, 1864-12-15

Especial Dispatch to the Western Preee.1
NEW Yol:K. "Wednesday, Dec. 14.-T1e fol-
lowing dispatch Inns been received at the War
Department
H1IToS lead, Dec. II, 1861
Ma;or General Ha1lcck, Washington;
GESERA1-Capt. Duncan, OF Gen. Howcrd's s
scouts, has Just come in from Gen. Howard,
having descended the Ogcchec river in small
boats. he left our army on the evening Of
the 9th. Gen. sherman's whole army was
then within ten miles Of Savannah, advancing
10 attack tue cnemy's works aye miles from
the city, which were prooably attacked yes
terday. as heavy firing was heard In that d.
rcction.
Capt. Duncan reports the army 10 be in the
best Of spirits possible and most excellent
condition. Very little opposition ha1 been
met with On The march. The enemy could
not tell what route was to be taken. The
army lived OIL the country, and has accumu-
lated considerable number Of horses and
cattle. Tie army is we'll supplied. The fol-
lowing is copy of a dispatch brought by
Capt Duncan:
HEADQUARTERS A1:xT or TIE TESsEssEE,|
6EAn SAVANNAH, Ga, Dec, ..
To the Commander Of the U. S. naval forces In the
vicinity of Savannah:
SIR: We have Eaet with perfect success
thus far. The troops are In fine spirits, and
near by. Respectfully,
o. c. HOWARD, Mai. Gen.,
Commanding right wing Of tie army.
Another dispatch brought by Capt. Duncan,
| is directed to the signal officer Of the fleet,
from Howard's chief signal officer. 1t re-
quests good lookout to be Kept for signc1s.
have the honor to be, very respectfully,
| your obedicnt servant,
J. g. Fos1rE, Maj. Gen.
| STILL LATER
NEW ToRK, Wednesday, Dec. 14-Ihe
Hor1d's Washington fpecia1 has an account Of
n battle in front Of Savannah, on Saturday,
| the 10th, which he says comes direct from q
| loyal resident of Richmond. He says 5000
Of Sherman's men, at an early hour, crossed
| the Ogechee River, below Bloomingdale, some
| twelve miles south Of Savannah, and massing
] extended 60 as to cut the Charleston and Sa-
vannah Railroad Communication had been
effected the preceding day with Gen. Foster,
| who was again rapily advancing on Ora
| hamsyille, the rebels rctreating from their
strong positions south Of Pocotaligo Bridge,
| threatened both in front and rear By superior
forces.
Sherman, who WIS on the field, found him
self confronted by large force OF regulars
| and militia intrrnchcd. The battle began
| ea,ly in the dny, and was contested with
| vunnah, numbering twelve thousand rctcr
| ans, participating. Towards poon grand
charge was made By the Union troops, which
| carried some Of the works on the cncmy's
left and center, threatening to cut him of
from the inlet and city. This was followed
14,Jn
led up the rebel forces in confusion, and they
! fell back to the immediate vicinity Of tho
| works in the rear Of Savannah Our troops
| pursued to Tcllair, on the south, and a cor
| responding distance along the upper railEoad.
Here our troops rested, finding the cnemy's
heavy march the previous night and the Sc
we're lighting, being, worn out The loss was
severe on both sidcs-o.50o Union, and be-
tween 5000 and 4,000 rebels, among
whom were fully 1900 prisoners,
including many officers ofrank. Colors, eau
uen: small arms, wagons and caissons were
captured. Smith, Hardee md Cobb were In
co1np,and Of the rebels, whose loss at first
| Ens less than ours, owing to their protection,
but at the close Of the action they suffered
Tremendously. It is believed aal 6f the rebels
ut the head Of the inlet, four or five Thousand,
The facts, says the HorlFs correspondent.
have been carefully concealed By the rebel
authorities. The greatest CONSERVATION pre-
| vailed at Charleston.
Tho latest odyices left Sherman close to the
coast, either able to form a junction with
Foster and the feet, or to attack Savannah
with prospects Of success.
Richmond papers Of Monday report Sher.
man moving on in close proximity to Savnu'
| nah. Beaufegnrd commands the dclenses o.
the city, assisted by Hardcc, Smith and pro
baby Taylor.
Rebel papers say battle may be progress
Fling to-day, and express themselves contiden'
Brngg was ut Augusta ot last accounts.
NEW YORK, Wednesday,, Dec. IA spc
cial to the Commercial says TINT the Rlchmont
papers Of the 1eth inst. contain no news from
Sherman, but there are rumors that Unio1
prisoners report Gen. Fitzpatrick killed, ais
that Union cavalry force had left Bato1
Rouge, destined for Mobile. Gen. Hays AM
Col. Wild have been Paroled by the rebels II
distribute supplies to the Union prisoners