Evansville daily journal. (Evansville, Ind.) 1863-1866, 1864-12-20
oaslal Dlsp1asnss
WAR DEPARTxKxr.

4 Vac OEFAEEAAAEE Z
WashiogsOu, Dee 10, ep. "a !
To General Die: vr
An official dispatch from Gen. Sher-
man was received to-day, dated mid.
night, December 18th, on the gunboe,
Donelson, QssabaE Sound. Il wAs
written before Gen. Foster had reached
him. He reports, besides some military
i details OF future operations, which are
omitted, the following:
os BOARD THE DoSELsoS, OssAsAwl
SouSD, Dec. lS-lE50 p m /
To-day AZ a. Gen. Hayes di-
vision Of the 18th corps carried Fort
AcAListsr BY assault. capturing liz en-
TIRE garrison and storeA This opened
70 Us the Ossabaw Sound. and | passed
down to this gunboat to communicate
with the feet Before opening eommu-
n'cation we bad completely DESTROYED
all thsrailroads leading into Savannah
aad invested the city.
The left is on the Savannah river ten
miles above the city, The right on the
/ Ogeehee at Kings Bridge. The army
IS 10 splendid order, the weather fne
aud supplies abundant, the march was
most agreeable and not molested by
/ guerriilas We reached Savannah three
days ago, but owing to Fort McAllister
could not-communicats, bot now as We
have Fort MeAllister, we can 20 ahead.
We have captured two boats on the Sa-
vannah river aad prevented their gun
oosts iron eoming down.
The estimated population Of Savan-
anh Is =, 600, and the garrison Al Is, 900, |
GENERAL Hardse, commanding. We /
have not lost a wagou, on the trip bat /
nave gathered in large supply Of ne
groes, mules and horses. Our teams
are IN better order than when ne start
ed My hrst duty vail BE- 10 clear The
army Of superhuoas negroes, mules and
horses / have utterly DESTROYED over
100 miles Of rails, and consumed stores
and PROVISIONS that we're essential to
Lee AID Hoods armies
The quick work made With MeAilis-
ter, and thes opening of Communication
With our feet, and consequent indep~nd- |
snee for supplies, dissipate al their
oc@sted threats TO head me of, and
siArve my army. l regard Savannah as
already gained. Yours truly,
ls'gned,l W. 7. sHKEMAS,
Maj General
The following ofscial report vas re.
eetved this evening from Gen Thomas.
dated At Headquarters near Franklin:
"A report just received from Major :
General Wilson states that 6 p m. To-
day he attacked and dispersed Steven
son = division Of rebel infantry and a
brigade OF cavalry. capturing guna
The 9Th Y. ). Cavalry and HAtch.s
dlvision Of cavalry, handsomely support
ed BY hniis's division Of cavalry. did the
sork, making several brilliant charges.
breaking the rebel infantry in al direc-
bad i only been light the rebel rear
guard woaid have been entirely de-
siroyed. As It has been, they we're Sc
yerely punished. 3
The whole army viii continue yiRor. /
ous pursuit ia che morning. The at
.sek was made SIX miles beyond Frank
In
lsigned, CSC. II. THoxAs
HEADoRs DEF'r OF THE CumRrHLAxB
Near Franklin, Teen,
Dec It's p N.
We have pressed the enemy to-day al
Beyond Franklin, capturing bis hospital ..
over 500 wounded. and Il
about $50 of oar ovn woanded also. Al
usReral hnipe, Commanding a divis- b
on OF cavalry, drove the snemy's rear ?
yuaFa through Franklin today, eaptar- p
ng about 2, 800 prisoners and Eve bat. "a
.le aAga, wlsh very little loss on our =
tide. s8I1lE -
The citizens Of Franklin represent
Hoods army as completely demoralized
q addition 70 The captures Of yesterday, :
in my dispatches Of last night.
have the honor 30 report the capture
Of General RuokeF, aud about $50 pris-
ouers Of the euemys eavalry, In the
hight that occurred about eight o'clock
last night, between General Rueker and
General Hatch and our cavalry. The
enemy has been pressed to-day both in .
front and on both sideA .,
BrigAdiss Generai johnson succeeded nj
In striking him o. tbs flank Just beyond .
Franklin, capturing quite a number Of a
prisoners The number is not yet re- =
ported. Ny cavalry j. pressing him Q
closely. an much N hopes Of getting .
many more prisoners tpsmorrow.
Lsignsd Gro II Thomas,
Major General
Other dispatches, unofficial, from !.
state that Que skousand pris- !.
oasrs we're cspipred 81 Wilsou, and that :
General Roussean's cavalry at Murfraes- :
boro report Forrest killed and fifteen :,
huudFed Of bis men eaptared. The So '
~ Fintsudent Al AashvilIs reports that $
the Railroad from Nashville will be
opened TO Franklin tonight, and will
rapidly follow Thomas, thus furnishing
bin supplies and enabling him to pash
on. Z. NJ SrAxrox.
NJ I