Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1864-12-09
d ding, had the advance, and is reported
ave most calamity carried the enemy's
on. Gen. Gregg is now on his return to

"N@N 80
Greek. much property was destroyed and
a large amount of railroad IRON found
An effort was being made to destroy 1t by
fire when the staff officer who brought the
dispatches left. The enemy showed signs OF
having concentrated. and were following
but the officer thinks Gen. Gregg viii be in
camp by midnight.
GBo. B MEADE, Maj. Gen.
In the battle of Franklin. Tenn, Dec. lst,
our men captured 80 stands Of colors.
Commander Fitch. with a fleet of gunboats
has arrived to cooperate with Gen. Thomas.
Thomas left wing rests on Murfreesboro,
and when strengthened by forces at Chatta
nooga, will be strong enough to close upon
Hoods rear and cut off his retreat.
Letters from Hilton Head say Admiral
Dahlgren and Gen. Foster are in communi-
cation with Gen. Sherman, who Is supposed
TO be marching on Savannah, and a joint
force has been organized to cooperate with
him; and other expeditions are moving on
other important strategetie points.
1t is reported on shore that Lee Is march
Ing against Sherman.
Gen. Foster proceeded up Broad River
with an expedition, and landed five miles
from Pocotoligo bridge, then marched on
and captured the bridge. after a sharp fight
the rebels evacuating. A great quantity OF
cotton was found and destroyed.
Pocotoligo bridge is about half way be-
tween Charleston and Savannah.
A Baltimore dispatch says news by steam
er Baltic from Sherman was that he was
within 40 miles of Savannah. All Georgia
was in alarm. Savannah papers Of the Both
while admitting this, say his progress has
been stopped.
4 Philadelphia Sunday paper says the
Government has received information that
Sherman had captured Millen. on the Geor-
gia Central Railroad, on the 18th ult. His
army was concentrated and 1t Il thought has
moved 10 Savannah before this.
The Savannah and other Georgia papers Of
t e 22i and Richmond papers OF Dec, lst are
7 C ived. from which the following summary
l. dl-,sJed
10 appears that an attack was made on
east Macon on Sunday the Goth, the rebels
. lrIng "a battery which they subsequently, re-
covered with small loss ON both sides.
The attack was expected 10 be renewed on
the Dist. but 1t was not and the rebels came
10 he conclusion that the movement On sun
day was a feint. It was probably made by
ID small force Of Slocums corps, as the Au-
gusta Con>titutionalist oi tie 2+th says:
Slocum's entire force went down the west
side OF Oconee river previous o. the night OF
the 22j. indicating the intention To- pass by
Augusta between that place and Macon and
make Tor the sea between Savannah and
Brunswick.
l. also says that apprehension prevailed
there on the oath in Consequences OF rumors
,hat dispatches had been received annuuuc-
ing the passage OF the Oconee near MIllcd-e
vile bv the enemy who were reported adj
vancIng in direction OF Augusta.
Savannah and Georgia papers OF the 18th
state the force which captured MIlledgeyille
remained there To evening of the 24Jh having
burned the state house, Brown hotel and
the penitentiary, and captured a small guam
tiJy of fixed ammunition.
The main body OF Shermans army was IT,
ported on the 25th to be l3 miles west of
saunders coming forward toward Savannah D..
spreading devastation.
The Richmond Despatch Of the lst says
Official information of Sherman movements
and his present whereabouts was received YES
teriav. but does not mention tie sand where
abouts.
II "a - AAA fhNAAN Aahk @AA"- N
transports near Port Royal.
The Charleston Mercury Of the 9th says
The enemy have 10 pieces of heavy ordnance
on Morris Island bearing on Sumter and
Sullivan's Island.
They are busy mounting mortars. and have
a fleet of "A dozen monitors at Port Royal.
and somewhere on the coast a dozen more.
These preparations indicate an attack upon
! If III - IL N---,. % AN.-vann IN
Augusta warns us there is no time TO be
lost in preparing to meet the issue.
The Savannah Republican Of the 18th
SAYS a big fleet i now at Port Royal, Iybee
and Doboy Sound, in preparation for Sher-
mans arrival.
The Savannah News thinks sherman de-
s%tination Is that city unless his army Is rout-
ed or captured he will reach that city.
CAIRO. H., Dee. 2.-Tbe Grenada (rebe)
Picket contains the following dispatch
MACON. Ga. Nov. ga severe fight
occurred near Griswoldville to-day. Our
troops attacked and drove the Yankees into
their entertainments two miles this side of
the town.
Our forces behaved with great gallantry.
The militia fought like veterans. Our loss
was severe, amounting TO between 300 and
400.
The picket line of the enemy is now three
miles east of Griswoldville, and his infantry
Is still moving in the direction Of Augusta.
We are in "a position to repulse any attack
the enemy may make on Macon.
CITY Point and other Army Of Potomac
correspondents state that rumors Of intended
evacuation of Petersburg, led to Gregg's re-
conn ieance. Gregg captured 200 prisoners
at Stoney Creek. and a large quantity Of
government property He then suddenly fell
upon and route the rebels at Do lis Station.
No information could be obtained of any
force having been sent south to operate
against Sherman.
The latest official information from the
army Of Thomas is, be has 80 concentrated
hIs forces IN Notifications at Nashville, as to
be prepared for any movement Hood may
venture to make.
A Nashville dispatch Of Sunday says
No new developments have taken place to
day. except that our army still e~ncircles the
city IN the southeast, its wing resting on the
Cumberland river. The enemy's lines are
clearly to be seen from the high points in the
suburbs from the capitol. They are en-
~trenching themselves in a southwestern dI-
rection about three miles from the city,
During the day heavy skirmishing occurred
on our left and progressed along the line To
the centre. Many persons witnessed the
cannonading. \ Federal cavalry force has
patroled the north bank of the river at the
fords to prevent the cavalry from crossing,
a. numerous unsuccessful attempts have been
made by them to cross since the lst inst.
The first block house ON the Chattanooga
road, / miles from the city, defended by ne
groes, commanded by Col. johnson Of the
cOlOred infantry, who surrendered Dalton,
Ga. and was paroled, held out until this at
ternoon when they surrendered, Col. John
son and a portion of his men escaping on the
train.-The remainder were captured. The
tram was fired into. Several jumped from
the train into the river and escaped, Col.
johnson among them, and are in the city to
night. A reconnoitering party sent out
Thursday, returned to day, having gone so
miles up the river. They report no rebels
seen or heard of crossing the river and none
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