The New York Herald Newspaper, December 31, 1864, Page 4

VL KW me) 4 pee —_— NEW YORK HERALD. OFFICE BW. W, COKMER OF FULTON AND NSSSAU ETS. WERMS cach ip adyence, Money sent by moll will be ‘et (be risk of the sender, Nene but bank bills current im ‘New York takea THE DAILY HERALD, Four cents per copy. annual ‘tubscription price $14. THE WEEKLY HERALD, every Saturday, at Five cen ‘per eory. Apeual eudseription price.— Postage five cents per copy for three months. Votume XXIX AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING, No. 364 WALGACK'S THEATRE, Broadway.—Wirs's Szcasr. OLYMPIC THEATRE, Broadway.—Tas Stamets oF Nuw Bons. NEW BOWERY TR euaw—Doxr Bor—Hin. ‘BI eee —Dnovais OF fu Non BOWERY THEATRE, Bowéty. Ymaaeo—Fauxe Con. pas —Jaxnx Lino—Nicx_or tix Woop bre a oy 1 ml Oh ri mg] Broadway.—fau Live In. ‘BI. GARDEN, | broadway. Luow Bys— Poy ry most or Lace—Harrr Max. ene ® WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—Haxcet, papecn's mOeR OM, Brood way.—P ro! Ta Gyats—Tuams Gtarrs—' two \Dwanrs— ane Puce Avtomarons, Gunn Srectaciz—Day and Kreaing e BRY. MIn Mechanics’ Hall. 472 Broad- quycaroriar ances, BURLESQURS, oes ea eQOPS MINBTREL HALL. 6 HALL, 614 Broadway.—Lu Bat tan Sonas, Daxcrs, &0. ‘GALLE DIABOLIQUE, 885 roa 885 Broadway.—Rosuar Hez.es, [AN AMBURGH & CO. MAMMOTH by ake “ag ‘and 641 Broadway.—Opeo trom 10 A, M. to a HIPPOTHEATRON, Fourteenth street.—Bovesratan, AND ACROBATIC ENTERTAINMENTS, HARLEQUIN Biumesaxp. TURKISH HALL, 720 Broadway.—Oscavan’s Oniewtat Swrenrain ust. en, THEATRES, No. 444 Broadway.—Bacers, Buniesques, 4c. Hovse Taat Jacx Buir. VANNUCHI'S MUSE’ Fiovess—Fraxz Muu NEW YORK MUSEU! F ANATOMY, 618 Broad - Open from lv A. aM. rly b r M Hert a /M, 600 Broadway.—Movina Wax New yore Saturday, December 31, 1964. a et SITU ATION. ‘Tee Henin despatones which we publish this mora. ABE, give additional interesting details regarding the ‘Operations ogainst Fort Fither. Theugh the troops were withdrawn trom: the euterprise, on (be 26th inst, Ad. mitral Porter expressed bis determination to make another effort te reduce the rebel works, which Be hoped to ac. omplish with the navy alone’ We bave yet no account Of this resumption of the attack. Rebel ¢elegratis of the ‘7th inst., the iatest date received from Wilmingtoa, say that it was not renewed on that day. A Geopatch from Nashville, dated on Thursday last, to- dicates that all reports of Hood baving gotten bis army ‘eouth Of the Tenpeseee river was incorrect. It is said that.on Wedneeday, the tm inst.; bo was endeavoring {ag Wem rear, the geobonts wore shelling bis front, and ‘be oval make De progress. were was e rumour In Neen: ‘ville, om Thursday, thet General Thomas had capturea ‘oearty ali the rematning rebels whom Heod bad munaged te drag along with him as far as the Teasesses. General Gtecdman, with a large force of national troeps, was at Decatar, Alabama, on the 94th inst., as we have already ‘announced; and even should any fragment of the enemy @uscecd in getting southof the river, be will probably Prove to them a serious annoyance. It ts believed im our armies in fromtof Richmond that General Lee designs making a heavy attack on some por- tion of the Uston lines there very soon. Considerable movements of rebel troops in front of the left of the Army Of the Jomes were observed on Wednesday last; but these are thought to bave been nothing more then the ‘changing of positions of different divisions, It is expected that Lee will shortly be reinforced by Breckioridge’s troops from Tennessee and those recently forming the @arrison of Savannah, under Hardee. General jButler returned from the North Caroline expedition on the 28th tost., and reassumed command of the Army of the James. Our New Orleans despatches give us some particulars Of General Gorden Granger's expedition from East Peo- Gacola, Florida. He left that place om the 15th inst., and proceeded in the direction of Mobile, meeting and defeat. img the rebels at the crossing of a stream called Frank- Ua's creek. At the date of latest acoounts he was stil) Pushing on, bis troops being welcomed with delight by many of the people. Southern refugees report that Mo- bile ts garrisoned by only five thousand militia. A large fire was observed in the direction of that Clty on the 19th jest,, supposed to have been @nused by the burning of cotton. There had been two Fecent Union expeditions from Morganzia into the inte- rior of Lonisiana, which met with great success in break- 4og up guerilla camps and securiog valuable stores and tmmense numbers of negroes, horses, cattle and mules. Twenty-five bundred rebels, under Wirt Adams! and Beott, were Ghreatening Baton Rouge, La., on the 24th inst. A large additional number of released Union pri- Soners arrived in New Orleans lately from Texas. The rebel Captain Semmes, of Alabama pirate notoriety, ar. rived ia Mobile om the 18th inet., on bh way from Burope, via Matamoros. Ho is said to have crossed the Mississippi a sbort distance below Natchez, One of our Fortress Monroe correspondents gives us the particulars of the expedition of a force, composed © four companies Of cavalry and three hundred colored lufeatry, which recently left James river and proceeded ap Chesapeake bay and the Potomac, and, after landing, passed rapidly through the eounties of Westmoreland, Worthbumberiand and Lamcaster, Virginia, for the pur- pose of arresting bounty Jompers and deserters from Ube Veton army, and breaking up arrangements which the rebels had te working order im that region to facili- tate the escape of these scoundrels. The expedition was Very enecessful, over fifty deserters and a number f rebel guerilias being captured, and several of thelr bavnte being broken up. ‘We have Richmond papers of as late date as the 28th (ot. They ray that the guerilla chief Mosby’s wound ‘Was GOL mortal; that he is still living and will recover. The rebol House of Representatives has adopted areso- (ution inquiring of Jeff. Davin whether it is true, as gene. faliy understood, that his Secretary of War, or Any other member of bis Cabinet, bas been furnish. jog paseporta to leave the country to young meh who have no desire to be ‘in at the fleath”’ of the confederacy, on their arrival at fighting age, The Richmond Whip, after acknowledging vory frankly (hat the confederacy is now under eeveral trate of clouds, conroles itself by the 20 calamity if without ile remedy, "Dut, it goye watver all, everything depends upon the people. If they Are determined to submit there is nothing more to be sid.” The Richmond Braminer of phe 28th inst, cays ection that that the exchange of privopers is about to be resumed at Miimingwon, N. ©. Gomera! Stoneman arrived & Dathyille on Thursday evening , from the recent tmportant and moet seecessfut . - ald tn Northeastern Tennessce and South wesiere Vir- giota, ta which his own and Generals Burbridge’s aud Gitlem's trooje were engaged The damage taflieted on tte rebels was tiamense. Besides @li the other devastation effected, the Ices to them alone of the salt works at Saltvilie and the lead mines near Wytheville ts a biow (rom which they pro Dabiy will mot recover. The forces of Duke, Breckin- Fidge, Jones and Vauzhe were all met, defeated and abst. tored im every direction, Breckinridge was driven sctuss the mountains imto North Carolina, and Teanessee and Kentucky are now free from ali organized bodies of rebels of any consequence, MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. From the Colombian confederation we bave news dated at Cartnagens to the 14th of December. a fresh Tebellion broke out tm Carthagene agaiust the govera. ‘Ment of the State of Bolivar; but was ended after a bat- tle fought on the 8th of December, The President of the ‘State resigned oa the 11th instant. The remains of the late William L, Dayton, United States Mimister to France, arrived im this city early yes- terday morsing,on board the steamship Lafayette, from Gavre, and wore comveyed to the Governor’s Hoon in the City Hall, where they were laid out in state, and where they will remain till oneo’ciock to-day. At thet.hour they will be escorted by a military and ctvic procession to the Jersey City ferry. The Mayor, Common Council ‘and Chamber of Commerce have all taken preparatory ection for joining in the ceremonies. The Seventh regi- ment and a detachment of regulars will form the military portion of the procession. The flags on the Custom House, City Hall and other public buildings were yester- day at balf-mast out of respect to the memory of the deceased minister. It appears that there were ove hundred and oinety- even’ men, all sick soldiers, on board the ill-fated stesm- ship North America when she sank at sea, early on the morning of the 234 inst. In yesterday’s Hunary was Given some account of the terrible catastrophe which overtook this yeasel, and we furnish other sad but inter- esting details to-day. Out of the two hundred and sixty- ‘nine persons with whieh the North America gaited from New Orleans, 0m the 16th inst., only sixty-two were rescued from a watery grave. She had also en board ‘when she went down a valuable cargo of ootton. The Board of Aldermen met yesterday afternoon and adopted a resolution giving the use of the Governor’s Room as a place of temporary deposit for the romaine of the Hon, W.L. Dayton. The Board adjourned until noon “vo dey. The Board of Councilmen met yesterday, when a series Of resolutions were adopted and sent to the other Board for ooncurreace acknowledging the distinguished services of Rear Admiral Farragut, and tendering to him and Commodore Drayton the use of the Governor’s Room to receive the citizens of New York who may wish to greet them. Resolutions were also adopted eulpgizing the bravery and gallant services on many battle fields of Brevet Major Generat Thomas W. Eagan, and tendering to him the use of the Govornor’s Room, A donation o° $2,087 62 was granted to the St. Luke's Hospital, to pay for an assessment on their property. A resolution was concurred in paying three thotisand dollars to B. ¥ Brady for preparing’ 9 memorial of the late porary deposit of the remains of Hon. Wm 1. Dayton: alga to permit the city gas companies to termi- pate their contracts withiv' the maxt ton days. The Board adjourned till two o’clock this afternoon. ‘The special Common Couscil Committee having in charge the preparation Of a testimooial in rechgnition of th6 worth and services of the late;Archbiahop Hughes yesterday visited the residence of his successor, Arch- bishop MoCioskey, with an elegantiy..eograved and framed copy of the resolutions adopted by them in memory of the deceased prelate. Archbishop MoCloskey being absent from his home, the committee were re ceived and their resolutiona and address were appropri- ately responded to by the Rey. Mr. Starrs, ‘The Board of kxcise of this city will hold its last session this day at twelve o'clock, for the apes of of _granting Vaanasn en NIUE weer me ——— Tuesday in May next. Inthe Opdyke-Weed libel sult y« nthe Supreme Court, @ large amotint of additional was taken, and some further interesting political developments were made. The case was adjourned to Tuseday next. In the cage tried in the Sapreme Court, before Judge Leonard, whereia Julia Colwell, stewardess of the ship Laura Ley, charged Captain Schenck, ef that vessel, with seducing her, the jary brought is # vergict of five thou- gand dollars damagee for the plaintiff. ‘The members of the bar helda mecting yesterday in the United States Ciroalt Court room, to pay tribute te the memory of the late Wm, Curtis Noyes, Resolutions were adopted highly eulogistic of the character and abili- ty of the deceased, and addresecs in the same spirit were delivered by several distinguished lawyere Nearly all the judges in the city attenged, and the meeting was unu- ually large. : Reoraiting to fill oar quota on the last Gall for troops is quite active at the Sapervisor’s rooms in the City Hall Park. Supervisors Blunt and Iweed lef the city lor Wasbington last evening to baye anoth® conference ‘with the patiomal authorities. ‘There was a large crowd of ekateré om the Park lake yesterday, who, although the skating was not the best, kept up the sport till about four o’cléck in the eveatng. Abthat hour they were all required to leave, the ice Baving become #0 much cut up as to render it unsafe, and a force of laborers went to work clearing eff the surface, 80 as to have it in orter for use again to day if thd temperature of last night should prove propitious Om Thursday night a married woman named F)izabeth Duseaberry , living at No. 8 Goerck street, administered pelsos to her four children, aged respectively nive, ‘Beven, four and two years, and then took « dose bersel/. One of the children diea from the effects of the poison yesterday, and it was thought that the othera could not recover. The woman herself will survive, The only reason she gave for this unnatarel and extraordinary conduct was that she was tired of lie, During @ controversy early yesterday moroing tn the Franklin House, Fulton street, Srovklyn, beyween two men named Thomas Murray and James Raddy, the for- mer Grew a pistol and fired at thelatter. The hall took @feet in Ruddy’s neck, and it was thought that the ‘wound would prove mortal, Murray was @rresied and locked ap. The Kings County Supervisors yesterday adopted a resolution directing the suspension of the payment of county bountics to recruits uatil one hundred thousand doilars of the last loan authorized shall have been raised, The steamshtp Arago, from Port Royal, brought to.this city on Thursday a number of officers aed soldiers from General Bherman’s army whose terms of service bare expired. A passenger train on the Boston and Worcenter Railroad was thrown from the track on Tharsday pight when within tea feet of the bridge over the Thames river. It was fortunate the accident occurred where tt did, for hid it bappened a second or two later the entire train wonid have been precipitated into the ri Asit was po one was injured. A public meeting was he'd at Sarnia, Canada, on the 20th, for the purpose of emabiing the citizens to express thoir feelings in regard to the late acts of the Southern refugees now in the province, Mr. Robert McKenzie, Mayor, occupied the chair, and speeches were delivered by Messrs, Alexander McKenzie, M. P. P.; T. B. Pardes, County Attorney; E. Kerby, ex-Wardon, and severa Other influential gentlemen. Tho meeting was entirely upanimous, and in point of numbers highly respoctabie. Resolutions were passed deciaring the acts at St Alban’s and Sandusky acts of robbery and murder, aod com- mitted for the express purpose of provoking war between the United States and Great Britain; and further, that they desired to live on terms of friendship with the people of the United States, and that they would use their utmost exertions to discharge faithfully the inter+ pational obligations devolving upon them, The stock market was duil and heavy yesterday morn. ing, but improved in the afternoon, Government secur)- ties wore strong in the morning, but afterwards became weak, Gold was strong, and, after opening at 220, cl eed at 226%, The rise in gold rendered the markets firmer as a gene. ral thing yeaterday, aud, in some Instances, caused an advance ia prices, Had there been aay demand of mo- mente | advance would have boon established ; but with only y moderate demand for some articias, and little for others, it was difficult to eetatiien any advance, especially upon foreign godds, Domestic produce was geveraliy rather higher, Colton and petroleum wore higher, but not active, On ’CHange the flour market was more active, and 6c, #100. higher. Wheat advanced 20 @ S0,, with @ limited domand, Corn was dull aud nomi. Dal, while onte were Io. higher, Pork firmer, with an increased demand, Peef steady and lard Ormer, Freights fiat and teuding dowaward. Whiskey ises unsettied and more active. The Fert Fisher Piascetdwical Po ter vs, Gemoral Butler. Te clear and ciccumatansial.report of Admiral Porter of his late operations against Fort Fisher aod its supporting rebut batteries teads us to these conclusions: that “some one has blundered;” that the fort ou Christmas Day could bave beeu easily captured by the land forces under Geversi Butler, and that ia ‘ail- ing to urake the experiment he lost a flue op- portunity for a great success, Admiral Porter says that after a bombard- | iment of one hour and fifteen minates on tho. 24th “not a shot came from the tort;” that “two magazines had been blown up by our shetls;” that “che fort was set on fire in several places, and such a torrent of missiles were falling into it and bursting over it that it was impossible for anything human to stand it;’’ and that, “fisding that the batteries were silenced completely, I directed the ships to keep up @ moderate fire, in the hope of sttract- ing the attention of the transports and bringing them in.” This was a good day’s work. Its results were well calculated to inspire the belief that a few more hours of shelling from the sqadron would render Fort Fisher an easy prize to the army. What next?- “On the 25th,” says the Ad- miral, “all. the transports had arrived, and General Butler sent General Weitzel to s6e me and arrange the programme for the day.” It was arranged, including the necessary boats: for landing the troops; the armed vessels of the fleet were drawn up again in line of-battle, and reopened upon the fort, firing slowly, in order te emude the enemy while the army was landed. Some three thousand men were put on shore, “when,” says the astonished Admiral, ‘UY was notified that they were re-embarking. I could see our soldiers near the fert, recon- noltring and. sharpshooting, and was in hopes an assault was deemed practicable. General Weltzel, in person, was making observations about six hundred yards off, and the troops were in (they had already sealed: the fort) and around the works.” One soidier brought away the rebel flag from the parapet, another went into the works and brought off a horse, “killing the orderly mouuted on bim and taking his despatches from the body,” and still “another soldier fired his musket into the bombproof among the rebels;” while some “eight or ten others, who had ventured near the fort, were wounded by our shells.” It further appears that onthe 25th, as the day before, the rebel batteries were conipletely silenced, and that from every e: Position, outside or inside of: Fort\Fisher, t! e enemy had. fied to the shejter -of their bombproofs. Why, then, was not #,.charge made Yor the capture of the fort? If there was no! to: prevent,-a half dozén soldiers from entering it, ceutd not five hundred or two or three’thousand have fol- lowed elose upon their hecls? General Btler, sustained by General: Weitzel, says no—that the fort was substantially uninjured, and that an attacking column; with the suspension of the protecting fire from the fleet, would be subject to a destructive fire of grape and canister from the enemy’s guns. Accordingly, after captur- ing the Flag Pond battery and the Ht Moon Witt Rangnerah Paha ka aes, BF to carry Fort Fisher by storm was causlvieablo. Bat this explanation of the withdrawal of the troops, as it appears, did not satisfy ‘Admiral Porter that “prudence,” in this case, was “the better part of valor.” In his reply to the General he says:—“‘We ‘have not com- menced firing rapidly yet, and could keep any rebels inside from slowing the'r heads until an assdulting columa was" within twenty yards of the works, I wish some more of your gallant fellows had followed the officer who took the flag from the parapet, and the brave fellow who brought the horse out from the fort. Ithink they would have fonnd it an easier conquest than is supposed,” says the disappointed Admiral, although he does not pretend to place his opinion in epposition to that of G-neral Weitzel. We think, however, that the Admiral’s opinion, from the testimony presented, will be pronounced the correct one by the army, navy and people at large, witu but avery few dissenting voices. It eeemsto us that never was there a fairer, opportunity for an easy conquest; and that, although ordered to make baste and return with bis troops to Fortress Monroe, General Butler committed the greatest mistake of his whole militery career in deciding, om Christmas Day, agaiost an attempt to carry Fort Fisher at the, point of the bayonet, as itmight have been carried in a rapid dash ef thousand or even five hundred men. One of our war correspondents, accompany- ing this Wilmington expedition, says that when General Weitzel, after his reconnoissance of the fort, went to consult with General Butler, Jeaving General Ame@ in command of the troops on shore to await orders. the opinion was expressed by General Curtis that he could carry the fort. General Ames then told him to take his brigade and try it; but the night fell before bis preparations for the assault could be perfected, and with the night came orders for the re-embarkation of the troops. Besides, a storm was brewing, so that the army could no longer delay in getting on board ship through the surf. And so Admiral Porter was left “pegging away” at Fort Fisher. If not recalled we have no doubt he will prove within a few days the soundness of his late opinion by ac- complishing with a detachment of marines the job which was regarded too hazardous for three thonsand veteran soldiers. We await the opinion of General Grant upon this subject. If he who began his glorious career in this war by “moving on the enemy’s works,” and who believes in that style of war- fare, shall support the opposite course adopted by General Butler and General Weitzel in regard to Fort Fisher, we shall consider the opinion of Admiral Porter fairly neutralized. Meantime, however, we feel satisfied that had Grant been on the ground the opinion of the General and the Admiral would have been the same, and that the result would have been the capture of Fort Fisher on Christmas Duy. Tue Destoxs or Eurors ox Amenioa—Tuem Furmrry axp Farvre.—It is evident that the designs of the European Powers on the free governments of America are all turning out to be lamentable failures. It shows that they know nobhing practically of our inexhaustible resources, nor of the tenacity with which we hold on to a sound idea when we once got it in band. The South American republios, through a want of stfength and untty, have as yet done little to illustrate this principle; but the gigan- tie movemonts of the armies and navies of the United States within the past four yoars have shown to the effete Powers of Europe what a molikely that she will speedily come to the: free and resolute nationcan do. The last news We have’ from’ Havana is’ that a French twansport had arrived at . that port trom Vera Cruz, with » thousadd soldiers oa: board, en’ route for home, a tact which shows plainly that Napoleon is desirous: of getting out of a bad piece of trouble as quickly: ashe can. He doesnot seem to reflect that he leaves bis protege Maximilian to bear the brant of the troubles that are closing around him, from woich he oan only defend hunsélf by the aid of his rather doubtful’ foreign logins. We now leara by the Australasian that there has been a great uproar in the Spanish Cortes on these irritating transatlantic questions. When the increase of the army ia St. Domingo came up for consideration the Premier took the ground that Spain could not afford to carry on the war against that island, and on that question the whole ministry resigned. It is thus as plainly shown in this case that Spain is not rich enough, nor strong enough, to carry on this little bit of war with a» semi-savage people. And yet, having so serious a matter on band, with a loss of more than thirty thou- sand men already, she is getting into a far more formidable difficulty—the trouble about - the Chincha islands; and unless she retreats while there is an opportunity the whole of the South American republics may unite egainst her, and between the twe stools it is not at all ground. The Mali: tien—Perter, Butler, erman, Burbridge. Rear Admiral Porter tells officially the story of the attempt against Fort Fisher. So far as the navy was concerned all was gloriously done. Despite serious mishaps on several of the ships; as the explosion ef six one bundred- pound Parrott guns, the fire was very effective, and in little more than am hour after the fleet had opened the fire of the fort was silenced. One hundred and fifteen shells were thrown into the fort per minute. Two of ite maga- zines were exploded, some gens were dis- mounted, and the ethers abandoned for the shelter of the bombproofs. Not aman is re- ported lost in the fleet by the enemy’s fire. Never was there apparently a greater naval success, so far as fire and its effect goes. Yet ail this came to naught. There was some diffi- culty with General Butler, and a want of con- certed action, or of somethi:g even more im- portant than that. The troops were landed successfully, and scouted around at unimpor- tant.peinis. Ollicers were sent'to look; at the fort, and did so. They reported, that so harm had een done:to it, and that it “eould: “not be taken, and General Butler, as’ if'he were late for an_ engagement at/some more important place, made his prepardtions to leave, He tad looked st'the fort and “sdw nothing farther that.could be done.” And that'is. all. Never before was there euch discrepancy between what’ Porter’s despatch say® was done and what Butles’s actions would load us te infer of the same achievements. ° Goneral Sherman’s march actoss Georgia has certainly not lowered. the physical. or mo- ral condition of his troops.’ An army, ihdeed, is umally at its eee gae ok eae wees } stances calctilated to reak-the’ vee of the men. The ten: thousand fought the battle of Cunaxa after a march that traversed Asta |’ Minor; and the'British troops that fought at the battle of Blenheim still had the mad of the Dutch dykes ‘and™ ditches on their boots. ~ It at Savannah a large army, kait Into complete organization, well disciplined, well fed and fearless, every man the beau ideal of a perfect soldier; and this army hes now been seven deys st & new base, and In easy reach of all necessary supplies. It may well be conccived what an immense weight this adds to our military power in the Atlantic States. It is the addition at once ofa force fully equal. te the wifole force that the enemy bas arrayed against us; and this addi- tion is made in such a way that we are able to use ft at any point; for, though this force is at Savannah, there is no fact that compels us to keep it there. The enemy has no force be- hind in the States of Georgia or Alabama that can move torward and step in as we step.out, 50, leaving men enough merely to occupy the place, Sherman’s whole splendid army is available for active operations againat the enemy, It is obvi- ous, therefoze, that it will not be kept idle in the city it has just taken. We do not announce it as any very great mare’s nest when we. indi- eate the direction in Which Sherman will move, since-there is but one direction in which he cam move, if he moves agiinst. the enemy. Every effective man that the rebellion: bas is now, a8 we have hitherto shown, concentrated between the Savannah river and the Richmond defences; and if Sherman isnot to stand atill, and vot to retreat, he must move northward froth the Savannah river, sweeping up the minor forces of the enemy until all are in Virginia, when the whole will be crushed be- tween Grant and Sherman as between the upper and the nether milistone. He will on his way touch, of course, all important points, destroying rebel government stores and ma- ebinery, and showing to the world that South and North Carolina are quite as helpless as Georgia bas been shown to be. From Savannah he can move in two or per- haps three columns—one to Augusta, to occupy that place, and to leave a force to co-operate with the force left at Savannah in holding the river; another to Branchville, where the rail- road system of South Carolina joins that of Georgia, anda third to Charleston. Charles- ton will doubtless be abandened, as Savannah was; but if the enemy endeavors to hold it the whole force can be concentrated without loss of time. If concentration at Charleston is not necessary, the left and central columns can concentrate at Columbia, the capi- tal of South Carolina. From Colambia the united columns can move northward, through Central North Carolina, to enliven all clements disaffected to Jeff. Davis, while the column from Charleston may movo towards Wilmington; and, if that place shall require it, the whole force can be concentrated there. Suoh is the grand future that Sherman’s prosent position’at Savannah opens to his army, and the chances of success or failure are as every- thing to nothing in his favor, The Richmond papers which glance at this programme change an old proverb to put Lee in the place of God. ‘They toll us that Sherman proposes and Lee disposes. As to this braggart nonsense we may class it with what the same papers sald of the certainty of Sherman’s destruction while he was making bis safe and eary marehes through Georg a. In Western Virginia General Burbridge-bas may, then, be admitted that Sherman now has | NEW. YORK HERALD,.SATURDAY, DECEMBER 31, 1864. inflietesd the severest injury upow the enemy by. hls operations against tue salt works, at ‘Salt~ Ville aod: ageinet the lead works in ‘Wythe County, ea New river. He reports that those works cannot be repaired during the war. | In ‘the matter of lead we may judge bow serioudy shia operation damages the enemy by bearing in min@ General Breckiaridge’s late order in Telation to-that metal. He ordered the soldiers even to-economise the bullet when it was neces- Sary to oleae the piese. Beside this injury Generat Barbridge- appears to have broken up all the: enemy's organizadon in the district, and to have deprived: kim of-Gve hundred men, several cannoli, two teains of cars and @ nem- ber of wagons. At all other important points our Gloribus activity against’the-enemy continues. At Wil- mington more: resistance has certainly.’ been met with, than was expected. It is thought probable that the larger part of Hardee's for was out of Savannah some time before the fact was known in Sherman’sarmy, and that @at larger part is now in the Wilmington . defences. If this be true it may: tara out that the force under-General Butler will not be, adequate for ‘|' the capture of'the-forts against which it was sent; in‘which case:we suppose’ there wil be no question of anything but sending a larger one. Hood is reported as acroas the Tennessee riven, and Thomas as. still. in . pur- Ssuiti. Itis to be hoped that the season will not be permitted te save’ Hood’s fragment of an army, but that it may be pushed on now that the epportunity for its complete destruo- tion is one so full of promise, In Virginia our forces are active. In the southwestern part of the State they have-jast destroyed a most valua- “ble part of the enemy’s supplies—a large quan- tity of salt. In the-Shenandoah they are pysh- ing their operations far.up the valley, and on the James, while:Grant bides the hour for his final coup, he gives the enemy no rest, but breaks up, every day or two, some nice little railroad or other arrangement intended to mivister to the oomfert of Lee’s army. So it is everywhere. There is hardly a spot in the comfederacy where the cannon of the Union do not reverberate, and if Foote is to Tetire to “a, sequestered spot,” where can he possibly find it? Toe Witmincton Pownrr Sur.—Admiral Porter says of the powder ship or™ torpedo exploded in front of Fort Fisher that “the shock was nothing like soSevere as was expected.” The torpedo was’ a disappoint- ment, then, to persopson- the spot, and it is thauzht by some that it did little or no damage. tor the enemy. Indeed, ope of thevearty, de- spatches from Wilmington to the, Richmond -papers, alluding to this Tepe did ‘not speak of it as-a torpedo at all, t merely said’ that “one.of the Yatkee gunbéats, had grounded in front of Fort Fisher,” which would seem | to lead to the inference’ that those in the fort supposed the explosion to be merely that of a man-of-war’s magazine. On the other band, some persons suppose the torpedo to have been very effective. One of these is that in- telligent and very gallant gentleman, Com- mander Rhbind, who took the ship iu and fired lamounted several of the sasng's guna, and that'It so ‘far demoralized the men in the fort that othera—unused to the guns—had to-be put fn thelr places, and that this accouats ‘for the weakness and’ inaccuracy of the oneray's fire. Commander Rhind may very possibly be right. It is‘certain that ihe deworalization of men is one of the most certain effects of devices like this. They demoralize mea, not by the Visible’harm that they do, but by the slarm that they excite as to what is coming next; and this alarm would be all the greater in the present case, as the explosion took place near one A. M., when it was still dark aud the men in the fort were asleep. But we’ doubt whether the concussion did any great damage; it is doubtful whether concussion simply ever did under similar gircumatances. I? is impos- sible to gather Admiral Porter’s des- patch whether or no the powder ship was Grounded at the time of the explosion. If not, the elasticity of the water lessened the shock greatly. of course, and even if it were the main power was wasted against the air. In order to have given the concussien real force against the earth it would have beem necessary to sink the ship in such a way that there might be a great weight of water above it. This torpedo was exploded at a distance of five hundred yards from the fort, in water and on the surface of water. The Antwerp bombs, “though ‘mere firecrackers in size by com- parison with this torpedo, were exploded in the works they destroyed, and they doubtless owed much of their effect to the mass of de- structive iron that they szattered in every direction. Paymext op tap Extra Incomm Tix.—Not withstanding that it is @ rather disagreeable tisk, even to the most patriotic, to pay taxes on an income perhaps already expended, it is sur- prising with what little apparent objection the obligations of the Internal Revenue law, in this respect, are complied with. People are here taxed on their incomes for 1863 at the rate of three per cent, which they paid cheer- fully. Aw additional war tax of five per cent on the same income was subs: quently imposed, and is now being paid. In some districts of the city the notices that this additional tax must be paid within ten days were not adver- tised until the 27th or 28th inst., and yet for the past day or two the collectors’ offices have been crowded. There is no grumbling, no confusion, no noise, hardly s word spoken. The ma- chinery goes on smoothly as the money flows imto the treasury, Some hand in their checks, some greenbacks in liquidation of taxes, and a remarkable fact is, that many have not received the usnal printed motice, but act entirely upon the advertisement in the newspapers, anxious, 86 doubt, te save the ton per cent, which is to be added to the amount in case of failure to pay within ten days, as well as to contribute ‘as soon as possible their quota to the national expenses. Our readers are familiar with the provisions of the Iaw concerning incomes. For 1863 the tax was three per cent on all incomes, allowing @ deduction of six hundred dollars and cost of house rent. An additional tax of five per cent was afterwards imposed to bear the expenses of the war. From those taxes it was mede- rately caloulated that the government would receive between forty and fifty millions. For the year 1864, however, the income tax—which will bo due in May noxt—ie five per cent upon all sums under five thousand dollars, (the six hundred dollar deduction clause being of course preserved); sevon and a half per cent on ‘of ‘over five thousand doltare pop suins between five thousand aad ten theusam® @ollare, and ten per o¢nt on ul! ounip €x0seding } tuia amount. Under this law, and with a pro- per performance ef their duty.ou the part of the assessors and collectors, the government ‘ought to feceive frem the income tamfer the current year apventy-five ’ miliTigue | — The custom of publ shing “tn rots the tax returns ef al) persons he) with mach objection. : It bas prevailed in Massachusetts, Rae | ozinion that if it was: abandoned @ ‘falser re- turn of iugomes would be mada... joc) ‘The , expects that ‘every will render it all tho ai 1 possible in-to collee- tion of this tax by attending ty bis own duty im Connection with it and that of his 4 and it ia eminently proper that.all ebe ée 60. ‘1t'forme a very important souree of reve- nue to the government, and upon the: whole, though somewhat disagreeable from iteneyelty, is not unnecessarily oppressive upon tite people. Muzrary Ewiqnanta Invirgp bro Mamioo— Important Deceex oF ‘THe “ Presipent.—We publish to-day an proclamation of the Presldent Pe Mixieo, Benito Juarez, iriv.ting emigrants: = parts of the world $> come aud. enbieb: armies of the republic, offering to all ae so large ‘tracts of Jani iu that fertie country. ‘In addition to,the pay by law assigned,to the army, he’ offers’ the sum of one'thousand dol- lurs ia lend: for the rank of.-oldiess and ser geants; filteen hundred dollars fos lieutenants and captains, ‘and two thousands @olthts fer officers of higher degree. The landsto be die- posed of.in this way are those which have been the property of treayonable parsons, confis- cated by the laws of war to the uses end die position of the republic. Those to which this decree refers are in every way»desirable, and can, with a small amount of capital,and indus- try, be made mot productive-to the holders. It ig to be understood that the advautages above mentioned ar: only to be extended to foreigners coming into the couotry with arms in their banis—one of the great difficulties under which the’patriot Mexicans labor being the want of efficien' arma » There is, how- ever, a provision in the decree th.t “unarmed foreigners’? may also be admitted into the military rervice of Mexce with a. bounty of nine bundres dollars in land at the end’of the war, or as soon as thoy shall be unfit for fight- ing, ite. bates. . We'think:that this is a vel movement oa the part of:tho.suased goverament, ot Appéars tons that i wouldve’ beh, effective before the chief Atlantic’ po country, bad fallen iato the hands vader. ' Bat bester late than 4 net be surprised to'see a sturdy full of the fre of républicaa, zeedom, growing up gradually in Mex'co on the liberat side, againet which all the efforts of Muximilian’s Gernian levies will be of small avail. “Besides, at the close of the war the mea who nt their lives. for the cause of constitutional ty im Mexico will receive'their reward in rich lands and fertile fielde, which they will o¢ upy and work for ‘the benefit ‘ef ‘the country of thelr adoption, and by introducing new of practical scence and agriculture they wih exercisé ‘a ‘beneficial influeno-» ‘tnase of thé Mexican people. . Now is the opportunity for all those persons who have been yearning to go to Mexico to carry out theirdesigus, end to-do themselves and « good cause much bene fit. The soldiers of Lee’s army bad better take a note of this. The era. CLOSE OF THE SEASON AT THS AC. ‘Tbe season at the Academy closed jast wight. The bouse was crowded to its utmost capacity bys highly fasbionabie audience. Zucchi was as splendid. ia Norma as Oa ber frst performance of the part, and gaised fream tlaimé to the rank of an artist of exoseding merit, Massi- milian! sang Pollio better than before. Hig, volge was ie excelien} condition, The duets of the eepraso~and com- tealto, tp the first and thizd acts, were shoordd, and the artists called before the curtain on each occasion. The Opera season opens in Boston in the early part of next ‘week, whither the company will depart to day. ITALIAN OPBRA AT NIBLO’S. Dooizetti’s brilliant opera, L’Eitdr d’ Amore; will be performed at Nibio’s on Wedaceday eveaing, January & Miss Laura Barris, prima donna; Signor Mongiardina, tenor; asd Sigoors Ardasao) aod Fellini, barité@pes, wilt appear. The orebestra will be under Ente a Signor Rosa, Amusements. WALLACK’S THEATRE, Be nd ‘The Clandestine Marriage was played here ‘fest night for the first time this season, and was all through ove of the best played pieces ever given in any epasea. Mr. Gilbert's representation of the, old Bedy, LAhe Usleoy; Mr. Floyd’s of Brusb, the geatiemen's gentionam, and Mr, Seften’s of the Frenchman, the servant; whets gr Bite, were studjes Of which it is nately « oay that they are abeve praise. Miss dered the part of Mise Sterling with a) more v4 and force than we have geen ber attain | aad the may regard ber pertorience of toe part sa-ertainiy an unqualified success. 3 OSCANY ax’s peecnirpeerei Mr. Oscanyeo announces his frat ~ + sant ‘at Torkisb Hall, Broadway, for the of these: who may not be able to attesd in the; The character of these entertainments ait well ae instructive, They are ive to the ladies. Mr. Oscanyan ts a9 much at, bis de acriptive story of Oriental life and mansers ‘as he ap- Biata ts bo We Motions Wie ANP Wretls wo om round bim, Smating at the Park pone Wiehe browns The condition of the ice oo pendaell gt we rather unfavorable for skaters, but og lovera of that invigorating exercise’ were numbers, The lower lake, betweed Fifh ‘piste avenues, was crowded with skaters alh day, until the surface of the ice became #0 badly ons render the hoisting of the red fing neceseary, O'clock. had to exert: all thelr) energies to = pre vent aspiring young skaters not from ~‘‘sioking into the ground,” bat into ugly little holesywhiere rotem {oe oo foughly used bad formed some dangerews chasme. The vena) beatae = ged fae te Mant ‘where means of pli ioe ee 4 did not come in hoy paid but iittie stiention ah silent admonitions. One Tr ity for caution in thie Leaf wee ay vigo- Fously around one of the katers: way, taniog no notice whatever of the big printed notices ‘staring upon him every where, ci rea the tbim age of tbe, woret plooe of Ie went the whole surface, 4 our young friead w io #9 the’ |, losing ‘one ekate, over which he lamented most iy. AS Sale wna ee, (essa d the sidew there wee ing ‘< h avenue pond there wae iderable oes Ve es ansembdied thete was @ large and vory 7 teablonable one. A fine band of music —- asnowy and thing Went as morry as sloigh bella any. It the frost coutin ue t re will bew fine proapece for skating On New Yoar’s Day, when the “iads and Iaenes in their Dest,’ will be ‘dresred front wo too’? on the day in which we bope “they shall’ truly go @ skating.’ To day also thore will be & band of music, ae lajor ‘States Tal Pleasanton, rn Louis; Brigadier G oret'3 United Staten’ Army; Brigadier Genefal Hampsbire: Hon. L. Chase, hil Vulers uller, Head, New and Key, ‘ow Hampabire, the Fifth Avenue HH, True, Philadelphia, are’ stopping at the Hotel. Commander Rhind, United States Navy, ta at the Aste House.