The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-15

3 81 ermen nj BIoOmingdaIe- the Rebel
Position ~ Savannah Difficult TO Hold.
BSsE - Richmond Dispatch, DeceB.5srl-.
Tho latest we hear from Sherman Is that on
Saturday be was at BloomingGs.c, on the Central
Georgia Railroad, fifteen mucs west of Ssyau-
nah. IL Was not absolu ely certain whether IL
was In his proFr0nur ~ attack the city, 70 slide
away down 10 20. CJRst, or gnduavor 30 force a
4 passage Of the Savannah river cq rYvte for POr
4 Royal.
Our position at Savannah is difficult, as in
Volving the necessity Of protecting both tbs city
and some ten miles Of tho Savannah aud Charles
ton Railroad, which, leaving the city on the
4 west, curycs-to the north aud crosses the river
eight mies above. Sherman, .ince he lef.
Aillen, has been fellng timber behind him and
otherwise obstrucing the roads, ~ protect his
rear from the rcmOrseless raYJges OF Wheeler
: who has hunted and hung upon him like a
l. bloodhound.
4 The Rebels Signing over the Approach
ing Crisis at Savannah,
N ON ne Richmond wig, Deeer.5erI2
The md draws nigh. The advance OF Sher.
n mans Imy was reported to be within tWeutY
miles OF Savannah Yesterday afternoon. Toe
n ght or the possession Of the civ may be pro-
4 gress ng to-day. General Beauregard commands
q the Confederate forces.
General KiIpatrick's BEETLES.
NE HAS FIGHT DAILY WITH WHEELER.
" From tie SasaaHdh Rept.bhcaH, D,c.m5.r6.
4 Hardly day has passed that Wheeler has no.
q engaged some portion Of Sherman's army, and
y as often as he has fingers and toes Bosd. fghC-
ing wherever he could Gnd the enemy, roads nave
been distracted, cattle and negroes iriven off, the
4 people forcwRrned provisions that could not le
removed destroyed, aud everything else done TO
embarrass aud distract the invaders. a this Ay
Wheeler has rcCdered most vi.l a5rvCe to the
cause for it has given Us time % complete de-
lenses aud bring up our men. We are now rc I'd =
x for Sherman, and, strike whore b will, he will
md foe ady and able 70 cope vita his hired
and brutal muions.
On Sunday last, the 4th instant battle was
. fought which exceeds in mAguIluag any that has
NJ characterized the campaign, aud is therefore
4 worthy OF some particular mention. The 18th
Yankee Corps, united with Ktni .rick's entire
cavalry force, made an attack On wheeler, aud a
4 severe battle rged for several hours. At the
moment of the assault Wheelyr's / ne was yery
much extended, for the purpose Of f0rag ging; bu.
he speedily brought his forces together aud re-
ceyed the attack of the enemy with vigOr that
mace them stagger. Several iiT1s were they
"A driven back by our men in counter charges and
~ sometimes from behind breastTorts.
Finally, Wheeler, finding himsy + surrounded
by greatly superior iorce, qnie.ly and in good
order retirrd and left the icld't0 .ha enemy The
losses OF the latter were very heavy and the bio
cannot have failed greatly TO cripple them. We
captured number OF prisoners, one a colonel,
who was taken in q hard-tO-haul q .ht We n so
lost severely in officers and men, but in no pro-
ID portion with the enemy. hgong our killed was
Colonel Graves, who, on the occasion, was acting
as brigadier.
=" VI tut present NNcfehDOuLS OF sherman, IL
~ might crafty curiosity, but would do no good to
speak. From bis movements, we nudge that he
himself IN not SO sure of his latitude aud lOngi-
tude. Suffice it to say that hG has many days
hard marching before him ere he will be able 10
respond visibly 10 the rockets Of his friends on
the coast, with good prospect of having 70 fight
= his way through the entire distance.
X From the augusta COH5iiiutoHllist, Ds-ca5srG
Owing TO the state of the atmosphere the de-
4 tOnaiiOn of cannon was distinctly heard on
Fl Sunday mornidg in the direction OF WaynesbOro.
~ We have il in our power to present brief, Du.
authentic, explanation OF those Warlike reso-
nances.
Pursuant to instructions, General Wheeler con.
centrsted his cavalry force, ant 20 midnight on
y Saturday, fell upon ne cuemy'5 ar with vim.
U The Yankee hOrsemen were praClpitately driven
a back upon their infantry support. After harAss-
n ing the infantry for some time, " heCier retired
II to bis former position.
At daylight on SUNDAY morning. Kilpatrick's
cavalry, assisted by the llth Corps advanced upon
our cavalry. We were stationed behind tempo
TaTy breastworks and prepared To meet the oaset,
Every charge of the enemv was rrpulsej by fire
and counter charges. Finally, desDIirng TO carry
III our works by storm, nOtRths an.Ing their vastly
4 superior numbers, the Yankees enyeopsd our
y Hanks and made retreat necessary. This retire
1 ment was accomplished ia eNcelllas order Hly-
"a ing relieved their rear OF terrible incubus the
"a Yankees abandoned any fur'ncr demonstration
81 and continued their march.
Our loss WAS between seventy nd eighty men
4 The enemy s loss Is reported officially as livery
heavy Among the Cisua ..,5 On our side, We
are panied 70 announce 20 ye.S wOunding o
y Colonel Graves Acting BIigIIar One of the
u Yankee officers was ptur.d IN hand to-hand
encounter, and Kilplui k himself was wounded
Our officers and mon bHn oc with the mos
"A distinguished Ealantry, aud, cons ilerng the dis
parity of force, achieved most brilliant results il
"a rotaI ding the march OF tbe hostile columns, and
filling them with wel-grIuudyd apprehension
n At last accounts, the nuCm. gGue Wheeler haC
collected bis men and was esaln hacking away
- al the reaTwuaT1.