The New York herald., 1865-02-18


vance Of 1oc 2Oc. established Wheat quiet,
market quito active but lower Beef steady,
while lard frmer. Freghts were quiet, while
whiskoy steady.
Another Sherman victory-Threo Days
Fighting-Brnnchvil Captured.
Branchville was captured on the 9Th instant
by Sherman's Forces after three days hard fight
ing. A courier from our army reached Smith
vile on the 18th, and communicated the news
Of the victory to Admiral Porter. The Rich
mond papers to the 18th make no mention Of
the battle, but report Branchville evacuated.
The rebel War Department probably pur-
posoly withheld the unwelccme intelligence Of
the disaster from the public.
This success of General Sherman is Of great
importance, and the rebels know it we'll.
If Sherman takes BranchviHe says the Rich
mond Examiner, "he cuts our great railroad
artery, and General Lee will have to gather his
supplies from other quarters than the rich
storehouse Of Southwestern Georgia !" and on
the same day on which this statement was
printed in Richmond the Sentinel of that city
the Davis organ-announced that Branchville
had fallen into our hands, and that Sherman
was already seventeen miles north Of it. Thus
two more of the delusions imposed upon the
Southern people are done with. They had
been told only the day before that Sherman
would find "lion in his path" and would be
met by Beauregard with the army that was
lately in front of Nashville, under Hood. But
the Sentinel declares that Beauregard and his
army were absent and that it was impossible
to fight for the possession of the most import
ant point in South Carolina or even to attempt
it. The Examiner hinted some days ago at
other means of communication with Georgia
besides that by the "great railroad artery"
and now it admits that there is no such other
communication at all, and that Georgia and
Richmond are hopelessly separated. Branch
vile is central point between Columbia,
Augusta and Charleston. Columbia has proba-
bly, been captured ere this, rendering more
complete the destruction Of the enemy's lines
of communication.
By the articles extracted from the North
Carolina and South Carolina papers we see
what will be the probable effect on the politi-
cal situation Of Shermans march through the
latter State. We see that it will develop a
more distinct and positive Union sentiment
than even his march through Georgia did. The
Raleigh Progress contrasts his army with the
Southern armies, and says it is not "a loose
mob, prowling on the country to oppress friend
as well as foe," but is, on the contrary, "an
army of discipline, vigor, action" 1t sees
nothing to prevent the junction Of Sherman
and Terry at Raleigh and their permanent lodg-
ment there. It thinks that the rebel Legisla-
ture is in its last session, and that when Sher-
man comes the Legislators will run away; bat
"the people will stay where they are" and
"make the best OF it, as the people did in
Savannah" South Carolina goes even further.
II is declared that the people Of that State
"want the best peace they can get, and want It
now" Even the Charleston Mercury believes
that a majority Of the people Of South Carolina
"would jump M peace, with reconstruction" !"
Evidently the rebel rhodomontade is pretty
well run out, and the end is near.
THE OPERA CoxIoUE.--We notice that bill
has been introduced in our Legislature to incor.
porate the Lyric Theatre Association. This we
presume to be the Inauguration of the new Opera
Comiqus for French operas and vandevilles
We have no doubt that this new theatre win
at once become most fashionable and success
ful. While our present Academy Of Music will
be reserved for the tragic operas Of the Italian
school, the Lyric Theatre will be devoted to the
light, sparkling and amusing performances o.
the French school, 30 that the one need mo-
interfere with the other, and both will endcavoI
TO attract and interest the public.
Too LATE-The rebel leaders at Richmond
with their scheme to arm their slave population