The New York herald., 1865-02-20
next Presidential elcotial. sAllS wen that
ends well"-if it be an oil wen.

next Presidential elcotia.. sAIlt wen tha,
ends well"-ifi it be an oil we'll
The Great News from south Csroaina-
The Capture OF Columbla and Fall 81
Charlcston. eHA Mft
On Friday morning last according 10 do
spatch from General Beaursgard, with the ap-
proach Of General Shermaps forces over the
two rivers above the town, the rebel troops
under Beauregard evacuated Columbia, and
Sherman soon after quietly took possession.
We had supposed that the Palmetto chivalry,
after oil their terrible threatenings of wrath
and destruction against the "hated Yankees"
would fight to. the death at every swamp, every
cross road, and at every river bridge, ford or
ferry; or would, at all events, dispute every
inch of ground in defence of their State capital
till overwhelmed, like the ancient Carthage
mans, in roaring confagration. But Beaure-
gard tells a different story Without firing q
shot he leaves the City TO its fate, on the ap-
proach of Sherman's travellers, and heads to
the northward. e
This is sorry sight for the Palmetto chival-
ry. But four years Of this terrible war have
strewn the fighting elements of South Carolina
over hundred battle fields, and she succumbs
on the approach of Sherman sinply because
her strength is exhausted, and she can fight no
longer. Beauregard, 1t Is evident has but
handful Of men, and irregular troops at that,
hastily picked up, and not intended for any
serious resistance. Hardee, with his Savannah
army, from his last Official reports had taken
refuge in Charleston; but by this time he is
doubtless well on the road for North Caroline
and . junction there with Boauregard and
Bragg. The Richmond Dispatch Of Saturday
says "the fall Of Columbia necessitates, we pre-
sumo, the fall Of Charleston, which we think
likely is already in process of evacuation"
The Charleston Mercury on the same day re-
ported that it was about "to make tempo
rary removal to another point" Charleston,
in fact, being turned, Hardee had no other
alternative than to leave, or risk the fate OF
Pemberton at Vicksburg.
Thus, in the fulness of time, we find the
fighting State par ercellence of the Davis con-
federacy overrun and in possession Of "the
Yankees" without serious resistance. As Sher-
man now stands, he has cut off from Richmond
all the subsistence of Georgia, all the military
stores, ammunition, &C., Of the factories Of
Charleston, Columbia, Augusta and other places,
and all the States of "the confederacy" from
South Carolina to Texas. The vital forces and
resources of JEFF. Davis are thus reduced to the
contracted area lying between Columbia, S. c.,
and Richmond, Va, and against this mere rem
nant of his original usurpations the armies of
Sherman, Gilmore, Schofeld, Meade, Ord and
Sheridan, all under the directions of General
Grant, are now cooperating. 4
What is General Lee to do against these for
midable combinations? The clothing mills,
the flour mills, the cannon foundries, the ma
chine shops, the percussion cap and other mill
tary factories Of Richmond, cannot well be
and can only to very small ex-
tent be removed. Besides, with the abandon
ment Of Richmond the last link of "the con
is broken, and it falls to pieces
What, then, is General Lee to do ? Will he
leave Richmond and attempt to turn the flank
of General Grant and move down to junction
with Bragg, Beauregard and Hardee for an as
sault upon Sherman? Or will he fall back upon
LyncnDurB or OanVlle vi Will nc stsanu MS
ground and await the arrival of Beauregard d
Co., with Sherman close upon their heels In
any event the situation of Lee is apparently one
from which he cannot escape. We still adhere
10 the opinion that his triple lines Of fortiaca-
tons will not defend him against the presence
Of famine, and that he viii shortly have to
vacate Richmond in search of Subsistence.
This, then, is the time for vigorous REIN
forcement Of the main army of General Grant
If we can push forward to Washington from
the loyal States within the next two months
one hundred thousand fresh soldiers, or fifty
thousand within the next thirty days, all the
from the present military situa-
tions are in favor or the idea that the rebel
lion will be utterly crushed before the 4th Of
July. We believe, indeed, that not even an
other great battle win be needed to finish it,
and that no draft will be necessary, and that
none will be enforced If the authorities and
people Of the loyal States now go to work with
energy and enthusiasm in the volunteering
business in view Of universal calculation of
peace and the Union on the 4th Of July.
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There will be change OF programme At the Broadway
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