Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-02-24


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WAR DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGToN, Feb I8 I0-
20 I. Mo Matter Dix, New York The
| announcement of the occupation of Columbia,
South Carolina, by General Sherman and the
probable evacuation of Charleston, has been COM
municated to this Department, in following tele-
grams just received from Lieutenant General
Grant
E. NJ. STANTON, Secretary Of War
CRY PoNT, VA, Feb. lS-445 Pr M.-Hon.
T. NJ. Stanton, War Department The Rich
mond Dispatch Of this morning says that General
Sherman entered Columbia yesterday morning,
and its fall necesstates, it presuIDes, the fall OF
Charleston which it thinks likely is already being
evacuated
q. S. GRANT, Lieut. Gen.
CRY YoINT, Va Feb. 1S.-Hon. Z. NJ. Stan
ton, War Department The following is taken
from to-day's Richmond Dispatch
THE FALL OF COLUMBIA
Columbia has fallen Sherman marched into
and took possession of the city yesterday morning
This intelligence was communicated Yesterday
by Gen. Beauregard, in an official dispatch Co
lumbia is situated on the north bank Of the Con-
garee river, just below the confluence of the Sa-
luda and broad rivers
From Gen Beauregard's dispatch it appears
that on Thursday evening the enemy approached
the south bank ofthe Congaree, and threw a num-
bSI VI sHcliS ltttO dIe city Lhey
marched up the river and YESTERDAY morning ford
ed the Saluda and Broad. Whilst they were
crossing these rivers, our troops, under General
Beauregard, evacuated Columbia The enemy
soon after took possession.
Through private sources, we learn that two
days ago, when it was decided not to attempt the
defense Of Columbia, a large quantity of medicine
stores, which it was thought impossible to remove
were destroyed The female employees of the
treasury Department had been previously sent off
to Charlotte, N. g., hundred miles north of Co
lumbia. We presume the treasury litographic es-
adjustment was also removed, though as to this
we have no positive information
The fall OF Columbia we presume, necessitates
the evacuation Of Charleston, which we think is
likely already in process of evacuation
1t IS impossible to say where Sherman will next
direct his columns. The general impression is that
he will go to Charleston and establish his base but
we confess we do not see what need he has of a
base. 1t is to be presumed he is snbsisting on the
country, and be has had no BATTLE to exhaust his
ammunition.
Before leaving Savannah he declared his inten
ton to march to Columbia, thence to Augusta,
and thence TO Charleston. This was uttered as
boast and to hide his designs. We are disposed
to believe that he will next strike at Charlotte
which is hundred miles north of Columbia, ON
the Charlotte and Columbia railroad. or at Flor
ence, South Carolina, the junction of the Columbia
ei1 ~ ,il StOH aHu slS NhaIieeton anu w iinlng-
ton railroads, some ninety miles east of Columbia
There was report yesterday that Augusta had
also been taken by the enemy This we do not
believe. We have reason to feel assured that
nearly the whole Of Sherman's army is altogether
at Columbia, and that the report that Schofeld
was advancing on Augusta was untrue
The Richmond Wing says
1t was ramored that the Charleston Mercury
OF Saturday announces brief suspension of that
paper, with view to Its temporary removal to
another point. This is rendered necessary by the
progress of military events cutting it off from the
mail facilities for distributing its paper to large
portion of It's subscribers while the lock of trans
portation renders its supply of paper is precarious
"Semmes mas been made Rear Admiral and
u. s. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.