The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-29 00:00:00

The following is General Hood's despatch :

" Headquarters, Army of Tennessee, Six Miles from
Nashville, Dec. 8 (via Mobile, Dec. 9).
"About 4 o'clock p.m., November 30, we attacked the
enemy at Franklin, and drove them from their centre line
of temporary works into the inner lines, which they evacu-
ated during the night, leaving their dead and wounded in
our possession, and retired to Nashville, closely followed by
our cavalry. We captured several stands of colours and
about 1,000 prisoners. Our troops fought with great gal-
lantry. We have to lament the loss of many gallant officers
and men. Major-General. Cleburne and Brigadier -Generals
John Williams, Adams, Gist, Strahl, and Granberry were
killed. Major-General John Brown and Brigadier-Generals
S. Carter, Manigault, Quarles, Cockeriil, and Scott were
wounded. Brigadier-General Gordon was captured.

. " J. B. Hoon, General.
" To the Hon. J. A. Seddon."

A subsequent telegram from General Hood says :
"Our loss of officers was excessively large in proportion
to the loss of men.

" EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

"To Major-General Dix, New York."

The Richmond Examiner of the 14th says :
Yesterday evening it was reported that a gentleman had
just arrived here from Tuscumbia, bringing direct advicos
from General Hood's army, to the effect that he gained a
decisive victory at Franklin, though losing 3,600 men killed
and wounded, and that since crossing the Tennessee river
he had captured some 5,000 prisoners. The same authority,
it is said, confirms the painful report of the Yankee papers
that Mejor-General Cleburne was killed in the fight at
Franklin.
The Sentinel of the same date says :

Intelligence received here yesterday, through private
sources, confirms the report of Hood's victory at Franklin,
He captured between 5,000 and 6,000 prisoners, and it is be-
lieved the enemy's loss in killed and wounded will swell
their total casualties to between 10,000 and 12,000. Three
Federal generals are reported to have been killed. Our
whole loss in killed, wounded, and missing is reported to
be about 3,500, We regret to learn that among those re-
ported killed were the gallant Major-General Cleburne, of
Arkansas; General Granberry, of Texas; and General
Govan, of Arkansas. The account represents the battle as
a severe one, but the victory decided.
Our own correspondent at New York sends the follow•
ing, dated 17th, 11 15 a.m.:—
" Official despatches just received from Mr Stanton re-
, port that Thomas gained a groat victory over Hood yes-
terday, capturing about 3,000 prisoners and 60 cannon.
They add that Hood still made a stand, and the battle was
expected to be renewed to-day. Gold, 230."
The following despatch from Secretary Stanton,
reports the successful cooperation of Gen. Canby
with Sherman and Thomas, cutting Hood's commu•
nications with Mobile :
War Department, Washington, Dec. 16, 5 15 p,m.
Official despatches from Gen. Canby have been received
today, showing the complete success of an expedition sent
by him from Vicksburg to co-operate with General Sher-
man's operations and cut Hood's communications with
Mobile. General Canby also reports the probable success of
another expedition from Baton Rouge, under command of
General Davidson, the details and object of which it is not
proper now to disclose. When last heard from, Davidson
was reported as having caused quite ri panic in Mobile, and
to be devastating the country generally. Lieut.-Col. Earl
commanding a special party, was severely wounded, and
fell into the hands of the enemy, at Fayette, Mississippi.
The despatch of General Canby, so far as is proper for pub-
lication, is subjoined :

" New Orleans, Louieiana, Dcc. 9.

" On the 25th ult. I reported that movements co-opera-
tive with General Sherman's operations would be made
from Vicksburg and Baton Rouge for the purpose of cutting
Hood's communications with Mobile. The expedition sent
from Vicksburg, and consisting of about 2,000 cavalry and
eight pieces of artillery, under the command of B. D. Os-
band, of the 3d Coloured Cavalry, returned on the 4th inst.,
having met with a complete success. After an admirably
executed flank movement on Jackson on the 24th ult., the
expedition started for the Big Black Bridge, on the Missis-
sippi Central Railroad, which was reached on the 27th,
and, after a stubborn resistance, captured aad destroyed it.
This cut Hood's army off from the large quantity of sup-
plies and stores accumulated at Jackson, Mississippi, and
makes that railroad, which was his main reliance, unavail-
, able to kiln for months to come, Besides this important

bridge and trestle work, the following property was cora-
pletely destroyed :—Thirty miles of track, including cul
averts ; the waggon bridge over the Big Black, Vaughan,
Pickett, and Goodman stations, with all the railroad depots
and buildings; 2,600 bales of cotton, two locomotives, four
cars, four stage coaches, 20 barrels of salt, and 166,000 do's.
worth of stores at Vaughan station, The expedition was
considerably harassed on its return by large bodies of the
enemy's forces, but suffered no material losses-, and brought
back more recruits than its entire loss in effective men.
Major J. B. Cook, commanding the 3d Coloured Cavalry,
distinguished himself and his regiment greatly by the gal
lintry with which the force guarding the Big Black Bridge
were driven from behind their strong stockades on the op-
posite tile of the river. Our men had to charge across the
bridge dismounted, with nothing but railroad ties for a
path, and in the face of a sharp fire. I have announced
Major Cook in general orders as promoted to the vacant
lieutenant-colonelcy of the regiment, subject to the approval
of the President.

" E. E. S. CANDY, Major• General,"
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary at War.
To.Major-General Dix, New York.
War Department, Washington, Dec. 16.

Another despatch announces important move-
ments in South•'West Virginia, and the probable
capture of Saltville:—
The Richmond papers of to-day confirm the reported
capture of Bristol by an expedition supposed to be under
command of Stoneman and Burbridge ; also the surprise
and capture of the Glade Spring depot, on the railroad, 13
miles south of Abingdon,Virginia. The Richmond Dispatch
of today, after fully confirming the previous reports of the
capture of Bristol, states that the enemy then advanced up
the railroad towards Abingdon, which we presume will fall
to their hands, though we have no information of the fact.
The next we hear of them they had, at 9 o'clock yesterdly
Jugkruing—poured down on Glade Springixdopc)t 416. e
railroad, 13 miles this side of Abingdon; taking every one
there by surprise and capturing all the railroad employes
except one, who managed to escape to tell the tale. At last
accounts the enemy was pushing up the railroad in the
direction of Marion, which is 27 miles on this side of
Abingdon. This is a raid in Breckinridge's rear. The
raiders, leaving his forces somewhere in the neighbourhood
of Knoxville, came upon the north side of the Holston river
and crossed over to Bristol. It is probable the raiders
separated, one party proceeded to Bristol, and the other to
Abingdon. If unchecked it is likely they will come up the
railroad even as far as Salem, and thence escape to the
Kanawho by the route followed by Bunter last summer.
It is unknown who is in command of this expedition, but it
looks very much like some of Stoneman's galloping work.
None of the despatches received say anything about Salt.
villa. If it is unprotected, it has doubtless been visited by
the enemy. If, however, there were any troops there, the
Yankees were apt to fight shy of it and confine their opera-
tions to the railroad. The Richmond Examiner has the
following : . _

" At Glade Spring the enemy captured an engine and 14
flats, with some railroad hands. On these a party of men
were mounted and sent up the road towards Marion, and a
despatch from the operator at that place on yesterday tells
us that they were at 2 o'clock within a mile of that place.
Their object is easily divined. It is to burn the bridge over
the Holston river and break the road, to prevent troops
from being sent down the line by steam to reinforce Salt-
ville. To Saltville the main body will undoubtedly go, and
in all human probability has already gone. There are some
fortifications at Saltville and some reserves, whose numbers
we do not know. If these can check them by any sacrifice,
reinforcements will soon put the place out of danger. At
present it is certainly in great danger.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.
To Major General Dix, New York,

The subjoined despatches from Admiral Dahlgren
and Commander Preble give some interesting de•
tails of operations on the Chat leston and Savannah
Railroad previously reported :

" Washington, Dec. 15.

Tho Navy Department has received reports from Admiral
Dahlgren to Dec. 7, which contain some interesting details
of the operations on Broad river, and against the Charleston
and savannah Railroad, which have already been reported.
On Wednesday, the 30th ult., the advance was made directly
upon and towards the railroad above Grahamsville. The
assault upon the work which barred the progress of the ad-
vancing columns and its result have been already reported.
A brigade of sailors and marines from the fleet co-operated
in this advance, nd rendered good service with its boat
howis zers, as well as its musketry. On Sunday Gen. Fos-
ter, with a few tugs and 200 or 300 men, went into Wash
Branch, ascended nearly to Port Royal Ferry ; captured a
email work of two or three light pieces, the guard running
away, evidently surprised. At the same time the Admiral
passed to the head et Broad river and into the Coosahatchie,
tri la the Pawnee and Sonoma, where a small work, with a
couple of small guns, was placed so as to bar the passage,
and the stream here was too winding and narrow to get
nearer than a couple of thousand (1 yards, and the rebels,
biter firing a few shots, retired to the woods and let them
pound away. At the same time another column was
pushed out by General Hatch from his right, and the
Pontiac sent her boats up from Boyd's Landing. The
whole affair, however, was merely a reconnoissance, made
to appear like a demonstration, for the purpose of mislead-
ing the rebels and dividing their forces. The firing was
renewed the next day, while a reconnoissance was made
of another stream, the Tulifinny, going in another direc-
tion, and, with the Coosahatchie, forming a peninsula or
island, over which the railroad passed by two bridges, at no
great distance from each other, where the ground was very
favourable for cutting the railroad, On Tuesday, the 6th
inst., gunboats and transports moved very easily up Broad
river, and reached the entrance of the Tulifinny about 8
o'clock a.m., and in consequence of the low tide the force
was obliged to land in boats. In the lead was a launch of
the boat division, under Actirg-master E. G. Farber.
After landing the whole force moved quickly up the single
road that leads up between the rivers, the width of the
island being well adapted to the front of a small force, and
each flank covered by a stream. The rebels appeared to
have been completely deceived by the previous demonstra-
tions towards the Coosahatchie and its battery, and when
they perceived the real direction sent a force with all de•
spatch to dispute the landing, one of their regiments being
a veteran regular; but they were:gradually pushed back
towards the railroad. The rebel force gathered thickly upon
the front, when the blue jackets came up at a quick pace
with their howitzers and opened fire, when the rebels gave
way, still falling back before our men. By evening a report
came that the country bridge had been destroyed—a very
important result, as only a little farther on are the railroad
and bridges, As the report was being prepared matters
were reported going on favourably, the sound of the howit-
zers and musketry being lively. Commander Preble reports
to Admiral Dahlgren, under date Dec. 7, as follows :
" Yesterday, after landing, we dragged the howitzers
through the swampy ground and hurried them forward with
the marine battalion. The sailor infantry landed above with
the army and advanced with it. As we hurried on we heard
sharp firing of musketry in the advance, and hurried up to
reach the field just as the rebels had been driven from it
with a loss, Our sailor infantry fought well, and had 13 or
15 wounded out of 110. As soon as the howitzers came up
one was placed in the road, and scattered an attacking
column, while the other piece shelled the woods to the left.
The marines skirmished through the woods, and there was
more or less firing until night. The rebels had a battery on
the lofted they played upon us down the cross retitle, and
another on the right of the same road. A regiment of infan-
try was sent by Gen. Porter to the right, which destroyed a
bridge and prevented the rebels flanking us. The rebels ap-
peared to be in good force, and to receive continual rein.
tenements. We drove the enemy and encamped on tho field
of battle. This morning the firing was renewed by the
enemy from the woods in front and on the right. Our
howitzers shelled the woods to the right and prevented the
enemy from closing on us in that direction. Sharpshooters
were in the trees in front when the firing had ceased in a
measure, and four pieces were withdrawn as a reserve to the
rear to occupy the position we are now intrenching. wo
heavy howitzers are still at the front for the night. under
Lieut. Hayward. I have been in battle or on the move all
day, and it has been raining hard."