Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-26
soUrHERR NEN,s.
BALTIMORE, Dec. rs.

has just arrived.
A telegraph operator, named Baker,
belonging to one Of the principal offices
in Richmond, escaped the night before
last, and having succeeded in eluding the
vigilance Of the rebel pickets, made hii
way successfully TO our lines. Yesterday
afternoon he was subjected to a severe ex.
animation by General Grant.
It is stated that intelligence of the fall OF
Savannah, and the capture of the entire
forces, 1900 IL number, commanded by
General Hardee, had reached Richmond
q few hours before he made his escape.
There was q report prevailing at the
same time that Fort Fisher, commanding
the entrance to Wilmington, had also fall
en- by a com bined attack by Gen. Butler
and Admiral Porter's forces, but this could
not be traced TO any reliable source.
The spirits Of the citizens of Richmond
he describes as very much depressed, and
it was with difficulty that the authorities
could exercise any influence whatever over
the press and citizens, such were the fran
tic manifestations Of contempt.
General Griffin is passenger in the
Thomas CuylT, and places the utmost
confidence in the statement of the opera
tor. He is of the opinion that the report
of the capture of Fort Fisher il true, the
extensive preparation made by General
Butler on the sailing of the expedition
wsrranting this early surrender.
The Herald Bahama correspondent of
the 18th, says: Fifteen steamers are in
Nassau awaiting an opportunity to run the
blockade Of Charleston and Wilmington
The Anglo-rebel steamer Virginia had
brought cargo of cotton from Whining
ton, which was at once transferred to an
English ship.
Nassau was growing extremely rich from
the contraband trade.
Gea. Hokes' (rebel) division has left It's
position in front of the army of the James
and is supposed to have gone to assist in
the defense of Wilmington.
The Richmond Dispatch of the 22d, says
division Of Union infantry, under Gene
miles east of Portsmouth, Va, for thep pur:-
pose of operating against Weldon, N. Z.
General Custar, Of Sheridans cavalry,
last Thursday made an attack on the rebel
cavalry under Rosser, nine miles north of
Harrisonburg, Senandoah Valley.
The Richmond ETaminer Of the 22d,
says Sheridsn's infantry has come up the
Valley to point between Harrisonburg
and New Market. Hissdvance is supposed
to be intended as diversion in favor Of
the cavalry movement on this side of the
mountain.
Early has marched out to meet him.
The mounted force which has crossed
the mountains is 10000 in number They
were yesterday in Madison county.
1Hho Hey1T1yo W. ebinCfor s,,ooia1
Richmond papers of the oath contain Of
fetal dispatches from Wilmington, dated
Friday afternoon. Up to that time TWEEN
ty-six Union vessels had re-appesred off
that place. No attempt had been made to
land troops or attack the forts in conse-
quence OF the storm.
Rebel papers also contain a rumor that
Charleston, and probably Savannah, had
been evacuated.
A rebel dispatch, from Wilmington,
3oth, says: The enemy's feet, thirty, odd
sail, appeared off New Inlet this morn
ing.
The Richmond Eraminer of the 23d
says: Telegrsphic communication is H.
terrupted by the storm, with all points ex-
cept Petersburg. The continuance of the
north-easter last night no doubt prevented
Butler from landing. We have very little
10 fesr from q land force. Bragg Is in
command.
The Richmond Wing, Of the 22d, says
General Dick Taylor is in Montgomery.
The Wilmington Journal says that the
steamer Era, belonging to the Confederacy
has run ashore on Bald Head beach, and
heavy firing was heard in that direction
on the 18th.
The Richmond Examiner, of the 22d
says Our ironclsds cannot be moved VI
the river SO as to prevent the evacuation Of
Savannah, owing to the torpedOes and
forts there.
The Richmond Dispatch, of the 22d
says: The enemy keep up an ineessant
bombardment on the lines between Jeru
salem Road and the Appomattox.
The force sent out under Palmer is sup
posed to have gone to operate against tht
Weldon.
The Richmond Whig, of the 22d, ssys
Many well-mesning people in the Soutl
believe that the resources of the Confed
eracy in men are on the point of exhaus
tion, but the belief is erroneous. The ed
itor says the Confederscy is not exhausted
nor nearly exhausted, in its srms-bearing
population, and proceeds to show, by sta
tistics, that It has now forc3 of sbou
100000 fighting men, making allowances
for details.
The Richmond Eraminer, of the 22d
says: There has been no confirmation o.
the report that Breckenridge had beater
Stoneman or Burbridge.
An official dispatch says The damage
done TO the lead works was slight, and vii
be speedily repaired
The Richmond Examiner of the 22nd
has official information that q column o
the enemy, numbering 5000, we're en- tn
Ohio and Mobile Road, north of its cross
= ing of the Mississippi Road.
The same paper says that It has no sd
vices from Hood, but it fears that he is il
bad fix.
The Richmond Vhig says of Andrey
Gordon Msgrsth, the newly elected Gov
ernor of South Carolina: aHe Is in tn
| prime Of life and fully Unidentified wit
State rights, and is an heir of the Sout
Csrolius School politics"
The Richmond Whig, of the 22d, has a
article on the dark days of the Confsde
t acy. It says Hood has been badly defes'
> ed, but he can learn lesson of endurane
from Early. If his defeat proves wort
, than reported it will be the first instance
the kind during the war.
Late rebel papers give additional al