Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1865-01-04


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, we'll Commanded, could hold them
against heavy Odds If the enemy had made Sc
riods attack on the late occasion, he would have
countered not only these Notifications but eeteran
troops who have won an immortal name on other
fields by their steadiness and courage.
This feet is one of the largest, and probably the
test provided which has yet been fitted out by
enemies. Sixty five 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 marinss.an ~ -,
importance to the Confederate States We need
not say aohy this is So, our readers can see the
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 off their guard,
but will be constantly the alert as to be ready
for any new and sudden demonstration the enemy
may make.
The Carolinian of the 29th says:
ave are informed that twenty one of the enemys
feet were seen off Masonborough Sound on Wed
nesdsy last Another account represents forty-four
to have been lying around the point. We gi't
these reports for what they are worth. Last night
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: 81 beg to present to you, as
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 to Gen. Grant that Savannah
was occupied by Sherman on the morning OF the
2lst Gen. Hardee anticipating the contemplated
assault escaped with the main body OF his infantry
and light artillery on the afternoon and night Of
the Goth by crossing the river. The "rebet iron
clads." saws Foster were blown up and the navy
ward burned. All the rest Of the city is intact, and
contains twenty thousand citizens, quiet and we'll
disposed" Foster claims as the spols eight hun
dred prlsoners one hundred and fifty guns thirteen
locomotives, large supply of ammunition and ma.
terias 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 our enc
mics are making US pay the interest Of their war
delft
Thus has ended the progress of Gen. Sherman for
Du0ureuS VI mucS tuIOuSu tue Stdtt VI UeOTRl3.-
He states in one of his letters to his President that
be not seriously interrupted during his march,
and that he did not even lose q 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 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
L ~ W n 0Ouht Oraernd hu he
idsnt during his recent visit to Georgia. Certain
IL to say the least movement Of such magnitude,
\ and involving such consequences, would not have
been made will out tie sanction of the President ;
md it is believed that be was the originator of it.
| If Gen. Johnston had been permitted to remain In
command of the army of Tennessee, no such disas-
| tiers 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 tr-
umphant one it was, nor would the army of Tennes-
| see have been sent to the neighborhood of Nash
| vile to be cut up, scattered, and demoralized.
The Augusta Chronicle d Sentinel Of Wednesday
last has fumor of information from Athens, that
some ten thousand Yankees had made theirsppear-
ance at Dalton Ga, with the view Of preventing
: Hood from retreating towards Atlanta:
I The same paper says that Sherman had given the
people of Savannah fifteen days to settle up their
| bank and other accounts in C,ntsderats 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 that
quarter had increased The same paper states that
| Sherman had sent about three regiments into Sa-
vannah as q guard. He had offered every assist.
ance to the Mayor in preserving order, and had
stationed guards for the protection Of private pro-
perty, stores, and public buildings The citizens
were unmolested, and private property respected
| From Tennessee, 49,
We have no news from Gen. Hoods army except
through federal sources. The Nashville Journal Of
| the oath states that Hoods army was on Duck
river, near Columbia, and was crossing as rapidly
as possible, Thomas pursuing vigorously. Anoth'
er Nashville paper claims that the number Of pris
oners captured from Hood, including his wound
ed found at Franklin, will reach from nine to ter
thousand, including one major. general and four
brigadiers. 1t seems TO be mole than probable thai
Gen. Hoods army has been badly cut up and vel
nigh destroyed. -
| The --latest News.
| IL. 3at