CHARLESTON, January 14, 1865. The following telegram received from Major-General McLaws, dated 6 a. m. to-day: Enemy reported in large force a few miles from the landing at Port Royal Ferry. To-night he telegraphs: I am endeavoring to evacuate my position. Enemy are immediately in our front. They drove our cavalry so rapidly that it was with difficulty I could send artillery and infantry to impede their advance. They are now checked at Old Pocotaligo. My troops are being moved from the right toward Coosawhatchie. Should the enemy succeed in crossing the Combahee we will have but a short line to Midway or Branchville. I go to the front to-morrow. W. J. HARDEE, His Excellency President JEFFERSON DAVIS. (Copy to General R. E. Lee.) CHARLESTON, January 16, 1865-9 a. m. I returned this morning from Salkehatchie bridge, where I found McLaws, who fell back Saturday night behind that stream. He could not give me any very satisfactory information of the enemy. They appeared in front of the bridge, but not in force. My impression is they will pass up the right bank of that stream to Broxton's or Rivers' Bridge, which by passing they will be in a day's march of the railroad. The enemy came in heavy force from Port Royal Ferry. W. J. HARDEE, General S. COOPER. CHARLESTON, January 17, 1865. Enemy seems to be concentrating at Pocotaligo. A force reported to be moving up the Coosawhatchie. Nothing from General Wheeler to-day. General S. COOPER. W. J. HARDEE. CHARLESTON, January 18, 1865. On the night of the 15th instant one of the enemy's monitors was sunk by the explosion of a torpedo about 1,000 yards from Fort Sumter. It is believed that most of the crew perished. Two boats are still lashed to the monitor, and it is supposed that but one boat's crew escaped. W. J. HARDEE. General S. COOPER. CHARLESTON, January 22, 1865. There are ten mouitors inside the bar, an increase of four. No movements of the enemy on the Salkehatchie. I hear indirectly of the arrival of troops at Kingsland, but have received nothing official on the subject. W. J. HARDEE, General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General. Lieutenant-General. CHARLESTON, January 27, 1865. A gun-boat of enemy, in attempting to pass Battery Point, on the Combahee, yesterday, got aground. One of our batteries opened upon and succeeded in burning her. The crew, except one officer and four men, who were captured, made their escape. Major-General Wheeler reports a force of enemy near Springfield, Ga., moving on Augusta road, and Fourteenth Army Corps, eight miles south of that place, also on Augusta road. W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General. General S. COOPER. CHARLESTON, January 28, 1865. (Received 11.30 29th.) Enemy crossed at Springfield night of 26th, and moved northward in two columns on morning [of] 27th. General S. COOPER. W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General. CHARLESTON, January 29, 1865. Enemy have failed so far in all attempts to cross the Combahee. Indications are that the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps, now in Carolina, will cross the Savannah and unite with the column moving toward Augusta. W. J. HARDEE, Wheeler telegraphs from CHARLESTON, February 6, 1865. near Springtown, at 2.15 p. m. to-day, that he is skirmishing with enemy on Little Salkehatchie. Wright, that he is skirmishing with him at Combahee. W. J. HARDEE, His Excellency JEFFERSON DAVIS. CHARLESTON, February 6, 1865. Up to 12 o'clock last night no serious advance upon the South Carolina Railroad between Augusta and Branchville from the Salkehatchie River. General S. COOPER. W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General. CHARLESTON, February 8, 1865-10 p. m. The enemy appeared at railroad bridge near Branchville to-day; also at New Bridge, five miles below, and at Binnaker's and Holman's Bridges, above. No serious effort made to cross the Edisto. Enemy have driven our forces from railroad bridge over Salkehatchie and are active at Combahee Ferry. Nothing heard from Wheeler to-day. W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General. President DAVIS. CHARLESTON, S. C., February 10, 1865. (Received 11.20 p. m.) The enemy has crossed the South Edisto at Binnaker's Bridge. Stevenson has concentrated his force on North Edisto to oppose him. Wheeler telegraphs that General Allen, having informed him that enemy is moving on Augusta, he is going with all his available forces to Aiken to meet him. Enemy's gun-boats have left the Tugaloo. Enemy repulsed to-day by General Wright. This morning enemy crossed from Dixon house and Battery Island to James Island, and are now in front of our works in some force; one monitor in Stono. The enemy have kept up constant fire to-day, but on city. His Excellency President DAVIS. W. J. HARDEE, (Same to General Beauregard.) CHARLESTON, February 11, 1865-9 p. m. (Received 1 p. m. 13th.) The enemy last evening drove in our pickets on James Island. The lines have been re-established to-day. The enemy are still in strong force on the island, but the movement is believed to be a demonstration. There is an increase to-day of eighteen steamers off the bar. A barge attack made to-night upon Battery Simkins was repulsed. W. J. HARDEE, General S. COOPER. Lieutenant-General. CHARLESTON, February 12, 1865-10 a. m. I have just returned from Orangeburg and Branchville. It is believed the enemy is in heavy force between the Capler* and South Fork of Edisto, near Orangeburg and about it. Is not certain whether enemy intend going to Columbia or to Charleston. Enemy not in force near Branchville or below. All quiet on water front this morning. W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General. President Davis. CHARLESTON, February 12, 1865. Wright has been withdrawn from the Ashepoo across the Edisto, and the enemy having crossed the North Edisto near Orangeburg, McLaws is retiring from Branchville to the line of Four-Hole Swamp. Sixteen transports appeared in Bull's Bay to-day. W. J. HARDEE, General S. COOPER. CHARLESTON, February 15, 1865. Since my dispatch of this date General Beauregard has reiterated evacuation of Charleston. I will accordingly proceed with the movement. President DAVIS. W. J. HARDEE, Lieutenant-General. KINGSTREE, February 19, 1865. Charleston was successfully evacuated Friday night and Saturday morning. General S. COOPER. W. J. HARDEE, HDQRS. DEPT. OF SOUTH CAROLINA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA, Cheraw, S. C., February 26, 1865—2 p. m. GENERAL: Your dispatches have been received and your instructions will be carried out as far as practicable. The movements of the enemy indicate an intention of going either to Darlington, Florence, or this place. I think it probable he is making for Florence or Darlington. I regret to inform you that I met with great difficulty and delay in crossing the wagons, artillery, and troops across the Santee. McLaws' division is all here except a brigade which was left at Florence, under Colonel Hardy, to protect that place until the troops, wagons, and artillery have passed. I sent instructions yesterday to General Taliaferro urgently directing him to press forward to this place with the utmost expedition. I expect a portion of his command to-night, and most, perhaps all of it, may be here before the enemy shall cut the road. Much of our artillery and most of the wagons are still in rear. I have directed all those which may arrive at Florence to-day and after to remain at that place until the movements of the enemy are developed, and if the command should be compelled to fall back, to move with it. Instructions have been sent to Col. W. M. Hardy, also to General Taliaferro, if unable by movements of the enemy to join me here, to fall back toward the Santee, and to rejoin me by Sumterville and Camden. Respectfully, your obedient servant, P. S.-It is proper I should add that more of my cavalry has come up. It was the last to cross, being kept in rear to guard the crossing of the Santee. Another cause of delay and embarrassment arises from a heavy rise in the Great Pedee and its tributaries, which has carried away some important bridges on the route, thus causing the wagons and artillery to go much out of the way to reach this place. The lack of cavalry is much felt, as I am unable to learn the movements of the enemy. W. J. HARDEE. General G. T. BEAUREGARD, Commanding Military Division of the West. [Indorsement.] Respectfully furnished Lieutenant-General Hampton. Nothing has yet been received from General Cheatham since he was neard of between Newberry and Unionville. Respectfully, CHERAW, February 28, 1865-12 m. GENERAL: Since my dispatch to you yesterday I learn from MajorGeneral Butler that the Seventeenth Army Corps crossed yesterday at Young's Bridge, on Lynch's Creek, and that the Fifteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps are marching on this place. His dispatch was dated at 6 p. m. yesterday at Kellytown. General Butler stated his intention of moving last night, so as to get between Cheraw and the enemy. I regret to state that the troops I mentioned as being in rear, and which I expected here last night with the artillery, have not arrived. There has been no arrival of trains since yesterday afternoon. I have sent down an engine to learn the cause. I do not apprehend that the road is cut, but that there has been some collision I have no doubt. This road, like all others in the Confederacy, is wretchedly |