Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-02-20
THE NEWe.
FROM rHE sOUTB-sIDE.


From the Petersburg Express of Saturday We
learn that on the South side Of the James the enc
my shows no disposition to assume offensive opera.
TONS He has rather shortened than extended his
lines, and has withdrawn TO his works this side OF
Hatcher's Run. The condition of the roads rem
ders the success Of any important movement doubt
full The ground is now thoroughly thawed and
rotten, almost impossible for cavalry and artillery,
and exceedingly difficult for the movement OF IN
Isntry.
Scouts from within Grants lines, report move
ments OF troops backwards aud forwards, between
our right and City Point. We have already NOTICED
the fact that several thousands Of Grants men have
been sent TO City Point. Others have been sent
70 relieve them These transfers Of troops occur
frequently, but they are generally for the purpose
of relief We doubt whether any advance on the
part of the enemy will again be made for several
weeks II an additional force Of cavalry can be
obtained, raid may be attempted. Until Sher-
mans plans more distinctly shown, and his ad-
vance has reached more Northern latitude than
he at present holds, it is questionable whether any
thing more formidable than raids, OF movements
for the purpose of extending his lines, will be made
by Grant.
On Friday afternoon Smelling occurred along the
lines southeast of Petersburg, and lasted about
three quarters of an hour
Captain Boiling, OF the 9Th Va. Cavalry, with
three soldiers and posse OF citizens hurredly col
leced attacked party OF deserters on the l4th in
slant near Safold's Bridge, in Lunenburg county
They were making their way TO the Yankees
Seven of the deserters and two of tho citizens
wounded The hight, which is described as desper-
ate, terminated in the capture Of ihe entire desert
ing party, numbering in ALL fourteen.
The community will be gratiied TO learn, says the
Danyilie Rs9iSf, that the Piedmont Railroad is now
doing much better service than formerly. Some Of
the more seriou, difficulties which in the way
OF the running OF the trains with promptness and
regularity, have been partially overcome, and We
may confidently look for still further movements
The country is scarcely of obstacles the man
agement of the road have to contend with.
NORTH CAROLINA.
From letter received by nag of truce from one
Of the prisoners captured at Fort Fisher, the Will
mington JoUrnd! learns that they are all in Fort
Columbus OH Governors Island, in New York har-
bor where they comfortable and well treated
Fifty prisoners quartered together in one room.
Gen. Whiting is with the boys in Fort Columbus
and is slowly recovering from his wounds. Colonel
Lamb, whose wounds it would seem were Of d severe
nature, was left in i hospital Ut Fortress Monroe.
North Carolina, il seems, is particularly cursed
with newsnongers who give currency to whatever
tends 10 Djure our cause. For instance, there was
rumor current, says the Fayetteville Journal here
and elsewhere that there were extensive assertions
from Hokes Division, now posted near Wilmington
fifty one night hundred another and hundred al
fifty third BY an officer who left the Division
few days ago, (wounded and RETIRED, learn that
so far from these statements being true, the fact is
that by returns from furlough, &C., the Division
musters hundred more men than it did when Fort
Fisher fell. And We have other information that
such is the statement of the Commanding General
at Wilmington.
II is usually the case that when one Confederate
soldier basey deserts his colors that certain croak-
ers immediately magnify him into score
Among those who have suffered sorely from Sher-
mans invasion of South Carolina is William Gil.
more Simms, Esq, the well-known novelist and
poet In his hurried removal from home near
Midway, he compelled to leave behind library
of choice books Of much value, embracing upwards
of ten Thousand volumes. Many planters have been
utterly ruined. Fortunately for Mr. Simms, he has
the advantag of carrying his wealth in his brains
"where no thieves break through and steal, -
sc.
FROM SOUTH CAROLINA
A gentleman who left Aiken, SC, on the morn.
ing Of the 10th, OH the approach OF the enemy,
states that Wheeler met and repulsed two charges
of the enemy at halEpast o'clock that morning,
about one and half miles from Aiken, in Mr.. Mar
ly's orchard The charges were beautifully made
and handsomely repulscd. In the meantime, q
heavy force was thanking our troops, both on the
right and left, compelling them to fall back The
enemy entered Aiken about l2-o'clock. Two pris-
oners captured state that their force consisted OF
900 cavalry, 900 mounted infantry an one bat
terry OF artillery.
The Augusta ConStitdionalist says: awe are
strongly OF the impression that the force in that
vicinity is taking Northwestern route to Column
bia, avoiding the swamps to the north and north
east" 1t thinks the strength Of the column over
estimated.
Mr.. Jameson, the superintendent of the Note
Bureau at Columbia, telegraphed the Treasury De-
partment, on Saturday, that in anticipation of the
probable advance of the enemy on Columbia, he had
.ael, re owed all of the government printing ap-
peratus dies, note plates stock, &C., to place OF
safety.