The New York herald., 1864-12-22

corps. the Of the loh developed the
position three ana half miles from city where their
| FIRST line OF defence was encountered.
| cAruRB A srxsssw.
On the lOfh some oraters the Twentieth corps,
while on the river discovered steamer moving up.
They laid in ambush until arrived opposite them and
then oened upon IT, shooting the pilot aud several hands
and captured the steamer which they burned Al night
they BROUGHT In six prisoners taken from the steamer
She proved 10 be the Water Witch captured from our
DESTRUCTION rHx SAVANNAH CHARLESTON RAILROAD.
On moving down Slocum struck the Savannah and
Charleston Railway where 1t 70 the side OF
the savannah river and tore as he moved upon Sa
vannah, thereby accomplishing the main object had in
view py Foster In his attack at Honey Hi in south
Carooa-the severance OF communication between the
two cities
Ten mi les north OF savannah Socum reached tho plan
taton of u man named Harrison, who formerly a
bgadier general liz the rebel service The General had
an invitation 10 march along but showing his dis
charge from the service was paroled and released On
General Savannah and urge the surrender of the
CITY, which request was very properly refused. heard
cnArrRR HARRIsoNs oARxsR
that VIII exhibit bis character pretty clearly as blood
thirsty scoundre unworthy OF confidence Some years
ago there lived in Phadeiphis industrious printer
named Thinner, who removed South aud followed his bust
ness IN savannah where in due time he married, and
soon after purchased plantation adjoining Harrison
Wien the broke out he refused fight against his
country and was badly prosecuted by Harrison, who
with armed men dragged him from the coffin OF mis- dead
child aud confined him in the Savannah jail common
convict. for no other offence than being Union man.
From the jail he couscripted into the army, from
before our advance reached house. where Harrison
had him re arrested and sent back prisoner, probably
TO be shot,
DRAWING rHR LINES AROUND SAVANNAH.
Ine nth aud 18th were spent in putting troops In po-
siion Locating artillery erecting breastworks reIairing
roads, and all the 1t ceterds preliminary TO thor
ough investment OF the city Bards division left in the
rear OF Socum to keep Wheeler back placed batteries on
the river tn check the gunboss that the rebels paroed
the river with. and employed themselves in tearing up
the railway and burning the bridge across the Savannah
river On the evening OF the 18th they moved up and
TOOK position In reserve or Carin.
18th
where Socums left rested three miles from the city, to
beyond the Gulf Railway where Howard's right rested.
eleven miles from the city, Howard had previously torn
up many miles OF link railways centreing
in Savannah In front Of divisions OF lines
were mpenetrable marshes and svamps, where could
not approach within rifle range OF the enemy
PREPARATIONS TO OFEE COMMUNICATIONS
the approach the fleet selected Captain Duncan chief
OF Howards scouts, to perform the difficult task Of run
particulars Of whose voyage have already received
=, ~. n An rxpEDiTIos ,n w cENERAL HAzSs.
Second division OF the Feenth corps by part OF the
Seventeenth corps and threw across the Little Ogee-
chee towards the Great ogeechee with the view Of CROSS
ing 1t to Ossabaw Island and reducing Fort McAister
which held the river The enemy had destroyed Kings
bridge across the Great ogeechee and this had to be
Howard's staff, with the Missouri engineers. pre-
pared the timber and bridged the thousand
feet OF river during the night, and the morning
Of the 18th Hazen crossed aud moved towards the point
where Fort Nc As.er obstructed the river. Kratrick
Sound, opened communication with the fleet and asked
permission to storm Fort McAster but Sherman did not
cavalry, with its poor facilities and small supply OF
artillery, could succeed.
rmx FORT cAKHrHD ny HAzRs.
Learning that Hazen to storm the fort on the after
OF the 1th veed the right Of the line and at
pnsd zine & e sn% rnt M
ter. found Sherman the OF the mill, surrounded
BY his ~ s and signal Sss Besey x. aId c %
patiently waiting for Hazen's signals Sherman's keen
eye detected smoke In the horizon seward Up 70 this
time he had received no intelligence from the eet In
moment the coun'enance OF the bronzcd chisftain
lightened up, and be exclaimed:
!" Look Howard there s the gunboatP'
Time passed on, and the vessel nov became visible.
yet signal from the feet or Rasen. Hall an hour
passed. aud the Of the fort opened
with pus OF smoke that hundred yards from
the fott. showing that Hazens skrmshers hsd opened
A moment after Hazen signalled la .ees
immcdiassly" Al this moment Bt0ciey announces
"a signal from tho gunboat." All eyes are turned
from the fort 70 the gunboat that coming
ence with from home. few messages pass, which
inform that Foster and Dahgren within speaking
distance. The sunboas now halis and asks 7iI n
Scan We run ups II Fort McAilister ourss''
'No" is the reply; 'liazsn just ready 70 storm IT.
"Yes," ia the reply. "what will you have us dof'
ot tho fort are and the low SOUND Of sm.
borne the three miles OF marsh aud river Field
hero of Atlanta Ssaes away OH 70 tho fos fhers they
90 grandy not = waver, +" he remarks.
Twenty seconds pass, and again he exclaims,
See that flag n lhe advance. Howard; how steadily
IL moves not . man faitsrs, There they 60 still;
sin he strained his eyes. ana momeu. asssr speaks
without raising his eyes- afaHs t.E@iN
',Tha, nax atm goes forward; there Is no ainchng
A pause for minute s.4
1iook v he exciaims. :" it has halted. Tncy waver,
no its the parapet There they so again; now they
scale it some are over. Look there's q flag on the
worksl Another. another. IT'S ours The forts
The glass dropped by bis SIDE and In an instant the
Joy OF the leader a the OF tho river ara
>r sNA his baco hnr fnPlh IN
GAS the old darkie remarked, dis chile don't sleep
dis nieh,l' And turning to one OF his aids, Captain
Audericd he remarked, s.Havs boat for me at once
mus, go tnere pointing to the fort, from which half
dozen battle flags 1oated graRdly in the sunset
And we'll might William Tecumseh sherman rejoice:
for here, the setting went down upon Fort
McAllirter reduced, and kissed fond good night 70
the Starry Banner, shermsn witnessed the elimination
Of all his plans and marches that bad involved sncn oes
perate resistance riskthe opening up OF new and
shorter route to his base. Here sunset. the
rable 18th Of December tho dark waters OF the great
sherman with iron heroes at Atlanta twenty
nine days before lead them victorious to new base
rux Hrvovs on pogy x'AranrH
The victorious patriots vino the last blow TO the
cbsfrucons in our path were tho members oi nne regi
ments detailed specially from The three brgades ms o'
ows-Sixth Missouri, Lieutenant Colonel Van Dusen:
ihirtieh Ohio Captain -, and une Hundred and SAY.
een,h Illinois, Lieutenant Colonel Maadx, from the First
brigade commanded by Colonel Theodore Jones' forming
the right OF the ne Forty seventh Ohio Colonel Parry
One Hundred aud Eleventh Illinois, Colonel Martin ana
commanded by Colonel W. $. Jones, forming the left.
Forty eighth Illinois, Major Adams Nnetieth lihnos,
Colonel Stewart and Scveneth Ohio Lieutenant Colonel
Phips from the Third brigade, commanded BY Colonel
Oliver, forming the centre
GROUND CHARGED OVER
The line, when the tort had been fully Invested was
Fort McAllster on the point elbow OF land To ap
proach the ground upon which The formation OF the ne
road or avenue 10 tho centro OF swamp, where the
barbarous enemy had buried number OF torpeooes,
with the intention OF demoralizpg an attacking party
Fortunately their plans frustrated by the reoeis
themselves The pckets captured ard the prison
marched the OF tho column When near the
they shcd or deccted and forced TO dg
the The right OF the line charged
extensive rice swamp 10 reach tue outer ue on
intrenchmens, hut the centre was more fortunate IN
having good, solid ground.
DESCRIPTION FORT.
am sufficiently versed in eDgineering 10 give q