The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-09
SHERBIAN,S AkhrY.

Rebels Claia he was Repnlset
ON the Oconee..-They .AcknowI.
edge Ne will Reach tho Ceast..
Force from Beaufort Bepulsed.
New YORK, Dec. 4.-The Herald.
Washington special says that government
officials are unnsaslly jubilant over news
from Sherman. The government has
means, Independent of the Richmond pa
pers and more reliable, of obtaining infor.
nation from Sherman. It is confidently
believed that Sherman has not only baffled
the rebel generals, but has 60 far advanced
without serious interruption as to leave NJ
doubt Of bis triumphant success.
New YORK, Dec. 4.-6avannah and 9th
or Georgia papers of the 9th ult, and
Richmond papers of the LIST inst. are re.
ceived, from which the following summary
is digested.
It appears that an attack was made on
East Macon on Sunday the Goth, the reb-
els losing battery, which they subse-
quently recovered, with q small loss on
both sides. The attack was expected to
b renewed on the 21st, but it was not, so
the rebels came to the conclusion that the
movement on Sunday was feint. It was
probably made by small force of Slo.
cum corps, az the Augusta C0nstitutiOn-
Glist of the Oath says Sherman's entire
corps went over to the west side of Goo
nee River previous to the night of the 22d,
indicating the intention to pass by Angus
ia, between that place and Macon, for the
sea between Savannah and Brunswick.
At least we judge so from the very feeble
opposition which has thus far been made
to the advance of Sherman.
It is plain that he is moving to the sea
coast and that thus FAR he has been ena-
bled to live upon the country.
We think It probable that Sherman will
reach the coast In safety and his next
movement will, in our opinion, be by
sea to Richmond. We do not believe he
can succeed in taking Augusta or Savan-
nah. Indeed should he succeed in cap
turing the first named place it will do him
no good, since be will find nothing there
he his seeking for. At the last named
place he will have to fight. He is very
well aware Of this and does not wish to do
SO before securing a base upon the sea
coast For the present at least we think
it to be entirely out of the question.
Should he determine to secure himself on
the sea coast, thence to issue during the
winter to rayage the country or carry on
any regular winter campaign, he will be
obliged to abandon an immense tract of
country in the interior over which it is i'm
possible that his army situated on the
ocean and closely watched can exercise
any influence for good or evil.
We do not see that Shermans last ex-
PLOTS will have any effect upon the issue
of the war, but after being told by the
highest authority in the Confederacy that
his retreat from Atlanta was to be more
disastrous than the recall of Napoleon from
Moscow, it is little strange to find him
getting off so cheaply, burning and MUIR
dering as he goes.
From the Richmond Dispatch we learn
that seven hundred prisoners have been
received at Augusta, who were captured
while foraging for Sherman's army. The
Governor has pardoned all the convicts in
the penitentiary, put arms in their hands
and sent them to the front, except those
in for life, whom he could not reprieve &C
oording to law.
Heavy cannonading was heard all yes
terday in the direction of Macon, believed
to be battle between Sherman and our
forces.
Gov. Brown was in Macon, to which
place he had removed all the valuables
from Milledgeville.
The COnStitutiOa0liSt states that the
rebel cavalry are burning barns, corn cribs
and everything else that may be of use to
Sherman, in front of his main army, on the
Ocmulgee River.
The Savannah Republican of the Oath
and 25th contains dispatches stating that
on the oath there was fighting all day at
Oconee bridge, which was held by the
rebels in the evening.
The Federals had turned their guns in
the opposite direction on the other side of
the river, indicating an attack in the rear
Wheeler was said to be crossing eigh-
teen miles below the bridge, to aid in its
defence. ~ -
Another dispatch states that the Fed
erals had flanked Gen. Wayne at the Geo
nee bridge Of the Central road, compelling
him to retreat; and that the Federals had
also crossed at Balls Ferry, four miles be.
low the bridge.
A later dispatch from Augusta, dated
the 23d, to Gen. Hardee, at Savannah
states that the enemy had been driver
back across the Oconee River, and Gen
Wayne has returned to the bridge
| The Augusta Constitmionalist of The
Oath says app6ehensiens prevailed there OF
the 2Sd, in consequence of indications O
the passage Of the Oconee near Milledgc
vile by the enemy, who were reported t,
be advancing in the direction of Augusta
j Savannah and Augusta papers Of th,
28th state that the forces that captured
Milledgeville remained there till the even
ing of the Gath, having burned the Stat,
house, Browns Hotel, and the penitentla
ry, and captured small quantity Of am
munition.
The main body Of Shermms army wa
reported on the oath to he thirteen mile
west of Sandersvilley coming towards Sa
vannah, and rapidly spreading devastation
The Richmond Wing of the LIST instan
says that yesterdays (s0th) news show
that Sherman is gradually approachin
the coast, but refrains from giving the d
rection. He has met with no serious or
| positiOn eYoonk fho rasYulea af 0conne hr