The weekly union record., 1865-02-25
News of the Week.

L De neHS rom tDe Last oy lie OfetlaDu
telegraph was just beginning to be received
when 1.-The line down beyond Laramie cut of
communication just when news of the greatest
importance was looked for Precediug the
fall OF Charleston. reports were received Of the
evacuation of Mobile and Wilmington BY the
rebels The last news from the Army of the
Potomac also Indicated that important opera
tions were about to transpire near Richmond
An advance of FIVE miles 10 the direction of the
Southside Railroad By Grants army. which
seems to have been strongly opposed by the
rebels, shows that the Lieutenant General is
preparing TO intercept any movement which
Lee may attempt southwark. Information
from Grant as late as the 18th says 'deserters
are constantly coming in, and are more numer-
ous than for q long time. They have averaged
over seventy day for the past week. Among
them were several officers. The utmost de-
spondency has prevailed in their ranks since
the last fight. They seem determined to keep
the field DO longer, as they see they can never
gain their independence, and see no reason why
they should remain and be killed. Deserion
is so general near our lines that Lee has issued
an order for the arrest Of every man found q
half mile away from camp or post"
The following is dated New Orleans, Feb.
10th: A refugee from Western Texas reports
Prices command at about nine thousand strong,
mostly cavalry from Texas. Large numbers
of deserters were constantly arriving at the
Rio Grande and escaping Dorth into Arkansas
and Missouri. Prices headquarters were at
Borham. Texas, forty miles south Of Red river,
in q fine foragipg region. Magruder is at
Camden Arkansas, with a part OF bis CON-
mand. The main body, chiefly cavalry, is on
q stealing expedition in Texas. The horses of
both commands are in an exhausted condition
Magruder has twenty thousand men on the
muster rolls, two-thirds of whom are effective.
Kirby Smiths headquarters are still at Shreve
port, Louisiana. His entire strength is esti-
mated at thirty eight thousand, only about
twenty Eve thousand of whom are serviceable.
An immense drove of beef cattle, numbering
some hundred thousand head, is roaming the
prairies of Western Texas. Reports of Kirby
Smiths, Magruder's and other rebel officers
cotton speculalions still continue to be made.
Hart rebel agent at Matamoras. is said 10
have made million dollars in gold.
Under date Of City Point. Feb 18th, Gen.
Grant gives the following from the Richmond
Dispatch of that date Sherman took posses
sion of Columbia, yesterday. The intelligence
was communicated by Beauregard in an official
dispatch Columbia is situated on the north
bank of Congaree river, below the confluence
of the Sauda and Broad rivers. On Thursday
evening, the enemy approached the south bank
OF the Congaree and threw number of shells
in the city. During the night they moved up
the river and in he morning forded oaluda and
Broad rivers. Whilst they were crossing the
rivers, our troops, under Beauregard, evacuated
Columbia. The enemy soon after took full
possession. The fall Of Columbia necessilates
the evacuation OF Charleston"
A meeting of loyal Gecrgians was held at
the Cooper Institute, New York, on the 10th.
Speeches were made by several residents 0
Georgia, aud resolutions passed denouncing the
secession movement and urging the early return
of the State to the Union.
S. D. Lee and Wade Hampton, recently
appointed Lieutenant Generals, have been con.
hrmed by the Confederate" Senate. The
promotion of Hampton makes him rank the
rebel cavalry officer Wheeler, who has been
operating against Sherman.
great fire al Danville. Virginia, the depot
of Richmond, on the 18th, destroyed rebel
property 10 the amount Of two millions Of
dollars