The Daily Dispatch: December 1, 1864., [Electronic resource]

---

---

The War news.

It was reported on yesterday, upon what seemed the best authority, that Grant was massing his troops on the north side of James river. There is nothing more likely than that the present rare spell of fine weather may afford him the opportunity it is supposed he has been seeking, to make another burst for the Capital of the Southern Confederacy; in which case, the north side of the river will, most probably, be the theatre of his heaviest operations. But as yet, there has been nothing observable on this side of the river to indicate such a movement except the report above mentioned.

---

Yankee monitors Attack battery Hewlett on Tuesday and are Repulsed.

On Tuesday morning, the batteries of the enemy on General Parke's line, in front of Bermuda Hundred, opened on our battery at the Howlett House, which is General Pickett's left. At the same time, three Yankee monitors moved up Trent's Reach to the point at which it was obstructed last summer, and also engaged the Howlett battery. The battery directed most of its attention to the monitors, and soon caused two of them to retreat.

The following dispatch from General Lee on the subject was received by the Secretary of War on Tuesday night and given to the press on yesterday:

Army of Northern Virginia, November 29, 1864.
Hon. James L. Seddon, Secretary of War:

General Pickett reports that three monitors and of the enemy engaged the battery at One of the monitors was by our guns. Two have withdrawn. No of our side.

R. E. Lee."

---

We have not heard that the monitors renewed the action on yesterday.

---

From Georgia.

Special intelligence of Sherman's movements and present whereabouts was received here on yesterday by telegraph; fill as it is, possibly, a little ahead of the Georgia newspapers, it had, perhaps, better not be mentioned. It can, however, do no harm to state that the enemy have fourteen gunboats and transports near Port Royal, South Carolina, which is thirty-five miles northeast of Savannah and about fifty miles southwest of Charleston.

---

Devastation of East Tennessee ordered by Sherman.

Intelligence has been received here that Sherman has issued an order relative to East Tennessee similar to that issued by Grant to Sheridan in the Valley. He has directed that the country be generally devastated, sparing neither houses, barns, stock, grain, nor anything else. A meeting of Union citizens was held in Knoxville, at which a protest against this barbarism was adopted and forwarded to Sherman. He paid no attention to it.--The Yankees can only carry out this order as far up as Knoxville, as the Confederates hold the country from near there to the Virginia line.