American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-02-22
Official From Gen. Grant.
WAsHINGTON, Feb. liz.

TO Ndj. Gen. Dir The announce
ment of the occupation of Columbia,
S. c., by Gen Sherman, and the pro-
bable evacuation of Charleston, has
been communicated to the Depart
mcnt in the following kilograms, just
received from 1t. Gen. Grant, signed
Il. NJ. Stanton Secretary of War.
CRY POINT, 4: 45 p. m. Feb. Is.
L. NJ. Stanton War Department.
The Richmond Dispatch of this
mornining says: Sherman entered
Columbia yesterday morning, and its
fall pocessitates it presumes, the fall
of Charleston, which it thinks is be-
ing evacuated.
(Signed) U. S. GRANT, 1t. Gen.
CITY POINT, Feb. 18.-llon. +.
NJ. Stanton, War Department. The
following is taken from Fridays Rich
mond Dispatch:
" Tue FALL OF CoLUMBIA.-Col-
umbia has fallen Sherman marched
into and took possession of the city
yesterday morning. The intel
ligence was communicated yesterday
by Gen. Beauregard in an official
dispatch Columbia is situated on
the North bank of the Congarce riv-
er just below the confluence of the
Saluda and Broad rivers. From
Gen. Beauregard's dispatch it ap-
pears that on Thursday evening the
enemy approached the South bank
of the Congaroe and threw a number
of Shells into the city. During the
night they moved up the river and
yesterday morning lorded the Saluda
and Broad rivers.
Whilst they were crossing these
rivers, our troops under Gen. Beau
regard, evacuated Columbia, and the
enemy soon after took possession.
Through private sources we learn
that two days ago. when it was dcci-
dcd not to attempt the defense of
Columbia, a large quantity Of medi-
cal stores, which it was thought i'm
possible to remove, were destroyed.
The female employees of the treasu-
ry department had previously been
sent of to Charlotte, one hundred
miles South of Columbia. We pre-
sumo the Treasury photographic cs-
tablishment was also removed, altho'
as to this we have no positive infor-
nation. The fall of Columbia ncces-
states, We presume, the evacuation
of Charleston, which we think likely
is already in process of evacuation.
1t is impossible to say where Sher-
man will next directs his columns.
The General opinion is that he will
20 to Charleston and establish a base
there, but we confess we do not see
what need he has Of 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 in
tention to march to Columbia, thence
to Augusta, and thence to Charles
ton. This was uttered as a boast,
and to hide his disigns. We are dis
posed to believe that he will next
strike at Charlotte, which is one hun
dred miles north of Columbia, on the
Charlotte and Columbia Railroad, or
at Florence, S. c., the junction of the
Columbia and Wilmington railroad
some ninety miles east ef Columbia.
There was a report yesterday that
Augusta had. also been taken by the
enemy. This we do not believe.
We have reason to feel assured that
nearly the whole of Sherman's army
is at Columbia, and that the report
that Schofeld was advancing on Au-
gusta was untrue.
The Richmond Whtg says: The
Charleston Mercury of Saturday an
nounces brief suspension of that pa
per with view to its temporary re-
moval to another point. This is rem
dered. necessary by the progress OF
military events. Cutting it off from
the mail facilities for distributing its
paperto large portion of its sub
scribers, while the lack of transport
alton renders its supply of paper pre-
carious.
Semmes has been made a Rear
Admiral and will take command of
the James River squadron" l."
(SiupadA IT g GpANT