The New York herald., 1865-02-23
Our Washington Despatch.
THE ADVANCE ON WILMINGTON.


Sherman makes rapid strides towards Richmond. The
capture Of Columbia and Charleston, and have
Ia all probability, to add that OF Wilmington also has
been accomplished within the limits Of tho shortes.
month in the year. Before receive the connrma
tion Of drst success by long line OF
municaton the rebels crowd upon the good
more important achievements. On Sunday we pub.
lishcd the news Of the fall OF Columbia On Tuesday
the evacuation OF Charleston was announced On
Wednesday the news Of the capture Of Fort Anderson
came to hand and this morning have the interesting
details Of another important step has been taken toward
the investment Of Richmond.
FORT ANDERSON.
Fort Anderson was the most important work OF the
defcnces Of Cape Fear river left In tho hands Of
the enemy after the capture Of Fort Fisher and ,hs
defenc Of Smithville. Like Fisher, II
tensive earthwork located Eagles Island, and
manding the channe Of the river II mounted large
number Of guns which raked the approaches land and
water Immediately under the OF the guns the
scbels built large wharf where also
tabshed the quarantine for Wilmington, which
caused II to be known for time as Fort
Quarantine. Immediately below the wharf the rebels
have lately built some distractions in the stream but
they poorly constructed that Lieutenant Com
mandcr Gushing lately passed them without much dif
Guilty, and made complete reconnaissance Of Whining
ton and Fort Anderson Since the fall Of Fort Fisher tho
Anderson On the right flank Of the work there has
been built long line OF rifle pits, extending the
island and thus forming continuous line Of formidable
works from the Cape Fear TO the Brunswick rive On
the east side OF the river Immediately opposite Fort An
derson is Sugar Loaf strong cascmatcd battery and
the long line Of rife pits Of the enemy.
THE REBEL WORKS ON THE MAINLAND
said TO be very perfect and formidable, extending
from Masonboro Sound Sugar Loaf with adj
lipenp their oh tha main uuork
tho centre Of the peninsula forming fortified ncamp
ment The movement Of General schohcd OH the west
side Of Capo Fear river described in correspond
ence avoided these works and caused their hasty aba
donment
SKETCH OF WILMINGTON.
Wilmington rs the capital OF Hanover county, N. c.,
and situated the east bank Of Cape Fear river about
thirty four miles from its mouth II s tho largest
mercal place In the State the business and population
having been greatly increased by the
Wilmington and Raleigh Railroad which extends north
10 Weldon the Roanoke river hundred and sixty
two miles, and forms part OF the great highway Of travel
North and South This railroad 81 100000 and up
TO short period in excellent condition Wilmington
10 also connected with South Carolina by another railroad
TO Manchester, and then connects with the branch
Camden, in South Caronaa very nourshng town. situ-
ated the east bank Of tho waterce river thryhr
miles northeast Of Columbia hundred forty
two miles northwest from Charleston, with which IL 10
connected by railroad. This is the Camden where
fought the two battles OF that during tho Rcvolu
ton-one in August 1850, between General Gates and
Lord CORVALLIS; the other In April 1881, between
| General Greene and Lord Rawdon. Wilmington Is thus
connected by rail with the most important and fruitful
portions Of the neishboring states.
From Wilmington steamboats, ascend the Cape Fear
river at all stages Of TO Fayetteville, hundred
and twenty miles The United States Arsenal at ths
place seized in January, 1861 and large quantity
OF and powder and shot secured by the rebe
This arsenal situated In the southern limits OF the city,
and has been used by the rebels principally In the
facturc Of swords and bayonc,s Previous TO
/ five six newspapers published here and more
than twenty steam engines employed in manufac,
turing, while four mail steamers kept up daily
munication with Charleston The arrivals at the port
exclusive Of the Charleston and the coasters
upwards Of one thousand The population In 1864
ten thousand aud the city carried large trade,
| with tonnage amounting to twenty nine thousand two
hundred and ninety eight tons The location Ia said to be
unhealthy, and in consequence the population h pr nci
pay confined 70 radcsmen and mechanics, the manuac.
| turing branch Of business being quite large.
For many months past Wilmington has been tho most
important port OF entry in the rebel confcdcracy and
OF vital interest to Lees army and indeed the whole
1 South In speech which he made In Wilmington In
November last, Jen Davis alluded the port a. the
only Of great importance left open 70 the rebels
Much Of the mdterei for the rebel armies imported
from Europe by blockade runners has been heretofore
entered at Wilmington and the chief supply Of cotton
for Europe has been shipped from the point Ac-
cession 10 the port has heretofore been very easy
| vessels Of such light draught could past our
bockading feet by way Of the Beach channel where our
heavier vessels could not follow. There other port
In the rebel confederacy from which such extensive ops
ratons In blockade running has been carried on - u
Wilmington but the fall Of Fort Fisher put stop y ~
| this profitable business.