, 1865-02-17

ihis msy be regarded as large force: but
am happy to say that 1t does not exceed. by
one man, that number under command Of Sher-
man though in it arc included some 10000
negro troops, who viii remain in the vicinity
Of Port Royal, 80 that tho actual number
moving northward is little over %, 900, in
Gliding cavalry. Of this number nearly all the
cavalry, and the 18th and Goth Corps. in ali
from d, GOO to IS 600 men, passed through or
BY Robertavitle, with a view to striking the
Augusta aud Charleston Railroad, some ten
miles to the west ct the Edisto River, whence
they we're TO march directly upon The
bridge over that stream (which is d trest1e
structure Of over seven hundred feet in
Lengthy, which is to be destroyed, thereby
ohviatfns all necessity for q dctour to the
west, with 3 view to the capture of Augusta.
That place has lost all Importance: since its
only possible object Sherman could have in
paying any attention to 1t would be to de-
stroy the halfmile Of trestle-work over the
Savannah river. But it he can succeed In cut
ting the bridge oyer the Edisto-and from
perfect knowledge Of all the facts In the case,
60 far Us developed, am confident he has
done that already-and then those over tho
Santee and Wateree rivers, near Kingsyille,
and between Brnnchyille aud Columbia aud
Florent-, then there is no necessity for the
destruction Of that at Augusta ; and the three
can be iaid in ashcs with less marching than
While these two corps End the cavalry are
moving into Central South Carolina, the 18th
and 17th Corps. md the greater part Of Eos
ters white troops-al1 infantry, and number
surely, upon Ch;r1cston. They were in
st1ucied to cross the Combahec, but to make
no haste; but rather, by On appearance Of
hesitation and indccision, deceive the enemy
and make him believe the whole thing mere
1eint; and then, when 1t became apparent
that he was concentrating in the vicinity Of
Branchvlle, to push rapidly on and invest the
cradle Of the rebellion, and let it have taste
Of a little musketry, as well as artillery.
But WHAT OF TIE REnE1s?
Are they idle? Let no one indulge the illu-
sion that they are. What are the preparations
which have been made to meet the inYincible
army Of Sherman?
In the first place, Hardee, on evacuattng
Savannah, took with him about g 900 veterans
field. There were in Georgia at the same
time, in scattered ga1rlsons, some 900 more,
and at Charleston 5000 more, all OF whom arc
now concentrated under the command Of the
rebel army of South CaroIina-makins in all
10000. 10 this must be added the following
forces:
Fran Lees army q iivislonsj 1868
Add 10 the above ....................,, 1900
Ao%AA .1o ,Uuu
VI this number nbout five thousand are cav
airy. and rcintorcemeats to the number Of
five thousand moro can be had If 1t is deter
mined to evacuate Wilmington, which will
probably be done. This force the rebels must
continue to divide, II they propose TO try TO
hold Charleston but this think they will
scarcely do. In addition, q portion Of Hoods
old army, from eight to ten thousand, have
started in the direction Of South Carolina
They arc under command OF Cheat aud
s. d. Lee, 1nt are not strictly their own
c0rps-they are the picked men Of the entire
army, and Gre all OF it who arc worth the
powder and lead 1t would take to kill them.
But they commenced their pcresrinations too
late in the season. Had they started when
Hood was first driven across the Tennessee
they could have been made available. But
the first Of them left Meridian, on the ears,
on the 2Gth Of January last, and the last not
till The 4th Of February, as transportation
was exceedingly scarce, md after Eoiur to
Taliadega on the cars, they will be eompell-
cd to march overland to $50 miles before they
can be OF any service, which is months
even set foot upon the "sacred soll'' Of South |
Carolina before the first Of March and long
before that time Sherman will be out of the
State and Hardee's forces will be scattered,
It Is useless to talk about the assistance
which the militia will render to the regular |
rebel troops. The more of these in their ar- |
my, the worse for the rebels. They arc all |
gums commissarfes which might otherwise |
fall into the. hands of the 's Yankees,'' Nor |
can Leo aid HaFdee, O. Beaurcgard. or |
whoever has command. He has but S.. i'm |
hntry in the works at Richmond, and the
late advance Of Grant evinces that be cannot !
and, as for his cavalry, they do not number
s. COO in I'LL Virginia.