Litchfield enquirer., 1864-12-22
"THUNDER ALL .AROUNDi"


 Secretary Stanton telegraphs as follows: Mqj.- Gen. Jne, 4. Dir, New Fork:
 An official dispatch from Gen. Shetmsn waS received to day, dated near midnight, Dec. l3::. on the gunboat Dandelion. Ossa6aw Sound. It was written before Gen. Foster reached him. tie reports, besides some military details of future operations, (which are omitted) the fbE lowing interesting particulars of Dis quotations ON boAHD DANDELIoN, OssABAw SOUND, I ll5O P. M, Dec. l3. To-day, at 5 P. M., Gen. Hazen's division of the Fifteenth Corps carried Fort McAilis- ter by assault, capturing the entire garrison and stores. This opened to us the Ossabaw Sound, and pushed down to this gunboat to communicate with the feet Before opening communication. we had completely destroyed all the railroads leading into Savannah, nnd in- vested the city. The left is on the Savannah. River, three miles abuve the city, and the right on the Ogeechee. ut Kings Bridge. The army IS In splendid condition, and equal to anything. The weather has been fine. and supplies were. abundant. Our march was must agreeable, aud we were not at all molested by gurrrillas We reached Savannah three days agu, but owing to Fort McAIlister, cuuld not commuui.. cate; but now we have McAister, we eau go. ahead.
 We have already captured two boats on the, Savannah River, and prevented their gunboats from coming dawn.
 1 estimate the population of Savannah ct. 25,O0O and tie garrison at l5, 5,O0O. Geu. Har- dee commands
 We have not lost wagon on the trip, but. have gathered in . large supply of negroes. mules, horses, &c, and our teams are in tar better condition than when we started.
 My first duty will be to clear the army of. surplus negroes, mules and horses. We have utterly destroyed over two hundred miles of rails. and consumed stores and provisions that. were essential to Lees and Hoods armies. The quick work made with McAllistsr and the opening of communication with our hest, and the consequent independence for supplies, dissipates all their bOasted threats to head me off and starve the army.
 regard Savannah as already gained. Yours truly, w. T. SHERMAN,
 Mai j.-Gsn.
 The following official reports were received this evening from Gen. Thomas dated at his. headquarters near Franklin:
 uEADQ Rs DEPARTMENT OF THE CrMBERLAKD, r
 Near FRANKLIN, Tenn, Dec l7.
 A report just received from Major-I enerul N ison, stutes that at ' r. M IuAlav he at- tackled and dispersed Steveusun's division of rebel infantry, and Il brigade of cavalry. cap. turing three guns. The fourth United States cavalry and Hatch's division of cavalry, ha, d. somrly SUI ported by knipeis division of cav airy, did the work, makIng several beautiful charges, breaking the rebel infantry in all di- rections. Had it only been light, the rebel rear guard would have beeu entirely destroyed.
 As it is, it has been severely punished. The whole army will continue vigorous pursuit ia in the morning. This attack Was made six miles beyond Franklin.
 (Sisued) GEORGE H. THOMAS, Major General.
 8P. M.-We have pressed the enemy to- day beyond Franklin, capturing his hospitals. contain ing over ,500 wounded, and about l50 of our wounded, in addition to the abovs.- Gen. Kuipe, comnand ding division of cavalry, drove the enemy's rear guard through Frank i'm to-day. capturing about 25O prisoners, aud five battle flags, with very little loss on our site. Citizens of Franklin represent Hood's army as completely .iemoralized. In addition to the captures ot yesterday, reported in my dispatches of last night, have the honor to report the captare ot Gen. Rucker. and about 25O prisoners of the eneIny's cavalry, in fight that occurred about O clock last night. be- tween Gen. Fucker and Gen. Hatch, Of our cavalry. The enemy has been pressed to-day both in. front and on both fanks.- Brigstieni. Johnson succeeded ID striking him on the flank just beyond Erankiin. capturing quite number of prisoners-numoer not yet reported.- MT cavalry is pressing him closely through, and r am very much in hopes of getting many more prisoners tomorrow.
 (Sgned) Geo. H. THOMAS,
 Msjor-Gsueral.
 Other dispatches, (unoficial) from Nashville, stae that 1000 prisoners were captured by Wilson, and that Gen. Rousseau, communicating at MurfreesbOro, reports Forrest killed, and l.500 of his men captured
 The Superintendent at Nashville reports that the railroad from Nashville will be open to- Franklin tonight, And will rupidy follow Thomas, thus furnishing him supplies, and en. abling him to push or after Hood.
 EDWARD M. STANTON,
 Secretary of War.
 GEN. SHERMAN AT MnLEDcEvILLE.-Ths Georgia rapers are full of the visit which Gen.. Sherman's army ma de them at Milledgeviile and SUIT ounding towns. Slocum 8 corps pour ed into our devoted city" on Sunday, NOV. 2Oth and the affiliated inhabitants weIs IeIUto- the tender mercies of the invader. The req sou wherefore was because Macon paper con. fesses ..the men had already leit the city before the enemy arrived" and. in consequences .our noble wo,I,.n had to submit to insults" their indienation probably mingled with love for the nobie fellows that ran away without them. and. l.ft them to the tender mercies. The paper alleges that the Yankees plundered indiscfiIni-. nateiy, but gives no particulars. The Yankees gave as reason tor their conduct that they intended every southern man should feel that it was very expensive to be rebel. The Au- yusta COnstitutioRalist in describing the scenes n the legislature which voted levy eR psasse md then ran away. remarks r. We did hope the Legislature would have inflated somewhat the valiant Harry or the. lignifed Senate. when Rome survived. Bat. Has, for human calculation and sublunary- With our Georgia fathers it wcss Ill go and no follow, all skedaddls and noaus- ere defiance in the teeth of the barBarian.,' It seems however that the Yankees haf sn zeen sense of the ludicrous as Georria edi{or ior the Augusta Chronicle in narfaiinr ihsir vis.t to the state house says:
 " They had mock legislature, elected sSssk. CT, clerk, etc., and were introducing blls, rsso-