The weekly union record., 1864-12-03
News of the Week.

According TO The latest rebel papers. Sher-
mans demonstration toward Macon was feint.
No attack had been made on that place up 10
No7. 23d. but when short distaaee from i,
be turned noTtheastwaTd toward Migedgeville
(tbe Capital Of Georgia., which town, il IS
reported, bis cavalry captured, subsequently
burning The Capitol building and Peniten;iary
L Is also said that strong force Of his army
made demonstration toward Augusta, within
twenty miles Of which place his right was
repulsed With severe loss The moYement On
Augusta is also considered feiut to distract
attention from Sherman first and real objective
point, which Is su7mised TO be Savannah. Il
Is prophesied that be will move as directly as
possible on the latter city from Milledgeville
The belief is expressed that the large Uuion
feet which has been collected on the james
river is destined for SaTanuah, and will meet
Sherman there
Later dispatches give various rumors as TO
Sherman's probable destination. One states
that special messenger just arrived from Sa-
vannah reports that 10 doubt exists but that
Sherman is on the seacoast of Georgia. and
that within a few days We shall have intelii-
gence from him direct from Savannah or
Charleston. By another dispatch we learn
that the rebels apprehend that Sherman will
attempt to form a junction with Grant or
sheridan The greatest excitement is said to
prevail at Savannah, Charleston, and along the
coast and the Governors of South Carolina
and Georgia have issued proclamatious calling
out all males between l6 and 50. The rebel
papers dcnoupce JEFF. DAVIS for failing to send
troops to impede Shermans progress.
1t is stated that Thomas is preparing to
receive large reinforcements, now en- route,
before engaging Hood
\ Louisville letter says; Burbridge has
reached Cumberland Gap with his force. The
rebels under Breckenridge are now confronted
by formidable army. Cumberland Gap is
safe. So long as Burbridge holds il, Breckn
ridge cannot invade Kentucky from that
quarter. He will scarcely venture 10 attack
the Federal forces Should the rebels attempt
to retreat, it is presumed that Burbridge will
advance aud harrass their rear
The Tribune special dispatch from the Army
of the James dated NOV. 22d reports that all
the rebel country on the north bank of the
T,-,o, :, o,, ~, IL, III, r,,l ,,, ,i,,,,-.
impassabe, owing to the mud No change Of
position has been made by our troops Another
letter says; The storm has ceased Within a
week, the roads will be fit for a campaign, if
any be intended.
A correspondent Of the Baltimore American,
writing from Annapolis, under date Of Nov.
25lh, says The first vessels of Col Mulford's
fleet of transports arrived here, to day, with
paroled men from Savannah. They are the
steamers Atlantic and Blackstone. The former
had on board 649 living skeletons and eight
dead bodies-nine were buried on the passage
Such was the wretched state Of these poor men
that our surgeons were appalled, at the awful
sigh. Not man among the number but who
had to be sent to the hospital Many will only
leave the hospital for the grave The five
hundred and fifty men on the Blackstone were
in better condition. They made the welkn
ring when they landed.
Orders have been issued at Washington for
organizing volunteer veteran corps 10000
strong, in the District of Columbia, under
command of Gen. lIancoek-the officers and
privates TO have served honorably two years
A dispatch from Admiral Porter from
Fortress Monroe, announces the pirate Florida
sunk from damages received by a collision with
an army steamer.
\ Federal force of 200 men from Fort
Donaldson aud Clarksyile attacked lIaslins'
guerrillaS, near yellow creek, in Kentucky on
The 26ib- ult and routed them, probably cap
turing the whole gang.
SoI.e excitement was occasiontd in the city
Of New York, on the night of the 25th. by the
firing OF the St. Nicholas. Laiarse, Metropol-
tan, Lovcjoy's and Astor hotels and Barnum's
Museum. \ woman from Baltimore was
arrested upon the charge Of pefpetrating these
acts of incendlarsm. Not much damage was
done. The manner in which the fires were
produced shows a prcconcerted plot. In the
hotels, the bed clothes, trunks etc, were found
covered with phosphorus Matches were also
scattered in the beds The fires were then
kindled aud the rooms locked. This looks Ike
an attempt to carry out the threats of Rich
moud journals that Northern cities would be
burned in retaliation for the devastation in the
Shenandoah valley.
Tus CorpeFheads use the sam. ari,hmetical
process to cypher out victories Of the balloi-box
which they apply in making out Confederate