Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-02-20
WAR DEPARTMENT.
Washington, Feb. IL.

W An DbfARIA6Nle I
Washington, Feb. IL.
To Maj. Gen. Die:
The announcement Of the occupation Of
Columbia, S. c., and the probable evacua-
ton Of Charleston has been communicated
to the Department in the following kilograms
just received from Gen. Grant.
f. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary Of War.
CRY PoINr, Feb. lS-l:45.
To Hon. E. NJ Stanton
The Richmond Dispatch of this morning
says Sherman entered Columbia yesterday
morning, and as its fall neccssitates the evac-
uation Of Charleston, it thinks it is already
being evacuated.
U. S. GRANT, Lieut.. Gen.
CRY PolNr, Va, Feb. IS.
To Hen. Z. II. Stanton, Var DEPARTMENT !:
The following is taken from to-day 3
Richmond Dispatch:
Columbia has fallen, and Sherman march
cd in and took possession of the city yester-
day morning. The intelligence was com
municated yesterday by Gen. Beauregard in
an official dispatch.
Columbia is situated on the north bank
Of the Congaree River, just below the con
iiuence Of the Saluda and Broad Rivers.
From Gen. Beauregard's dispatch it ap-
pears on Thursday e, ening the enemy ap
preached the south bank Of the Conyaree
and threw number of shells into the city.
During the night they moved up the river.
and yesterday morning forded the Saluda
and Broad rivers.
Whilst they were crossing these rivers
our troops under Beaurcgard evacuated
Columbia. The enemy soon after took pos
session.
Through private sources we learn that
two days ago, when it was decided to make
no defence ut Columbia, large quantity of
medical stores, which it was thought impos-
sib!e to remove, were destroyed.
The female employees Of the Treasury
Department had been previously sent off to
Charlottesville, 100 miles north Of Columbia
We presume the treasury photographic cs
adjustment was also removed. AS to this
we have no positive information.
The fall Of Columbia necessitates. we pre-.
sumo, the evacuation of Charleston. which
we think likely is already in process of
evacuation.
1t is impossible to say where Sherman
will next direct his steps. The general
opinion is that he will 90 to Charleston and
establish base there, but we confess We do
not see what need he has Of base. It is
to be presumed that he il subsisting on the
country, and he has had no battle to exhaust
his ammunition
Before leaving Savannah he declared his
intention to march to Columbia, thence to
Augusta, and thence to Charleston. This
was uttered MS boast to hide his designs.
We are disposed to believe he will next
strike at Charleston, which is 100 miles
North Of Columbia, or At Florence. South
Carolina, the junction of Columbia. VIII.
mington, and Charleston and Wilmington
Railroads.
There was report yesterday, that Au.
gusta had also been taken bv the enemy.
This we do not believe. We have reason to
feel assured that nearly the whole Of Sher.
mans army is ct Columbia, and the report
that Schofield was advancing on Augusta
was untrue.
The Richmond Wing says;
The Charleston Mercury OF Saturday an.
nounces brief surprise Of that paper, with
view tot temporary removal to another
point. This is rendered necessary bv the
progress Of military events, cutting it OF
from its mail facilities, for distributing the
paper to . large portion of its subscribers.
while the lack Of transportation renders it,
supply Of paper peecasious.
Se01nno ~ boen mAdo Z roaf Admiral q