Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-16


NEw YORK. February 5-A special dispatch
to the Herald from Washington contains the
following:
The Richmond papers of Monday concede that
Sherman has hanked Branchvile both above
aDj below and that Hardees forces have evacu-
ated the place.
They also state that a union column had
reached OTangeburg, on the Columbia railroad,
and all railroad communication with Charleston
is cut off except by the road via. Wilmington,
North Carolina, which will soon be cut at Will
mngton
by these operations the railroad communica-
ton between Virginia and the south is entirely
cut OFF, and the rebel authority over the southern
states can no longer be enforced.
Private advices from Richmond represent mat
tiers there in bad way for the rebels. and the
difficulty OF supplying the people and the army
even with half rations is daily becoming almost
insurmountabe, and the evacuation of Rich
mOnd is daily becoming more imminent and pro-
bable
A later dispatch received midnight. 18th,
says the Richmond papers OF TO day have dis
patches saying that portion Of Sherman's force
busily engaged in the destruction of the rail
roads in South Carolina. and that another col
umn is threatening Charleston. They do not
confirm the reported evacuation of that place
and editorials that they do not anticipate any re-
sistance being made to Sherman's advance.
They also state that large Yankee force has
landed at Smthsheld the \ orth Carolina
coast and have brought locomotives, ev-
IDENTIFY intending to use the railroads to further
their military operations efterthey shall capture
Wilmington.
The army ofthe Potomac holds the newly ac
quired ground gained Hstchers Run, on
which very strong earthworks are erected.
There are rumors that the enemy is moving
on one of the union forts in iornt OF Petersburg.
M,jor General Wright returned to the army
on Sunday and resumed command of the 9th
corps from which he has been absent since the
early part of January.
Desertion to General Grants army still con-
tinue numerous
Ii is now said the rebel General Hindmsn, of
Arkansas has gone to the city OF Mexico.
pecting To obtain command in Maximillian's Is
army having lost faith in jeff Davis confeder-
scy
/; is also stated that several other rebel Off
GERS have lately arrived at Matsmoras
Captain Kennedy, charged with being one of
the rebels who attempted to burn this city is now
being tried before the same military court which
convicted Beall
The Worlds Washington special reterates its
former statement that the rebels would soon
evacugte Richmond and the sea coast aud fall
back TO the mountainous interior He says
Lee and Beauregard will command the grand ar
mics, and that preparations are making for an
overw heming attack on Sherman.
The Worlds Hilton Head correspondent OF
the lth saws:
Reliable nloI nation has been received here
that Shermans army is rapidly marching on the
line Of the Edisto river and that portion of his
troops are beyond the Georgia and South Caro-
lima railroad, where they have erected defenses
preparatory to further march.
The enemy have disappeared rapidly before
the advance of our troops. and they have mani
tested purpose to evscuate nearly all their
strong holds and retreat further north
This purpose has been the result of Sherman S
tactics. That their retreat will be slowly but
surely followed up admits OF no question. Our
troops are known to extend over distance of 40
miles, and for several days past they have been
occupied in destroying all the railroads which
connect South Carolina with the gulf and the
northern states. The object would seem to be
to isolate Branchvile. Augusta. and Charleston
from all possible aid or reinforcement. The
work will doubtless be completed when this let
ter reaches you.
Some of our troops are north of Charleston
which is cut of from reinforcements
The corps are moving simultaneously on the
line of the Edisto. and the towns they have pass
ed through have been deserted by a number OF
their inhabitants who have compelled the able
bodied negroes to leave with them in order that
they may not go into our army
Hamburg and 0rangeburg. in the rear Of
Branchvile are reported TO have been captured