The New York herald., 1865-02-19
THE OFFICIAL Announcement.

The OFFICIAL Announcement.
sssrstsEy Stanton to Major General DIX.
WAR DEPARrHrr,l
WARRINGTON, Feb. l8, 1866.
Msjsr General DIX. New York
The announcement Of the occupation Of Colum-
-, 8 c., by General Sherman, and the probable
evacuation Of Charleston, has been communicated
- the department in the following kilograms just
received from Meuteaant General Grant.
EDWIN n. STANTON, Secretary Of War.
General Grant to Secretary Stanton.
C1rr POINT, Feb, ls-4:45 p. NJ.
Lion. =. n. STANTON. War Department.
The Richmond Dispatch Of this morning ssys
0I~ssan sntersd Columbia yesterday morning,
ssd It, Jau nscessitates, Il prssuanes, tho Jau Of
0srsssso~, which II thinks is already being
svseuated. U. s. GRANT.
Lieutenant General.
SECOND DESPATCH.
CRY PoMr, Va, Feb. 18, 1865.
Hon. =. n. STANTON, War Department.
TNe following ID taken from to-day's Richmond
Dipatch:-
Columbia has fallenl Sherman marched into and took
Dossoaion Of the city yesterday morning The ntcli-
gsnos vas communicated yesterday by General Beaure
gard IMAM official despatch
Columbia situated the north bank Of the Conga-
~ rive Just below the confluence Of the sauda and
Broad rirers.
From General Beauregard's despatch Il appears that
sn THURSDAY evening the enemy approached the south
shells ino the city. During the night they moved
NC the river and yesterday morning forded the sauda
aAd Broad aver. While they crossngshesc rivers
cur troops under General Beauregaxd, evacuated
Columba. The enemy after took possession.
Through private We learn that two days ago,
when II wal decided not to attempt the defence Of
Columbia, large quantity Of medical stores which II
vas thought sws impossible TO remove, destroyed
me female employees OF the Treasury Department had
bssn previously sent or to Charlotte, N G., hundred
miles north Of Columbia We presume the Treasury
nahographic establishment also removed, although
70 this we have M positive information.
Tho fall Of Columbia neccsssaaes, pressme he
ssasuation Of CA0leson, which think likely is al
ready In process ofevacuation.
II b impossible say where Sherman will next drec,
- columns The Cnerd opinion Is that he sOH 90 to
CAevisson and sstab,sh base there; but confess we
- not see what need he has Of base It is TO bc pre-
- battle 70 exhaust his ammunition. Before leaving
Savannah he declared his intention TO march Coum-
ba thence 70 Augusta and thence 70 Charleston. This
Was uttered boast and 10 hide his designs We dis
Sossd 70 believe tina. M ~u ned strike at Charlotte, which
IA hundred miles north Of Columbia on the Charlotte
md Columbia Railroad, Florence, O., the junction
- the Columbia and Wilmington and the Charleston
saa Wilmington railroads. some ninety miles east Of
Co,smbIa
There was report yesterday that ASca had als0 been
ehss sy ne enemy This We DO not believe
ws have reason to feel assured that nearly the whole
sfSherman's army Is u Columbia and that the report
Aas schonsld was advancing on Augusta was untrue
Tbs Richmond wAsg says.-
NE Charleston Mercury Of Saturday announces brief
p1snsion of that paper, with = view % IL k~p~ovy ve
ssss anosAr posrt This Ia rendered necessary by the
prsg,sss Of military events, cutting Oh from tho mall
s.sihes for distributing is paper 70 q large portion Of
~ subscrbers while the lack Of transportation render,
~ supply Of paper prscarous
esmmes has been made q rear admiral, and will
taks command Of the James river squadron.
U. 9. GRANT, Lieutenant General.
REBEL ACCOUNTS.