The Portland daily press., 1864-12-28
BY TELEGRAPH
roTHr
Portland Daily Press.
OFFICIAL NEWS DISPATCHES.
Federal Forces Morning Towards
Altamaha River.
ATTACK ON FORT FISHER BY
THE FEDERAL FLEET.
Landing of Gen. Buffers Forces.
REPORTED REPULsE OF OUR LAND
q FORCES.
From Gen. Thomas Army.
GENERAL LEE SEVERELY WOUNDED
Gen. steadman Moving ON De-
catur.
From Gen. Thomas Army.
General LEE sEYERELF FOUNDED
Gen. steadman Moving ON De-
catur.
WAR DEpARrMrnr.

washington, Dec. II, 10 T. M. \
10 MD.Gen Dt1 The following extracts
from Richmond papers of to-day have been
forwarded to the Department by Gen. Grant
An official despatch from Gen. Beauregard,
dated the 18th and received yesterday, states
that Gen. Hardee reports that force of the
enemy's infantry, artillery and cavalry has
moved from Savannah towards the Atamaha
River. Gen. Hardee has made proper dis
position to check the column. Its object is
probably to destroy the Savannah, Albany
and Gull Railroad, its depots, etc.
No report has been received from Hoods
army since Nov. 26th.
Wilmington, N. c., Dec. 25.-The enemy's
Meet OF over fifty vessels, including two moni
tors, several armed vessels and many heavily
armed frigates and sloops of war, made q furi-
Gus attack on Fort Fisher, about one o'clock
yesterday and kept up an average Of 80 shots
per minute until night Our loss is twenty
three wounded.
The attack was renewed at ten o'clock this
morning, and has been very furious and con-
tinues. No report of casualties to-day. Col.
Lamb, who Is in command of the fort, replied
to the enemy's fire slowly and deliberately.
The enemy, under cover of the heavy fire,
landed about two brigades two and q half miles
above Fort Fisher. They were Immediately
engaged by small force. The enemy held
the ground at night.
SECOND DISPATCH.
Wilmington, N. c., Uec 26-The enemy's
infantry attacked Fort Fisher late last night.
They were .repulsed with considerable loss.
There was heavy rain and wind throughout
the night. Prisoners report the Path corps of
the Yankee army as present under Butler,
A Richmond paper says" From our viii
mlngton dispatch 1t will be seen that the van
kee feet attacked Fort Fisher about one
o'clock P. M on Saturday, and bombarded
heavily until nightfall, renewing it at 10
O'Clock on Sunday morning, and continuing
throughout the day, and that under cover Of
the hre OF the feet the enemy landed an in
fantry force above Fort Fisher which attacked
the fort on Sunday night, and was repulsed
Fort Fisher is situated on sand spit on the
right bank of the Cape Fear River. at its
mouth, twenty miles below Wilmington. The
enemy, we presume reached this position a.
bove the fort, not by pushing up the river,
where they would have been obliged to run
the gauntlet of both Forts Fisher and Cas-
well on the left OF the mouth of Cape Fear
River. The enemy having effected Judgement
above the Fort Is serious matter. 1t will
cost double the force to dislodge him that it
would to have prevented his landing.
A dispatch from Gen. Thomas represents
him still in pursuit of Hoods broken and dis
organized force.
~ ~tsI e0io, & utUShI. e1n., Dec. Z0--IO
Maj. Gen. W. 81. Halleck, Chief of Staff:
have received the following dispatch from
Gen. Wilson,; -.
Headquarters Cavalry Corps beyond Pulas-
k, Dec. 25.-There seems to be little do ubt
that the rebels have gone to cambridge, eight
miles above Florence, fearing flank move
ment from Stevenson, Ala. Two corps, Stew
arts and Lees, went by the Florence road to
Lexington. Cheatham went toward Law
rence6urg: The people say the rebels are
suffering immensely. Buford's wounds are
said to be quite severe.
Mr.. Coates says the Colonel commanding
the pontoon transportation, told him he was
going to cambridge, and left here on Thurs
day morning. 454s
Cheathams ammunition transportation of
fifteen or twenty Wagons was abandoned
here. The mules were put in to help the
pontoons along. 4
Gen. Lee was severely wounded in the foot
In the fight at Nashville. His corps is now
commanded by Stevenson.
Inc rebels have lost eighteen generals in
killed., wounded and captured since thew
started north. They acknowledge sixty-eight
pieces Of artillery lost.
J. w. WILSON,
Brevet Major General.
A late dispatch of P. NJ, 25th inst, states
that In pursuing the enemy Harrison's brig
ade came upon the enemy's infantry strongly
posted in rail breastworks, and so closely did
he push up to it, that in being compelled to
fall back, the loss of one gun was involved
The position was however taken ten minutes
afterward, but the enemy had run the gun of.
The rebel force was eight brigades of 500 or
900 men each.
Gen. Wood, commanding 4th corps, is in
support of Gen. Wilson, and both will con-
tinue to support zealously / have heard from
Steadman to-day. He disembarked his troops
from the cars at Limestone Creek, seven miles
from Decatur, and was marching on that
place at A. NJ. to-day.
lSigned) GEO. 81. THOMAS,
Major General.
The Department has not received from
Savannah any reports, except the kilograms of
Gems. Sherman and Foster already published.
(Signed) E. M. STANTON,
Secretary Of War.