The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-26 00:00:00

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losses on either side. Of tho bIir.TCSB of tho grand object of
the expedition there can be no doubt. Our informant speaks
in the highest terms of the energy and activity of Admiral
Dahlgren in organising and directing the movements of the
naval brigade in this important affair. When the Danegal
left to come down the Broad river on the 6th shells were
seen flying and exploding, which indicated that our forces
were determined to drive the enemy out of any position they
might have taken. After being drawn from the bridge, Geu.
Foster's scouts had communic tied with Sherman's forces,
which were marching on Savannah. The belief was, that
Gen. Sherman would be in Savannah on Lthe 14th inst.
The Pocataligo bridge is about 35 miles from Savannah
This bridge having been destroyed, and Sheridan having cut
the other railroad communications, Savannah cannot be re-
lieved by reinforcements from any point north of the city.
A Nashville despatch of the 12th gives the fol-
lowing account of movements in Tennessee :

Official reports are just received from • General Rousseau
at Murfreesborough, concerning the recent battle. The
railroad south of Murfreesborough is believed to be unin-
jured, as also the road between Murfreesborough and Orville
creek. Five miles north from there toOrville the road is de-
stroyed. Block-houses Nos. 6 and 6 were abandoned by
Colonel Morrison's forces, the enemy surrounding them—
but they bravely fought their way out, and reached Mur
freesborough without loss. On Sunday the fourth block-
house at Orville Creek was attacked by General Bates's
rebel division, with a battery of artillery. Seventy four
shots were fired at it, doing, however, no damage. The
same afternoon three regiments, with a section of artillery,
went from Murfreesborough under General Milroy. The
enemy's force was unknown. Our troops attacked and
routed the enemy. The Federal loss was 4 killed end Tv
wounded. The enemy's loss is unknown. Night coming on,
our forces returned within the fort. On Monday last the
enemy was reinforced by two brigades of infantry and
2,000 cavalry under Forrest in person. During Tuesday
and Wednesday the enemy demonstrated against the fort at
Murfreesborough and the town, coming up within one mile
of the fort and skirmishing heavily. On Wednesday the
enemy's infantry moved around to Wilkilson's pike, about
one 'Wile and a quarter north-west of the fortress, near where
Negley's command was formed at the battle of Stone River.
Seven regiments and a battery were sent out on the Salem
pike, where they intrenched the enemy nearWilkilson's pike
intreuched behind breastworks of logs and rails. We at-
tacked and utterly routed the rebels, who were driven off
in great confusion, Forrest's cavalry making a race against
time in their hurry to escape. Our loss in this engagement
was 30 killed and 175 wounded. The enemy's largely ex-
ceeded ours. In this fight we captured 267 prisoners, in-
cluding 18 commissioned officers, two guns,and 12 Napoleons
were captured, and one is now in position on the fort. Just
previous to Gen. Milroy's attack on the rebels Buford's di-
visicn of cavalry attacked Murfreesborough and entered the
town, shelling it fiercely and destroying many houses. Gen.
Rousseau, with one regiment of infantry and artillery drove
them out of the town. In these encounters the rebels were in
every instance badly whipped, and have not made their ap-
pearance since. Our troops are highly complimented by
Gen. Rousseau for their unflinching bravery and courage.
Gen. R. S. Granger is reported all right at Stevenson, Ala-
bama. Rebel prisoners report the following loss of their
generals in the late battle at Franklin :—Killed, Major
Gen. Cleburne, Brigadier Gen. Gist, Brigadier Gen. Stra-
pols, Brigadier Gen. Adams, Brigadier Gen. Carter, Briga.
dier Gen. Branberry. Three others were wounded. The
Artizan of Murfreesborough says Gen. Bates was killed on
the 7th inst., and the report is generally believed here. The
weather is exceedingly cold, and no movement has taken
place among the troops here. Persons from the rebel
lines report intense suffering among the rebel troops. All
the carpets have been torn up in the neighbourhood and
made into blankets. Among those entertaining rebel
general officers either by force or pleasure, are Gen. Hard-
ing and Mrs A. V. Brown. A report seems to be gaining
ground that the Tennesseeans in Hood's army are willing
to fight here, but will not again leave the:State. Rebel sym
pathisers say Hood got worsted at Franklin on account of a
lack of artillery and ammunition. Notwithstanding the cold
weather our soldiers do not suffer much. Tney are well
clothed, and have a good supply of blankets and tents. The
river is rising, with six feet of water on the shoals.

The Si, Louis Republican of the 11th has the fol.
lowing special despatch from Cairo:—

Considerable excitement existed at Memphis on the 9th
inst. over the report that Gen. Beauregard was marching on
Fort Pillow with a strong force. No heavy guns are sup-
posed to be used by the rebels to blockade the Cumberland
River. Osceola has been occupied by a small force of rebels.
About 25 rebels appeared on the river bank opposite Mem-
phis, waved their hats, and hurrahed lustily for Jefferson
Davis. A force of about 150 negroes were immediately
placed on board a steamer, which moved a mile lower
down the river, Here the negroes were landed,
and, when they flied out en shore, the rebels
broke and ran, apparently in the greatest consternation.
They were hotly pursued by the negroes until theycame to
a thick bushy place, where the rebels had a large force
secreted, who suddenly rose and fired. The negroes then
fl,3d in the greatest consternation, hotly pursued by the
rebels, who slaughtered them at a dreadful rate. A num-
ber of the negroes rushed into the river and were drowned.
One report says that only seven negroes returned, but
another report says that more of them got back.
A Cairo despatch of the 10th says—

On the 9th inst. the rebels under General Lyon captured
the Government transport Thomas E. Tutt, at Cumberland
City, on the Cumberland River, 20 miles above Fort Don-
nelson. The Tutt was used for crossing the river. The
rebels are on the march into Kentucky. Their force is esti-
mated at 4,000 men. The Tutt was loaded with Govern-
ment forage,' and was burnt to the water's edge after the
rebels had crossed the river.

A Nashville despatch of the 13th says—
The situation is unchanged. No advance has been made
by the Federal troops as yet. Grapevine intelligence states
that an advance was to have been made to-day by our forces;
but some skirmishing transpired on the Harding-Pike, and
several guns were dislodged from Fort Neglv. No results
are reported. The slippery state of the ground r6ndera loco-
motion impossible, and hostilities will be postponed until a
change of weather occurs.