New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-29

Butler. and we are entitled. il not compelled. to
infer that whom tho first assault on Fort Fisher
had failed, il was not found possible TO main;
tain the hold Oh the land which bad been
gained by the landing Of our troops.
Gen. Buffers troops did all that such force
coald have done. They established themselves
on the peninsula-.n itself triumph-resisted
an immediate attack By Tie forces sent down
from Wilmington 10 G,li upon their rear; then
moved against tho Fo-t. carried an outlying
oartnwork, pressed forward against tho main
work, surmountcd It's Yarapet, hauled down It's
flag, and thcn--alas, then, outnumbcred by the
Reinforced garrison, themselves attacked By
superior numbers were compelled to rclinquiSh
all they had won, and 70 seek again the cover OF
the ships. That their losses have been heavy Is
implied in the statement that the remnants"
Of them ENTHUSIASTICALLY under protection
OF the fire Of the Aeet 1t is plain there was he
roism enough on tho pert Of the troops; skill
enough on the part Of their commander; but
the old, old story OF insufficient numbers is
once mere rchearSed. Wilmington and its de-
lenses were known 10 80 garriSonod Strongly
known to 20 capable or quick reinforcement
from Richmond; proclaimed on the highest
official naval authority 10 be impregnable against
a naval force simply; and yet the land force
sent TO cooperate with thc feet seems to have
been wholly incommcnsrrato with the magni-
tude of the enterprise.
Later. Braxton Bragg's dispatch from
Wilmington, Dec 81, is forwarded by Mr..
Stanton, md confirms the foregoing. Bragg
says: "The enemy has reambarked under
cover of his feet. His tfIirther] movement Is
not developed" There can be no doubt, there
fore, that the particulars furnished by our
special correspondent arc in the main correct.
Tic decentralization. moreover, we interpret as
equivalent to Oh abandonment of tho enterprise
for the present, since our forces would have
held their ground ON the pensinsuls had they
been able to, or had they seen any prospect OF
operating efficiently against tho fort. They
surely would not have gone on board ship for
the sake Of hazarding TIC pcrils ofanotbeE land
ing OF the same shore.
The pursuit Of Hood i continued by Gen.
Thomas with characteristic caution. Dispatches
from his headquarters at Pulaski. seventy miles
south Of Nashville, are 70 the 26th, Monday
last. As the decisive battles in front Of Nash.
vile were fought on the 18th and 10th, Gen.
Thomas's subsequent advance has not boon very
rapid, for which, without doubt, he has good
reasons 1t averages about seven miles day.
We have repeated accounts Of the dsorganisa.
ton of Hoods army. and it is stated that bis
corps commanders had orders to get themselves
ont Of harms way a. best they could. The
last dispatch from Gen. Wilson. Thomas's chief
of.eavslry, reports that the people soy the
Rebels are suffering immensely. They
were beyond question divided, part
making straight fox Florence, Ala, and
part moving on rosds further to the west in
order to protect the pontOons at Florence. and
probably also al Muscle Shoals, from an eppre.
hended flank and rear movement. 1t appears
further that such O movement on Thomas part
was in progress. While Wilson has pressed the
rear guard of Hood, az infantry force under
Steadman, Thomas tells u.s. disembarked bis
troops from the cars at Limestone Creek, seven
miles from Decatur, and was marching on the
latter place on the morning Of the 26th. The
object of such movement can be only to close
up all eastern avenues Of retreat TO Hood, and
| TO enforce against the remains Of his army the
necessity Of southwestern instead Of a south
eastern retreat from Florence-supposing that
army 10 reach and cross the Tennessee at that
point. Hoods position is clearly ono Of OK
IRENE peril, and his retreat Is capable Of being
converted into fight.
The movement Of Sherman, limited at in
Beauregard'S dispatch Of yesterday, is now d.
vined by the Richmond papers to be in quest Of
tie prisoners who were sent into SOUTHEASTERN
Georgia on Sherman'S approach TO Savannah.
But Beauregard's statement that Hardes had
detached force to check Sherman's expedition
is beyond criticism. Hardee, with his escaped
army, is making the best Of his way norhwsrd,
and has no troOps 20 waste in the other direc-
ton. II Sherman has really sent such an ex.
petition, we see no reason to suppose it will'be
resisted. Whether il will overtske the prison.
ers is another matter.
Finally, We hare the Rebel confession that
Ssltyile in Western Virginia has been captured
by Stonemsn. Il was held long enough to ena-
bic him to destroy tho extensive salt works
completely, and not so long as TO risk his safe
retirement--the object Of the expedition being
attained. Az the place is the chief salt manu-.