, 1864-12-25
Especial Diepatch to the Western Press.1
NV YonK, Saturday, Dec n 4-Midnight

Tho Great Expedition.
The Ford thinks Porter's attack on The
Wilmington defenses took place yesterday.
It gives the names Of the heavy vessels that
are to be outside and shell Fort Fisher. They
a1c the Colorado, Powhatan, Wabash, Min
nesota, Susquehannah, and New Ironsidcs, all
mounting o1 guns Of large calibrc aud long
range, and capable Of being fired very rapidly.
It is thought that q few hours Of bomlap1ing
would reduce the forts sufficiently to allow
light draught vessels to enter. The naval
fight is expected after the forts are passed.
The pirates Chlckamaugn and Tallahassee
aEe reported inside, and several blockade
runners have arrived. It Is ru1nored that the
rebels have some iron-clads on Cape Fear
River that will take part In the action. Tie
bank Of the river from the mouth to Whining
ton Is supposed to be partially fortified. The
rebel force Is estimated at 1900. It is III.
mored to have been reinforced from Charleston
and Augusta. Many military and naval men
think the capture Of the forts and closing Of
The river, IL the only object Of the expedition,
and do not look for an attack upon Whining
ton City
From. Gen.nhcrman.
No later intelligence from General Sherman
beyond that already telcgraphed. Military
AACA N%A AOkA Wv AA@&AAk3kLA AkESpAANE1L
that the city Is already In our hands At best
the garrison can hold ont but q few days.
Sherman's basc is fully established. he is re-
eeiying everything he dcsires in the way Of
supplies and ammunition. 4 large mail Was
sent to-day by the steamer Fulton. a prl.
vate letter Fl ON IN officer In Sherman's army
says: ,"After the fall Of Savannah the army
Will probably move 10 Augusta and capture
thst place to hold as new base of opera
tions."
The Rebel Congress- Imbroalto.
The Htruld says edltosally: "Footo's re
cent withdrawal from the rebel Senate and
accompanying speech indicates that the rebel
and General Lee appointed dictator. It thinks
q dictatorship fs q short road to peace, and Is
intended as such. The Confederate Govern.
ment being committed never to make peace
1t fringe INTO existence power that can and
will make it.
prazc Fight.
Sporting men eay Joe Coburn is expecting
to make match with Mace as soon as the
latter arrives, The fight will probably take
place In Cannda.
From Mobile,
a. gentleman who loft Mobile on the 9th
thse e capture Of the c}ty. There arc ABOUT
1000 troops at Mobile, nil militia, except one
small brigade, and two iron.clads, both deti-
cicnt in propciling power.
Heavy Gale.
The 1r0une's Washington special says: !:
"The heavy gale experienced BY. Porter's
expedition may cause q delay, and possibly
compel return to Fort Monroe. Sickness
Was very exhaustive to negro troops.
Old Snlamander.
Vice Admiral Farragut Is expected In
Washington tomorrow, when his combina-
tEon commission as Vice Admiral aud the
Congressional resolutions of thanks inscribed
upon the parchment will be presented to
The Vacant Conxulatc.
The Worlds Washington special says {:
The President has received applications In
favor Of ftty different gentlemen for Minister
TO France. =.
Contrabnud Information.
The Ht7ulTs special says the War and Navy
authors Of contraband publications concern
ing operations against Wilmington, and arc
determined to punish them severely. It Is
feared their disclosures may cause more loss
Of life than would otherwise have been ueces-
sary.
Rebel News,
The Virginia Legislature last Tuesday
passed resolution declaring 1t the duty Of
the Confederate government to prosecute the
wnr till honorable peace can be obtained, aud
| pledging Vlrginia to make ever sacrifice pos
| sfb1e to such end that the power Of making
peace Is wisely entrusted in the hands of
government, and that propositions Of the en-
envy to any State to treat Tor sepcrate peace
! arc insidtous md inadmissab1e.
t New YORK, Saturday, Dec. 94.-The Rich
uond Wig Of the I'D contains proceedings
Of the North Carolina House Of Commons, By
| which It appears that the resolution declaring
| that States IN their sovereign capacity have
the right to decide the question Of peace or
war for themselves, were tabled By two ma
jqrity.
The Hzb says that several days since a
raiding party came Up from Pensacola, and
cut the Mobile and Great Northern Railroad
| ut Pol1ard's seycnty-tNo miles east of Mo-
bile, and then retired from Gordonsyillc. It
wasreported yesterday that two divisions Of
the encmy's caynlry had crossed the Blue
ltidEc at Chester Gap, arrived at Madison
Court House, and were moving on Gordons-
| yillc. We also learn that Che telegraph
t'wirca we1e cut On Tuesday night seven miles
from Gordonsyille, It Il supposed by Yam
kcc spy. No apprehension Is felt for the
| safety Of Go1donsvil1e, even II the above re.
| port Is not greatly exagg gerated, as there has
been ample time to c0nccntrate force to
meet the raiders.
Closing for Christmas.
WAsmsGTos, Dec a3.-Thc several Gov
ernmcnt departments will be closed Mon.
day, in order to enable employees to enjoy
Chrastmns holiday.
The main building of a The Kalamina small.
rox hospital nnder Government control, wns
this morning destroyet. BY fire, which origi-
mated In the Chaplain's room. The patients
we're al safely removed. J..
| 'f~ For Afternoon TELEGRAPH sAe