The Union and journal., 1865-02-24
BIDDEFORD.

there. amounting to several millions OF dollars,
and within the past few days all the dies and
plates belonging to the Treasury Department.
together with the supplies Of Treasury notes on
hand, were safely conveyed away. The enemy
being In possession of Branchville, Orangeburg
and Kingsvilie, precluded movements on the
roads leading 10 Charleston, and nm unfortu-
nate accident on the Charlotte road from Co.
lumbia, prevented the authorities from making
use of that avenue to save other valuable ma.
terial in the city. large quantity OF medical
stores belonging to the government. were there,
one.half Of which was saved, and the rest, Tor
want of time and transportation, was destroy
ed. The presses and fixtures for printing treas.
ury notes, In the establishments OF Evans, and
Cogswell & Keating, were necessarily aban-
doncd, together with the other extensive ma
chinery of those we'll known firms. The first
named establishment had twelve printing press.
es, and was unauestionably the largest and best
equipped publishing house In the South.
The enemy's force operating west of Colum.
bia reached the Congaree opposite the city on
Thursday evening, and threw In number OF
shells, to which our batteries responded. a
portion Of this column moved up the river dur:
ing the night, and crossed the Saluda and
Broad rivers, tho main tributaries OF the Con
garce, which meet near Columbia, and o few
miles above the city. During the movement,
Gen. Beauregard evacuated the city, and on
Friday morning the enemy entered and took
possession without opposition. Our troops
were Withdrawn to q position some twenty miles
from Columbia, where they remained on yester-
day. The enemy's force entering Columbia,
consisted Of Gen. Shcrman's s main army, large
portion OF which Immediately moved up the
Charlotte road. while another portion moved
down In the direction of Charleston. The lat
ia a al. - koov nh
A dispatch has been received .hcre, stating
that force Of the enemy 1000 strong, 2000 OF
It cavalry. was advancing fromI Knoxville, and
had reached Greenyille, which Is hfy-fourr
miles from Bristol. This expedition Is supposed
to be another raid on the Virginia and Tennes-
see railroads.
The telegraph operator at Weldon reports
that on yesterday raid from Washington or
Newbern, was In progress the supposed dcsti-
nation OF the raiders being Rocky Mount sta
tion on tho Wilmington rvad. In Edgecrmb
county. The wires continued to work during
yesterday evening, through to Wilmington
however. from which It would appear that they
had not struck the road.
A movement Of the enemy was reported yes
terday In heavy force upon Kingston, N. O.,
and II was supposed In Official quarters that
Fosters forces had been moved up to New
bern.
A cavalry raid was reported In the direction
Of Tarboro. The force moving from Newbern
has fly or sixty pieces of artillery. We shall
hear more OF these movements In few days.
We are quite certain that they are In progress
as we write.
Col. Hatch, one Of our commissioners Of ex.
change, has gone to Wilmington, at which
place he will. during the week, exchange 1000
prisoners, We may remark here that tho ex-
change of prisoners on James River will at the
same time 90 on uninterruptedly.
A desperate affair occurred last Tuesday in
Lsurcnburg County between some deserters
from the Confederate army and some Of the
9th Virginia cavalry aided by citizens. Sever
nj on both sides were wounded. The deserters
we're finally captured"
(Signed) U. 8. GRANT,
Lieutenant General.