, 1865-02-19
Probably Not---He Didn't Need
any Base.
TEE CHARLESTON MERCURY
ON ITS TRlTELS.
" Hoisted by Their Own
Petard.'
i Rebel Flag Of Truce Boat Blown
Up BY a Rebel Torpedo.
ALL ON BOARD GO TO TIE
BOTTOM.


WAR DEPARTMENT.,
WASHINGTON, Saturday, Feb. IS.
To S!aior General Dix:
The announcement OF the OCCUPATION of Colum-
bis, s. c., and the probable evacuation Of Chaacs-
ton. has been communicated to the Department,
In the following tclcErauls+ just received from
General Sherman: E. II. STANTON,
Secretary Of War.
"C1Tr Po1S7, Saturday, Feb. 1s-s:s5 D. N.
stIIon. E. III. Stanton:
"The Richmond Dispatch Of this morning says
Sherman entered Columbia yesterday morning,
and Its fall nccessitatcs, it presumes, the ia1l Ut
Charleston which it thinks Is already being crncu-
ated. ''U. s. GRANT, 1t. Gen'l."
"C1rr POINT, Va, Saturday, Feb. Is.
"1lon. f. II. Stanton, War Department.:
.'Tlle following is taken ftomto-days Richmond
Dispatch:
THE FALL OF coLUAB1A.
Columbia has fallen. Sherman ha. marched
into and taken possession uf the city yesicrday
morning. The Intelligence was communicated
yesterday. by Gen. Beauregard, In Official dis
patch. Columbia IL situated on the north bank Of
the Congarcc river, just below the confluence of
tic sa1uda aud Broad rivers. From Gen. Dequre-
CARDS dispsteb, it appears TINT on Thursday
evening the enemy approached the south bank Of
the CopEnrcc, and threw number OF shells
into the city during the night. They moved un
the river, and yesterday morning forled the Sal
t.da md Broad Rivers. Whilst they were cross-
Ing these riyera, Our troops, under ten. Bcaure-
gard, evacuated Columbia The enemy soon after
took possession. Through private sources we
lcarl Tint two days ago, when 1t was decided not
TO attempt the defense Of columbis, large guam
tity OF medical stores, which it was thought I'm.
possible TO remove, wcrc destroyed. The female
employees oil tie Treasury Department had been
~ +Ertr 1nffc hrr>,-
drcd miles south Of Columbia. We presume the
Trcrsury l;thoeza; Lic establishment was also re-
moved, although as to this re have NO positive
iufcrm.tiou. The fall Of Columbia necessitates,
prceulnc, the evacuation of Charleston, which,
VIC t!1lnl5 likely is already in process Of cvacua-
ton. It's Impossible to say where Sherman will
next direct bis steps. The general opinion Is that
be will 70 to Charlceton and establish 4 base
there; but We cnnfces re don't sec what need he
has Of base. 1t is to be prceumed he Is subsst'
In. on the country, and he Inns l1ad no hattie to
exhsust his ammunition. Before leaving Savln
nah he declared his intention to marrh to Colum
bIa, thence to Augusta, and thence to Charleston.
THIS was uttered a. boast to hide hie
designs. We are disposed to believe that he Will
next striko at Charlotte, which Is 100 miles nor
Of Columbia, on the Charlotte and Columbia II Ill
road, or at Florence, S. C., tho junction OF the
Columbia and Wilmington and the Charleston
and " Wilnlington Railroads. There was report
yesterday shut Augus had also bccn taken by the
cnt my, this nc to not believe. We have reason tc
feel areurcd that nearly the whole Of Sherman
atmy Ia at Columbia and that the report that Scho
Geld was advancing on Augusta VAS untrue
'1he Richmond NAig Es5e the Charleston Her
curry of Saturday announces brief suspension o
that paper, with ylew to is temporary removal
10 another point. This is rendered necessary by
4hc F,rnrrrxa cf military nvnpte rntfs1r II ~