Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-02-16
Rebel Accounts from sherman.

New YORK, Feb. l5-The Herald's WASH
ington special says: Richmond papers of
Monday concede that General Sherman has
flanked Branchville both above and below,
and Hardee's forces have evacuated that
place. They also state that Union column
had reached Orangeburg, on the Columbia
road, and all railroad communication with
Charleston is cut of, except by the road via
Wilmington, North Carolina, which will
soon be cut at Wilmington. By these OPP
| erations their communication between Vir-
ginia and the South is entirely cut off, and
rebel authority over the Southern States can
no longer be enforced
Private advices from Richmond represent
matters there as in bad way for the rebels,
and the difficulty of supplying the people
and the army, even with half ratiOns, is
daily becoming almost insurmountable, and
the evacuation of Richmond is daily be-
coming more imminent and probable.
Later dispatches, dated midnight, Feb.
ID, say:
The Richmond papers of to-day have dis
patches saying that portion of Sherman's
forces are busily engaged in the destruction
of the railroads in South Carolina, and that
another column is threatening Charleston.
They do not confirm the reported evacua-
tion of that place, but it is evident from the
tone of their advices and editorials, that
they do not anticipate any resistance being
made to Sherman's advance. They also
state that large Yankee force has been
landed at Smithtield, on the North Carolina
coast, and have brought locomotives with
them, evidently intending to use the rail-
roads to facilitate their military operations,
after they shall have captured Wilmington.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The Richmond
Whig of the 18th inst. contains the follow
ing important intelligence:
CHARLESTON, S. g., Feb. 10.-A force of
the enemy, believed to be from 1000 to 5000
strong, landed at Grinball's Island at eight
o'clock this morning and drove in our pick
cts. Some skirmishing took place, but no
general engagement. Grimbalfs is on Stone
river,about two miles southwest of Charles
ton. The Ashley river, 2000 yards wide,
intervenes. The enemy are making active
demonstrations at various points. A force
attacked our troops on the Salkahatchie this
morning, but were easily repulsed. The
enemy also advanced upon the Charleston
road, near the Blue house, and opened with
artillery, but made no impression on our
lines. Intelligence from the road to-day
reports that the enemy crossed the EdiSto
at Bennaker's bridge. The enemy are now
moving on Edisto.
1t will be remembered that on Friday,
the 4th inst, Sherman crossed the Salka-
natchle between blackstone anu Rivers
bridge, thereby completely outtlanking our
forces and compelling them to fall back to
Branchville. We have since learned that
the Yankees forded the river through water
waist deep, at Rivers bridge. A sharp en-
gagement took place here, which lasted sew
eral hours, in which Gen. Wheeler's cav
airy inflicted severe injury upon the enemy.
On the Sth heavy column of Yankee in
fantry struck the South Carolina railroad at
Grahamsville, about ten miles west of
Branchville, while Fitzpatrick, with cav
airy force occupied Blockville, on the same
road, about nine miles a little northwest of
Grahamsville.
A portion of Sherman's column, it was
reported yesterday, moved forward, cross
ing the South Edisto and thanking Branch
vile on the west. This force then advanced
to Orangeburg, on the Columbia and
Branchville road, eighteen miles west of the
latter point.
Orangeburg is a beautiful village OF about
1000 inhabitants, and has been favorite
resort for refugees from Charleston. 1t was
largely engaged in the manufacture of in
digo before the war.