The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-01-21
our pioneer. who were at work clearing out

|
most of the garrison with both their guns, as
they were Withdrawing from the fort.
When our I'd division reached the swamp
this P. IN. one section of Barrett's battery was
placed in position to cover tie pioneers who
were at work on the road. The rebel battery,
| however, had the advantage over ours, their
battery was protected by works, ours was un-
protected. For a while the struggle seemed
an evenhanded one between the two batteries,
until finally the rebels sent a shell through
the wheel of one of our guns disabling IT and
| wounding four privates. A few moments
afterwards another she'll struch Lieut.. ---
! who was IN command of the two guns, killing
him Instantly These mistortunes on our
side gave them the advantage, and our guns
withdrew.
Dec. 1O-By 10 o'clock this q. NJ. the road
through the swamp was sufficiently cleared to
enable us 70 get through. The rebel works
on this side were quite formidable and could
have kept us at bay long time had not an
other road been left unguarded by which the
10th corps was enabled to get around them.
The road WAS now clear and the swamps less
formidable for or 10 miles ahead of us-to
within three miles of the city of Savannah.
We pushed forward rapidly about ) miles un-
I'll we struck the Charlestohn 4 Savannah
Railroad which had already been torn up by
the advance divisions. Here we encamped
for the night
The tearing up of this road finishes the
work of destruction of all the railroads in
Georgia. Not single railroad cornmunica-
ton is left unbroken in the state. The Atlanta
Augusta road Is torn up for over % miles
and the rails destroyed. The West Point,
Macon, Georgia Central Augusta 4 Millen
and Macon 4 Savannah roads are all Torn up
and the iron rendered useless. Full 800
miles of road will have to be reiaid with new
ties and iron to repair the damage We have
done since Hoods attempt to cut our com
muuication between Atlanta and Chattanooga.
Steady firing of artillery was heard all day
at different points around the city. The 18th
and lTth corps are said to be already close
up to the main works. We will doubtless haze
another Atlanta before US. Months may eX-
pire before we get the city. We however
hold all the approaches. both by land and
water. Our batteries so eifectually command
the river that nothing but iron clads can
pass them, The city is therefore entirely be
sieged and it is only a question Of time how
long she will be able to hold out.
Dec. ll.-This morning We moved for
ward TO within three miles of the !, and
took our position in the line Of investment
along the north side OF the Ogeechee and
Savannah Canal. The old business of build
ing field works was commenced again. We
are now safely lodged behind strong line of
works which We put up this ?. NJ. just be-
fore US on the other side of the canal along
the edge of deep swamp the rebels have
strong earthwork protected by an impossible
abarts formed of fallen trees.
Further to our right Is Prescotts Battery.
commanded now by 1t. Channel paving It's
respects 10 the city which lies. family visible,
through "A veil Of mist, away in the foreground.
As before Atlanta in the summer, steady
fire i kept up. both Of nuSketry and artillery.
all along the line which Gen. Shernan has To-
day completed around the city of the
meadows.
There Is but one thing which may trouble
us should the opening of our communication
with the coast be long DELAYED, and that is a
sufiiciency of supplies Foraging is played
out. We have left the land OF plenty and are
now in the dreary. barren swamps. One. hard
tack with fresh beef and salt and little su-
gar and coffee per day, is all the men have to
relv ON for subsistence.
There is plenty of rice here. but il Is still
in The chaf. 1t requires a'great deal Of labor
without machinery, u clean it, The men,
however. use boxes and troughs in which to
beat off the husk. This Is the only substi
tute we have for bread. The soil in these
swamps is too low and wet for vans or sweet
potatoes.
This evening we moved about mile further
to the right. Crossed the canal a"d built an
other line of works. The enemy hearing the
noise opened on us with 20 ID battery but
without doing US any damage. Their shell
all passed far beyond US before they exploded.
We were in a dense pine fo:est. through which
they could DO Us NO injury Their only hope
OF disturbing US was tr explode shell over
the tops Of the trees and trust to the fragments
to fall among US.
"Dec I2-Todav we did not move. Moth |
ing Of any Importance occurred. The lines
are now perfect around the city and al inces-
s.lnt fire opened all along them between the |
skirrnishcrs.
Der l:i.-Thc 9Th corps started tins morn
ing to Warsaw Sound, and one division ofthe /
18th corps for Fl. McAllistcr These two ex
peditions are designed 10 open commpnica- |
ton with the coast-squadron with which We
haze thus far had no Intercourse.
This p. IN. again moved to the right |
and took up our position about one mile south
OF the canal. The rebels have cut the canal
between Us and Savannah and have tiiledthe
swanrps with water so that farther approach
towards the city from this quartes is at present
impossible We have in turn damned the
canal above the cut and have turued the |
water back to the Ogeechee river. .
From all appearances this win be much |
harder place to take than Atlanta. although |
the strength of the rebel force Within is much |
less than Hood had there. 1t is Impossible !
to approach this city by work and it viii be
equally difficult TO storm the works construct
ed by the enemy.
Il Ill l,,-
This D. III. Gen. Sherman sent notice to the
different corps that Fort McAllister fell into
our hands at o'clock yesterday and that
communication with the fleet and Gen. Foster
had been opened. This information was re-
ceived with hearty cheers by the whole army.
We once more feel as if we had reached land
after IA long and perlous voyage upon the high
seas. Once more we will be able to commu-
nicate with our friends, and TO procure
newspapers of which we have now been de-
priyed nearly two months. The only informa-
ton we have vet had of the result of the pre-
siiential election was 4 brief notice IN
Charleston paper, which was found in house
a few davs since to the effect that Lincoln
was elected.
All fears of suffering much for the want OF
supplies have now vanished and this evening
the men hull their rice with cheer'ulness
that is really refreshing.
But little firing was heard to-day along the
skirnish lines and less among our artillery
Dec l5.-Everything quiet except picket
firing to-day. Nothing of Importance trans
piring.
Dec. l6.-Twenty-se deserters came in
to our picket last night. They were men who
had taken the oath of allegiance to the south
ern coniederacy to get out Of prison. They
say that there are several hundred more of
northern soldiers in the rebel works who have
taken the oath, most of whom will make their
escape if they can. They have been put in
the militia by conscription. They represent