The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1864-12-26
SHERMAN'S ARMY.
An official War Bulletin.
CAPTURE OF SAVANNAH.
33, 600 Bales Of Cotton Taken-Har.
dee Escaped with the Main Body Of
his Army.
Press Dispatch.l
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASuINGTON Dec. "a.

WASHINGTON, dec. "a.
Major Gen. Dir:
A dispatch has been received this even
ing by the President from Gen. Sherman.
1t is dated Savannah, Thursday, Dec. %,
and announces his occupation of the city
of Savannah, and the capture OF $50 guns,
plenty of ammunition, and about Is, 200
bales of cotton No other particulars are
given. -.
An official dispatch from Gen. Foster
to Gen. Grant, on the 22nd inst, at
o'clock P. NJ, states that the city of Sa-
vannah was occupied by Sherman on the
morning of the 21st; and that OH the pre-
ceding afternoon and night, Hardee es-
caped with the main body of his infantry
and light artillery, blowing up the iron
clads In the navy yard. He enumerates
as captured, 800 prisoners, $50 guns, l3O
locomotives in good order, 100 cars, and a
large amount of ammunition and materi-
ais of war; steamers and $4,000 bales OF
cotton. No mention is made of the pres
ent position of Hardee's army, which had
been estimated at $1,000. The dispatch
es of Gen'ls Sherman and Foster, are as
follows:
SAVANNAH, GA, Dec. g
To his Ercellency President Lincoln:
beg to present you as Christmas
gift the city of Savannah, with $50 heavy
guns and plenty of ammunition, and al
so about $4,000 bales of cotton.
[Signed.] W.T.. SHERMAN,
Major-General.
STEAMER GOLDEN MATE,
SAVANNAH RIVER, Z PM, Dec. %.
Lt.-Gen. Grant and HajorGen. Hdlleck:
I have the honor to report that l have
returned from Sherman's Headquarters
in Savannah. Isend Major Gray, of my
staff, as bearer of dispatches from Gene
raj Sherman to you, and also message
to the President The city of Savannah
was occupied on the morning of the 2lst.
General Hardee anticipating the contem-
plated assault, escaped with the main
BODY of his infantry and light artillery,
on the morning of the Goth, by crossing
the river to an open cause-way opposite
the city.
The rebel iron clads were blown up and
the navy yard was burned. All the rest
of the city is intact and contains 20,OOO
citizens, quiet and well disposed, The
captures include 800 prisoners, 15O guns,
l30 locomotives in good order, l90 cars,
large supply of ammunition and mater
ials of war, three stermers and $4,000
bales of cotton safely stored in ware
houses ALI these valuable fruits OF an
almost bloodless victory have been like
Atlanta, city won. Iopened commun-
ications with the city with my steamer
to-day, taking up all the torpedoes we
could see, and passing safely over others
Arrangements are made to clear the chan
mel of all distractions.
Yours, &c.
J. G. FOSTER, Maj. General
Richmond papers of yesterday state
that on the 23d, twenty six vessels of the
Wilmington expedition had reappeare,;
the dispatch is published in the Rich
mond papers and is as follows:
WnMiNGToN, Dec. 23.-Twenty six
vessels of the Federal feet reappeared
this morning There has been no change
since the last dispatch.
This is the latest intelligence received
from that expedition.
[Signedl E. NJ. STANTON.
Sec'y of War.