Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-12-23

WAsHINeToN. Nov

via Fortress Monroe, mo date
To Hon GIDEON Welies. Sscy of The Navy
have Just received a communication from
Sherman's army. 1t is few miles from Ss-
vannsh and in fine spirits. | shall bring all
my available force into connection with the
army. A dispatch is forwarded with this.
Respectfully,
j. AfDAHLGRKN.
Rear Admiral.
A bearer Of dispatches from Admiral Dali
gren arrived in this city this morning with
the following dispatch for the Secretary Of
the Navy;
FLAG STEAMER PHILADELPHIA,
Port Royal Harbor. S. c., Dec. IL. 1864 !
To Hon. Gideon Wells, Sec'y of The Nary
1t is my happiness to apprise the Depart
ment that ,ien. sherman with has army is
near Savannah and / am in communication
with him. In view OF his probable arrival /
had stationed several steamers at different
points and had come down from the Titafn-
ney yesterday in order to be at hand. | had
not TO wait many hours.
This morning about o'clock the Dande
line arrived with Capt. Duncan and two
scouts, sergt NJ ]. Bmmick and Geo. w.
Quimby, bearing the following lines from
Gen. Howard:
HILTON HEAD, Dec. IL, via
Fortress Monroe, Dec. Ia, 1864.
! To MAJOR Gen. Hatieck, Chief of Staff:
/ Capt. Duncan, of Gen. Howard's scouts,
has just come in from Gen. Howard, having
descended the Ogeeche river.
| He left the army on the evening of the 9th
Gen. Shermsns whole army was then within
| 10 miles Of Savannah, advancing to attack it.
I The enemy's works 5 miles from tue city,
we're probably attacked yesterday, as heavy
/ firing was heard in that direction.
Capt Duncan represents the army to be in
the best SPIRITS possible and in most excel
4 lent condition. Very little opposition had
been met with the route, the rebels
could not tell what routes were to be taken.
/ The army has lived of the country and ac-
cumulated considerable number of horees and
cattle. 1t was also well supplied. The fol-
loving is copy Of the dispatch brought by
Capt Duncan
HEADoUARTERs ARMY OF TENNESSEE, !
Near Savannah Canal, Dec. o.
To Commander of q. S Nauat Force in ~
ciady Of Savannah, Ga. d:
/ SIR We have met with perfect success
thus far. The troops are in fine spirils and
near by.
RonptStiuhg,
| (Sgned) o. q. HowARD. Maj, Gen.
Another dispatch was brought by Captain
! Duncan, directed to the signal officer Of the
feet, from Gen. Howard, Chief Signal Officer,
who requests good lookout to kept for
signals.
have the honor to be.
Very Respecilly,
Your obi Setv't.
80 FOSTER,
Maj. Gen. Com.
Capt. Ducsn states that our forces were in
contac' with the rebels few miles outside OF
Savannah. he says shermsn's army is no,
in want Of anything Perhaps no event could
give greater satisfaction to the country than
that which / announce, and beg leave to
congratulate the United States government
on its occurrence.
1t may perhaps be exceeding my province,
but cannot refrain from expressing the hope
that the Department will commend Captain
Duncan and his companions to the Hon. Sec
retary Of War for some mark of appreciation
for their success in establi hing communica-
non between Gen. Sherman and the feet. 1t
wa. an enterprise that required both skill and
courage.
! have the honor TO be,
Very respectfully, your obd't serv ant,
(Signed) J. A. DAHLGREEN,
Rear Admiral
The following is a letter written by Gen.
Sherman before he started upon his march
KINGSTON, Co., Nov, 80 P. NJ.
To Capt Pennock. U, s. Nary Mou,.d CITY:
In few days will be of for salt water.
and hone to meet my old friend ID. ID. Porter
again. Will you be kind enough to write
him and tell him to look out for me about
Christmas, from Hilton Head to Savannah.
(Signed) w. 7. SHERMAN, Maj. Gen.
/ WAN DRPARTMEHT, WAsHINGToE,
Dec. 1913 A. NJ.
10 Maj. Gen. Dir
The following official report of the battle
before Nashville mas been received from Gen.
I Thomas:
Nashville. Dec. l5-l0 p. MI attacked
the enemy's left this morning and drove It
from the river below the city very nearly TO
/ Franklin Pike, distance about eight miles.
| have captured Chalmers headquarters
and have also secure about 20 wagons with
between 500 or 1000 prisoners and Is pieces
of artillery. The troops behaved splendidly
ELL taking their share in assaultlng and car
rying the enemys breastworks.
shall attack the enemy again to-morrow,
If be stands to fgni, and il be retreats dur
ing the night will pursue him throwing a
Leavy cavalry force in his rear to destroy his
trains il possible.
/ (Signed) GEo. II. THOMAS, Maj. Gen.
An unofficial dispatch gives the following
details of the batsle at Nashville, Tenn, Dec.
l5, 1880 p. M:
Our lines advanced and engaged the rebel
line at . O'Clock this morning. The line was
formed thus: Gen Stedman on the left j..
f. Wood with the 4th corps next and A. j..
Smith with Cox in reserve next, and the
cavalry under Wilson fighting dismounted,
occupying the extreme night, aided BY the
gunboats on the river. The artillery Prac-
tice has been fine, aud at times the musketry
firing was continuous though heavy, and the
casualties light The results are very fair.
The left occupies the same ground as IN the
morning, but the right advanced five miles,
driving the enemy from the liver, from his
entertainments, from the range Of hills on
which his Left rested and forced back upon
his right and centre. His centre was pushed
back from one to three miles, with loss in all
Of II guns and about 1900 prisoners and his
whole line OF earthworks except about mile
on his extreme right, where no serious at
tempt was made to dislodge him.
Inc whole Of Hoods army is here except
LII I,.,,., no an