Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1865-02-17
Iatest Nev,..From sou,n.carolin..

Latest NeBs..FTom South. Carolina.
TIE Columbia Guardian of Monday last says
that Friday the 10th, Gen. Wheeler attacked
GEM! fitzpatrick and drove him five miles to his en-.
trendhments, near Aiken Aiken is II miles from
Aug4sta and Fitzpatrick is thus thrown out to cover
Sherd1an's rear.
The main body of Sherman's army, it seems, has
pass4d shove Branchville some 16 miles, to the vii
lage Pr Orangeburg on the Columbia and Charles
ton rtiroad. This movement completely outfanks
our fbrces at BrancnViTl, and will compel them to
retrs9beyond the Ssntes-the next river and line of
defenbe.
Th main branch OF the Santee the Congaree,
rises Tin North Carolina flows south -westwardly
through South-O Carolina passing south of Columbia
fewtmiles, and enters the Atlantic some 40 miles
northlof Charleston. Its bottoms are marshy and
full swamps. Should our forces, however, re-
tire bfyond this river they must evacuate Charles
ton.
0nimonday last the Columbia train proceeded no
farthtE south than Louisville, which is about 80
milesffrom Branchville
Wd have received the Columbia Guardian of
Tuesday, the 14th, which confirms the occupa-
ton ob Orangeburg last Sunday by Sherman after
stubborn fight Our troops have retired from
Branceyille towards Columbia, or in other words
behinA the Santee. The Guardian says: "We
have brown away great advantages of position.
There no more defensive country in the world
than Dat which stretches between the Savannah
river nd Salkahatchie, across which the enemy's
adyap Ras been made" Gen. Hampton has been
--tlacs ne cotnmand OF Columbia and vicinity rs
far 81 IN as our lines extend.
Thk Cdroliaian of the same date says that Colum-
bia iskin aspasm That there is general topsy-
turvyS in the condition of affairs, owing to the
threakning attitude Of Sherman's army. That
large crowds Of refugees are focking into the city
for salty, and numbers hurrying to remoter places
in Noft Carolina Since 1860 1t seems that the
tide ol emigation among the original secessonists
has han Turned hack the borders Of old
Rip IN W;nkle The same paper says that heavy
trains pre- loaded with supplies public and private,
and al together the Capital Of Secessia " has been
Plungl into whirlpool Of excitement no less nov
el thai refreshing"
TAelRichmond Dispate6 of Tuesday thinks that
Beaur9gard does not intend making an attack; but
will lire behind the Santee river. He is said to
have aforce adequate either for offensive defen-
sve operations, whichever policy he may find it ex-
pedient to adopt
Congressional.
In the Senate on the 18th the bill for raising
100000 negro troops was reported back from the
Committee on Military Affairs with amendments.
Pending the further consideration of the exemption
bill the Senate resolved into secret session.
In the House the appropriation bill was perfected
and passed. The tax bill was referred to special
| committee. Nothing else of interest
The Senate on the 14th after debate adopted and
! passed the report of the Committe oe Conference
to promote the efficiency of the cavalry.
/ In the House, Mr.. Barksdale from the special
Commiite to whom was referred the bill introduced
by himself relative to the employment of negroes
! soldiers reported back SAID bill with q recommen-
dation that it pass. 1t made the special order
for Thursday.
Mr.. Niles asked and obtained leave to print the
| minority report from the same Committee.
The report of the Committee of Conference on
the bill to promote the efficiency Of the cavalry Was
| adopted.
| Tba LII - n,n;,h 6-.rds .-.y.,t A. n.-.-.
! ment was rejected.
Several bills considered and passed, includ-
! ing House bill for organizing field artillery.
The House then went into secret session.
From Wilmington.
| "A dispatch from Wilmington on the 18th says
that the enemy made three attacks on Sugar Loaf
l- Szssrae t.ioL- nero repulsed IL vrs thought
] with heavy loss to the enemy.
| The whole fleet opened on Fort Anderson during
the attack, but the casualties were sght-one kill
ed and one wounded. The enemy now have some
Monitors in the Cape Fear and one of them partici
| pated in the late attack
All indications seem to point to the speedy re-
newal Of active operations below Wilmington.
| From Petersburg.
At Petersburg all remains quiet The enemy's
pickets extend but little beyond Hatcher's run
They engaged in erecting observatories all along
their lines One is in pine tree Immediately front
ing Franklin Street. and overlooking the houses oi
the city
| Exchange of Prisoners.
It seems that the Commissioners on both sides
have agreed to the speedy and entire exchange o
! all prisoners of wa- held by both parties.
One thousand and fifty returned Confederate
prisoners we're expected from Verina at Richmond
on the 18th. 1t is understood the exchange will
now proceed regularly.
! From tho United States.
Northern papers of the 11th contain Lincoln's
message relative to the Hampton Roads conference
Mr. Lincoln states that Blair, on his return frou
| Richmond, left with him letter from Mr.. Davi;
expressing Witness to enter into q conference
with view Of securing peace to the tIo0 countries
In reply Mr.. lincoln addressed note to Mr. Blail
expressing willingness to receive any agent form
ally sent with view to secure peace to the people
of our common country Subsequent correspon
dence explains the detention of the commissioner
/ at Petersburg and City Point
Mr. Lincoln's statement of the interview is con
frmatory of the report Of our commissioners as t
his ultinatUm. He says our commissioners seemed
to desire the adoption of some course which nigh
or might not lead to union.
|. Papers of the 14th inst say, that Thomas anC
Wilson will sweep through Mississippi and Alaba
ma, as soon as the weather will permit with
large force of cavalry and mounted infantry.
Seward in his report to Adams of the late con
ference, says what the insurgent party seemed
chiefly to favor, was postponement OF the ques
ton Of separation and mutual direction of effort
of the government, as well as those of the insur
gents to some extrinsic policy or scheme for sea
son, S\hag which passions might be expected Z
subsi1y 'Aad armies be reduced, and trade and in
tercoutse between the people of both sections b.
/ resumed
1t was suggested by them that through such
postponement we might now have immediate peac
with scme not very certain prospect of an ultimat
and satisfactory adjustment of political relations be
tween the Government States sections and peopl
now engaged in conflict with it. The suggestion
though deliberately considered, was nevertheless
regarded by the President as one of armistice, o.
/ truce and he announced that the government car
agree to no suspension of hostilities except tn
basis ef the dsbandment of the insurgent forces
/ restoration of the national authority Throughout
all the States of the Union.
The Tribune says If the object of the rebe
commissioners was to conceal the details of the lat
conference in Hampton Roads, they have succeed
ed perfectly. If the commissioners merely wen
/ there to learn that President Lincoln would trea
for peAce only on the basis the Union heV might