New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-20

Gen. sherman occupied Columbia the capital
Of south Carolina, on the Eth inst, without
resistance. The place fell rs Branohyillc had
fallen, because il was not dcicnsiblc except BY
q battle; aud the enemy axe not yet ready for
q battle. Each place was envcloped by thanking
columns apd thc garrison Of each was with
drawn as those columns approached. Up to
this point therefore, the campaign through
South Carolina scarcely differ. from the PROM
enadc through Georgia. The Rebels have no
army to oppose 10 Gen. Sherman.
Richmond papers of The 18th reported Gen.
Shcrmans cavalry at Florence, about 40 miles
l.. n. +. ofColumbia. At nearly the same time,
smother force of cavalry was operating III TIE
neiehborhood of Augusta. Whence it may be
understood that Gen. Sherman is covering u
region of about hundred and fifty miles in
breadth, and that he extend, bis right wing,
comprising both cavalry and infantry, with the
same cautious yet entcrprisiug vigilance which
secured him an unmolested march upon Savan-
NAH The enemy ma, attack here he plcascs;
he cannot reach the main body of Shcrman's
army till lis outlying dctachments have had
time TO withdraw, and till his whole force has
been concentrated. Such is the secure merit Of
this seemingly adventurous plan Of campaign.
Gen. Sherman's strength is so overwhelming
that the Only probable chance of Rebel success
IS in surprising his column, in detail, but the. is
precisely what Gen. Beaurcgard will find HIM
self unable to DO. The entire Rebel force that
can b. concentrated in sherman front has been
plausiby estimated at %, coo men; consisting
Of tho Wilmington garrison, 1000 men; i'ar-
does forces, swelled by vaIiou. dctachmcnts
that have been colled in since Savannah icll,
III, 900; and five division. sent down from Lees
army, $1,000: IN all -, coo. i does not appear
that this force can BE- increased from lIood's
army, since the Increment n that army east
ward began too late. The advance did not
leave Meridian Ill January %; the rear not till
Feb. 4: and after reaching Talladega by rail
they have march of nearly 900 miles before
they can mite with Beanrerard. Loug before
that !, ended, the battle that il to decide the
fate Of the campaign will have been fought; or
il will have been decided that no battle can be-
fought.
We are to consider therefore HE campaign o.
depending upon The movements Of Beauregard,
on the one side, with 5000 men, plus 50 many
as Lee shall venture 10 spare from the trenches
Of Petersburg and Richmond. On the other
side j. Gen. shcrman with . victorious army,
the number OF which has been stated in more
than one Northern newspaper at over 100000.
Suppose it 10 DC only 5000; who believes that
BSsuregard with less than half that number will
fight battle That Brenchville. one import
ant railway center: that Columbia the capital
Of the State aud not less important for IT, rail-
road communications; tina, Florence, also the
junction Of three railways, have oil been evacu.
ated, and that Charleston il abandoned TO it,
fate without -truggle--shows that the State is
deemed by the Rebels utterly indeitnsible
Besuregard wiz continue 10 retire before Shcr-
mans advance I'LL Lee shall be able to resolve
on evacuoting Petersburg'or Richmond, or both.
The army which holds these cities has already
Leen so much weakened as 10 be insecure
witness how near even The last effort against
the Southsde Railroad came 10 being successful
Lee is too good General 20 send one holt bis
army 10 BE- swallowed mp by sherman, and leave
the Other half to be dcyoured by Graut. lie
must decide either TO hold Richmond or 10
throw his undivided strength against sherman
II he means to fight the battle beyond Raleigh,
IL VIII lot be long before the army that has be-
seigcd Richmond viii occupy il defences.
II i not TO be supposed, however, that Gen.
aherm8s eOntemp!ates on uninterrupted march
rom Savannah 10 Richmond. lie Is likely To-
ouch The sescogst in the course Of il, or some
point near enough 10 the sea 70 be convenient
lalting place. Were he 20 move directly toward
Richmond, he has u choice Of two lines after
Gazing Columbia; either b. way Of Charlotte
,r by way Of Fayetteville. The nearness OF,
he latter 10 the coast, and the already ascer-
aimed presence OF Shcrman's cavalry AZ Flor
,nce, indicate choice the Fayetteville route.
Even if Lee, therefore, had resolved upon aban-
lonine Richmond and delivering battle with all
bis forces in North Carolina. he might well
enough wait till the direction Of Shcrman's
march from Columbia had been fnally deter
mined. Ito Raleigh, the battle will be south
Of II. ITO the see, it is impossible to Xix the
probable scene Of the decisive struggle.
But let these speculations pass for what they
are worth. We are content to know this morn.
ing that Gen. Sherman occupies the capital OF
South Carolina. and that neither for its capital
At -