December 27, 1864. On the night of the 20th instant the enemy, under the pressure of the siege, secretly withdrew from Savannah, and Major-General Sherman entered the city, in which he took eight hundred prisoners, one hundred and fifty guns, with abundant ammunition, three steamers, and thirteen locomotives, one hundred and ninety cars, and a quantity of cotton, variously reported at twenty-five thousand to thirty-three thousand bales. The enemy blew up their iron-clads and gunboats. General Foster, coöperat ing with Sherman, promptly cleared the river from Tybee to the wharves, and Savannah is again reposing under the protection of the flag of the Union. The enemy escaped across the river and the causeways which lead over the marshes which cover its northern bank. It is believed that General Sherman's army will not remain inactive. No significant military movement has occurred at Richmond.

The combined land and naval expedition, under Major-General Butler and Admiral Porter, proceeded to the mouth of the Cape Fear River, but the weather being unfavorable they had not, at the date of our latest advices, been able to operate.

Silence prevails in the valley of the Shenandoah, except that Major-General Sheridan has a large force engaged in a reconnoissance upon the Orange and Alexandria railroad in the region of Gordonsville.

Major-General Thomas's victory at Nashville proves the most completely successful field triumph of the war. Virtually he destroyed half the enemy's force, and captured nearly all of his cannon. He was still in pursuit of Hood, who was retreating southward when last heard from. Thomas's headquarters are at Pulaski. There he has just destroyed twenty wagons filled with ammunition, two guns, and burned ten thousand stand of small-arms. Hood's means of transportation are wasted, and his force is now reduced to fifteen thousand, exclusive of cavalry, and he has only eight

cannon.

Stoneman's expedition on the border, between Tennessee and Virginia, seems to be very successful.

The Canadian authorities have become watchful, active, and diligent, and raids and alarms upon the frontier have suddenly ceased.

Congress has adjourned for the Christmas holidays, and the

people are joyously celebrating them under the belief that the solution of our terrible political problem is revealed, although not yet realized, in the extinguishment of slavery and the stability of the Union.

Of all the nations, Great Britain seems to us the last that could justly or wisely become, directly or indirectly, an opponent of the United States in a civil war begun and waged and persisted in by insurgents for the extension of African slavery.

January 1, 1865. The land and naval expedition delivered its attack on the 24th and 25th ultimo. The dangerous explosion of the powder-ship was accomplished with complete success, but absolutely without effect. The naval attack on Fort Fisher was eminently vigorous. About four thousand troops were landed safely, leaving as many more on transports. General Weitzel made a reconnoissance, which satisfied him that an assault could not be wisely undertaken. The troops on shore were reëmbarked, and the whole land force returned to the James River. Rear-Admiral Porter, who commanded the fleet, seems not to have been convinced that the withdrawal of the troops was indispensably necessary. The fleet, according to last advices, remains at the mouth of the Cape Fear River. The public mind is disappointed, but not seriously disturbed.

Except in regard to these incidents, the news of the past week are pleasing echoes of the capture of Savannah, by Sherman; the rout of Hood, with his flight across the Tennessee into Alabama; the destruction of insurgent communications and military deposits in eastern Tennessee and southwestern Virginia, by Burbridge; a successful raid from Baton Rouge towards Mobile; and an equally beneficial reconnoissance by Sheridan on the Orange and Alexandria railroad.

We are looking for new military movements, with as little delay as the variable winter weather will allow.

Some of the St. Albans' felons have been captured in New Hampshire. The Canadian authorities are active, but thus far there has been no delivery of offenders to us for punishment, nor have any judicial proceedings been instituted, to vindicate British sovereignty in Canada.

January 10, 1865. - Great destruction of rebel communications

has been accomplished by General Grierson in Mississippi, and the insurgents have suffered severe loss by the burning of their storehouses at Charlotte, North Carolina. With these exceptions, no important military movements have been made during the past week. Congress resumed its labors on the 6th instant. The debates are temperate, as the measures discussed are grave.

It is a circumstance of much significance that the legislature of Kentucky is earnestly debating the subject of slavery. The parties divided between the policy of immediate abolition and that of gradual emancipation.

January 16, 1865. We learn through Richmond that RearAdmiral Porter's fleet was again before Wilmington, and that the land forces had effected a landing on Friday last, the 13th instant. The weather was fine; the insurgents claimed to be prepared for successful defence. Major-General Butler has been relieved of his command, at the suggestion of the Lieutenant-General. The recent failure at Wilmington is under investigation in Congress. MajorGeneral Sherman is understood to have resumed his march, but its direction is not yet revealed. Henry S. Foote, formerly United States senator from Mississippi, and recently a member of the insurgent conclave at Richmond, was arrested on the 12th instant, on the bank of the Occoquan, on his way to this city; he yet remains in military custody. Jefferson Davis disclaims responsibility for the arrest. The reported agitation of the question of submission to the Union, in Georgia, is believed to be true, although not to the full extent claimed for it in the press.

A constitutional convention in Tennessee submitted to the people the constitutional question of abolishing slavery. The convention in Missouri has definitely abolished slavery in that state.

January 24, 1865. - Fort Fisher, with its subsidiary works, fell on the 15th instant, under a combined land and naval assault. The defence was maintained by three thousand men, of whom about seven hundred were killed and the remainder were captured. The loss on our side was severe. The capture must figure in history as one of the most brilliant achievements of the war. Without knowing how far I am supported by public opinion, I confess that the hazards and losses which were actually encountered are calculated to disarm criticism upon the proceedings of Generals Butler and Weitzel in the previous expedition. It is not left doubtful that the

1

port of Wilmington is now effectually closed against the insurgents and their European abettors. Of all our correspondents you 1 are the last one that needs to be informed of the importance which attaches to this event. It seems to be true that since our fleet entered the Cape Fear River five blockade-running vessels unwarily followed it and were captured. Reports of the advance of General Terry towards Wilmington are too uncertain to be confidently accepted. Major-General Sherman's forces have passed the Pocotaligo bridge and reached McPhersonville, in South Carolina. Indications of discontent and demoralization among the insurgents appear in their cabals and in their press. A silver dollar was sold at auction in Richmond last week for sixty-four dollars of rebel money. Negro men were sold last week at the rate of five thousand dollars in that spurious currency, the equivalent of seventy-eight dollars in gold.

A growing popular confidence in the success of the Union cause has reduced the premium upon gold in our market eighty per cent. since the presidential election.

January 30, 1865. - Immediately after the despatch of the mail of last week we received authentic reports from the forces in front of Wilmington, which announced that the rebels had evacuated Fort Caswell, and Smithville, and auxiliary fortifications. Our army occupied them on the 16th instant, and the naval forces immediately entered Cape Fear River. The entire number of guns which fell into our hands, in the combined land and naval movement in that vicinity, was one hundred and sixty-eight. Two blockaderunners were captured, and the Tallahassee was destroyed. The military column has been reinforced, and it is now operating for the capture of Wilmington.

General Sherman's march in South Carolina continues exciting profound alarm in Charleston, Augusta, and Richmond.

The enemy, on the night of the 25th instant, descended the James River from Richmond, with gunboats and iron-clads, expecting to pass the river obstructions which had been made to protect the lines of the army of the Potomac. Although the movement was unexpected, it was resisted by our forts, and it altogether failed, with the loss of one of the vessels. The line has been strengthened, and no apprehension of danger in that quarter remains.

The Canadian judiciary have decided in the case of the pirate

1 Mr. Adams.

Burleigh that he shall be delivered to the United States. Military reverses have produced a high excitement in the rebel councils, and throughout the region in which they yet bear military sway. Seddon, the pretended secretary of war, has been replaced by John C. Breckenridge. The self-styled Congress has required Jefferson Davis to confide the entire command of the rebel forces to Lee. H. S. Foote, a prominent member of that body, was arrested by the rebel military police in the attempt to pass the lines on his way to this city. A resolution to expel him was lost for want of what they call a constitutional majority, and he was then censured by the house. While these proceedings were going on at Richmond, Foote appeared at Major-General Sheridan's camp, and solicited leave to come to Washington. The request is under consideration.

February 7, 1865. A few days ago Francis P. Blair, Esq., of Maryland, obtained from the President a simple leave to pass through our military lines, without definite views known to the government. Mr. Blair visited Richmond, and on his return he showed to the President a letter which Jefferson Davis had written to Mr. Blair, in which Davis wrote that Mr. Blair was at liberty to say to President Lincoln that Davis was now, as he had always been, willing to send commissioners, if assured they would be received, or to receive any that should be sent; that he was not disposed to find obstacles in forms. He would send commissioners. to confer with the President with a view to a restoration of peace between the two countries if he could be assured they would be received. The President thereupon, on the 18th of January, addressed a note to Mr. Blair, in which the President, after acknowledging that he had read the note of Mr. Davis, said that he was, is, and always should be willing to receive any agent that Mr. Davis or any other influential person now actually resisting the authority of the government might send to confer informally with the President with a view to the restoration of peace to the people of our one common country. Mr. Blair visited Richmond with his letter, and then again came back to Washington. On the 29th instant we were advised from the camp of Lieutenant-General Grant, that Alexander H. Stephens, R. M. T. Hunter, and John A. Campbell were applying for leave to pass through the lines to Washington as peace commissioners to confer with the President. They were permitted by the Lieutenant-General to come to his headquarters to