Newspaper Page Text
SAVANNAH DAILY HERALD.
VOLUME T.\
No. 38. >
|>abanttalj
rURLIfiEKD^
EVERY EVENING, SUNDAYS EXCEPTED,
BT
S. W. MASON & CO.
At 111 Bat Street, Savannah, Georgia,
teems:
Per Copy * Five Cents.
Per Hundred .A $3 50.
Per Year , $lO 00,
advertising: %
A limited number of Advertisemeete will be *e
tnved at the rate of Twenty Cents per Line for
first insertion, and Fifteen Cents per Line for each
subsequent insertion; invariably in advance. Ad
vertisements should be handed ia before noon of
each day.
•JOB PRINTING
] n every style, neatly and promptly done.
LATE REBEL PAPERS.
Unieresting Accounts of Sherman's
Tlarch through South Carolina.
(From the Raleigh Progress, Jan. 21.]
Siierman is in motion, and, according
to refugees from Savannah, has a lorce
of eighty thousand men. Nor is his army
a loose mob, prowling on the country to
oppress friend as well as foe, It is an
army of discipline, vigor, action. With
Savannah and Beaufort, S. as a base,
he moves north with the sun, and already
Charleston and Columbia begin to feel
the' oppression. But will he come to
Columbia with those eighty thousand
men ? Yes ; if he wants to do so he will,
and even further into the bowels of the
land.
Teny is on our own coast—has Fort
Fisher, at the mouth of Cape Fear,, and
will soon, we think, have Wilmington.
He probably has twenty to forty thou
sand men. Suppose they combine their
forces, Teny and Sherman ; w T e must set
them down at not less than about one
hundred and twenty thousand men. And
they will move on with the sun, and be
fore the orb that lights the world shall
stand erect in the heavens it is more
than probable that the federal flag will
fly over ’ Charleston, Wilmington,
Columbia ' and Raleigh ! Yes, Raleigh
too ! Grant will stay wfliere he is and
thus keep General Lee’s army in the vice
that has held it for the last ten months,
and Sherman and Terry will move on.
We see nothing to stop them or
prevent their getting to Raleigh,
•where they can open communication with
Newbern by rail, distance about one
hundred and eight miles* and then dem
onstrate or raid towards Greensborough
or Danville at pleasure. Newbern wopld
•be the water base, and with Grqqt on
the James and Sherman at Raleigh,'both
in command of large armies—all trans
portation cut off and supplies exhausted,
General Lee's Army ivou/d be In a tight
place. And unless Sherman can be met
and whipped he will probably come, if
not with the April showers, certainly
with the 1 buds and blossoms of May. He
travels rapidly. We had an army that
might have checked Sherman ; 'but since
the President took its commander from
it and put it under a second rate briga
dier, and sent it on that wild goose chase
to the blue banks of the Ohio, it is well
nigh done for. Hood marched into
. Tennessee and marched out again ; hut
his army is gone. That is the morale of
the great army of the West, as it ex
isted under Albert Sidney Johnston, un
der Beauregard and J. E. Johnston, is
gone, and Hood is crouched down in
North Alabama with nothing but a small
mass of demoralized fragments. There
is but little more fight in the army—what
there was in it for good has been fritted
away where no good could be accom
plished ; and the people of that section
have no disposition to fill the ranks;
SAVANNAH, GA., FRIDAY EVENING, FEB. 24, 1865.
they think the war has lasted about long
enough, especially if they are called on
to go. These are sad reflection, but we
have to deal with things as they are.
Sherman will press forward. No one
can give us a good reason for believing
he will be hurled back, and empty brag
gadocia is no longer correct*
What then ? Sherman will in ail hu
man probability be here with the Spring,
and to stay. The Governor, now so
placid and calm, so full of fun and coarse
jests, will have to fly to some obscure
village as a refuge; while the Legisla
ture, the people’s chosen representatives,
are now assembled here, no doubt, for
the last time during the continuance of
the present war. From his obscure
“headquarters” in some wayside village
inn, his Excellency may call them to
meet in Buncombe, on the top of Table
Rock, or at some point ip that neutral
territory beyond the Chowan ; but we
have not the shadow ©f a doubt but the
present body has met in Raleigh for the
last time, and if the members desire to
do anything to save the people of their
State from the ruin that is to follow the
events that we have foreshadowed, they
must act now. Has the Governor no
farewell word lor his “dear people ? ! ’ the
Legislature no parting blessing for suf
fering constituents? Are we to look on
these august dignitaries to-day, knowing
that to-morrow they depart to. be seen
and known no more, by us, forever!—
The people will stay where they are.and
if Sherman comes, here and throughout
the State generally they, will do as they
have done in Savannah, make the best
they cap of a condition of things they,
could not help.
But if we have no armies to meet armies
why continue the unequal contest ? If
there.be those in our Legislature who
believe there is no salvation for the peo
ple of North Carolina but in an appeal
for their rights under the old constitu
tion, let them speak out, for the time has
come to discuss those questions. And if
there be those who believe that the only
way to save us from abolition negro
equality, servile insurrections and a gen
eral upheaving of society, but a restora
tion of the old government, under the
constitution of our fathers, let them pre
sent their plans—the people will listen,
reflect and take such action as-they may
think best lor them and for posterity. * If
we are subjugated, or as near it that a
protraction off the unequal contest can
end in nothing else, why continue the
war ? This is a question tor our Governor
and Legislature to answer to the people
of North Carolina. The people of the
country, not only- here in North Caro
lina, but .throughout the whole South,
begin to .see tlia state and condition to
which the wap has brought them in it*
true light, and to speak out. Bastiles,
star chambers and inquisitions have lost
their power to awe the people, and the
great public heart begins to throb aloud,
and the popular voice is loud and con
stant for peace.
We say candidly to our friends in the
Legislature that we believe this to be their
last chance. Do something now or you
may never have another opportunity.?—
And take, the bull by the nornsanddo
something practical. What is to be done
must be done quickly; for it is not
thought that Sherman will give you
more than sixty or ninety days to work
in. The people want peace, regardless
of Jeff. Davis and Abe Lincoln. Give
them peace and protection for person
and property, and they care very little
about boundary lines or who may be
President.
[From the Richmond Sentinel, Feb. 15.]
On Friday last Kilpatrick, with his
cavalry,had reached Athens, (Aiken?)
fifteen miles from Hamburg, where he
was attackbd by Wheeler, defeated, and
driven five miles, wiih considerable loss.
Hamburg is in South Carolina, imme
diately opposite Augusta, and it is sup-
posed Kilpatrick was moving on the
latter place when defeated by Wheeler.
[From the Richmond Examiner, Feb. 16.]
It was currently reported yesterday
that a column of the enemy was mov
ing on Augusta ! But the War De
partment has no confirmation of this,
further than a despatch, received some
days ago, referring to the appearance of
some force of the enemy near Aiken,
which is eighteen miles from Augusta.
[From the Richmond Disnatch, Feb. 15.]
We have for some days been in doubt
as to whaf force Sherman had sent in
the direction of Augusta. The doubt
has at length been solved. It seems that
while his main army advanced towards
Branchville and Charleston, he sent Kil
patrick and his cavalry to demonstrate
against Augusta and "to break up the
Charleston and Augusta Railroad.—
From official dispatches received at the
War Department we learn that on last
Friday General Wheeler attacked Kil
patrick at Aiken, on the Charleston and
Augusta Railroad, twenty miles north
east of Augusta, and, after a considera
ble engagement, drove him five miles
in the direction of Branchville.
An official despatch, received from
Columbia yesterday,- states that, in con
sequence of the enemy, having occupied
Orangeburg in force, our troops have
abandoned Branchville. This is, in ef
fect, the same statement as made by us
yesterday. Our troops have, by this time,
no doubt, fallen back to the Congaree
river, which, with the Wateree, forms
the Santee. Columbia is situated im
mediately on the right bank of the Con
garee, thirty miles above its confluence
with the Wateree. If our troops fall
back behind the Congaree, the enemy
will be abie to shell Columbia from the
south bank of that stream. We also
learn that the Congress and its tributary,
the Saluda, are both easily fordable
above the city. This disposes us to be
lieve that oar troops will seek to give
battle before crossing the Congaree.
[From the Richmond Sentinel, Feb. 15.]
A despatch was received at the War
Department yesterday stating that, in
consequence of the enemy having oc
cupied’ Orangeburg, our troops had fallen
back from Branchville.
[From the Richmond Whig, Feb, 3.) ,
We learn upon good authority that
Our forces are falling back before Sher
man’s advancing columns in the direc
tion of Columbia, S. G\, and will proba
bly make a stand on the Santee*
[From the Richmond Examiner, Feb. 15 ] <
Among the multitude of reports at
taching to Sherman's movement in South
Carolina, we are as yet certain of only a
few general facts. According to official
advices last deceived at the Wat Depart
ment, Sherman was moving on the up
per branches of the Edisto, evidently in
tending to flank Branchville, qnd strike
the railroad to Columbia north of its
junction with the South Carolina Rail
road ; and as, since the date of these ad
vices, several days ago, there has been
no news of any interruption of this
movement, it is concluded that General
Beauregard has fallen hack from Branch
ville to take up anew line to cover Co
lumbia, and one better calculated for de
fensive purposes. The opinion appears
to prevail in official quarters that a bat
tle is imminent; that Beauregard will
fight it on ground of his own selection
and with a force adequate for offensive
or defensive purposes, as either may be
come necessaiy, and that tfee general
situation is encouraging for us.
[From the Raleigh Progress, Jaa. 21.]
A gentleman of intelligence apd posi
tion, a man who would not be likely to
exaggerate or state that which was not
true, has just arrived in this citjr from
Florida, coming through Georgia and
South Carolina; and he assures us that
the people of the last named State, as
far as he could see and tear, in working
his way through, (the roads being
broken by freshets) are thenvorst whipp
ed set that he has ever seen or heard of.
They look on all as gone, believe Sher
man will meet no serious obstacles, and
in fact, want the best peace they can get,
and want it now. Such, he says, is the
feeling in South Carolina, and we know
the , man well, and know that “he be
lieves what he says to be so. *
And does not the tone of the Georgia
and South Carolina papers lead to the
same conclusion ? We think so. The
following wail of despair and bitter
irony is trom the editorial columns of
the Mercury :
GENIUS, PLUCK, ENERGY.
It is a conceded fact that South Caro
lina is not the Botany Bay Os the Con
federate army. We enjoy here at leisure,
and in the greatest prolusion, the ablest
and boldest leaders from every part of
the broad land this side of the Missis
sippi river. By the blessing of God, Kirby
Smith finds it too much trouble to ship
any of his great and sober officers quite
so far. We are only subject to such men
as other generals this side of the Missis
sippi most highly appreciate. We con
gratulate every man, woman and child
m this State on that singular circum
stance. We desire to express, in behalf
of all the graceful and appreciative peo
ple here, our proposed thankfulness for
this special dispensation of Providence
in our behalt. We’ think a “day of last
ing, humiliation and prayer,” should be
speedily appointed by way of expressing
our felicity. The Cobfederate govern
ment is most bountiful, most considerate,
most wise. South Carolina is ndw t&b
key of the Confederacy. Most no'bty is
she to be defended bv invincible pluck
that fears no odds. Mr. Jefferson Davis
is wise. All is great. God is good. The
department is in a superb condition. We
have never fought here before against
odds. But now not an officer is whipped;
our military organizations are all perfect;
our discipline admirable; our leaders
models of capacity, courage, sobriety,
tenacity and wisdom—all dull o*f fight to
the very eyes. Let us all sing T<> Deums
and hurrah for Jefferson Davis—Jeff.
Davis for ever, and the devil the next day!
Now how do “patriots and property
holders” like that ? Are" not the “Caro
linians,” according to this testimony,
quite as much disgusted'with Jejf. Davis
now as they were -with Abe Lincoln in
1861 ? We think So. But Gherman’s
columns are moving on, and soon they
will have a chance to spill that last drop
of blood of which they hsve said so
much- Mr. Boyce knew what his people
wahted, and his position was taken to
try to save them from the ravages of an
invading army ; but Mr. Boyce was
silenced by the minions of power, the
blood suckers whose drunken debauchery
and wasteiul extravagance are starving
the women and children of the land ; Ins
lips are closed, as are the,' lips of all who
would speak to save,: -while hell itself
seems to have spawned and emptied all
its demons into the “departments" of the
government,'whose rulers and agents are
carry ins' us to destrnctiou with a speed
of at least sixty miles an hour. Sherman
is coming. The enemy South Carolina
has affected so much to despise is at her
own door, and we ‘shall wait in breath
less anxiety for that spartan courage,
that heroic daring, that is to save that
“sacred soil” and turn the tide of revolu
tion. ' .• * J
We may be mistaken, but we thinlf the
people of South Carolina, a majority of
them, w.ould jump at peace with recon
struction, ana we doubt not that Sher
man’s reception in that State will
strengthen that conviction within us.
Advice to Captains in the Army. —ln
forming your companies on the banks of
a deep and rapid river be careful how
you order the men to “fall in.”
* *s *' - • ■***• £r- ** a ' \xßsJ
f PRICE
\Flve Cental.
