Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-12-29
GLORIOUS NEWS-SHERMAN'S CHRIST
MAS GIFT.

Gen. Sherman presents to the loyal People
of the United States the city of Safanpah as
Christmas gift. To their social rejocings
to-day he adds the congratulations due to
great and almost bloodlcss victory. that has
returned to the national authority one Of the
chief cities of the rcbcllious States. Gems
Sherman's and Foster dispatches state that
the city was occupied by our forces on We'd
nesday last. Gen. Sherman had made prcpa-
rations for an assault, and Gen. TIardee, fore
seeing his utter inability to hold the city,
made his escape the night previous with the
major portioh of bis infantry and light artillery
by crossing the Snvannah river opposite the
city. Before leaving he blew up thu Rebel
ironclads and burnt the navy yard. The
fruits of this grand capture. the browning
triumph of Sherrnan's march through Georgia,
as enumerated by General Foster. arc i-One
hundred and fifty heavy gins. large supply
of ammunition and materials of war, eight
hundred p,soi,efs Of war, three steamers
th,tosn locomotives one hundred and ninety
cars, and thirty three thousand bhles of cot.
ton. This Is ali enormous balance sheet asans,
the debit side of the rebellion to close the ycar
with. The loss i'll guns, materials of War,
and in locomotive stock is irreparablc; and
/ lined with the modification of losing one OIL
their principal cities, will deepen to utter dc.
spondency the gloom already prevailing al
Richmond
Beyond the destruction Of the iron=clads
and navy yard, the city was uninjurcd Over
twenty thousand citizens remained in it, and
by their quiet and orderly behavior gave evi.
dcnce that the change ofrulers was gracefully
if not willingly submitted to. The cotton was
found stored in warehouses Its value al
present prices is not far from twelve millions
if it amounts to twenty-five thousand bales
according to Gen. Shcrman's estimate, and
about ffteeti millions If Gen. Fosters estimate
is correct. COMMUNICATION with the city had
already been made from below by Cen Eos.
ter No particulars are given of Gen. liar.
dee's movements beyond the announcement
of his escape frum the city. He no doub,
fresaw that Gen. Sherman would finally close
up every Avenue from the city, and render
the capture of his force certain. Crossing
the river near Savannah, ne probably moved
inland, avoiding Gen Foster forces on tie
Coosawatchc and made direct for Churlcst n ,
Gen Sherman's future movements may b.
easily OWNED. Charleston is too Fear and toe
coveted prize to long escape his grasp
Lying at the end of ii peninsula. between two
rivers, General Sherman has only to place hi,
army in front of it. to insure its surr,nd r
We have no doubt when the time comes it viii
| be given up as quietly as Savannah has been
| and that tie eli liens will emulate those q
Savannah IN good order and auietness witt
which they viii sabmitto OF Reversible fate
General Grant communicates nh official de
spa!ch from General Bragg, copied from tn
Richmond papers of Saturday, from which i
appears that up to Friday no attack had beer
made on the forts below Wilmington Th'
fleet had probably been forced to return t.
Beaufort by the bad weather, but IN tia,
morning (Friday) ,wcnty-siz vessels reap
pearcd of Cape Pcar- Bauin,>r .lmer4can.