Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-02-23
LATEST WAR NEWS.
CAPTURE OF COLUMBIA, S. c
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Feb. IL

w ASHINGTON u u, req. 1000.
Mqj. Gen DIX: The announcement of
the occupation of Columbia, S. c., by Gen.
Sherman, and the probable evacuation of
Charleston, has been communicated to the
department in the following telegram inst
received from Lieut.-Ge Grant,
EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary of War.
CITY POINT 4;45 P. NJ, Feb. 18, 1865
Hon. T. NJ. STANTON War Department :
The Richmond Dispatch of this morning
says:
Sherman entered Columbia yesterday
morning, and its fall necessitates, it pre-
sumes, the fall of Charleston, which it
thinks has already been evacuated
Z. S. GRANT, Lieutenant General
CITY POINT, Va, Feb 49, 1865.
Hon. E. NJ. STANTON, War Department: The
following is taken from to-day's Richmond
Dispatch
THE FALL OF COLUMBIA.
Columbia has fallen. Sherman marched
into and took possession of tae city yes
terday morning. The intelligence was
communicated yesterday by Gen. Beaure-
gard in an official dispatch. Columbia is sit
uated on the north bank of the Congaree
River, just below the confluence of the Sa-
luda and Broad Rivers.
From Gen. Beauregard's dispatch, it ap
pears that on Thursday evening the enemy
approached the south bank of the Congaree.
and threw a number of shells into the city.
During the night they moved up the river,
and yesterday morning forded the Saluda
and Broad Rivers. While they were cross
ing the rivers our troops under Gen. Beau
regard evacuated Columbia. The enemy
soon after took possession
Through private sources we learn that.
two days ago, when it was decided not to
attempt the defence of Columbia, large
quantity of medical stores, which it was
thought it was impossible to remove. were
destroyed. The female employees of the
Treasury Department had been previously
sent off to Charlotte, South Carolina, hun
dred miles north of Columbia We pre-
sumo the Treasury photographic estoblish-
ment was also removed, although as to this
we have no positive information.
The fall of Columbia necessitates, we
presume, the evacuation of Charleston.
which, we think likely, is already in pro-
cess of evacuation.
1t Is impossible to say where Sherman
will next direct his columns The general
opinion is that he will go to Charleston
and establish base there; but we confess
that we do not see what need he has of a
base. 1t is to be presumed he is subsisting
on the country, and he has had no battle to
exhaust his ammunition. Before leaving
Savannah he declared his intention to
march to Columbia, thence to Augusta. Hand
thence to Charleston. This was uttered as
a boast and to hide designs. We are dis
posed to believe that he will next strike
at Charlotte, which is a hundred miles north
of Columbia, on the Charlotte and Column
bia Railroad, or at Florence, S. c., the
junction of the Columbia and Wilmington
and the Charleston and Wilmington Rail
roads some ninety miles east of Columbia.
There was report yesterday that Au-
gusta had been taken by the enemy. This
we do not believe
We have reason to feel assured that
nearly the whole of Shermans army is at
Columbia, and that the report that Scho-
field advancing on Augusta was untrue.