Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-12-30
!. Dec. 80, 1854.


Official dispatches from ihe Secretary Of War,
given 10 another CO. .umn. There is no dis
count Oh the glorious character of the inseli-
gencs which during the last few weeks has
thrilled every legal heart with joy. At no
former period has cur superiority in men and
resources been so manifest, the weakness
and exhaustion of the bogus COniederacy so
apparent. Our successes have been uniform
and of the greatest importance, and the pros
pect Of the attainment Of peace by crushing
the rebellion, the only means possible of at
tanning that end, was never more encourag-
ing than at this time.
General Sherman's triumphant march
through the heart of the Empire State of the
South, in which be took his ease, met no seri-
GUS opposition, and his army 9 Jared sumptu-
ously every day" has eliminated in the cap
ture Of the city of Savannah with 40 immense
amount of spoils, and without any loss of men
or material on bis side. The particulars of
the capture will be found elsewhere. The
possession Of Savannah and the river gives
General Sherman secure base, from which
be can command the cotton States and reach
the very vitals of the rebel dominions, and il
Il safe to infer he will not be lsng in avail
ing himself Of the opportunity thus presented
to tighten his grasp upon the monster rebel
lion and efficiently aid in throttling it to
death.
The last advices from Thomas left him still
closely pressing the fragments of Hoods re-
treating army. The latter had reached the
north bank of the Tennessee and was striving
TO gain the opposite side, and if he has not
succeeded in crossing by this time be will not
be likely TO eject his escape, as our forces
were nearly up with him and a force under
stsadman had been sent to Decatur to head
him off if possible. 1t is notorious that in
their anxiety to escape the rebels have aban-
doned nearly all their trains and supplies as
veil as nest Of their arms. The result of the
-5aasssst -teesverbaul them must be known in a
few days. The defeat of Hood has been one
Of the most therough and disastrous that the
rebels have sustained during the war.
General Stoneman has been committing ter.
Fible havoc among rebel railroads and supply
depots in Southwestern Virginia. The most
successful of bis exploits has been the capture
and destruction of the extensive salt works at
q town called SaltVille-the fall of which
place is announced in the Richmond Whig Of
the 26th inst. These works supplied to
large extent the entire Confederacy with the
indispensable article Of salt, they have been
defended with great pertinacity. and the
Richmond papers have within the last few
weeks declared that their capture and destruc-
tiOn would be greater loss than the fall of
Savannah or Wilmington.
The news from Wilmington is encouraging,
and the success of the expedition against that
stronghold seems probable. TIE attack was
progressing with great vigor at the date Of
last advices, and land force had secured a
strong position above Fort Fisher, the princi-
pal defence of the harbor. Fhe great import
auce OF Wilmington to The rebels grows out
OF the fact that it is the port through which
nearly all their supplies from abroad are re-
ceived, its situation being such that
thoroughly efficient blockade is impossible.
A cavalry force from the Shenandoah valley
advanced few days ago to the outskirts of
Gordonsvile, but finding the place strongly
defended, withdrew without venrurlng an az
tack. A large amount of Injury was inflicted
upon railroads and depoLs on the advance and
return.
The formidable raid under Gen. Davidson
into southern Alabama and Mississippi, which
so seriously alarmed ihe rebels for the safety
of Mobile, was not intended for anything
more than diversion 10 favor of Sherman. |
and having effected it's object had returned to
the starting point. Immense damage was in
hicted on the rebels, and large captures made |
Of cattle. slaves. etc. The impunity with |
which these raids are made into the heart of
rebedom forcibly illustrates their weakness
and shows that all their available force is con-
centrated at few threatened points