Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-01-03
WAR NEWS.
We give below synopsis of the war news from
various quarters for the past week.
The Attach nm Wtlminpfou

including number of powerful iron clads. The
transports numbered about ninety. The fleet left
Hampton Roads on the 18th December and on the
Oath fire was opened on Fort Fisher, below VIII
mington. On the 25th the fire on the fort was
terrific, and the enemy landed, as supposed,
about six thousand troops with the view Of storm
ing the fort. But picket lines were only thrown
out towards the fort, and no regular attempt was
made to storm it. On the 9th Gen. Bragg tele-
graphed to the President that the enemy had re-
embarked under cover of his guns, and that MS
further movements were not developed. He states
that he had visited the fort, and found damages
slight except to buildings not necessary for de-
fence. The marks remaining showed that the
bombardment had been very heavy.
We are not informed whether any regular con-
ct took place between our forces outside the tort
and the six thousand landed by the enemy. We
presume not however. Our loss, judging by the
accounts in the Wilmington papers, amounted to
some ten twelve killed, and fifty or sixty wound
ed. 1t is also reported that battalion oil junior
reserves numbering some two hundred, commanded
by Maj Reese, was surrendered by that officer to
a small force Of the eneg We do not know
whether any blame justly Gaches or not to- this
officer but it is reported that he acted in an inet
cient and cowardly manner. This is the only Incl
dent which mars the character of the defence
With this exception, if indeed it be an exception,
officers and men behaved remarkably we'll in defence
of the fort and the town of Wilmington; and it is
not to be supposed If the surrender referred to
made, that it was from any want of courage or
readiness to meet the enemy the part of the
junior reserves who composed the battalion.
1t is not to be supposed however-and the VIII.
migntoI papers concur in this view-that this IS
the end Of the expedition. 1t is supposed that the
enemy lost some six hundred of their artillery
horses, which they were compelled to throw over
board in storm off the coast in order to their
transports; and it is conjectured that they retired
to obtain, among other things, another supply OF
d. fbo hnua han alNyi in
the nature of reconnaissance to what they could
do in the event Of regular and systematic assault
on the forts. Fort Fisher is very strong place,
and can be taken only by assault In addition to
this, the Notifications below and around Whining
ton are of formidable character, and few deter
mined men, well commanded, could hold them
against heavy Odds If the enemy had made Sc
rious attack on the late OCCASION he would have en-
countered not only these for6cations, but Eeterdn
troops who have won an immortal name on other
fields by their steadiness and courage.
This fleet is one of the largest, and probably the
best provided, which has yet been fitted out by our
enemies Sixty-fve war vessels, with ninety trans
port ships for men and provisions, constitute
most formidable armament Estimating four hundred
infantry and cavalry to each of the Transports there
could not have been less than thirty-SIX thousand
men, to say nothing Of the marines on board the
war vessels. The defence of Wilmington is Of vital
importance to the Confederate States. We need
reasons as clearly as We do. 1t is more than prob
able that this feet will return, and that desperate
battle will be fought, the city of Wilmington, the
Cape Fear river above Wilmington, and the line OF
Railroad being the objects at stake. We trust that
our authorities will not be caught of their guard,
but will be constantly the alert as to be ready
for any new and sudden demonstration the enemy
may make
The CarOlinidn of the 29th says:
ave are informed that twenty one of the enemy 8
feet were seen of MaSonbOrOugh Sound on We'd
nesday last Another account represents fortyfour
to have been lying around the point We give
these reports for what they are worth Last night
there could only be seen the usual blockading
| squadron. Wilmington is again safe for the pres
| ent and things will go on in their usual way"
From Georgia.
The Baltimore american of the 26th December
contains full accounts of the capture of Savannah
| by Gen. Sherman. Gen. Sherman himself tele.
graphed as follows to President Lincoln under date
| December 22d: ~ beg to present to you, Q
Christmas gift, the city Of Savannah, with one hun.
! dred and fifty guns and plenty of ammunition, and
also about twenty. five thousand bales of cotton"
Gen. Foster reports tn Gen. Grant that Savannah
was occupied by Sherman the morning of the
| 2lst. Gen. HarGee, anticipating the contemplated
assault, escaped with the main body of his infantry
| and light artillery the afternoon and night of
the Goth, by crossing the river The rebel iron
| clads," says Foster, "were blown up and the navy
yard burned. All the Of the city is intact and
| contains twenty thousand citizens quiet and we'll
| disposed" Foster claims the spOIlS eight hun
dred prisoners, hundred and fifty guns, thirteen
| locomotives, large supply Of ammunition and ma
teTals of war; three steamers and thirty three thou
sand bales of cotton safely stored in ware houses.
This cotton alone is worth fifteen millions of dollars
IN good money. This is the way in which ene-
mics are making US pay the interest of their war
| debt
| L. Al. n
| hundreds OF miles through the State of Georgia
He states in one of his letters to his President that
he not seriously interrupted during his march,
and that he did not even lose wagon. The folly
| of sending Gen. Hood to his rear with the view OF
| inducing him to follow him towards Tennessee, is
now plainly seen. Every one sees and admits the
fatal mistake, and some are attempting to shift the
responsibility for this movement from the shoulders
of the President to those of Gen. Lee and Gen. Hood
The movement by Gen. Hood, which has resulted
so dSastrouSy, was no doubt Oroered by the Pres
| ident during his recent visit to Georgia. Certain
ly, to say the least, movement Of such magnitude
and involving such consequences, would not have
been made will out tie sanction of the President
| and it is believed that he the originator Of it.
| If Gen. Johnston had been permitted to remain IN
command of the army of Tennessee, no such diSas-
ters would have followed He might not have been
able to hold Georgia permanently; but Sherman's
march would not have been by any means the tri-
+ umphant one 1t was nor would the army OF fTennes
see have been sent to the neighborhoOd of Nash
vile to be cut up, scattered and demoralized.
The Augusta Chronicle Dc Sentinel of Wednesday
last has q rumor of information from Athens, thai
some ten thousand Yankees had made their appear
ance at Dalton, Ga, with the view Of preventing
Hood from retreatng towards Atlanta
The same paper says that Sherman had given'tht
people of Savannah fifteen days to settle up their
bank and other accounts in Cntederate money.
The Augusta Register of the 2Sth says Sherman
has sent force to the assistance of Foster on the
Coosawhatchie. The enemy's batteries in tha
| Sherman had sent sabout three regiments into Sa
vannah as guard lie had offered every assist
ance to the Mayor in preserving order, and haG
stationed guards for the protection of private pro
perty, stores, and public buildings. The citizen:
were unmOlesfed, and private property respected.
From Tennessee,