Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1865-01-06

81. The New York Herald has advicei
from Savannah to the 26th ult., which
state that efFerts were being made 10 in
tercept the retreat of the rebel army I'M
der Hardee before il could reach Broad
river. Cannonading was heard in that
direction; but the result OF it had moi
been learned. The day before Hardee
evacuated the place be kept up terrible
cannonading on our lines, but did little
injury. 1t seemed as if his object was to
waste all the powder that he could so
that il should not fall into Gen. Sher-
mans hands. The rebel works in front
of the city were found TO have been very
strong, and had Hardee chosen to wait
for an assault a considerable loss of life
would have been necessary for their cap
ture. Our losses during the siege were
comparatively small. Not more than six
or eight hundred were killed and wound
ded during the eleven days the town was
invested, and a great proportion of these
had slight wounds. IF Gen. Sherman
had carried the lines by storm the story
Of casualties would have been for differ
ent. Hardee's losses during the siege
were between five and six hundred men,
and about thousand prisoners have been
picked up. Before eyacuating the reb-
els destroyed four of their gunboais, but
left behind two others in good condition.
Wbeeler's cavalry, OF Hardee's army,
p'undered number Of stores and com
mitted numerous outrages while station
ed 10 the city, and between the marching
out of the enemy and the marching in Of
Gen. Sherman's troops, mobs Of the low
er classes 10 the town broke into a num-
Der of shops and warehouses and contin>
ued the work which the rebel soldiery
had commenced. The Union army en-
tered Savannah on the morning of the
Dist ult., and on the morning Of the oath
the first number Of a new Union news
paper, the loyal Georgian, was issued in
that city. Gen. Geary's division being
the first of the Union army to enter the
city, that officer has been appointed mil
itary governor. The Adams Express
Company have opened an Office the no.
tolls are open and doing good business,
and things are moving smoothly. It is
estimated that at least twenty-five thous.
and of the inhabitants remained 10 the
city. Very few, not connected with the
rebel military and civil service, left the
city. Gen. Hardee's wife and family
were left by him to the tender mercies Of
our army, which Gen. Hardee has go Of,
ten described in the darkest colors. His
practice seems to differ somewhat from
what bis general orders advise. They
are, Of course, as sill other families pro-
tected in lives and property. I
WASHINGTON, Dec. so.
Information from City Point says that
heavy cannonading was kept up during
Wednesday and Thursday night, as
well as severe picket skirmishing in the
immediate front of Paiersburgh, Several
casualties are reported.
There was considerable firing in front
Of Richmond on Wednesday afternoon
and along the line Of the rear picket
guard.
Recent movements 10 the rebel lines !;
indicate unusual commotion, bat nothing
is known respecting its cause. It is
thought that Lee has been sending rein
forcementS south towards Lynchburg, to :
oppose Gen. Sheridan's advance, and to
Huntington TO prevent the landing of the /;
expedition to that city.
Deserters who came in few days ago E
declare that the state of affairs indicates :
early offensive operations by the rebel
army in some direction, the nature of
which is unknown. Lee told bis men he e
was about attempting the initiation of Q
project which will astonish the world. a
Gen. Butler returned to bis headquar- :
tiers on the James river on Wednesday. Q
He left the land forces of the Whining. q
ton expedition under command of Gen. I
Weitzel.
NASHVILLE, Dec. 80. ,
The first train through from Chat
tsuooga arrived this evening. Railroad ),
viii be regularly kept up.
Gen. Thomas headquarters were at Pu-
laski last night. Our advance is closely
Hood, who it is believed is try
ing to cross the Tennessee river. =
Maj. Gen. Stoneman who arrived in
this city last night from his great raid in
East Tennessee and South Western Vir-
ginia furnishes the following account Of
the expedition. The force consisted Of :
Cen Rrrbridge's troons and Con OIL -