The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1864-12-29
HILTON HEAD, Dec. Is.
COMMUNICATION OPEN.

NOnMUNlCATlOS OPEN.
Just at dusk last evening, General
Fosters flag boat, the Nimsaha. came
steaming up from the south, decorated
with countless flags and pennons. The
docks We're soon crowded by anxious
hundreds, inspired with that ioyful
suspense which comes as near being
a pleasant pain as any thing Of that
Kind set down in the more profound
mental philosophers The crowd knew
that Sherman had done something
agreeable, long before the Nlneaha pot
within hailing distance, but the fag
flutter could not be construed any fur
ther.
The news was soon told. Sherman
had captured Fort McAlister, and re.
opened communication, and settled
quietly down to prosecute the scige Of
Savannah. The history Of the grand
march as related by the intelligent
scouts, whose narration l sent you in
my last was confirmed in every par.
tlcu!ar. NJ fghting-moderate march
lng-luxurious living-whoIe railroad
lines taken up and smashed-and the
military shell Of Georgia shattered into
as many fragments rs an army with
the most highly cultivated organs of
destructiveness cared to produce, with
every implement thcvcould desire. and
with all the leisure they had any use
for
SHERMAN DEsCENDs TIE oorEcuEF.
On Wednesday morning, the 14th
INST, Gen. Sherman came down tie
Ogcechce River in small boat, cap.
tured on that stream He was receiy-
ed on board of the Nimeahn. where be
was most cordially greeted by General
Foster and Admiral Dahlgren. Sher.
man looked little rufly. and wore the
same dropping, ronnd,top felt hat.
which was observable for not being
new when he fanked Atlanta; but he
was in bouyant spirits, and laughed
and chatted as only a man of his san
guine traits can. He said tint the re-
sistance TO his march was less than he
anticipated. The enemy had nibbled
little at his advance guards and fora
gIng parties, but avoided fighting with
great perseverance, He roamed the
heart Of Georgia for month, his army
had lived luXurantly off the necessities
Of Lees and Hood IS armles, and he
had destroyed railroads beyond repair,
during the war. All this he had done
without the loss Of Il thousand men,
The whole story Of his march conId
be summed up in few words be had
not only accomplished every thing he
had deemed probable, but many things
which were simply possible. Among
the latter was the capture OF Savannah;
now he was certain Of the city, with
strong hopes of its garrison.
General Sherman remained in con-
snItation with Gen. Foster and Admi
raj Dahlgrcn for several hours, during
which time, of course, plans for the co.
operation of Foster army and the fleet
were arranged, l have it, on the au-
thority Of one who heard the remark,
that Sherman declared that all the
navy in the world could not, unaded,
capture Savannah. About three
o'clock on Wednesday afternoon, Sher.
man returned up the Ogeechcc River
and rcioned his army.
THE CAPTURE oE .NAcALLGsTER.
On the 18th inst, Hazcns division.
Commanded by Gen. Sherman him.
self, tormerly,) Of the 18th Corps, was
ordered to storm Fort McAllistcr. af-
ter a demand for its surrender had
been refused. The charge was made
in column at the oublo.quici. and in
less than fifteen minutes from the time
the word to storm was given, our flag
tloatcd from the fort which is strongly
built of sand, with deep bitches and
parapets. The garrison, con-
sisting of three hundred men, were
captured, together with twenty-thrcc
fine guns of heavy caliber. The loss
Of the division in the charge was sew
enty killed and wounded. The great
strength of Fort Macalister renders
its capture by storm feat Of arms sec
ond to no valorous achievement of the
war. 1t was General Jazen's division
that bore the brunt of Hardee's attack
upon our right at Joncsboro the day
before the rebel evacuation OF Atlanta. |
so its talent for defense and offense is
pretty firmly established, General |
Sherman may be justly proud to say,
as he did in describing tho assault,
That was once my own division" !"
POSITION AROUND SAVANNAH.
General Sherman feels certain that
Savannah is his legitimate property,
ind the position of his forces around it
1t this moment would seem fully 10
Justify his antcipations, The main
body ofhis army is on the west of the
:ity, stretching around it somewhaton
he south. Re has passed a body fin
dntry north Of tie SG56naah Rirer, the
My direction Of escape for the garrison
The situation is simply this: Sher-
nan, with an army Of veterans, out.
numbering the garrison four to ono
'erhaps more is beleaguering Savan
ah, holding all the railroad comms-
iications, and has passed body OF
roops north of tho Savannah River, {
lmost directly in the rear Of the force
which has been confronting General
'oster at Pocotafigo, and hindered ,
eizure of the Charleston and Savannah :
north CT the river. The only =,