The Portland daily press., 1865-02-15
The War News.

miles from Charleston. After Savannah was
surrendered and occupied by the Federal for
ces, Sherman had much to do in preparing bis
army for farther aggressive movements. His
brave boys had had long and tedious march
and their clothing was pretty well worn ana
the troops needed some rest, But they dio
not remain in idleness, but their wants were
soon supplied, and the necessary transporta-
ton furnished.
About one month ago the campaign was
commenced by the reorganization of the ar
my into three columns. The army of Tennes-
see, Gen Howard, centre. Army of the
South, Gen. Foster, right wing. Army of
Georgia, Gen. Slocum, left wing. In the plan
of the campaign the centre and left wing were
ODE active columns, while the right wing was
to be held as areserye, and employed in dem
onstrating against Charleston. The other col
umns were to move by converging lines upon
BranchviIle. Towards column reached Ora
Evansville about the 18th of January, before
the completion of the preparations for the
campaign by the whole force. On the 14th of
January the Seventeenth Corps of Towards
army advanced on the Pocataligo bridge on
the Charleston and Savannah railroad, and
captured it together with the forti6cations and
twelve guns. ..5..
While these movements were going on, the
left wing, under Gen. Slocum, passed up the
Savannah river to point near Erwinton
which place commanded good route to
Charleston. Owing to the swampy nature of
the country and the wet weather, Gen. SIocum
did not reach Sisters Ferry until the'28.h of
January. Soon after the leftlwing, the TWEEN
tieth army Corps, marched in advance and the
same night occupied Robertsville about five
miles from tie river, and the next day resum-
ed the march. F.esv-v - -
From Pocataligo bridge the centre and
right advanced, and the two armies separated,
moving by diverging roads in the direction of
Charleston and Branchville, the latter place
captured as above stated. 1t would seem from
the best information we can obtain, Charles
ton Is one Of Sherman's objective points.
What forces the rebels have in this hot bed Of
treason we have no means of knowing. The
latest rumor is that the city is evacuated, or
about to be. This is very probable, for Sher-
mans force is too formidable to be resisted by
any power the rebels can bring against it, and
foreman in Charleston would be to lose their
army, a loss which they cannot well bear at
this juncture. II they can get away from
that city and escape Sherman's forces, it is all
they can hope for under existing cirstumstan-
ces. fAsa "a EAs
We believe Charleston must succumb, and
when it does yield to the Federal power, a
democrat at our elbow suggests that Gen.
Butler be sent there as the military Governor
for awhile. He has just that kind of admins
tratiye power and executive ability that COM
pletely fit him for the government of the
city. re L S Al
We have an impression that he would ad-
minister the affairs Of thatcity to the entire
satisfaction Of every loyal citizenof the coun-
try, and there are many democrats who would
not complain of such an administration. Gen.
Butler has figured there in years past and the
Charleston politicians have had taste of his
quality. There are many well bred and po-
lite negroes in that city who would welcome
3 Gen. Butler with great enthusiasm, however
sour and morose their masters might feel on
such an occasion. We think the General
would be in an element that would exactly
suit him, and therefore we hope he will be
sent there when the proud aristocratic city
once more comes under the glorious old Flag
of the Union. 3si 3 ~E iAs16
But who shall be the military Governor Of
Richmond when she yields to Federal power ?
tits rumored in intelligent circles that this
city will be evacuated ere long, and such
evacuation would not be surprising in the
present aspect of rebelaffair We do not be-
lieve Lee feels entirely safe in the position he
now occupies. Iii exceedingly annoying to
see Graut and his forces holdingen and hedg-
ing him in so that he cannot remove and do
something for other portions of rebeldom
which are threatened with destruction.
Since their peace commissioners have failed
to accomplish anything advantageous to the
Confederacy, or to induce President Lincoln
to grant them an armistice, the Richmond ed
itors and the leaders of the rebellion are froth-
ing at the mouth and attempting to rekindle
the war fame and fire anew the Southern
heart which their recentreverses had some
what cooled. jeff Davis too is at the same
work, but we very much question whether
their influence will extend beyond the pre-
cincts of Richmond. The truth stands out
clear as q sunbeam, that these rebel leaders
feel that something must be done quickly, or
all will be lost. i1iEes ssIz or
To arm the negroes abandon the sea-coast
line, eVacuate Richmond and concentrate all
their forces in some more central part OF the
Coniederacy, might possibly prolong the war,
but At the same time it would render their de-
struction more certain and signal, and that
too, ere many months shall have passed
away. Should the leaders adopt such course
In their extremity, perhaps our Government
might let them sweat for awhile, but not long.
Grant would soon be after them. Many close,
intelligent observers ofthe times believe that
such course will soon be taken and all the
rebel armies will be massed at some central
point where they can fight to better advau-
tage, and send out guerrillas to harrass the
conntry. No doubt Lee feels somewhat inse-
cure In his present position, and begins to feel
'na' 'nere is some danger of losing his army
winch VIM Is snow the back bone of the Confedera-
cy. When that is gone, all is lost, and he is
shrewd enough TO know it. 'd1TdodT
1t is difficult to tell what ueonle nil, 40
when they become absolutely mad and dos.
perate, as the leaders OF the rebellion now are
Power is constantly and gradually stealing
from them, and they feel an unpleasant con.
seriousness that they cannot much longer con-
troi the Southern masses who are heartily sick
OF the war, and cannot be made to believe the
rebellion will succeed in establishing an indie.
pendent Coniederacy. The time has gone by
when that canbe done, and hence the fear and
trembling of the leaders. The recent war