, 1865-02-23
EKONI GENERAL SHERMAN
Els Army Pushing on towards Flor.
cnce--A Race Between Sherman aud
Hardee-t importance Of the Capture
OF Fort Anderson.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. ga special to the
Dalltfin, from Washington says: at Is said
that rebel papers announce that General
Sherman's advance reached Camden, forty
miles north Of Columbia, on Saturday.
"Camdtn is northeast Of Colnmbia, absnt
halfway TO Florence, showing thAt Sherman
is moving for The latter place.
=. "Hardee is evidently pressing forward to
reach Florence. and thence to Wilmington.
The race will be o close one, both starting
Florence is e}ghty-nind miles; from Charles
ton to Florence, one hundred and two.
The capture Of Fort Anderson gives us
the Wilmington and Manchester Roud, and
II Hatdce beats Sherman to Florence he will
have to take to the open country for escape.
NEw YonK, Feb. e2.--Thc New York 1iase,'
Washington says: The fears Of somo umor-
p,ecipltatc himself on Sherman, and united
with Beau1egn,d, be able to check the
advance or that General, are not shared by
either the Government or sensible men here.
These persons forget that Grant and Ills army
Tla ha,e ; something to say On that issue.
point, and the first intimation he gives Of an
intention to withdraw from Richmond, will
be the signal for tiger spring by Grant.
General Grant 1s perfectly cognizant Of every
move on the part Of his adversary, BY the des-
crtc1s from Lees lines, who arrive at tho rate
Of 1ot4per day. 4 distinguished military mnn
to-day pointed out that tho present situa-
tion Of Lee is precisely analogous to that 1of
NAPOLEON in 1914, when F1nnce was invaded
by the Allies. Notwithstanding that he lay-
isned oil the resources Of his incompatible
genius to resist the advance, he was pushed
and pressed upon by the convcrging forces Of
his opponents, and WAS finally compelled to
.capiiulate In his capital. The indications
are that Sherman is pushing his triumphant
columns straight on Raleigh, which point lie
will reach carly next week. he writes p!l-
yately that the PEOPLE Of the Old North ate
and promptly wheel the State into the Union.
Since the tall OF Charleston, Wilmington and
| Mobile arc the only two points remaining OF
| the numerous Important sea-ports formerly
under rebel rule. Botu are doomed to tall, If
| not already il our possession. Powerful ex-
.rcditionary forces are directed against both
| points.
The New York Iraune's Washington
| SPECIAL says, There hare been Tumorss all
day Of the evacuation of Whining gton,~ ,~bnt
] there arc no positive facts about it. At a
| late hour tonight it is, however, known that
city was partially evacuated, and It Is be-
lieyed the entire force in that vicinity will at
once join Beau1cgasd and cndeayo1 to check
| Sherman. 1fwas not evacuated on Sunday,
It will be invested before The week is out.
| i high official today Expressed the opinion
! tuaL 1tt C1uuut EtE4alH l4ltty uaJs Mult Ut
Richmond. He must attack Grant and raise
the siege or fall back to Lyhchburg, the only
| line OF retreat now left open.
! WASHINGTON, "Wednesday, February q.
Speaking Of the evacuation Of Col
umbia, the Richmond. Srzttatl Of the
Goth inst says: at is said that some
Of our engrossed treasury note paper iel1 into
| the hands Of the Yankees, and also consld-
erab1e quantity Of medical stores. HYe have
no particulars Of these losses, rs the official
dispatch of the fall Of Columbia was commu-
nicated to President Davis, and We doubt
whether 1t WAS ever sent to the War Depart.
nent, which appears to be Ia complete is'
ollna except from What bits Of Information
has been picked up on the street On Thurs
day, the day before the enemy occupied the
city. ten trains were run from Columbia to
/ Charlotte. It was supposed that the effects
Of the Treasury Department we're brought of,
plates for engraving treasury notes fell Into
The hands Of the enemy, but This report Is row
traced to some negroes Who escaped from
Columbia and, reaching kingsV1l1e, told the
story to the telegraph operator, who sent Y
as authentic over the wires to Richmond
partment, has communicated with the au
thotities here from Charlotte, and makes nj
t mention of the cnsrnrcr's plates. We uu
dcrstand that Grant shows no disposition L
assume Offensive operations, and has with
drawn from bis works this aide Of hatcher
run. The condition Of the roads renders ths
success Of any important movement doubt
full. The ground Is now thoroughly thawct
md rotten, and almost impossible Tor eaTas
r. and artillery, and exceedingly difficult fol
tile movements Of infantry Scouts from
| within Grants lines report movements Q
troops backwards and forwards between on
right and City Point. These transfers Q
troops ore seen frequently, but they ale gen
orally for the purpose OF relief. It is no
likely that any advance on the part Of th
enemy will be made for several weeks. TIL
enemy is erecting strong earthworks on li
newly acquired Nounds on HatcheFs run
Northern papers give the rumor that tn
Confederates are mining the Yankee forts ii
front OF Petersburg"
WASHINGTON, Feb. 222.-The President ha
approved bills authorizing the appointment
Of Second Assistant Secretary Of War, t
enlarge the port Of entry and delivery for til
district of Philadelphia, and to repeal the q:
|, of 1861 to remove the United States arse11
from the city Of st. Louis. ..
President Lincoln has ordered the penitc1
| tiary at Columbus, Ohio, and ut Jet1crso
City, Mo-, and such other prisons Us the Se'
retaIy Of Var may designate, for the conf1n'
mcnt Of prisoners under sentence of coul
mar tial. shall be deemed and taken to be mi
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