The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-29


Prom ne Tribune.
Dispatches from Wilmington are contradictory
and incomplete New York was a ltte startled
yesterday afternoon by q report from the agent
of the Associated Press that the attack on VIII
mington had been abandoned, and that both
naval and military forces had arrived near For
tress NJ nroe. Two hours later this statement
was cautiously contradicted, and the Washington
telegrapber declares that his first report would
seem 10 be a mistake. Instead of the whole leet
q single vessel, and that n despatch boat had re-
turned to Fortress Monroe.
But If this later telegram which appears in
. our columns this morning, be closely scanned
the pruning of the censOr's knife will be dis
covered. We quote, marking the hiatus a
detachment Of troops landed on Sunday alter
noon. The sBTmishers pnshed up CALAMITY TO
the fort under cover Of our fire. Some Of the
more daring actually entered the works, and
brought of the flag The bnmbardment Of the
fleet continued on Monday And We presume
our special despatch from Washington, does IN
substance correctly hll that yawning gap. The
force under General Butler, which landed on the
Fort Fisher peninsula, was notOHOusly maze
quate TO contend with the combined FORCES under
I There were at Wilmington not merely the
usual garrison, but the two divisions which Lee
sent down when the sailing Of Porler'S lleet was
known These troops had time to arrive long
before the fleet which had butteted the. Atlantic
storms for a week, and which has concentrated
at last with weakened numbers aud strength.
Reckoning, therefore, all the endorsements
which Bragg had been able to gather, 1t 10 safe
to say he considerably Outnumbered the eNpedi-
tionary corps of General Butler; and we are en-
titled if not compelled, to infer that when the
first assault on For. Fisher had failed, 1t was not
found possible 10 MAINTAIN the hold on the land
which had been gained by the landing OF our
troops. ,
force could have done. They established them
selves Oh the peninsula-iu itself triumph --ra-
sisted an immediate attack by the forces sent
down from Wilmington to fall upon their rear
then moved against the fort, carried an outlying
earthwork pressed forward against the main
work suTmounted its parapet, hauled down It's
Hag and then-alas them Outnumoered by tue
reinforced garrison, themselves attacked by supe,
rior numbers, were compelled to relinqush all
thew had won, and 70 seek again the cover OF the
sbips That their losses have been heavy 10 i'm
nied in the statement that the remnants O
them re-embarked-probably under protection o
the fire of the fleet.
II is plain there was heroism enough on the
part of the troops; skill enough on the part
their commander; but the o'd, oldstory on lnsuul
cient numbers is once more rehearsed. winning
ION and its defenscs were known to be garrsonet
strongly known 10 be capable OF quick reinforce
ment from Richmond; proclaimed on the highes
official naval authority TO be lmpreghaOle agAihs
naval force simply and yet the land force sen
TO co.operate with the fleet seems to have pee
wholly incommensurate with the magnitude O
he enterprise. , -, W.,
--IQteT. BraNtOn bTdBB > utsphVCn llouh W "
mingtou, December q, is forwarded by MI
Stanton and confirms the foregoing. Brag
saws 1.-THE enemy has re-embarked under cove
of his fleet. His further movement Is not az
yeloped" There can be no doubt, therefore, ths
the particulars furnished bylour special corre
pordent are in the main correct. Inc re'eh
barkauon, moreover, we interpret as equlVAlel
to an abandonment Of the enterprise for the pr!
sent since our forces would have held tnel
ground on the peninsula had they been aOle Z
or had they seen any prospect of operating ell
ciently against the fort. They surely would n
have gone on board ship FOR the sake OF m mha
aTding the perils OF anOIher lhhuinB oh 'uo 9''u
shore. .,,,c..
Thomas with characteristic caution. De'pHcn
from his headquarters at Pulaski, seventy mil
south of Nashville, are 20 the Goth, Monday las
& the decisive battles In front OF nashville we
ought on the 18th and 10th, Gen. Thomas su
equent advance has not been very raPlu' j
which, wi hout doubt, he has good reasons
averaged about seven miles day. We nave I
peated accounts OF the disOrganiLation OF hooC
army and il is stated that his corps commando
had orders to get themselves out OF harms W
The last despatch from General Wise
Thomas Chef of Cavalry, reports tnat I
people say the Rebels are suffering immense
Tbey were beyond question divided, p
making straight tor Florence, Ala, and p
moving on roads further TO the west in orc
10 protect the pOntOOns at Florence, and Probal
Also at Muscle Shoals, from an apprehenc
flank and rear movement. II appears furt
that such a movement on Thomas p
was IN progress. While Wilson has pressed
rearguard of Hood an infantry force un
Steadman, Thomas tells US, disembarked
troops from the cars at Limestone creek, SO,
miles from Decatur, and was marching on
latter place on the morning Of the 26th.
object of such a movement can be only 70 cl
mn All eastern avenues of retreat TO Hood, ant
enforce against the remains OF his army the
cessity of q southwestern, instead of southei
ern retreat from Florence, supposng that ar
10 reach and cross the Tennessee at that po
Hoods position is clearly one OF extreme p!
and his retreat is capable OF being converted
flight. ,.,.,p
-Themovemen of Sherman, limited at be
. regards despatch Of yesterday, is now diYlneo