Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-03-07
icorrespsndence Of The New York world.l
BALTIMORE, March
REPORT ora sArrLE WITH GKS. sRsNAx.

REPORT or A bATrLH WITH GEx. sRENAx
Intelligence has already reached here of a
great battle which has taken place, or rather
shich has commenced and is sill ia progress
near Salisbury. in North Cspolins. between Gen
Sherman and the army recently under Besure
gard. The accounts are confused and confict.
ing, and must be received with great caution
but there Is generally truth at the bottom OF
them. The are IN substance a. follows: Gen
Shermans army was said 10 be moving in two
columns, somewhat separated. well on &C
coun, Of the bad condition of the roads a. Of the
difficulty of procuring food and forage. One
column was marching directly on Salisbury; the
other had diyerged considerable distance to the
right and east: the latter column seemed. indeed
30 be making for the roads that lead 20 Raleigh
The frs, named column had reached Concord.
in Cabsrsus county, half way between Charlotte
and Salisbury. IL was near this place, and be-
tween it aud the Y adkin river, a branch of the
Great Pedee, that the fighting occurred Gen
Jos. E. Johnston had assumed command Of the
confederate forces. BY order Of Gen. Lee. on The
22d ultmo But he had been with the msil
body OF Gen. Beauregsrds forces for some time
previously, and vas perfectly acquainted with
the position of affairs in bis own army. as vel
a. with the movements, day by day. of Geners
sherman. The confederate forces had been fall
ing back and concentrating for several days pre-
viously.
sKSKkAI JOHNSTON IN COMMAND OF Tsr ooSFEpE
RATS.
On the Oath ultimo. according TO these &C
counts, General Johnston assumed the offensive
aud attacked the frstnsmed column OF Genera
Sherman in flank. combat of )nsidersbl,
severity ensued, but without any decisive result
The advantage at FIRST seemed TO be with thc
confsderates; but il IS said that General Sherman
al n n
column. which gave him . numerical superiort,
over Johnston, and enabled him 10 repel the az
tscks Of the latter General Johnston, il is said
then crossed TO the left bank Of the Y sdkir
river, veere he joined the main body Of his force.
posted there. Ia this position be Vas said 70 bC
waiting tor sherman TO cross the river. HI
forces nov concentrated, are said TO be consider
ably larger than Shermsn's; and if sherman. in
ssead OF crossing the adkin, Should march or
Salisbury. II was supposed ,ha, General John
ston. with his whole force would reeross to the
west side of the stream, and Attsck Sherman
near Salisbury.
NAN
Ii The troops recently at Wilmington and New
bern, under Generals Terry. Foster and Schoheld
had effected Junction with sherman. the unite
federal forces then would have greatly outnum
bered General JohnstOn's army. But these &C
counts state not only this junction had not tsker
place. bat that II would not take place. instead
Of moving westward from Wilmington. by wa'
OF Fayetteville. 20 Join Sherman at Concord
these troops, il Is said. are moving n0rihwsrd 90
Goldsboro. with the intention OF marching on
Raleigh; from which il Is inferred by the confed
crates that IL 10 the intention of General Sher-
man 10 meet them there. In this case, Of course
General sherman will endesvor to force the pas
sage Of the fadkin river; and at that point. o,
near there, 10 all probability. the battle will take
place which viii decide Gen. sherman. fate.
ACTUAL STRENGTH OF cES. JOHNSTON
such being the situstion. il Is OF the very mr..
iEportznce 20 ascertain the real number OF
troops wbsch Gen Johnston can concentrate
think gave you the numbers pretty nearly cor
rect N M last letter. But 1 have ascertsiaec
sons facts slnes then which thrtw nev lgh, u
e sbs sabjeef. The nature OF the facilities o
communication between Macon or Atlanta anC