The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-30
REBEL WORKS VERY STRONG,
Tho Gunboats Sampson" and ''Fire-
Fly" Captured,
ALcYAL PAPER PUBLISHED
IN The CITY.
Salutation Of the Savannah Loyal
Georgian"

SAVANNAH Ga, December 25.-l he announce
mcut Of The evacuation Of this ciy by General
Hardee and its occupation by General Shcrman's
forces has al tady been made. The great crown
ing success Of General Shemans second grand
campaign was ats med on Tuesday last, the 2o,h
instant, with little loss Of blood. Preparations
had tecn made to bridge the dykes in front Of
portion OF the cnemy's works, and 20 make an
assault on Tuesday and Wednesday on his in
trenchments. TIE line was 10 have been assaled
along its entire length, and no one doubted It's
success at several important points.
The contemplated movement beclme known TO
Hardce, through his spies In our camps, and he
immod ately took measures to evlsuate the city,
and remove great part " his munitions aS
a his limited TRANSPORTATION pCrmi Lei. On MOu-
Jay afternoon be salu,ed our lines with a trcmen-
ious bombardment, all his guns in our front
)epg in full play and most rapidly served. The
Ihels and solid shot fell into our lines in showers,
out did little damage Our generals did not at
6rst under,taud the object Of this extraordinary
md heated dCmOnstratlvn
The Re- bells were not In posi- iOn 70 risk
oriie and they could not eyaclste their lines
Without being observed while daylight remained.
Nhe rapid firing seemed TO be mairly to eXPend
mmuuiiiOn, and leave as little o. fall iutO our
snds as possible when the place isll. Il served
mother purpose rs well. IL enabled the enemy
fter dark to draw in all his main force, leaving
uta few artillerists at the first line to hold our
in the evening, our guns replying lowly.
THE EVACUATION.
After dark Hardee threw his pOntson bridge
across the river and first sent all the abe-bOditd
negroes who had been collected 10 the city, owe.
the bridge under guard into South Carolina, and
then began 10 move his column over.
The night was exceedingly prOptious for such
an operation Ii was dark and heavy wind vas
blowing from the West, conveying the sound of
tTamping feet over the pontOons away from our
lines. But during some Of the lu.ls that occurred
General Geary, commanding the I'd Division,
Twentieth Corps, the extreme LETT Of our lines,
resting ON the Savannah river, heard the move
ment across the bridge, but could not decide in
which direction the troops were passing.
He ordered his division to bs ready at a
moments notice TO move, and then watched the
Pre- Rress of affairs. At midnight General GeAry
became convinced in his own mind that the
enemy were eyacuating the town. aud nodhei
the Commanding general OF the fact The
enemy's skrmish line continued tnsilade on
our piCkets and did not cease until two
or three o'clock, when they were drawn
in, and not many moments after our
picker line was advanced, and, meeting no OppO-
sitiun, pushed still further on, criwed through
Ihc abatis, AOuUdered through the bitches, and
scrambled over the parlpets, and found the lrst
line Gtsencd. General Geary Immediately ad-
AIced his division, occupied the line, and pushed
on towards the city. The second line was found
abandoned AS well, and Genera Geary, at the
head Of a small body Of men, hurried on
THE sURRENDER OF THE CITY BY rHa MAYOR To
GENERAL GEARY.
Before he had entered the CITY Mayor Arnold
- OF the city with four OF five Of the COmmonllty
\ rode up I'D surrendered the city TO Genera
Geay, shconditiOnally, and eXpr' s3ed trust II
the magnaDimity OF an hOnorahe foe for th,
safety Of the lives and property Of the inhaoi
tants.
General Geary accepted the surrender uncon
diuOualy, and assured them that their lives ant
properly should be projected. General GeHrJ
then rnteTcd the ciy, despatching Captain Ycae
OF his stan, with four hundred men, 10 take pIs
session Of Fort Jackson; and also another mem
Der OF his staff TO General SlOcum, 20 inform nin
of his occupation of the Town. ihe oil ier wh,
bore this message had some dtlcllty in con
vincing our SOLDIERS that G.ary's Division was il
tov II They said to him :-"HUu ant come thai
Johnnie Rob. The game il an )Id one and vii
not work"
Finally, he assured them sur emily to gain
, pas. age and delivered his des lGch TO Genera
SlOCum, commanding tie LETT Wing Of the army
At light O'Clock al the enemy works were Il
our possession. Caps ain Ncalc, with his party
took pos session Of For Jacksunaud Fort BArlo@
Taking about Sky heavy guns ~ both WORKS an
Zines conutctiug with them. I1e enemy ht
fItd tie barracks, but the fire Nts sODn suDduet
The ciy Of Savannah has rh aged bat irtl
during the war IL now wears ru aspect OF
Sunday quiet and sleep. Nll Ino stores Ar
closed, aud the blinds TO all % private house
are sluf, Aud 10 one seems 20 be- home, eXceI
where staff OtiCcrs may he quartered. To
iuhabia ants are beEnuiug TO appear on the street
more and more, their hrt Nlgnt having pt3se
away. At the churches to-day fn1re were Quit
number OF the ladies out, uuu ne pastors weI
all ~ their respective desks.
They all prayed Aeartily for the return
peace; they remembered the sick AM wOunde
Soldiers and the poor, nut did no. mention eithJ
OF the Presidents In their suppli.ltlOns. Quite
quantity of gTeeubacks wen. iufp the patsg
the close of the service, which Viii help the Cau'
aluBg while Georgia STATE money remains worLl
less.
THE coMMANDBR oF Iug CITY.
Brigsdier GeoeTal john " g Try, commaui
ing lbe % Division, 2Oth Corps, las been place
IN The command OF the City, aud has perec-g
tbe organization of bis department. The city
divided into two districts, the l. tern and Yves
. EN-, over which he has placed h'OvOst NJ lrshl
with a heavy guard. Colonel W od command
one, and Colonel Barnum another, who are
see that order is preserved, and 70 perform IN
other varied duties pertaining TO their Offic
a. They are both excellent officers, and periorI
their duties to the satisfaction Of all.