spot him ns a traitor." For another reason, not that old Constitution of Washington ; . did not Congress pass a law indemnifying the President for the punish ment that might lawfully be meted out to him for his repeated violations of it? Than— what Constitution does the old joker mean? Who knows? A Speech by the President. —Governor Fonton, ot New York, wasscrenadod at Wash ington theothernightand made a war speech. The assemblage then proceeded to the White Houm and called for Mr. Lincoln. He ap peared at tho door and made the following olocment and exceedingly classical and beau tiful remarks : “ Friends and Fellow . Citizens ; I believe I shall never ho old enough In speak without embarrassment when I have anything to talk about. I have no good news to" tell you, and yet I have no bad nows to tell. Wo have talked of elections until there is nothing more to say nbout them. Tho most interesting nows wo now have is from Shennan. We all know where ho went in at, hut I can’t tell where he will come ont at. I will now close by proposing three cheers for General Sher man and the army.” What a speech to come from the President of the United States! There are buys in every high school in the country who could make a better response to a serenade. It is a dis grace to our people to have so unfit a man presiding over the nation. Wo all know where he “ wont in at,” hut God only knows “ where ho will oorao out at.” tCT” Captain Winslow, who captured the Alabama, is feted wherever he goes. Captain Collins, who cut out the Florida at Bahia, is not. Secretary Seward may learn from the fact exactly tho temper of the people of tho United States, and mitigate .his bunkum ac cordingly. Wo neither fear Great Brittain nor the world in arms, nor would we flinch from a contest with either in any just quarrel, and in such,a war with any nation our .peo ple would be a unit; for not even Mr. Lin coln would undertake to propagate anti-sla very or wholesale confiscation among the van quished. But tho nation is .not noiv, like Mosoin tho play, so “spiling for a fight" that it will back up tho foreign secretary in seek ing entrance upon a quarrel by baseless offi oial insults, such as ho is striving to contrive. On, Stock.— Wo refer our readers to the advertisement of the Burning Spring and Ru ble Farm Oil Company. This company was Organized in Philadelphia a few days ago and is in tho hands of prominent and safe busi ness men. C. B. Pfauler, Esq., formerly of this place is secretary of tho company. It will be observed that the capital of this company is $500,000, with a working capital of §40,000. We believe there aan bo no mis take in investing in the stock of this compa ny. Subscriptions for stock will be received by L. T. Greenfield, who will give all nec essary inforraotion in regard to tho same. Tho Richmond papers print President Lincoln’s message' in full,.and with perfect prudence. There is not a line in that docu ment but tends to unite the South in deadly hostility to the North. Had it beentha'mes sage of a Democratic President, piercing the joints of the southern armor as the southern' journals have dreaded that they would be pierced, then the journals published under Mr. Davis’s eaves would not have printed Mr’ Lincoln’s message in full. . J6@“ Wo devote a large space of to-day’s paper to the important war news which has transpired the past few days. In making up our reports we have been careful to publish the most reliable, and taking no notice of un founded rumors. Troubles Unions New York Editors an d Politicians. The past five weeks, says the Lancaster Intelligencer, hate boon prolific of libel suits, and of political -and personal denunciations, among the editors and politicians of Now York city.. First, ox-Slayor Opdjke sues Thurlow Weed, late of tho Albany Evening Journal, for slander, estimating his damages at the snug little sum 0f|50, 000. Mr. Weed had published an article over his initials in which ho charged the ox-Mayor with being guilty of the grossest possible political cor ruption. Weed justifies, and is engaged in the attempt to establish the truth of tho.cbar ges as made. This is a Republican fight all round. The case has been exciting great in terest, and the Court Room has boon crowd ed with notable political characters of both parties. Peter B. Sweeney, the guiding and ruling spirit of Tammany Hall, has sued James and Erastus Brooks, of the Now York Express newspaper for libel, founded upon charges m tho\recont excited election for Members of Congress, putting“his damages : at $20,000. This case has not come np for trial yet. To wind Up with, Rufus W. Andrews, late Surveyor of tho, Port, rushes into print with a slashing roviow®f Thurlow Wood’s doings and misdoings. • The ‘‘King of the Libby” receives a severe oastigstion on. the charges of being interested in all Albany schemes, having in view the possession of tho 'city rail roads'! helping to defeat Wadsworth for Gov ernor in 1862; making a slandcrons and malicious attack on Mrs. Lincoln, and for his double-dealing with Old Abo. All these tit-bits, nicely frioasoed and served up, will proven savory dish for the lovers of personal and political scandal. A League Against Butter. —The follow ing timely hints on the price of butter, which wo take from the Harrisburg Patriot and Un ion, will bet endorsed by all good, citizens. Road’it farmers and tbon blush with shame : The idea of a league against the use of ar ticles of food that have always bean regard ed as next to indispensihle, is suggestive of suicide by starvation. And yet, the idea o( continuing their use at present rates, is sug-i gestiveof a fate scarcely less to be dreaded suicide outright, superinduced bydesporation incident to the cost of living? Nevertheless,. leagues against butter have been started, and are said in some quarters to work well,' The “Trades Assembly” of Albany, N. Y., have adopted a resolution that the price of butter has been advanced beyond the cost of produc tion in proportion to other articles ■ of (ood, and they have resolved to abstain from the use of butter in any way whatever. There is certainly something of the kind required in Harrishmg. The snow of week before last ran butter from Id and 50 cents upward to GO and 75—where, except in a few instan ces, it has continued to remain! It is perfect fallacy for one to contend that the cost of production has increased five and six fold during the war. The farmers who attend this market reply to all cavillers as the price, by staling that they are compelled to pay our merchants from four to six prices for merchandize. This may all be, but they should remember that the town consumer of butter has to pay the same prices, and really requires and buys more merebandige than they. They should remember, also, that while they take cotton as the basis of the prices they demand for their productions," cotton has beer, almost driven out of the mai llot by the war, whereas the grasses and crops which a merciful Providence guaran tees them, costs no more than formerly.— The manufacturer who has to pay more for the labor he employs, must charge more tor his products, but many of our farmers do their own labor, draw their income from the soil; and, if they have to employ help, they pay leas for it than the manufacturer. If they, lower the prices of the necessaries of life to the working classes, prices will come down at once, Unless they do so shortly, they will find that the general cry will even tually arise in all directions—“ Tax the far mers 1 Tax the farmers!” “A word to the wise,” &o. Politics and the Pulpit.— The prominent andbittor part taken by many of the clergy of this country, in the late political canvass, has called forth some able strictures from many of the Democratic press, among which is the following extract from the Albany Al las. It says: “But clergymen have a right to think, to feel, and to speak in regard to causes so mo mentous as those which enter into politics of the day? Certainly they have. But they must not make the pulpit their rostrum, nor assume to be instructors and exponents of the Divine Words, when uttering their personal thoughts. The doctor has no right to take politics in the Clinique, or to forced his parti san views upon his helpless patient. The lawyer has no right to make political speech es m Court, nor the judges, to pronounce par tisan judgments from the bench. What would be thought of a dry gopdsclerk who improv ed his opportunities, l.y dissertations oyer the counter to his custoiners, upon war and peace, and the duties of his hearers at the ballot box? What if your milkman insisted in delivering tho.diluted trash of the daily papers, in the shape of a harangue, ns ho hands in his quart of milk and water? Must the tailor give you the measure of your pol itics when he takes that of your coat? Are you to be cobbled politically by your shoemaker; whenever he has your foot in hand ? Has your barber the moment he sei zes you by the nose, the privilege of snub bing you politically; and of lathering you with second suds put of (Irooly’s frothy Trib une?” 8®“ Mr. Lincoln, in his latest Message to Congress, proclaims to the world that ho will retract nothing that he has heretofore said on the subject of slavery. Well, “heretofore,” that is to say on the 4th day of March, 1861, Mr. Lincoln did say, on the eastern portico of the Capitol of the United States, to assembled thousands, these words; “I declare that I have no purpose direct ly on indirectly to interfere with the insti tution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so. The right of each State to order and oonlrol its own domestic institutions according to ils own judgment exclusively, is essential to the bal ance of power on which the perfection and endurance of our political fabric depend." K 7” John Steel, the wealthiest man in Pennsylvania, made so by oil transactions, (his receipts wore $3,000 per day) died, a few days ago, in Philadelphia, from injuries re ceived from the kick of a horse. THE CABINET. The ship of State is Sen-ward blown, And in onr hour of need,. Law on a wild goose Chase is flown, And ruin comes with Speed. —N. Y. World. TREjirM -NEWS'. GENERAL SBilN. Grand Finale of His Tl'ium- phant March. REPORTED CAPTURE OF SA VA «N Aft From All.nu(a (o the Atlantic on Foot tn One month. FDRT M'ALLISTEB CARRIED BY ASSAULT ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11. Communication with Dahlgren’s Fleet Thus Opened. • THE KEY TO THE OOEECIIEE Oil lIS A Go-operating Move ment by Gen.^anby. GRAND PANIC IN MOBILE &c., &c.,. &c. ißaltimolie, t)odember 16. the correspondent of the American at An napolis telegraphs as follows: “ The steamship Varuna loft Charleston blvron the 14th instant at 8 o’clock in the morning. The report had reached there by tbo rebel flag of truce boat that Sherman was in possession of Savannah, after an eight hours’ fight, capturing eleven thousand pris oners.” Capture of Fort McAllister—Probable Full of Savannah, Special Despatch to the World. Washington, December 10, A dispatch from City .Point says Richmond papers of to-day state that Sherman on Wed nesday tins ip front of Savannih, and had captured Fort McAllister and a line of in trenchmonts. This seems to Confirm (he news received via Annapolis to-night, an nouncing the fall of Savannah, Official Dispatch from Seci’y SlatUon, "[official.] War Department, 1 Washington, Doc. 10—8-15 p. u. | To Major-General Dix, New York : Official dispatches from General Canby have, been received to day, showing the com plete success of an expedition sent by him from Vicksburg to co-operate with General Sherman’s operations and cut Hood’s com munications with Mobile. General Canby also reports the probable success of another expedition froin Baton Rouge, under command of General Davidson, the details and object of which it is not pro per now to disclose. When last heard from Davidson was reported ns having caused quite a panic in Mobile, and to be devastat ing the country generally. Lieutenant-Colo nel Karl, commanding a special party, was scvor.-lr wounded, and fell into the hands of the enemy at Fayette, Miss. , , The Richmond papers of to-day confirm tbo reported capture of Bristol by an expedition, supposed to bo under the command of Stone man and Burbridge; also, the surprise and cnptuio of the Glade Spring depot on the rail road, thirteen miles south of Abingdon, Va. They also contain General Hood’s official rep irt of the battle of Franklin, in which he acknowledges the loss of many gallant offi cers and bra’ e men. Among whom he enu merates Major-General Cleburne, Brigadior- Ocnerhls Williams, Adams, Geist, Strolil and GriWi berry, killed; Major-General John Brown and Brigadier-Generals S. Carter, Mnnigaiilt. Quarles, Cackorill, and Scott, wounded, and Brigadier-General Gordon cap tured. They also stale that otl AVednesdajr Gen. Sherman carried Port McAllister, command ing the entrance to the Ogeceheo river, by storm, and that the capture of this position puts Sherman in communication with the Yankee fleet, and necessitates the reinforce ment of Savannah. The dispatches ot General Cunby, so far is proper for publication, and the extracts from the Uichmond papers giving Hood’s official report of the battle, and,our success in South western Virginia and in Georgia, are sub joined. Dp to this hour (8:30 p. it.) nothing has boon heard from Nashville since last night, and nothing from General Sherman later than the Uichmond newspapers’ report of the cap turo ol Fort McAllister on Wednesday. FORT M’ALLISTER TAKEN BY SUER MAN. [From the' Richmond Dispatch, Deo. IC.] Official intelligence was received yesterday that t.ho enemy, on Wednesday, Carried Fort McAllister by storm. The garrison of the fort consisted of one hundred and fifty men. Fort McAllister is on the Ogeeeheo river, fif teen miles southwest of Savannah, at the point where the river is crossed by the Sa-' vannah, Albany and Gulf Railroad, and a bout six miles from tbo Osabavv sound. The capture of this position puts Sherman in communication with the Yankee fleet. Without attempting any military criticism, wo cannot withhold the opinion that the ex posing of one hundred men to the assault of Sherman’s whole, army, was a piece of extra vagance that onr present military resources do uot seem to warrant. The Examiner has the following: “I*ort McAllister oommads the enfrnneo to the Ogoochco river, and-lms prevented the enemy, heretofore from ascending the river. We believe there are other works further up the stream, which would render the navi-ra tion of the stream by the enemy extremely uncomfortable. The’fall of Port McAllister does not by any means involve the loss of Savannah, hut will necessitate the reinforce ment of the troops defending that city.” DISPATCH FROM GENERAL CANBY, New Orleans, La., Deo. 9, 1804. On the 25ih ultimo, I reported that move ments co-oporativo with General Sherman’s operations would ho made from Vicksburg and Baton Rouge for the nurposo of cutting Hood's .communications with Mobile. The expedition sent from Vicksburg, and consist ing of about two thousand oavalrv, and eight pieces 'iif'artillery under the command of R.' I). Ostrand, of the Third colored cavalry, re turned on the 4th instant, having mot with a complete success. After an admirably exe cuted flank nioreineiit on Jackson, on the 24th ultimo,-t ho expedition started for the Big Black Bridge, on the Mississipoi Cen tral Railroad, which was reached on the 27th and after a stubborn resistance captured and destroyed it. This cuts Hood’s array off from the largo quantities of supplies and stores accumulated at Jnokson, Miss., and makes that i-ailroad, which waa hia main reliance, unavailable to him for months to oorite. Besides* this im portant bridge and trodtlo'-work, the follow ing property was completely destroyed : Thir ty miles of track, including culverts; the wagon bridge over the Big'Black ; Vaughn’s Pickett and Goodwin stations, with all the railroad depots and buildings; twenty-six hundred bales of cotton, two locomotives, four oars, four stagc-conchcs, twenty barrels of salt, and one hundred and sixty-six thousand dollars worth of stores at Vaughn’s station. The expedition was considerably bnrrass ed on its return by largo bodies of the one ray’s forces, but suffered no material losses, and brought back more recruits than its en tire loss in .effective men. S. B. Cook, com manding the Third colored cavalry, distin guished himself and his regiment greatly by the gallantry with which the force guarding the Big Black bridge were driven from be hind their strong stockades on the opposite side of the riror. Our men had to charge across the bridge dismounted, with nothing but railroad ties ‘foi"a path, and in'the ; faoe of a sharp fire. I have announced Majdr Conk in general orders as promoted to the vafcant Hmitehant ooloneley of the regiment, subject te the ap proval of the President (Signed) E. R. S. O'Wfrr. Mujur-dSciffernll ‘FROM SOUTHWEST VIRGIN'rA. At Glade's Spring the enemy captured an engine -and fourteen flats, with sortie railroad hands. On these a party of men were mount ed, and went up the rnnd toward Marty a, and a dispatch fmu’i tire operator at that place on yesterday tells us that they vrereat# o’clock within a mile of that place. I'iieir object is easily divided. It is to burn over the llolston river and break the road, to pre vent being sent down the lino by stegtfrerto reinforce Saltville. To Saltvillo the main body will immediately go, and in all human probability has already >oue.— There are some fortifications at Saltviile, and some reserves, whose, numbers we do not know. If these can.check them by any sac rifice, reinforcements Will soon pnt the place out of danger. At present ft is certainly in great danger. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War. SHEMAN MEETS FOSTER! Savannah Closely Besieged. OFFICIAL DESPATCH. FROM GEN. SHERMAN.- Splendid Condition \of tlie Army—A Frtv/ Agreeable March—Abundance of Supplies —Not a 'Wagon Lost on the March—2oo Miles of Railroad Destroyed—Communica tion Open With the Fleet—Savannah Re garded as Already Gained. OFFICIAL BULLETIN’. WAsAtNctroN, Poo. 1/. To Major-General Dix:— Despotclrta have boon received to-day from General Poster, Who had n pors'onal in terview on the morning of Wednesday, the 14th inat., with General Sherman at Fort M Allister. whieh had heen taken by assault on the previous day. Savannah was closely besieged, and its capture, with the Hebei forces there, confi dently expected. It was to be summoned in two days, ami, if.not surrendered, Sherman would open his batteries upon it.. . General Foster reports t'at Sherman’s Ar my is in splendid condition, having lived op its march on the turkeys, chickene, sweet po tatoes and other good things of the richest part of Georgia. His march was feebly re sisted. J Nothing'll as been heard from'Qon. Thomas to-day. Unofficial despatches state that die Provost Marshal at Nashville reports five thousand prisoners and forty-nine pieces of axtillery as being already secured. It is ascertained that in transmitting Gen eral Thomas report, last night,,a telegraphic mistake was made at Louisville or Nashville in the estimated number of our casualties The despatch written by General Thomas stated that his whole loss would not exceed three thousand (3000) and very few were killed. A dispatch from Lexington* tfcis evening states that Von tho 13th instant, at Kings port, lennessee, General, Bnrbridge had a fight Basil Duke's Brigade, (formerly John Morgan’s) and-routed it with a loss to the enertiy of one hundred and fifty killed, wounded and prisoners, and-their trains.— Dick Morgan, a brother of ‘John, was cap tured. . 1 (Signed) J/DWIV M. Stanton-, Secretary of War. OHN T . SltUllM AN’S DESPATCH. Washinot ns. Doe. 18, 18C4, 9P. Mi—Ma jor-General Dw, New York An official de npatcli from Gen, Sherman was received to day, dated near mid nigh,. December 13th, on the gun boat Daiulc/ion, Osabaw Sound, Ga. It was written before General Foster had reached him; lie reports, beside some mili tary details of future operations which are omitted, the following interesting particulars of his operations ! , ''D*xBEr.fnV (KsaHAw Sound, ’’ —Tu-dav, at 5 Pi General Uazon's Division of the Fifteenth Corps carried Fort McAllister by assault, capturing its entire garrison and stores. This opened to us the Ossnbaw Sound, and I pulled down to tins gun-boat to communicate with the fleet Before Opening oommunicntioU w 0( had completely destroyed all the railroads leading into Savannah and invested the city The left is on the Savannah lliver, three miles above the city, and the right is on the Ogeechee, afc King’s Bridge. The army-is in splendid order, and equal to anything; The weather has been fine and supplies abundant. Our march was rilost o greoable, and we were not at oil molested by guerillas. We reached Savannah three days ogo> but owing to Fort McAllister we could not communicate, but now wo have McAllis ter. and go ahead I . We have already captured two boats in tlje Savannah river, and have prevented their gunboats from coming down. I estimate the population of Savannah afc twenty-five thnu fmnd, and the garrison afc fifteen General llardeo commands. • Wo have not Jest a wagon on the trip but havo gathered a largo supply of mules’, ne giooa, boraos, &e., and our teams aro in far bettor condition than when wo started. My first duty will he to clear the army of all surplus negroes, mules and horses. We have utterly destroyed over two hun dred miles of railroad, and consumed stores and provisions that, wore essential to Lee's and Hood’s armies. Iho quick work made of Fort M’Allistcr, and the opening of communication with our fleet, and consequent independence of sup plies, dissipates all their boasted threats to head mo eff snd starve the army. I regard Savannah ns already gained. ■ Yours, truly, tT „W; 1'- Sbebhan, Major-General. -Mon. It. M. Stanton, Secretary of War. The Attorney General of this State has furnished the Governor with a written opinion in reference to the case of Iliin. John L. Dawson, of the 20th Congressional district, who was fairly elected and is,so de cided by tho Attorney General, Mr. Meredith, and Gov. Curtin. Some'of those virtunds Republicans die hard". After all their cheat ing and , swearing not to got to Cbngreso is too bad. , , • . TENSES S E E. Victory of General Thomas More Nashville. HOOD ATTACKED BY OUU AUMy. Two Days Hard Fighting ■* .0 49 PIECES ARTILERY TAKEN. 5000 Frisoiici's €ap| Iu . C( , ; THOMAS’ OFFICIAL REPORT. tfnion Loss About3ooo HOOD’S ARMY 'COMPLETELY ' RO'JTKO. Official Dispatches from Gen. Thomas and Secretary Stanton. FIBS* OFFICIAL BDLhETRV. "\VaR-DePARTMKNT. ) vYaeitimoton. Deo. 15—11:30 p. n f Mijnr General Dix; ' ‘ 1 T’he department has just received unoffi oml dispatches , from Nashville announce, i hat General 1 horn as, with the forces under h.s command,, attacked Hood’s army in front of Nashville at 9 o’olook, this morairur • an j although the battle is not yet decided the whole action to-day is desoribod as splendid ly sucoosaful, r • °ur lino advanced on the right five miles Lhe enemy were driven from the river, from their intrenohmonts, from the range of hills on which thbir left rested, and forced back upon his right and centre, and the center was pushed back from one to three miles, with the loss of seventeen guns and about fifteen hundred prisoners, and his whole like of earthworks Axcept about a mile of his ex treme right, where no serious attempt was made to dislodge him-. Our casualties are reported to bo Hood's whole l army,. exubpV the cavidry and a small force uoar MurfroosOuro, word engugodt. Edwin M. Sianton; ’ j Secretary of War. StiCOfot) OFFICIAL BULLETIN. War Department, Wasiiingtdn, 1 December 10—9:15 a. u. f Major- General Dix r lhe following official report of the baltlA before'Nnahvillo has been received from Ma jor-General Thomas; Nabixvii.i.e, Tonn., Deo. 15—9 a. u. Attacked the enemy’s loft this morning, and drove it from the river below the oi:y very nearly .to. Frauklin pike, a distance of About eight miles.- Have ’ captured bind iner’s headquarters and train, and a seoond train of about twenty wagons, with between hundred and one thousand prisoners and sixteen pieces of artillery ' Our troops behaved splendidly, all.taking their share in assaulting and charging the enemy’s breast works. .1 shall attack the enemv ngain to : morrow, if he stands to fight; Aml if he re treats during the night 1 frill pursue him: throwing a heavy, cavalry force in his renrtd destroy his trains, if passible. Geokoe 11. Thomas, Major-General. THIRD OFFICIAL DISPATCH, , Washington, Doc..X7, 1864-8:35 A. M.~ To Major-General Dix, Now York.—The fol lowing official report of the., great victory aohived yesterday by Major-General Thomas and his-gallant sriiiy over the Rebel forces under General Hood, in front of Nashville,' was received this morning. One of the most surprising circumstances connected with this great achievement is the .small loss suffered by our. troops, evincing, among other things, the admirable skill nml caution of General Thomas, in his disposition of the battle. In our rejoicings 'at the defeat of the enemy, thanks are dao'to the Almigh 2 ty for his protection to 'our gallant officers and soldiers in the gteat conflict they have passed through. . Tbo report of (Jeridfal Thomas, Containing interesting details, is subjoined : GEN. THOMAS’ OFFICIAL REPORT. Head-Quarters Department of tbb Ouk- BERfcAND. Eiout MILES PROM NASHVILLE} Dec. IC, 18G4, G P, M.r—To the President of the United States, Hon. E. M.- Stanton and. Lieutenant-General Grant:—This army thanks you-for your approbation of its duct yesterday, and to assure you that it is not misplaced, I have the honor to report that the enemy has been pressed at all points to-day in his lino of rbtreat to the Brentwood Hills. Brigadier-General Hatch,. of Wilson’s Corps of Cavalry, on the right (timed tlid enemy's left, dud ctfpttired a large numbed of prisoners} Hfimher not ‘.Ma jor General* Schofield's Corps, next on the loft of the cavalry,* carried several hills aud captured many prisoners and six pieces of artillery 1 .Brevet Atajof Qdnor/U Smith, next on the 1 of Major-General Schoffisld, carried the' saliOnt point of ttiti fcrienlv’s line with M'- Millan’s brigade of M'Arthur's division, cap.* turing sixteen gutis, two Brigadier-Generals and about two thousand prisoners. . Brigadier-General Garrard's division of Smith’s command, next oti the left of 51’- Arfchur's division, carriedj the Enemy's id trenchments, capturing all the artillery and troops of the enemy on the line. . 'Brigadier-General Weed’s troops, on ths Franklin Piko, took up the assault, carrying the enemy’s intrentchmenta, and in Ids re* treat captured eight pieces of artillery and sdmething over six hundred prisoners, and drove the enemy within one mile of tlio Brentwood Hill Pass. Major-General Steadman, coniipanijuijl detachments of tho different armies of the military division of Mississippi, most nobly supported General Wood’s left, and boro rt most honorable part in the Operations of.thrf day. I have ordered the pursuit to he in the morning at daylight, although tbV troops are very much fatigued. The. utmost enthusiasm prevails. . I must not forgot to report the operations of Brigadier-General Johnson, in succeed!* ly driving the enemy, with the co-operati"* of the gun-boats under Lieutenant Command' ing Filch,, from their established batlorie* oil tlio Cumberland-river, below ’ the city; ni Nashville, and of tho success of Brigadidr- General Craxton's brigade, in covering *o“’ returning o,iir right nnd rCaf, in the opera tions of yesterdi y und to day.- .* , . ' Although Urnve no report of fhfl number of prisoners captured by Johnson'* ana Craxton's commands, I know they-have .» large number, I aid glad to be able to state that tho number of .prisoners captured yesj terdiy greatly exceeds tho number reporfce‘l by telegraph last evening. The woods, fields and intrenchmfchts' ar® strewn with the enemy's small arms, ahan-, donod in their retreat,- Tn conclusion, I happy to state that all this had been jffio. k oa with a small loss to u». Our loss duos n? . exceed three thousand, nnd voty ftp* kjl*®I** 1 ** (Signed) l - Obo. 11, Thou'as, Maj. G o * l '*
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