The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1864-12-30

STEAMER GOLDEN GATE,
Savannah River, Z p NJ, Dec. %,
10 Lieut. Gen. L. $. Grant and Maj.
GEN. H. w. Hailccl.:
/ | have the honor to report that |
have just returned from Gen. Sher-
mans headquarters in Savannah
send Maj. Gray, of my staff, as bearer
Of dispatches from Gen, Sherman to
you and also a message to the Presi-
dent The city Of Savannah was oc-
cupied OH the morning of the Dist
Gen. Hardee, anticipating the contem.
plated assault, escaped with the main
body of his infantry and light ARTILLERY
on the afternoon and night Of the 20th
b, crossing the river to the Union
causeway, opposite the city. The re-
bel iron-clads were blown up and the
Navy Yard burned All the rest Of
J the city intnct and contains 10000.
citizens, quiet and well disposed The
captures include 800 prisoners, $50
guns, II locomotives in good order,
100 cars, large supply ofammunition
and materials of war, three steamers,
and $4,000 bales of cotton, safely
stored in warehouses. All these vau-
! ssAles, traits of an almost bloodless
victory have been, like Atlanta, fairly
won. / opened communication with
the city with my steamers, to-day,
taking mp what torpedoes We could
see and passing safely over others
Arrangements are made to clear the
channel of all distinctions.
Yours, nc,
J. q. FOSTER,
Ma. Gen.
The Richmond papers of yesterday
state that on the 23d 26 vessels of the
Wilmington expedition had re- appear
ed. The dispatch of Gen. Bragg as
published in the Richmond papers is
as follows
WILMINGTON, Dec. -.
Twenty-six vessels of the federal
fleet re-appeared this morning. There
has been no change since last dis
patch.
This is the latest received from that
expedition.
(Signed) f. NJ. STANTON,
E Secretary OF War.
The Secretary of War has received
information through rebel papers to
the effect that movement was made
on the 25th from Savannah toward the
Altamaha River, for the supposed
purpose Of destroying the Savannah
Albany and Gull Railroad. From the
same source he is informed that an
attack was made on Fort Fisher on
the oath by the feet, which continued
from one o'clock until night, and was
renewed at 10 O'Clock on the 2oih
The fire of the fleet is represented o
having been furious On the 2oth
under cover Of the fire Of the feet
Gen. Butler landed two brigades t",
and half miles above the fort, ard
engaged smaller rebel force, tng
Union troops holding the ground al
night Late in the night the infantry
attacked the fort, and are said to la"
been repulsed with considerable loss
The news from. Tennessee is vel.
favorable. Hood is steadily retreat,e
with probable intention of crossingt%
Tennessee River near the mouth 'Ds
Elk River, Gen. Thomas having forceu
him considerably to the east. Our ~
vance on Sunday night was at Pllla.A
Railroad and telegraphic comInnnleaa
ton has been opened to Columbia aps
this road viii soon be in running oroy,
to Chattanooga. The heavy rlll,
have rendered travel very dIflcult
Secretary Staptons dispatch g'es " -
fetal details of the engagement
tween Gen. Thomas's advance NV
Hoods army on the 2fth-, ,,,,
Savannah is the pesnt to wihcp
very large nnmber Of railroads or
verge, as the following stateiu'"
shows ,s
The Central Railroad, eonnec'.Iss
Macon with Savannah, 1gZ miles w.
Wanesboro and Augusta, % ,,,,L.
Milledgeville and Eaton, 50; the oo" ,hs
western, so. the, Muscogee, ,.srp
Macon and Western. l0l the we rs;l
aud Atlantic, i40 the Georgia ,he
road. ITO the Athens branch o.
Georgia Railroad, 40 the Wasp'''i7
branch of the Georgia Railroau' and
the Rome branch Of the Western La