The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-12-15

inland OF the co operating Column ubuor
General Foster. -------- ---------
WHY HE HAS BEEN UNABLE FULLY TO cARRY1
OUT HIS INSTRUCTIONS.
Taking these facts in connection with
the actual movements of General Sherman,
the confederate leaders are persuaded that
General Sherman's orders were to capture
Augusts and to cross the Savannah river At
or near that point, and to move down on
the excellent roads along the eastern side
of that river, striking the seacoast at Beau
fort This programme, if it was entertained,
was foiled by the presence Of General
Beauregard and General Taylor, and their
troops, at Macon, and the presence Of the
troops from Richmond and Wilmington at
Augusta; and also by strong guards at oil
the ferries near Augusta 1t is known that
General Sherman reconnoitered these fer-
ries; but any attemp ito cross the Savannah
river would have been impracticable. So,
IMPORTANCE TO THE REBELS OF THE RAIL
ROAD BETWEEN CHARLESTON AND SAvAN>
Nah. ..s,3-ij43TJA tiEEGE
The rebel leaders attach great weight to
the cooperative movement under General
Foster and Admiral Dahlgreu. They re-
gard the attempted inland movement OF
General Foster as direct attempt to meet
the advance of Gen. 6herman's columns.
The defeat of General Fosters forces at
the place where it occurred is significant.
The presence of strong confederate force
at that point shows that the confederates
have other bodies of troops beside those
directly engaged on the line of Shernan's
march; and it shows, also, the intention
and the ability of the cenfederates to keep
open and we'll protected the important line
of railroad between Charleston and Savan>
nah. Whatever might have been the in-
tentions and orders OF. General Foster, 1t
is certain that he would have cut and de-
stroyed good portion Of that railroad,
had it not been for the presence ct Grahams-
vile OF the troops under General Gustavus
Smith. They were part of those under
General Hardee at Savannah. .'ia.e on
DESPERATE NATUREioF THE BATTLE AT oRA>
!. 81 i HAMsyILLE. -ug''. i-. -st
The accounts of this battle that have
reached me represent tito have been con>
tested with fierce pertiDscity on both sides,
and to have been sttsnded with heavy loss
on ours, General Foster attacked with the
intention and full expectation OF carrying
the position and he had an abundance of
we'll served artillery. But the great
strength of the Confederate works, the ad-
mirabe position which they occupied, and
the CALLING fire which was poured from them
baffied the attempt. General Foster was
not satisfied with one charge. After that
had been repulsed he ordered two others,
and they were both led. as indeed the first
had been, by his gallant officers in person.
The troops knew that they were fighting
under General Fosters eye, and they went
forward with alacrity and with hearty
cheers, each time. Ia I. If
But the result. of every charge was the
same. Our men were mown down by a
most murderous fire of grape, shot and
shrapnell and after the third repulse Gen
Foster became satisfied that it was impos..
sible Co carry the position, and reluctantly
ordered retreat. The account says that
our dead, and many of our wounded, were
left in the hands of the Oonfederates.. -
THE REBELS PREPARED TO MAINTAIN THE IN
,TEGRITY OF THIS RAILROAD. Is
This position at Grahamsville is only one
of chain Of fortified posts which the con.
federates maintain between Charleston and
Savannah. The readers of the World may
remember that, long as We have been oper.
ating against Charleston, We have never
been able to cut or damage the railroad
from Savannah to that city. Four or five
expeditions have set out with that object
in view, during the last two years, but
each one resulted in the same manner as
that of General Foster. The confederates
at Grahamsville expected a subsequent ut.
tack from General Foster at some other
point on the road, but it wa, not probable
that General Foster would make any further
attempt to move inland at any point be-
tween Charleston and Ssvannsh. Indeed,
it is not improbable that this demonstration
on Grahamsyile was reconnaissance to
ascertain the practicsbility OF reaching
General Sherman from that direction with
co operating force. If so, the result has
not been what was expected.
HOW THE GEORGIA MILITIA FIGHT.
Another fact which has become evident
from the news that has reached here is that
the Georgia and South Carolina militia will
fight as well and effectively as any other
portion of the confederate forces in Geor.
gia. Hereafter, in enumerating the latter,
it will be useless to draw any distinction
between them. Militia soldiers are usually
unreliable. Those that are to encounter
General Sherman before he reaches the sea
| are certainly not so. In the battle which
took place at Griswoldville, east of Macon,
OH the 22d ult, our forces were encounter
ed by body of confederate troops, of
whom three brigades were Georgia militia.
The latter fought with the bravery, skill,
and GOODNESS of veteran troops. learn
| this fact from source the authenticity of
which cannot be doubted. = DRurB. 4