The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-14
A STRONG REBEL FORCE SAID
TO BE OPPOSING HIM.
Secretary stanton to .ae,.-raI Dix.


Secretary stanton 10 gsel,-raI Dix.
WAN DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, December
. l3, p MO Major General DIX, New York -
The Richmond papers of yesterday report Gene
raj Sherman at BloomingdAle fifteen miles from
Savannah, on Saturday, December 10. lie is re-
ported by this mornings Richmond papers, as
Will be seen by the following telegram from
#3enerai Grant, TO be in line Of batIe not Ave
Ztailes from Savannah -
y CRY PONT, Va, December l3.-Honorable
s. NJ Stanton, Secretary Of wur:-Richmond
Papers Of to-day contain the following. The
Richmond Dispatch says ;-"Sherman is near
Bayannab, probably not i've miles distant. He
has not yet made an attack. 1t is still doubtful
Thether he will do so, or make for the coast
outheast of the city. It is very certain he has
lot yet opened communication with the coast,
hough he may do SO very soon.
LATER.
4 "a telegrRphc despatch from below Charleston
tates that Sherman was in line OF olttle I've will
ot say whorC) confronted by u s.rong ConIed-
rate force"
III Another paper states -" There has been no
irsct communication with Savannah for several
Gys, but We aPprehend the wires have been cut
etwsen that place End Charleston
US. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
The severity OF the weather has prevented any
Important tmOvementyby either side at Nashville.
Nothing Of importance is repaired TO day from
H be Armies Of the Potomac or Of the Shenan.
oah. IN. STANTON, Secretary OF War.
mpOrtnnt Reports frOm EsIchmOud-A
Great Battle Last Saturday Our Troops
.uJ.. -
WARRINGTON, December IA have just heyd
PINE news from Sherman, which l am informed
me direct from loyal resident of Richmond.
he statements made are Of the highest import
k bee, If true, and l transmit them just as they
Iere given 10 me, without affirming or denying
cir authenticity. Should the Richmond papers
| II to-day (Which ! shall receive tomorrow be
tiCent with regard to General Sherman's move
vents, there will be additional reasons for credit
Ng the subjolned report -
ETbe party says that on Saturday, the 10th
Btant, at an early hour, three grand corps of
NNermans army, estimated at nearly tWonty
IUousand men, Of the three great arms of the
IWv,ce, including q large brigade Of cavalry,
d succeeded in crossing the OgeChee river,
How BloOmingdale, some twelve miles from
NVannah, and massiDg between that roint and
Nlfair, the next station adjacent on the line of
Georgia Central Railroad; the left wing ex-
Vded SO as TO cut the Charleston and Savannah
NFilroad, aud sever all connection between
@YannAh and the Rebel forces az the head of the
sHtt unless by water, thus placing them in i'm
NEnent danger OF capture. Communication had
HNn effected on the preceding day with Foster
Mo was again rapidly advancing upon Graham5-
e, the Rebels retreating from O. 5ir strong posi-
ltns south OF POcOaigO bridge, and evidently
irmed at finding themselves thre tened both In
lnt ana rear by superior forces
Nkherman, who was in person on The field, found
Iynseh confronted by large force of CJnfede-
We regulars, and Georgia. FlOri q, and South
NtrOlina militia, intrenChGd behind hasty, but
Mll-cOnstructed earthworks. Tae battle began
Wly m the day, and was contested with great
NY on both sides, n largo detachment OF the Sd
Ntnah garrison, which is dgclarad 70 number
Nklye thousand veterans, including two brigades
Him Lees army, participating. Towards noon
tlTand charge was effected by thI Union troops
qlich carried some Of the WORKS "a the enemy's
and lelt centre, threatening - cut him OFF
Allm the inlet and city.
Mlhis success greatly inFpusl Shermau's
nHOps, fatgued and trGVewOru rs they were,
nil h general advance along the whole line
bled up the Rebel formation, which, at first
Nlenly, but at length 10 conSid,"1 Die confusion,
NV back to the Immediate vicinity of the
iREks in the rear of SaYannsh, cur troops al.
'llcing in pursui6 close 20 Tefair on the SOUTH
corresponding distance along the upper
lhroad. They were, however, sd exhausted by
march of the previous ni-h, and the DAVIS
tagement that further pursull vas impossible
Nfticuarly as the Confederate works were found
lle uneXDectedly strong.
uhere had been some nghting on Friday along
1, ~ Genial road, but merely preliminary 70
t1rday's operations. The loss in the latter
3 action was severe on both Sides amounting
hOout two thousand five hundred Union in all
between three and four thousand Rebels
png whom were fully one thousand two hun
ID prisoners, including many Oticers of rank
ToTs, cannon, small arms Of al. kinds, wagons
caissons were taken by our troops. Smith
Fdee, and Cobb were In command Of the
bcls,whOse loss first was less tnAn ours owing
he protection OF their field works and the
lculiies of the ground. But at me close Of the
lOn they suffered tremendously.
X was believed that the entire body of Con-
erates at tne head of the inlet, amounting 10
Br thousand or five thousand men, would be
ltared The greatest CONSERVATION prevailed
charleston and at Richmond, in which latter
BE the news Was studiOusly concealed from the
luace, although the agitation q. headquarters
Nsery porcepible, aud excited general COM
The news was expressed secretly through
country west OF the Charleston railroad
a the head Of the inlet to point
ond POcotaigo bridge and thence tee-
phed, piG Charleston, to the Rebel capital
hing the latter late on Sunday afternoon.
nee 1t is said to have been conveyed by