Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-05-04

OF the operations OF the armies uauef MS com
nand from the time he left Savannah until he
reached Goldsboro has been published. Ii is
dated at Goldsboro on the 4th inst. The details
and results Of this most remarkable campaign
are detailed With a modesty and clearness which
characterized all of sHERnAs's acts previous 70
allowing himself to be beaten in diplomacy, from
some 90 far unex planned cause, by BKEcKIsRIDGE
and other traitors The report IS entirely too
long for publication in our crowded columns,
but the following extracts. showing beyond doubt
that the rebels themselves fired the capital Of
sonth Carolisa, will repay perusal:
Gen Howard effected a crossing of the Saluda.
near the factory. on the 10th. skirmishing with
cavalry, and the same night made hy ing bridge
across Broad river. about three miles above Co
lumbia, by which he crossed over Stones brigade
Of Wood 3 division, 18th corps Under cover Of
this brigade poptoon bridge was laid on the
morning Of the 18th. ! was in person at this
bridge, and at ii a. IN. | learned that the mayor
OF Columbia had come out in a carriage aud
made formal surrender of the city to Colonel
Stone, 25th Iowa infantry, commanding Sd bri-
gade, lst division 18th corps
About the same time party OF the 18th corps
had crossed the Congsree in skill. aud entered
a
anticipation of the occupation OF the city, had
made written orders TO General Howard touching
the conduct of the troops These were, To de
stroy absolutely all arsensls and public property
not needed for our own use, As well as all rail
roads, depots, aud machinery useful ia war TO an
enemy. bat 10 spare all dwellings. colleges, asy
lums, schools. and har mless private property.
was the first 70 cross the pohtoon bridge, aud IN
company with General Howard, rode into the
-, ~. dav ell hnt
ofswind was raging The brigade OF Colonel
Stone was already in the city. and was properly
posted. Citizens and soldiers were on the streets
and general good order prevailed. General Wade
Hampton who commanded the confederate
guard OF cavalry, had. in anticipation OF our cap
ture Of Columbia, ordered that all cotton public
and private shOald be moved into the streets and
fred. to prevent making use of IL. Bales
were piled every where the rope aud 0sSging cut
and tufts II cotton were blown about in the ~ind
lodged IN the trees and against houses. so as to
resemble snow storm Some Of these piles of
cotton we're burning, especially one in the very
heart Of the city the court house. but the
IRE was partially subdued by the labor OF our
solliers During the day the 18th corps passed
through Columbia and out on the CBnden road.
The 18th did lot enter the town at all, and as
have before stated, the left wing aud cavalry did
not come within two miles OF the town.
Before one single public butding had been
fired by order, the smOuldering fires. set by
Hampton's order, were fekindled by the wind
and communicated TO the buildings around
About dark they began 10 spread, and got be-
yOnd the control Of the brigade on duty within
the city The whole Of Woods division was
brought in, but il sas found impossible to check
the flames. which, By midnight, had become un-
manageable. and ragged until about m. when.
the wind subsiding. they were got under control.
| was up nearly all night, and saw Generals
Howard, Logan, Woods and others. laboring TO
save houses and protect families thus suddenly
deprived of shelter and OF bedding and wearing
apparel. disclaim on the part VI nv army any
agency in this FIRE; but. on the contrary. claim
that We have saved what OF Columbia remains
unconsumed And without hesitation charge
General W ade Hampton with having burned his
own city of Columbia not with a malicious in
tent or as the manifestation of a silly Roman
stoicisu, but from folly and want of sense in
filing IL with lint. cotton and finder. Our Off
GERS and men on duty worked veil to extinguish
the flames; but others, not on duty. Including the
officers who had long been imprisoned there. res
cued by us, may have assisted in spreading the
ere after il had once begun, and may have in
dulged In unconcealed JOY to see the ruin Of the
capital Of South Carolina During the 18th and
18th the arsenal, railroad depots. machine shops,
founderies and other buildings were properly de
strsyed by detailed working parties, and the rail
road track tosn UP and destroyed down 10 Kings
vile and the Wateree bridge. and up in the d.
rection of Winnsboro.
After detailing the facts 10 regard to the STRAIT
egg BY which Johnston, Beauregard, and other
rebel generals were compelled to abandon posi-
ton after position, aud we're finally defeated.
Sherman thus alludes TO the conference at City
Point with the lsmented president ard General
Grant:
Twas all important that should have an in
terview with The general in-chef. and. presumng
that he could not at this time leave City Point,
| left General Sehofeld in chief command, and
proceeded with sli expedition by rail TO Aorehead
City and then BY steamer TO City Point, reaching
General Grants headquarters on the evening of
the 9th Of March I hsd the good fortune TO
meet General Grant. The president. Gems. Meade.
Ord, and Others of the army OF the Potomac, and
soon learned the general state OF the military
world, from which had been in great meas
ure cut of since January. Having completed
all necessary business re embarked on the navy
steamer Bat, Captain Barnes. which Admiral
Porter placed az my command, and returned via
Eatieras Inlet and Newbern. reaching ms own
headquarters il. Goldsooro during the night of
the 3Oth During my absence full supplies OF
clothing and food bad been brought to camp and
all things were working veil | have thus rap
idly sketched the progress OF our columns from
Savannah 70 Goldsboro. but Tor more minute de-
tails must refer to the reports OF subordinate com
msnders and staff officers, which are not vet
ready. bnt will in due season be forvaried ard
fled with this report
cannot even, with any degree Of precision.
recapi,ulate the vast amount of njury.done TO the
enemy. or the quantity of guns and materials of
var captured and destroyed. In general terms.
-e have traversed the country from Savannah
to GodsboTo. with al breadth OF forty miles,
consuming all the forage. cattle. hogs. sheep.
poultry cured meats. Sorn meal. &c The pub
lie enemy, instead Of drawing supplies from that
region 10 feed their armies. ~ill be compelled to
send provisions from other quarters TO feed their
inhabitants map herewith, prepared by nv
chief en- gineer. Col Poe. with the routes of the
9Th eorps snd cavalry, will show At glance the
country trsversed or course the ahandonmeu,
b. the enemy or the whole sescoast. from
Savannsh 20 NssOern. North Carolins, with its
forts, dock yards, sunboats, lie. vas neces-
sary incident TO our occupation and destruction
Of the inland routes Of travel and supply But
the real object OF this march 10 place Ihi.
army ia position easy Of supply, whence Il
could take az Appropriate par, 10 the spring and
summer campaign OF 1865 The completely
accomplished 90 the 2lst by the junction OF the
fh-.~ .~rx.s.~. "A A =