The New York herald., 1865-03-02

New York, Thursd.y, March 2, 1865.
THE SITUATION.
Direct and very important intelligence from General
Sherman has reached Our dispatches by tho Arao,
which arrived here yesterday from Charleston inform
that the entire city OF Columbia the capital Of South
Carolina, was committed to the flames on the oath ut
by order Of General sherman, in retaliation for his
troops boing fired from the houses while passing
through the town, after its occupation by his army.
The occupation OF the important city Of Augusta
Georgia, by detachment OF Gen raj Shermans army
Is also announced, but not fully confirmed. It
understood in Charleston and Savannah that there
hundred thousand bales OF collected
Augusta We have nothing farther regarding the
ported junction of shermans and Schohelds forces
General Joo Johnston assumed command Of the rebel
forces Shermans front last Thursday. Deserers
from Hardee's army Of tho opinion that sherman
had intercepted 1t from Charleston They
also report that the last Of Hoods army consisting Of
twelve thousand mon, passed through Augusta the
10Th ult
General Gilmores and the HERALD dispatches report
everything quiet at Charleston and vicinity. The art
iory captured the dofences Of that place has been
asccrtaned TO amount to four hundred and nfty
piccs Eight locomotives and a number Of cars were
also left behind by robcs Four unsuspecting block
ade have fallen into the hands Of the Union
forces the harbor the hasty departure OF the
rebels They the steamships Cyrene, Due de Char
tres, Deer and Fox Rebel dcserters are constantly
coming into General Glmore's lines -Four hundred had
arrived up to the Goth ult All Of General Shermans
supply vessels had been ordered from Hilton Head to
other point.
The Richmo,d Sentinel, Examiner and Enquirer Of
Monday last contain each very significant article.
Il appears that the rebcl Congressmen becoming
alarmed at the aspect Of military affairs have, by
one for time past desertng their seats and
seeking safety at their distant homes till there
prospect OF tho houses being without quorums
Suspicious, too expressed in roundabout way that
JET Davis himself is proof against tempa
,on OF following the example Of his legislators, and
the mombcr OF Congress who remain in Rich
mond exhibit feverish anxiety 70 bring the
session to close. To prevent them carrying out
COmpel
Of tho abscntecs Enquirer urges that military force
should bo uscd that the members may be compelled 70
shear the speedy Of our (rcbs triumph ruin"
on a day which ''is not far distant" The
EJasinv has a long article 70 prove that the
abandonment Of Richmond by the rsbal govern
ment and army would DO 'the aban- donmont OF the
scheme Of independent Southern confederation" but
the article in the Sentinel he official organl indicates
that this has already been actually resolved upon. II
alludcs to mysterious movements which 10 says
have caused much disgust but which, II adds ara only
precautionary" and concludes by urging all noncom-
ba,anis and useless consumers TO ately Withdraw
from the city.
There has yet been no further disturbance Of the peace
r condition Of affairs front OF the rebel capital not
wthstanding the ancpa,ons entertained for days
The Richmond papers say that Gen Grant massns hcav
y lef whore they think he will endcavor to break
hrough Lcc's lines and they daily looking for
heavy battle Is s believed that another raid Of the
Ismes river rebel feet which Is now commanded by
Captain ssmmcs Is rncditaed Discoveries have recently
made which indicate that q million dollars worth
Of money and vauablcs have been abstracted surrept
siousy from the mails Of the armies Of the Potomac and
James since May last
lisa Of eight American vessels captured by the Eng
sh-rebe pirate Shenandoah up 70 the 4h of ccmber
last 10 furnished BY Cape Of Good Hope cor
respondent These include the two mentioned in our
foreign adviccs in yesterdays HERALD They are The
following Ship Alma, Of ssarspor, Ne, bound 70
south America Susan, Of Boston, for South America; D.
Godfrey from Boston for Valparaiso Charter Oak, from
Boston for San FrancIsco Kate Prince, from England
for Bahia; Adelaide, Of Baltimore; Lizzie n Stacey
from Boston for Honolulu, and the whalsr Edward, O
Now Bedford Four Of these we're burned, two bonded
ana tho disposition made Of the other two Ia not stated
The Shenandoah carries esh. guns, and - commanded
by Captain waddenL
we informed by Key West correspondents Of :
rcbcl attack Fort Myers, Florida on the Goth uL
viii was repulsed with very small loss on the part
the Union garrison II reported that Major Weeks
who with small command, had secured iarg'
ha.a os ca,te nm tha Florida mainland with which IL