WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C.,

Feb. 18, 1865.

 

Major-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 just received from Lieut-Gen. GRANT. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War.

 

FIRST DISPATCH FROM GEN. GRANT. CITY POINT,

4:45 P.M., Feb. 18, 1865.

​

Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, War Department: The Richmond Dispatch of this morning says: SHERMAN entered Columbia yesterday morning and its fall necessitates, it presumes, the fall of Charleston, which it thinks has already been evacuated. U.S. GRANT, Lieut-General.

 

SECOND DISPATCH FROM GEN. GRANT. CITY POINT, Va.,

Feb. 18, 1865.

 

Hon. E.M. 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 the city yesterday morning. The intelligence was communicated yesterday by Gen. BEAUREGARD in an official dispatch. Columbia is situated on the north bank of the Congaree River, just below the confluence of the Saluda and Broad Rivers. From Gen. BEAUREGARD's dispatch it appears 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. Whilst they were crossing these rivers our troops, under Gen. BEAUREGARD, 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, a large quantity of medical stores, which it was thought it was impossible to remove, were destroyed. The female employes of the Treasury Department had been previously sent off to Charlotte, South Carolina, a hundred miles north; of Columbia. We presume the Treasury lithographic establishment 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 on process of evacuation. It is impossible to say where SHERMAN will next direct his columns. The general opinion is that he will go to Charleston and establish a base there; But we confess that we do not see what need he has of a base. It 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, and thence to Charleston. This was uttered as a b[???]ast, and to hide his designs. We are disposed to believe that he will next strike at Charlotte, which is a hundred miles north of Columbia, on the Charlotte and Columbia Railroad, or at Florence, S.C., the junction of the Columbia and Wilmington and the Charleston and Wilmington Railroads, some ninety miles east of Columbia. There was a report yesterday that Augusta had 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 SCHOFIELD was advancing on Augusta was untrue, From the Richmond Whig, Feb. 18. The Charleston Mercury, of Saturday, announces a brief suspension of that paper, with a view to its temporary removal to another point. This is rendered necessary by the progress of military events, cutting it off from the mail facilities for distributing its paper to a large portion of its subscribers, while the lack of transportation renders its supply of paper precarious. SEMMES has been made a Rear-Admiral, and will take command of the James River Squadron.

 

(Signed) U.S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.

​

​