The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1864-12-21
THE WAR NEWS.
From The Age ofthe I4tk inst

Der Sd. he moved southeast, keepIng his
men we'll together ; sending ont no raiding
parties. and marching on the narrow strip
of firm ground between the rice plantations
OF The Savanna h river on the lett hand, and
those Of The Ogeechee on the right. His
TANKS were thus well protected. On De-
cember 5th, his advance was eighteen
miles from Millen. One o! his corps mach
ed along The Savannah river, and one along
the Ogeechee. The others were between
On December 9, Sherman moved faster and
is said 10 have marched eighteen miles.
Great numbers of slragglers fell out OF his
ranks, and were picked up bv the Confeder.
ale cavalry, who followed close upon his
rear, haTrassing him terribly. Sherman is
said 10 have had then but twenty thousand
men in his army. All the rest had siraggled
of, or been wounded. o. December :, he
Advanced about sixteen miles, and on The
morning OF the Slh-last Thurs6ay--he was
al lhe village OF Crayton, on the railroad
running TO MiIlen, about twenty Ave miles
southwest OF Savannah. The peninsula be-
tween the Savannah and Ogeechee rivers,
along which Sherman advances, is but SIX
teen miles wide. The swamps protect his
tanks, but al the same time prevent his
sending out parties 10 devastale the CONF
try. Both in rom and rear, there are large
bodies OF Confederate cavalry, aud Wheel
er's operations behind him NUT have had
serious effect. The-expedition which left
General Grants camp on Tuesday OF last
week, TO 90 10 Weldon, has returned. Gen
eral Warren, It's commander, found when
he approached Hicksiord, twenty-five miles
north of Weldon, that the Coniederates
were strongly intrenched on the southern
bank Of Mehervin river He tried 10 drive
Them off, but failed. He then discoveries
-, (N.,arol C4a - aanlfnn iorro E.DIsa1.
OF troops south along the Weldon railroad
10 interrupt him. So Warren determined TO
retreat. He turned back, leaving the Wei
don railroad aud making a long circui. over
coasting roads. Tie enemy attacked his
rear but did him but lilile damage, and on
der The protection OF a division OF the Ninth
corps, that was sent out to meet him, ne
maue his way safely back TO camp. He did
but little damage, having burned ouly a lew
depois on The railroad. He reached camp
on Sunday.
Admiral Farragui has left the Gulf block
aiding squadron. and Commodore Palmer is
in command OF II. Farragut is now ia New
York.
From the Daily Age Of Dec. 18Th
The city of Savannah, which General
Sherman is approaching, is on the south
side oil he Savannah river, eighteen miles
from the sea. Ii stands in the midst Of rice
plantations The low, warnp grounds
extend Tor some distance on all sides OF the
city. Between Savannah and the sea coast,
the entire country is cut up by rivers,
creeks and swamps. Various bayous from
The ocean extend up 10 he Savannah river
below the city. Two OF these connect the
river with Warsaw sound, and one con-
meets it with Port Royal entrance. All
80 So. he -, 80 et.a-.l.
defended, not only oy batteries but by OBJ
strGctions ~ The channels. Two Confedsr-
ae ironclads, and a great number OF lorpe-
does assist in this defense. On the land
side, the rice swamps and a series OF earth
works, which, under the superintepdence OF
B~eauregard and Bardee, have been building
for nearly a month, protect Savannah. The
number OF Confederate troops in the city Is
large. They have been gathered tor several
weeks from all quarters, aud there is Iiille
doubt that 10 numerical strength they equal
the army Sherman compands.
Sherman's progress down the peninsula
between The Ogeechee aud Sav annah rivers,
can be gradually traced. Ga Saturday last
Sherman's advance was at Bloomingdale,
fifteen miles west OF Savannah. He ad-
vanced through a dense pine forest. The
Confederates were in force III front of him,
and twelve thousand regulars, besides mill
tia, was reported as their number. Sher-
man gradually pushed along towards Sa-
vanpah. until he reached Teltair, ten miles
from the city. Here the Confederate works
were found 10 be very strong, and a grad
ual movement along them was made
towards the southwark, until Sherman,
though still outside the works, found him
self hVe miles south OF Savannah, cod the
way to Warsaw sound unotStructed. These
movements were not made without fierce
conflicts and heavy losses, but the numbers
OF killed and wounded, or even The posi-
tons OF the battles, cannot al this early
date, be ascertaiued.
From The army under General Grant, we
have intelligence that constant demonsrra-
lions were made on Saturday last against
the Federal lines on the north side OF The
James. These attacks however, were mere
ly reconnoissances, and the enemy rerired
without nhIctiug much damage.
We have a report that Hood has sum-
moned Nashville 10 surrender, but cannot
youch ;or It's truth. Another report lie, that
a Federal g%unboal feet succeeded in fore
ing lis way up The Cumberland river on
Dec. 4lh, and defeated the lett wing of
Hoods army
The Federal gunboat Otsego has been
destroyed by a torpedo on the Roanoke riv
er, North Carolina, SIX miles above Ply
mouth.
From The Age of the 1874
General Sherman has passed TO tue south
OF Savannah, aud on Monday his eastern
flank, under command OF General Howard,
came out 10 the Atlantic coast, near War
saw sooud. This sound is a larger harbor.
about twenty miles southwest of The mouth
of the Savannah river. Shermah's troops
had communicated with the Federal fleet of
Warsaw sound, and Gen. Howard has sent
an official despatch 10 Admiral Dahlgren
announcing his proximity 10 the Coast. So
the great problem is solved. Sherman has
succeeded in reaching the Atlantic coast
in safely. He sill now lose no time in sup
plying his army with food and ammunition
and in securing those reiHiorcements which
must be greatly needed. There is no evil
dence that Savannah has been taken, or
even invested or seriously attacked There
are plenty OF rnm0rs OF all three, bat none