The New York herald., 1864-12-16

| Sherman Il thought by tho messenge
who brought this despatch TO Washington tina
| the national troops had taken and entere
Savannah abou. the time that the steamer whicl
carried him North was leaving Port Royal harbor
as the vessels Of the nect could be seen at dstanc
gayly decorated with flags, and salute being fired
Tho rebel newspapers coninue to give accounts OF
''severe engagements" with shermans cavalry and 10
fantry, during their march towards the coast. 10
all OF which. OF course, these veterans were
"bady dc'eated" by the oripples, ociogcnarans
children OF the Georgia militia One OF these acc nnts
which preends to give description OF one OF the skr
muhes between Fitzpatrick and Wheeler, on the Savannah
Railroad, and which says that the rebols, after being
vastly outnumbered, srsrod lighting, inGcting heavy
loss on the enemy" is very appropriately signed
"Bragg"
Tbare been little firing OF late along the front Of the
armies resting the James river, except in the neil
borhood Dutch Gap, the rebels still continuing TO
throw their shells In that direction Since the hurried
retiren OF the rebel under General Lopgstreet
from lis reconnaissance the Darbytown road sat-
urday last General Ord, commanding the Twenty fourth
i CORPS, in the Army or the James, mas huVauCeu
picket lines that vicinity. 1t is supposed that Of
the principal objects OF this
the truth falsty OF the report that Union guns
were being placed position to shell Richmond but Gen.
ord did net permit the qualification o. this rebel
curiosity. General Warren bis return to camp from
grand raid the Meherrn river encountered no force
Of the enemy except the few cavalrymen who hung
his rear and these occasioued but little anuoynuce
appears that the Roanoke river is full OF topedoes
Besides the osego the steamer Bagey and picket launch
No have been destroyed by them. One man and boy
were killed board the Bagley. The officers and the
rest OF the saved themselves by swimming. Capt.
Ames and Paymaster Sands rescued by the wya-
lusing.
Among files OF rebel newspapers there Ia another
article in the Richmond Wnig reference the rebel
in observing "that the Yankees are about to
mako their country too hot TO hold tho Southern
refugees who have come hi,her sto keep ou, of the
reach OF danger" and hopes that General Dix, If he
not find law enough to suit their cases, will
make Tho rebel conscrpton bill was reported
inst.
CONGRESS.
In the Senate yesterday Mr. Chandler's resolution.
authorizing tho formation new army corps for the
defence OF the Northern border. was referred to the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, also the
resolution demanding OF Great Britain indemnity
for Anglo.rebe depredaticns upon our commerce.
The President requested TO communicate ary
Information the files Of the State Department regard
Ing the arrangement subslsting between the United
states and Great Britain relating the force be
maintained upon the lakes The Committee the Coo.
duct Of the War instructed inquire and report
to the charge that dsloya employed various
departments Of the TO the exclusion Of loyal
mca. The Military Committee were instructed 20 in
qure into the expedsncy Of establishing . more
efficient organization Of the militia OF the
nation Tho bill authorizing the transfer Of q gun.
boat to the authorities OF Liberia passed by
or thrty-t against nine. A motion
made that the Senate adjourn until Monday next;
also that the several military bills which passed the
House last session be taken up and reerred TO the Mill
tary Committee, which carried. A resolution
offered and adopted instructing the Committee on the
Conduct OF the War TO Inquire into the facs connected
with the assault Petersburg in July 1864 The Senate
then adjourned.
In the House OF Representatives, Mr.. Holman offered
resolution requesting the Secretary OF War furnish
copy Of order issued cember 2 1868, referring to
troc enlisted On condition that they should be dis
charged when their regiments mustered cut OF
service also OF the addressed to the Governor
OF Massachusetts in resagd to troops to III up
old regIments also inform she House whether the
principles therein announced have been applied to oil
enlisted to oil up old regiments, which erred
TO the Committee Military Affairs Mr.. Mallory asked
permission OF the House to introduce resolution request
Ing the President communicate all papers bearing
the arrest and imprisonment or Lieutenant
Governor Jacob and Colonel Wolford, the latter
Presidential elector OF KENTUCKY. which Was
OBJ eced On motion, the Senate bill providing for
special term OF for the district of Indiana
passed. A resolution was passed directing an inquiry
the practical operation OF the pension laws
TEN OF permanent relief resolution was offered and
adopted that the Secretary OF State IL not Incompatible
with the public service, communicate all the
inform alton in his possession in reference ID the dl
culties on the Northern border motion TO
exempt sailing OF FIVE hundred tons aud upwards
from tax referred 20 the Committee or Ways end
Means resolution to establish navy yard AT oswcgo,
New York. was referred TO the Committee Commerce.
A bin was reported from the Committee on Military
Affairs for the organization Of the De-
partmeut. The sensto's joint resolution giving the
thanks or Congress TO Captain Winslow aud Lieu
tenant Cushing then taken up and passed
A bill to prevent deserters and others from
receiving the benefit OF the Presumption
and Homestead laws was then introduced, and
referred to the Committee Public Lands The Com.
mttee Foreign Affairs reported the following resolu
tion n-"Resoved, Tha. Congress has constitutional
right 10 an authoritative voice In declaring and
prescribing the foreign policy OF the United
States, rs well in the recognition OF new
Powers as In other matters, and is the constitutional
duty the President to respect that policy, not less In
diplomatic than in the Of tho national force,
when authorized by law and the propriety Of any dec
larson OF foreign policy by Congress is sufficiently
proved by the vote which pronounces It. and such propo