AMERICA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1016, 22 March 1865, Page 5

AMERICA.

The Federal army, umler Sherman, after marching 300 miles in 27 days, devastating 42 countief?, destroyiajr 200 miles of railroads, burning millions of dollars" worth of cotton, capturing 4000 prisoners, 10,000 negroes, 15,000 horses and 30 pieces of artillery, immediately on arrival at the coast captured Fort M'Allistcr, and laid scige to Sivannah. His entire casualties were only 1,500 mm. On December 20th, Sherman captured Fort Lee, and some out worki of Swan - nnh, and then demanded the surrender of tli*.; city, »tatin«/ that i!' the request was refused he would nuke no pri-ioncrs. Governor ilardee refused to surrender, and escaped on the sime nijht with hi* iiriny, croasinjc the Savannah River at Causeway, leading to Charleston, after destroying the iron-clads and the navy yards. .Sherman occupied Savannah next da*% capturing 800 prisoners and citton worth tif^iit millions sterling, believed to belong to foreigners, A portion of Sherman's army is again in motion. Ifardee, nnticipatinij an attack on Charleston, is in pasiti ml 5 mile-} from that city, Tue inhabitants are leaving. (Jreat preparations are making for its defence. Sherman has issued a proclamation to the people of Savannah guaranteeing prot'Cti'm to private property and citizcins' rights. No oaths to be rcq-itred; the civil departments are to continue to exercise their functions. The Federal General Thomw, occupying Nashville, attacked the Confederate forces under General Hood, on the 14th and 18th Dec. He defeated them on all points, and pursued them until the 18t;h. On the 25th, Hood's army crossed the Tennease river safely, after repulsing Thomas' force in an attack on the rear guard. The Richmond authorities contemplate v heavy concentration of ti oops in Virginia to march Northward, and enforce peace. An*attempt made to open Rutter's Gap Canal on the Ist January, close to Richmond, totally failed. The release of the Vermont raiders caused great excitement in Washington. Congress hi 3 passed resolution!! for army stations, to be formed along the Ca-iadiaa frontier—to demand an indemnity from England for vessels destroyed by Confederate cruisers. The Brazilian demand for reparation, for the seizure of the Florida at Babia, ended with an apology from the United Ssatej Government, tbe suspension of the captain, the dinmissal of the Consul, and the release of the Florida's crew.