Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-12-05

25tn, contains dispatches stating that on the
ath there was fighting all day at the Oconee
bridge, which was held by the rebels in the
evening.
The Federals had turned their guns in the
opposite direction the other side Of the river
indicating an attack in the rear. Wheeler was
crossing eighteen miles below the bridge to aid
in its defense.
Another dispatch stated that the Federals
had thanked Gen. Wayne At the Oconee bridge,
on the Central railroad, compelling him to re-
treat, and that the Federals also crossed at
Balls Ferry, four miles below the bridge.
dispatch from Augusta, dated the evening
OF the 23d, to Gen. Hardee, at Savannah, states
that the enemy had been driven back across the
Oconee, and Gen. Wayne has returned to the
bridge.
The Augusta Constitutionalist of the oath
says apprehensions prevailed there on the 23d,
In consequence of rumors that q dispatch had
been received announcing the passage Of the
Oconee, near Milledge vile, by the enemy, who
were reported advancing in the direction Of
Augusta.
The Savannah and Augusta papers of the
18th ult., state that the main body of Sherman's 8
army was reported on the oath to be thirteen
miles south OF Saunders vile, coming for ward
towards Savannah, and rapidly spreading de-
The Richmond Whig, of the 1st, says the
news from Georgia to yesterday, the Both ult.,
shows Sherman gradually approaching the
coast, but refrains from giving the direction.
1t says:-"He has met with no serious opposi-
tion since his repulse at Oconee, but that efforts
are making to head him off.
with Kilpatricks cavalry, in one of which he
captured Kilpatrick's hat.''
Hardee telegraphs from Savannah that he
lett Macon perfectly secure, and was making
certain dispositions in that quarter.
The Savannah Republican, of the 25th, says
large fleet is now assem- bled at Port Royal,
Tybee and DobCy, in preparation for Sher-
mans arrival.
The Savannah News thinks Sherman's des-
tination is that city, and unless his army is
either whipped, routed, or captured he will
reach that place.
Enemy Badly Whipped at Grahamsville,
SC.
From the Richmond Whig, Dec. q
A mail despatch was received last night,
which stated that our forces had engaged and
routed the Yankees at Grahams Vile, S. O.,
driving them five miles. The Yankees left
their dead on the field. Grahamsvlle is on
the road from Savannah to Charleston, about
thirty miles northeast from Savannah. The
party beaten are evidently troops sent up from
Port Royal.
From the Savannah Republican. Nov. 25.I
The main body Of Shermans army was re-
ported yesterday to be about thirteen miles
west of Saundersville, and coming forward
rapidly, spreading devastation in their path.
Slocum's Corps on the Georgia Railroad, at
the Oconee River, up to Nov. %.
From the Augusta Constitutionalist, Nov.2i.l
We have intelligence from Slocum's corps,
which has been operating on the Georgia road,
up to the night Of the 22d. At that time but
eleven Yankees had crossed the river, and of
this number seven have been captured Slo-
cnms entire column has gone down the west
side of the river, indicative OF an attempt to
pass by Augusta, and, slipping between it and
Macon, plunge towards the sea by Savannah
or Brunswick.
The Country in which Sherman Now Is.
From the Savannah Republican, Nov. 25.
The ssGeorgia road" above named is the rail-
road that leads from Augusta to Atlanta. This
road also crosses the Oconee river at a peint
about 30 miles above Milfedgeville, and about
90 miles west Of Augusta. "The country be-
tween Warrenton and Sparts, spoken of above
as some universal bog" lies on both sides of the
Ogeechee river, considerable stream, which
flows parallel to the Oconee and Savannah
rivers, and about midway between them. The
Ogeechee, we believe, is pretty generally
The army OF Sherman came down from At
lanta between the Oconee and the Ocmulgee
rivers, the two streams which, hundred
miles from the coast, form the Altamaha. The
east. The Ocmulgee is the more westerly
Macon is on the west bank OF the Ocmulgee, SO
that to occupy it, Sherman would have had to
cross that stream. MilledgevIlle being on the
west side of the Oconee, interposed no such
difficulty to its occupation. A march upon
Savannah or Augusta implies the crossing of
the crossing of the former to which the above
operations refer. If Augusta and Savannah
both be avoided, and an intermediate line
leading to Charleston be adopted, it will in
volve the crossing also of the Savannah, the
ComDahee and the Edisto rivers, besides nu-
merous smaller streams.
The Invasion OF Georgia.
From the Richmond Sentinel, Dec. J.
Our exchanges up to Saturday last, the latest
dates received at the time OF writing this, are
exceedingly communicative Of movements of
.dr own troops and Generals, but know COM
paIatively little of the movements of Sherman.
The situation Of his main force is alleged to be
positively mystery. The movements that
they chronicle seem to be but feints or feelers,
and with small bodies Of troops.
The suspicion they express Is, that these ex-
hibitions upon his fianks are intended by Sher-
man to mask his main army, and TO conceal the
march which they suppose 1t to be making upon
Savannah or Brunswick.
The latter town is on fine harbor upon the
Atlantic coast, about twenty miles south ofthe
mouth Of the Altamaha. The forces which
have come to the north OF the Oconee are al
legged to be but very few in number and to be
limited in their operations to accommodating
purposes. Meanwhile, Sherman is supposed
to be moving down behind the Oconee, which he
need not cross at all If Brunswick be his goal.
His course in that case would be to cross the
Ocmulgee, near Its mouth, and move down be-
hind or south Of Altamaha.
We extract some sentences of news from
papers whose ideas we have been reproducing
in the above.
from the Augusta ChronicIe.]
Gentlemen connected with scouting parties
up the Augusta and Atlanta Railroad arrived
from Greensboro, under date OF November %,
report as follows:-There is no enemy north Of
the line OF the Georgia Railroad, nor any this
side or east Of the Oconee River. A party Of
Yankees passed through Green county on
Sunday.
This is the greatest number that has ever
been seen this side of the Oconee. The runor |
that an enrolling officer in Green county was |
killed is not correct. About thousand Yam
kee cavalry have been encamped for the past |
few days at Reid's Mill, between Eatonton |
and W alters Ferry. Negro scouts report that |
they speak Of moving to another section Much |
property has been destroyed in Jasper and |
Putnam, such as mills, gins, houses and some |
corn cribs and dwelling houses. 1t was thought |
in Sparta on Wednesday that the enemy's cav.
airy and infantry were moving down the Oc- |
once towards the coast. 1t is the current |