The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-12-30
GLORIOUS VICTORY-!!
HE TAKES 5000 PRISONERS
AND $50 CANNON. "''
Also Three Steamers, Is Loeomo-
tives, 100 Cars, Quantities Of
j Ammunition and $4,000
Bales Of Cotton. +
THOMAS STILL CHASING HOOD.
SHERMAN'S ARMY.

SHEkMAN'S ARMY
LOFFICIAL BULLETIN
. WAR DEPARTMENT,
Washington, Dec 25,-7 PM
To Aaior- General Die:
A dispatch has been received this eve
ming by the President from Gen. Sherman.
1t is dated Savannah, Thursday, the 22d
inst, announces our occupation of the
city Of Savannah, and the capture of $50
guns, plenty of ammunition, and about
$4,000 bales of cotton. No other partic-
ulsrs given.
An official dispatch from Gen. Foster to
Gen. Grant, dated the 22d, z P. NJ, states
that the city of Savannah was occupied
by Gen. Sherman on the evening of the
21st; that on the preceding afternoon and
night Hardee escaped with the main body
of bis infantry and light artillery, blowing
up the iron clads and navy yard.
He enumerates the captures at 5000
prisoners, $50 guns, IS locomotives in
good order, 100 cars, large lot of am
munitl0n, 3 steamers and $4,000 bales of
cotton.
No mention is made of the present po-
sition of Hardee's force, which has been
estimated at $4,000.
The dispatches from Gems. Sherman and
Foster are as follows:
SAVANNAH. Dec. %.
To His E1cellency abraham Lincoln, President
ofthe United States:
l beg to present You as Christmas Gift the
city of Savannah, with $50 heavy guns, plenty
OF ammunition, and about q, 900 bales Of cot
ton.
(Signed) w. T. SHERMAN,
Major General Commanding.
STEAMER GOLDEN GATE,
Savannah River, Dec. %, 1864, P. Ms
To Lieut.. Gen. Grant and Maj. Gen. HaHeck:
have the honor to report that I have Just
returned from Gen. Shermans headquarters in
Savannah.
sent Maj Gray of my staff as bearer of dis.
patches from Gen. Sherman to you, and also
message to the President. The city of Sa-
vannah was occupied on the morning of the
21st Gen. Hardee anticipating the contem-
plated assault, escaped with the main body of
his infantry and artillery on the morning of
the goth, by crossing the river to the Union
Causeway opposite the city.
The rebel ir0nclads were blown up, and the
navy yard burned All the rest of the city is
intact and contains 10000 citizens, quiet and
well disposed.
The captures include 5000 prisoners, $50
guns, thirteen locomotives in good order, 100
cars, large supply of ammunition and mate
rails of war, three steamers, and $4,000 bales
of cotton safely stored in warehouses.
All these valuables of an almost bloodless
victory have been, like Atlanta, fairly won.
Iopened communication with the city with
my steamers to-day, taking up what torpe-
does we could see and passing safely over 9th
ers. Arrangements are made to clear the chan
mel of all distractions.
Yours, &C., j. G. FOSTER,
Major General.
The Richmond papers Of Saturday say,
that on the 2Sd, twenty-six vessels of the
Wilmington expedition had reappeered.
The dispatch of Gen. Bragg, published
in the Wilmington papers, is as follows:
WASHINGTON, Dec. 22.-Twenty-six yes.
sells of the fleet re-appeared this morning.
There has been no change since the last
dispatch. This is the latest intelligence
received from that expedition.
(SigneO E. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
BALTIMORE, Dec. 25.-The Associated
Press letter from Fortress Monroe, dated
Oath, P. M. says, the mail steamer Thos.
Collier has arrived.
A telegraph operator, named Baker, be-
longing to one of the chief offices in Rich
mond, escaped night before last, and hav-
ing succeeded in eluding the vigilance of
the rebel pickets, made his way success
fully into our lines yesterday afternoon.
He was subject to a severe examination
by Gen. Grant and stated that intelligence
of the fall of Savannah and the capture of
the entire forces $4,000 in number, of
Gen. Hardee, had reached Richmond a
few hours before he made his escape
There was report prevalent at the same
time, that Fort Fisher commanding the
entrance to Wilmington, had also fallen,
through combined attack of Gen. Butler
and Admiral Porter's forces, but could not
be traced to any reliable source
FORTRESS MoNRoH, December 26.-The
steamer California arrived here at q late
hour last evening in fifty-eight hours from
Fort Pulaski, bringing important dispatch
es from Sherman and glorious confirmato-
ry intelligence of the capture of Savannah
on the 21st inst.
On the Goth Sherman, having nearly
completed the investments of the city,
Fort Lee, and several other minor out
works in the immediate vicinity of the
principal entertainments surrounding the
town, and planting his siege batteries in
such close proximity to the rebel lines as
to command efectually every position
held by the forces under command of Gen.
Hardee, sent summons by flag of truce
to the effect that if the place was not in a
certain time surrendered, a bombardmert
and assault would at once commence.
To this summons the willy rebel general
sent back reply that as his communica-
tons were yet open, and his men fully
supplied with subsistence and stores of ev-
cry kind, he was enabled to withstand