New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-10

GEN. snBRMANp PROGRRss.
There is no news, that can he called news,
from Gen. Sherman. We have Richmond ps-
pers to the 7th "Wednesday. and Augusta
papers TO the Sd, but not one of them contains
any late, definite, or Trustworthy intelligence
from tho Army which marches through Central
Georgia. "Halting to grind corn" says The
AUGUSTA Cons,itu,iona,ist Of the Sd, speaking Of
Sherman; his foraging parties having all been
driven back by the activity OF the Rebel cav
airy, and preparation being necessary for
mach through tic barren country which lies
between Millin and Savannah-or whatever
point further South be the aim OF Sherman's
march.
Yet there il ono piece of evidence "a TO the
work which that terrible Rebel cavalry has
done. and how much it has circumycnted the
movements of Sherman's foraging parties. We
heard some days ago how Fitzpatrick. who COM
msnds tho cavalry of Sherman, had been whipped
by Wheeler Fitzpatrick had even lost his
hat-so close was the encounter and so narrow
the escape of the Union leader. Blu, tho sequel
to the story appears at last. There was q
fight near Waynesborough twenty miles
south of Millin. IL is now claimed that
Wheeler won some sort Of success on
the first day; having stumbled probably on
a accommodating party Of Fitzpatrick. The day
following says the Rebel account. Fitzpatrick
was REINFORCED by tho Fourteenth Corps, at
iotl Co. Tnt "a ~
mean time, and drove him out Of bis works.
Wheeler fell rapidly back toward Augusta
Fitzpatrick went on his way toward Millin. Tho
whole of which story amounts to this: that
Wheeler made q weak and Intellectual effort TO
interrupt the foraging parties and reconnois-
sance of Sherman. got thrashcd for his pains,
and Emped home again with half truthful,
half pitiiul tale tn toll to his frightened friends
in Augusta.
Meanwhile, the one clear fact is that the
Rebel papers really do not know where Sher-
man is, nor just where he will strike the coast.
1t is only within day they have discovered
no never meant to attack either Macon or
Augusta-iacts which to any one who intelli'
gently studied the course and purpose OF his
advance were long ago evident. The Augusta
papers-of Dec. 3-are comforted by tho arrival
of Macon journal announcing that that city Is
"safe," and the renewal of communication be-
tween the two places is eIultingly proclaimed.
Their previous confusion is due TO the purpoSely
multiiarious directions Of march Of the different
columns into which Sherman had divided his
army. Clouds ofcayalry hung about it; reached
far and wide; penetrated every road branching
for twenty miles on either side Of the infantry
columns; enyeloped the movements of the army
and bid it from hostile view. What Carlyle
calls the "Tolpstchery" Of the Austrian army
which in the second SilcSian war swarmed over
the frontier and shrouded tho Austrian advance
from the gaze of Fredcrick-such has been the
cavalry of Fitzpatrick in this campaign.
And yet though the Rebel papers are igno-
rant Of all details, they contriyc to Indicate that
Sherman was well past Millin, seveDty-eight
miles north Of Savannah. on the LIT Of Dscem-
Der, that no had concentrated at or near
that point all his outlying detachments, and
that he was pushing steadily southwark, free
from all obstruction, and little if at all harassel
by demonstrations on his tanks or rear. Tho
point at which he crossed the Ogcechee is IN.
certain, but he is surely pursuing his march
between that river and the Savannah, follow.
ing tho course OF the Central Railroad, which is
nearly parallel to both for considerable dis
lance. We apprehend that this morning Gen.
Sherman is at, within ay'smarch Of, the sea.
coast, and We arc far from believing that he has
either fought baltic to reach II, or that at any
point in his course Rebel army can have
been gathered TO resist lis progress.