The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-02-12
sHERMAys OCCUPATION OF ERAyCHVILLE,

Already the march of Sherman through the state OF
South Carolina begins produce the important results
which have been anticipated from IT, Already the first
objective point has been gained, probably without
battle and with that triumph important contingent
has been attained With the fall OF Branchvils
not only destroy the railroad system Of South Caro-
lima but IL Richmond rumors have sught OF truth in
them have forced the evacuation OF Charleston itself
THE PREPARATIONS FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
Tho from It's Georgia march, which the army Of
General Sherman enjoyed in Savannah not Of long
duration the time spent in dlcness The troops
we're resupplcd with all necessary and trans
portaton furnished. II must DO remembered that when
leaving Atlanta Sherman sent the greater part Of his
transportation TO the rear reserving only his
ton wagons On reaching Savannah the transportation
other than the ammunition trains had 70 be supplied
Men had to be rcclohed from head 10 foot and
animals supplied to the cavalry and teams These
preparations have employed the time OF necessary delay
at savannah. They completed about the middle Of
January, and the campaign immediately b'gun by
the Reorganization OF tho army into three columns fol-
lows
Army Of Tcnnessce-Gcnera Howard centre
Army Of the south-Gcnern Foster, right wing
Army Of Georga-Genoral socum, loft wing.
In the plan OF the campaign the and left wings
be active columns while the right wing under
ployed in demonstrating against Charleston while tho
others moved BY convrging lines upon Branchvis from
Grahamsyile and Sisters ferry.
CAPTURE or PoooTALIoo BRIDGE.
The transfer Of the centre column-H Ora
Evansville was mado early as January L. before the
completion Of the preparations for tho campaign by tho
whole army. Tho troops we're moved by transports 70
Hilton Head and thence up Broad river 70 the position
gained N December last by General Foster here famng
Junction with the Army Of the South.
On tho night o. the 1lth Of January the Seventeenth
corps Of How~sd's army, under General Frank Blair
and the division Of Fosters army commanded by Gen
Hatch, advanced on the Pocotsligo bridge, on the
Charleston and Savannah Railroad, and captured H.
together with the Notifications and twelve guns, iosns
IN the charge forty killed and wounded The guns
wsre spiked The enemy evacuated during the night,
and fell back Ashepo bridge towards Charleston The
Fifteenth sorps under General Logan, and the Sir.
tcenth corps soon followed and all ready 70 begin
tho advance on Brsnchvine
MOVEMENT or rue LEYr VINO.
Meantime the left wing, General 2ocum, consisting OF
the Fourteenth and fwentsth corps moved up tho
savannah river 10 sstors ferry, pent near ErwInton
n shown on tho accompanying map, and commandlngA
rood route TO Branchvlle The march 70 Sisters ferry
WAS extremely aifncult owing 70 The swampy nature Of
the country and tho flooded oondtsH Of The streams
The troops wore In fact forced 70 ssmo 70 halt and
await propitous weather. and give the moist earth
time become firm Under foot before proceeding further
Though General slccun LETT Savannah on the 18th q
January be did not reach Sisters ferry until The 2slh
and not abs TO lcayo there until January 80 which
time the general advance began The len wing-ahs
twentieth army corps In advancc--occupIea Robcrsvis
small town on the Erwinton road about i've miles from
the river the night and nsss day rssulns the
march on Fcbrusryl
ADVANCE or rms Rionr AND cxSrRR COLUMN
Ihs centre and right also advanced January 81 from
their positions At Pocotaso bridge The two armies here
sepauted moving BY dvegng roads 10 Mo direction Of
Charleston and Branchvie both columns advancing 10
the south bank OF the Combahce river Tho centre
column occupied McPhcrsonville, Ave miles north Of
focotgo bridge, which the rebels report burned by
them On the 9th inst the ccntre right bad effected
ihe passage 81 the Combahee and the former force had
pushed forward TO the vicinity u Bes crossroads thirty
miles south Of Branohvile where the advance guard q
one column Of The roba force under command Of Major
General Lafayette McLaws, encountered and driven