The Shasta courier., 1864-12-31
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SHASTA COURIER.
WAR NEWS.

Devastating II coubies, capturing 1,Voo
prisoners, 10000 negroes, 10 900 horses and
80 pieces of artillery. Lost, 500 prisoners,
900 to 500 killed, including Fort McAllis-
ter, and no guns. Fitzpatrick defea
Wheeler in skirmish near Macon. Col
easily have taken the city had Sherman de
sred. At Oconee bridge rebels caused only
a few hours delay. At Griswoldville 18th
corps defeated three rebel brigades under
Phillips, with loss of 81 rebels nearly
AGO. The battle lasted four hours. though
the rebel militia would not stand over l5 min
utes. During the whole march our ca .alry
was not repulsed, nor was Fitzpatrick hurt.
In reply to question from Foster. about
preventing relnforcements reaching lIardee
from Charleston, Sherm..n said ;. Let ali
60 in who wish, but prevent any coming
out. He would open his lines to let 20, 900
60 in, if the rebels desired, as it would in
sure the capture of the whole of them y
Fosters guns command the railroad bridge
at Coosawatchie. A rebel officer captured
at McAlister, acquainted with matters in
Savannah, says only ten days pro visions are
in the city; Hardee cannot possibly hold out
over fourteen days.
Nashville, 22d.-At last accounts por-
ton of the rebels had crossed over Duck
river, retreating. The entire country about
Nashville is filled with rebels.
Headquarters Army of Potomac. 10Th
An attack was made by the rebels last night
on our pickets on extreme left, held by Gen.
Miles division of ID corps. They captured
six and wounded two. The attacking party
were quickly driven back and the line
established.
Fortress Monroe. 20th.-The New York,
which sailed from Port Royal on the 18th,
has arrived. Savannah has not yet been
captured. Vigorous preparations are being
made by Sherman to either compel the city
to Immediately surrender, or carry the in
trenchments by assault. Gen. lIardee with
his entira command, estimated at 10000 to
Is 900, were cut off from escape. Capture of
the city is deemed certain.
Washington. 2lst.-The Navy Depart
ment has received communication from
Commodore Parker commanding the Poto-
mac Flotilla. in which he says Seeing
the enemy were massing for the purpose OF
making raid on the Bay, sent the Coeur
de Leon and the Mercury thither on the 18th,
under command Of Acting Master Morris.
They found 81 large bnats and 2 scows, all
of which were captured. The guard IN large
force made show OF resistance, but were
quickly driven off.
Washington. 2lst-The President to day
signed the bill establishing the grade of Vice
Admiral, and who is to be the ranking Off
eer of the Navy. and relatively of same rank
as Lieutenant General of the Army. lame
diatev afterwards the President nominated
to the Senate Rear Admiral Farragut to the
position. The Senate confirmed the appoint
ment without the usual formality of refer
ence tc standing committee. The Senate
also confirmed the nomination of John
Bigelow, of New York, Consul at Paris, to be
Charge Affairs ad interim.
New York, 22d.-Tribune's special from
Shenandoah Valley says two poor starved
and naked soldiers came into our lines on the
night of the 18th, saying flesh and blood
could not stand the treatment they received.
They say Early has two divisions at New
market, amounting in all to over 5000 men
and no cavalry.
The Times correspondent with Poyter's
expedition, writing from on board the SANTA
go de Cuba at Beaufort, n. c.. on 18th, says
severe gale was encountered off Cape Hat.
teras, in which the little Monitor Mahohac
had narrow escape. She was being towed
by the Santiago dc Cuba and sprung a leak,
but the storm abated. The water not only
rushed in at the top of her turret. but worked
its way through the hull. The iron clads
would take in coal at Beaufort and prepare
fo- action.
Foote has returned to private life in disgust.
In the rebel House, while the currency bill
was up. he withdrew from that body after
making frank statement Of situation of re-
bellion. lie said: Sir beseech the honor
able gentlemen, on this last occasion, per
haps, that shall have the honor of address
inc this House to look with me into the pres
ent condition of the country. W hat Is cur
situation? Let us look danger in the face
and provide for it. We are upon the verge
of ruin. Congress is rapidly abandoning all
its important powers. and building up an ir-
responsible military despotism the like of
which has never been seen on earth. The
policy of present House seems to be to crush
out dissatisfaction by armed violence alone
in imitation of that policy introduced and
enforced in England by the celebrated Earl
of Stafford, the enforcement of which speed
iIy brought Charles | to the block, but not
before Stafford had lost his own head. Ten
DAYS hence the freedom cf delibe.ation will
have been cffectually extinguished in this
body by means cannot specify. The un-
lust. unwise and deeply criminal displace-
ment of the gallant and efficient Johnston
from commaud of Army of the Tennessee.
anu tue ti tttt " hSA-hSoi
hood of Nashville. have opened all southern
Georgia and Alabama to Army of Sherman.
Fort McAllister has fallen. Savannah is
about to fall, and the fail of the city OF
Charleston seems only to be deferred u few
davs Hoods army has already met with a
great disaster at Franklin, and in my .judg-
ment is fatally compromised. Presidential
interference is the cause Of all this dire mis-
chief, and should Hoods army be destroyed,
an event which | fear is hut too probable
Sherman would come round to this vicinity
in ships, which | don't doubt be now intends,
and then what will be the fate of Richmond !?
New York, 22d.-Ilerald's correspondent
in front of Richmond says Lee was wounded
in front of Petersburg last Saturday. and
be will be unable to report for duty for some
time.
Richmond Examiner of 18th notices the
fact that large numbers of negroes recently
stampeded to Yankee lines.
Examiner also says Yankees have been in
Wy,heville aud other parts of southwest Va,
destroying three locomotives and doing other
damage.
Savannah Republican Of 18th says on Sat
urday ard Sunday artillery firing was kept
up actively on both sides. with more or less
skirmishing. N5change in the aspect Of af-
fairs. Everything goes on well. All are in
the best of spirits.
s Charleston Mercury of 10th says Sherman
appears to have abandoned the direct attack