The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-26
BY TELEGRAPH
Portland Daily Press.
IMPORTANT NEWS FROM GEN.
3 y SHERMAN.
Official Confirmation of the
Surrender of Savannah.
$50 Cannon and Large Quantities
of Ammunition Captured.
30, 900 Bales Of Cotton found IN
the City.
HhAH ---si 3o40f-SH s
REBEL IR0N-CLADS BLOWN UP AND
THE NAVY YARD BURNED.
Escape Of the Rebel Gen. Hardes.
Gen.. Shernan's Christmas Gift to
President Lincoln.
SAVANNAH RIVER TO BE CLEARED
OF OBS TRUCTIONS. rs +.
REBEL IR0N-CLADS BLOWN UP AND
THE NAVY YARD BURNED.
Escape Of the Rebel Gen. Hardee e.
Gen. Sherman'S Christmas tilt to
President Lincoln.
SAVANNAH RIVER TO BE CLEARED
OF OBS TRUCTIONS.3 n
Federal Fleet off wilmington.
WAR DEPARTMENT,

e7e Washington. Dec. 25-8 r. M. aE
To Maj. Gen. Die A dispatch has been
received BY tine President this evening from
Gen. sherman. II il dated at Savannah,
Thursday the 22d inst, and announces bis
occupation OF the city of Savannah, and the
capture of $50 heavy guns, plenty Of ammuni
tion, and about $4,000 bales OF cotton. Nc
other particulars are given. aHte q
An official dispatch from Gen. Foster to
Gen. Grant, dated on the 22d, at O'Clock +.
NJ, states that the city OF Savannah was oc-s
cupied by Gen. Sherman on the morning OF
the 2lst, and that on the preceding afternoon
and night Hardee escaped with the main BODY
Of his infantry and light artillery, blowing up
the iron-c;lads and navy yard. He enumerat
as captured 500 prisoners, 100 guns, ID loco
motives in good order, 100 cars, large supply
OF ammunition and material OF war, three
steamers and SO 600 bales of cotton.
No mention is made of the present position,
of Har det's forces which had been estimated
at about $4,000. e a9'
The dispatches Of Gen. Sherman and Gen.
Foster are as follows - taI .S5sos i5si.
SAVANNAH, GA, Dec. 22i, 1S64.-To His
ErcslEency President Lincoln:-I beg 90
present you as Christmas Gilt the city OF
Savannah with $50 heavy guns, plenty OF am
munition. and also about $4,000 bales Of cot
ton. a5..ew ss5tat-s
(Signed) W. 7. SHERMAN,
ie Major General.
Steamer Golden Gate, iSauGnnah Rioer,
p. M. Dec. 22d.-IO Lieut. Gen. u. s Grant
and Moj. Gen. IL. w. Holieck:-I have the
honor to report that have just returned from
Gen. Shertnan's headquarters in Savannah
[ send Maj. Gray OF my staff as bearer OF dis
patches from Gen. Sherman TO you, also mes
sage to the President. The city OF Savannah
was occupied morning OF the 2lst. Gen.
Hardee anticipating the contemplated assault
escaped with the main body of his infantry
and light artillery on the afternoon and night
of the Goth, by crossing the river to the Union
causeway opposite the city. The rebel IRON
clads were blown up and the navy yard burn
ed. AL the rest Of the city is intact and con
tains 20 900 citizens, quiet and well disposed.
The forces include 800 prisoners, $50 guns,
Is locomotives in good order, 1870 cars, a large
supply OF ammunition and material OF war,
three steamers and SO 600 bales of cotton safe
ly stored in warehouses. All these valuable
fruits of an almost bloodless victory, have
been, like Atlanta, fairly won.
( opened communication with my steamers
to day, taking up what torpedoes we could see.
and passing safely over others. Arrange
ments are made to clear the channel of all OBJ
structions. sag -
(Signed) 10 J. G.. FOSTER,
-ff BON a9.4tgoq Major General
The Richmond papers of yesterday state
that on the 23d, twenty-six vessels Of the
Wilmington expedition had reappeared. The
dispatch Of Gen. Bragg as published In the
Richmond papers is as follows:
Wilmington. Dec. 22.-Twenty-six vessel
Of the federal feet reappeared this morning
There has been no change since my last dis
patch" 81 49, ss
This is the latest intelligence received from
that expedition. rig ag #uise 3
(Signed) EDWIN M.STANToN, gs''
rs Secretary Of War.