The New York herald., 1865-02-21
Now York, Tuesday, February 81, 1sO
THE SITUATION.

ESlA ~ A1&LN.
There is no longer any doubt regarding the fall Of
the proud stronghold Of secession the city Of Charles
ton We have tho positive announcement OF It's evacua-
ton by the rebels both tho Richmond papers Of yes
terday and in q despatch from Admiral Dahl
gren TO Secretary weles. Though the two
counts do not precisely agree regarding the day
of actual abandonment the main and important
fact Is the less certain. The Richmond journals
sly the rebel troops marched out Tuesday last and
Admiral Dahgren appeared TO be under tho impression
Admiral wrote his despatch he was on his
way up to the city, which tho
national flag is doubt now again waving after .
displacement Of four years There is = report, which,
however, lacks confirmation tha. battle took place
between the rebels and General Gilmorc's command
Accompanying dispatches this morning give
sketch OF Charleston.
The Richmond papers Of Yesterday say IL was sher
mans main army which occupied Columbia, the
capital OF Sc,fth Carolini; that Immediately after
its capture his forces there divided, portion
ing up the railroad towards Charlotte, N.
q, In which direction Resuregard rctreatcd,
and that last Sunday morning the latter national
cumu in parsui, OF the fleeing rebels, aud thirty
miles north Of Columbia The rebel refugee Coluinbians
report that their cavalry plundered the
city before It's evacuation Mich rebel govern
ncnt property roll into sheruans hands, according
}, the acknowledgements a the Richmond editors
Lemseiyes, including hundred printing
presses esL.i shiaent valuable machinery, med
stores &c Included In the property claimed TO have
been removed before his arrival several millions Of dol
lars specie and dies and plates for printing tho
rency Of the confederacy mentioned Charlotte, N
c. is aid to be ,hrcpgod with refugees from Columbia
snd other places in sherman limo Of march.
A rebel despatch from W.lmiueton, N c., says that
Fort And rson been subjected a furious shcllng
By Admiral Porer's vessels, which continued all
through last Friday afternoon and nigh, and up to
one O'Clock on Saturday afternoon. II also reports
n lard attack the tort, which, 1t gays, re-
ppiscd.
Tho rebels in North Carolina according to their
being stirred up every direction Yankee
raids M ccombc county IN The direction u III, VII
ulnrtou road and towards Tarboro the movement of a
heavy Kins,on mid nto Jones csly Trent
river, aud various other expeditions are mentioned A
movement iu force Il the natioua troops on weldon Is
also looked for
Ten thousand Union soldiers have been 70 VIII
by ,hc rebel authorities for the purpose cf being
delay iho attack on ihat plae
Tcre nre again strong iud that General LEO
preIarin ryacuatc Richmond aud fall back Lynch
bur for lusl staud Advces received ia Washington
state positively thp nearly all the valuable machinery
and medical have already be removed from the
rebel capital Il i anticipated that abandonment
vii occar within cu or fifteen days
Thero have beea no ncw military movements of the
James rver arnics Tho rebel ieseners 10 tbc Union
Ines there .seregd sy9 seventy pcr day during tho
wook ending with s urcay last and mp o noon yester
day General Grant elesrsra ninety three had In
These say thai general dependency prevails
throughout Lco's army, and that the dosertions
rcarEaFd a. LGras'ous as those W the
trout, nti unR general dissolution Of the
rebel military fabric the exchange OF prisoners,
under the now nssasGts perfected between General
Grant and Commissioner ohd is progressing rapidly and
three steamers bssy employed 10 carrying the
released Union soldiers 70 Annapolis, Nd and con.
yeying return loads Of rebels Our men, both in words
end appearance add mountains Of evidence 70 confirm all
khai has previously told Of the barbay aud
practIsed by tho rebels their unfortunate capslyes
Under an agreement lately entered into an thc Union
prisoners now hold In tho Trans sisssippi Department
are TO bo exchanged To accommodate the mcn Of the
Potomac and James arnias, the postal money order
Ussm has bcen extended 70 he Post once at City Point
party OF sherIdans cavalry went up the valley Of
he shenandoah ho other aay scouting ezped ton,
md while their fell into an aiabuscsie prepared
" Mosby's men. desperate eight ensucd, but the
uerfas were numerous and 10 strongly posted that
pr cavalry were roughly handled and only 'nsdc good
hcir retreat after losing number killed and wounded
nd sirty taken prisonsra
late rebel newspapers hsvo report tha General Grant
~ recently sent eight thousand men soe,hward from
NJ Polss, hsy ssisvs V Sswbsra sruso. fs.r river