Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1864-12-22

WASHINGTON, Dec. 20--An official dis.
patch from Gen. Sherman has been recev-
ed by the War Department. dated mid
night. December Is. on gunb rat Donel-
son, Ossabaw Sound. 1t was written be-
fore Gen. Foster had reached him. He
reports. besides some military details OF
future operations, which are omitted, the
following:
ITO day, at p. m, Gen. Hazens' di-
vision. Of the 10Th Corps, carried Fort
McAllister by ass,ult. capturing It's entire
garrison and stores. This opened to US
the Ossabaw Sound, and | passed down to
this gunboat To communicate with the
fleet. Before opening the communication
sc had con- pletfly destroyed all railroads
leading into Savannah. anil invested the
city. The left is on The Savannah river,
ten miles above the city. and the right on
the Ogechee. at Kings Bridge.
1.-The army is in splendid order. the
weather fine. and supplies abundant. Our
march was most, agreeable and not modest.
cal by guerillns. We reached Savannah
three DAYS ago. but owing to Fort Meal
lister we could not communicate; Lut now
we have Fort McAlli,,er. We can go a.
head. We have captured two boats on
Savannah river, ant! prevented their gun-
boats from coming down. The estimate
population of Savannah Is %. 600, and the
garrison $4,000. Gen. Hardee commands.
1--WE have not lost wagon on the trip.
but have gathered in large supply of ne
groes. mules and horses. Our teams are
IN better condition than when we started.
My first duty will be to clear the army of
all snperiiuous negroes anG horses.
81 have utterly destroyed over two hum
died miles of rail, and consumed ali
stores and provisions that were essential to
the armies OF Lee and Hood.
1.-The quick work made with McAllisior,
aud the opening OF communication with
our fleet, and consequent independence for
supplies, dissipates all their Roasted threats
to head me Oft and starve the army.
FL regard Savannah as already gainel.
"Ionrs. truly,
wv. L. SHERMAN. Maj. Gen.
New York. Tuesday, Dec. 2u.-The
iiersld's correspondent from Fort Meal.
lister and Hilton Head. 18th, says: when
Gen. Sherman arrived in front of Savan-
Hah, after having marched 800 miles. hi,
troops meanwhile living on the very best
he had with him drove of
l.200 cattle, though be started from AT.
lanta with only 200. He also gathered
up on the way over 1000 able bodied ne
groes. and so many horses, mules and
wagons a. to embarrass him.
His march during a considerable Dor.
ton OF the march. extenleI over a swsrp
OF country sixty miles in breadth. e. much |
as four miles at times intervening between
The right wing Of one column and the lei, |
NJ the other, but communication was, Mt
BIZ times kept up betwee The two Hi,
whole loss in men from the time of le,v-
ing Atlanta to his arrivslin front OF Sa- |
'annalI. from lw.unds, sickness. captured.
aud all other causes. was onl,
about 1000. The average daily march
vas about IL miles.
When the city Of Savannah was invest
al by Sherman. it was unprepa,ed for
iegc. and it was believed It could not hold !
mt more than few days. Gen. Slocum
holds all the approaches on the north side
II the city. including ell the railroads
esdIng out Of the town. Gen. Howard's
'rmy connects with Slocum's right. and
wings around the Ogeches river at Fort
'icAllister.