The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-19 00:00:00

GENERAL SHERMAN'S PROGRESS.

Federal transports from Savannah on the 30th
report that Sherman had occupied Millen ; his
advanced guard was within six miles of Savannah.
Southern papers do not confirm this.
The RiClllllOl4 Examiner of Dec. 3 says :

All news from Georgia is extremely encouraging. A few
days ago, when the Yankees were reportcd to have reached
Millen, there was reason to believe that they would reach
the coast easily. But the report was ill-founded. They
were whipped before Millen, and the column of relief from
Port Royal has also been completely beaten. The aspect of
affairs is now much changed. U Sherman gets thror.gh
now, which is doubtful, he will do so with the lON of halt
of his army.
On the other hand, the Rtchinomd Whig of Dec. 2
lox the following :

We think it probable that Sherman will reach the Atlantic
is comparative safety. His next move, in our opinioa, will
be by sea to Richmond. We do not believe that he can
succeed in taking either Augusta or Savannah. Indeed,
should he succeed in capturing the firet.named place, it will
do him no good, since he will find there nothing he was
seeking. At the last-named he will hive to fight,
and that he ,s very well aware of, and does
not wish to do before securing a base upon
the sea. Charleston, for the present at least,
we take to be entirely out of the question. Should be de-
termine to Hoare himself on the sea, end thence isms
during the winter to ravage the country or to carry on a
regular winter campaign, he must be kept in, as we suppose
he can. In the meantime he abandons an immense tract
of country in the interior, over which it is impossible that
his army, situated on the ocean, and closely watched, can
exercise soy influence for good or evil. We do not see that
Shermao's last exploits will have any effect upon the issue
of the war; but, after having been told, by the highest
authority in the Confederacy, that his retreat from Atlanta
was to be more disastrous than the retreat of Napoleon
from Moscow, it is a little vexatious to find him getting off
so cheaply, burning and murdering as he goes.
. . . .

Other Confederate journals state their belief that
Sherman, after doing as much damage as possible,
will not attempt an attack on Savannah with his
jaded troops, but wi'l unite them in one column,
and move as rapidly as possible for the coast,
perhaps to Beaufort, but more probably to Bruns-
wick, which latter point he could reach without
crossing the Savannah river. A large Federal fleet
is reported to be at Hilton Head. All the Southern
journals observe a strict silence as to the move-
ments of the forces operating against Sherman,
under Generals Taylor, Smith, Johnston, Cobb,
and Wayne.
Some of the Southern papers report that Wheeler
had repulsed Kilpatrick's cavalry with heavy loss on
the 29th ult., driving them toward Millen. On the
20th ult. the Federal cavalry were also repulsed at
Sandeville, and a small force unsuccessfully attacked
Macon on the 20th.

The Saramiaft ReimNienii of the 30th reports
that Sherman was still on the railroad beyond
Milieu.

A Federal column left Port Royal on the 29th,
to co-operate with him. Federal accounts repre-
sent that they captured Pocelaligo Bridge, between
Savannah and Charleston. Southern accounts
represent the Federals there as having been badly
whipped at Grahamaville, South Carolina, and
driven five miles, leaving their dead and wounded
behind, but the Federals still threatened Coosahat-
chie, and another point on the railroad.
The New York Tribune of the 6th, commenting
upon the contradictory nature of the news of Sher-
man, observes :—" It is reported by transport from
Savannah that Sherman is within six miles of that
city. It is reported otherwise that he is at Mil'ou,
and his cavalry beyond that point. It is further
declared that his advance is halfway beta-
Millen and Savannah, the dates for all three
reports being Dec. 2. The last may be safely
enough taken as true, but they all indicate that
Sherman had pursued his course between the
Oconee and Octuulgee, without serious hindrance
from any quarter. We shall hear direct from him
within a few days."
The New York Tiaras of the same date says :

Having gained • new boss oa the Georgia coast, repro.
visions 1 his trains, renewed his ammunition, and rested his
men, we may confidently expect th►t his movement will
be northward. lie may even pass by Savannah and Charles-
ton both, make a new base at Bull's Bay, and • secondary
hue at Branchville, and then easily hold both hom
of the rebel railroad system—the upper and lower.
From this point he could easily opiate toward
North Carolina, sweeping the country before him, until he
had formed a new base on the North Carolina coast, and
begun his grant find m►rch into Virginia and the rear of
Lea. This would be the closing act of the rebellion, sod
Lee would be placed in even • worse position than was
Cornwallis at Yorktown. We co,tentemps, however,
might occur, which these supposed movements could
not prevent. If fool should break through iota
East Tennessee there woull be a new link of
communication found between the eastern and western
sections of the Confederacy. Les could be reinforced from
the west, or he could retreat to the mountains, and transfer
the war to Tennessee and K ratucky. We must hope that
Gen. Thomas will put • stop to any such concentration,
and that that important mountain region will still be held
by our forces.

NEW YORE, DEC. S. EvnaNc.
General Sherman's army has passed M"lre, and
it is reported that his objective point is Darien.