While we write, the rebel army is concentrated at Goldsboro, say thirty thousand strong, and Sherman and Schofield are in communication. With a good line of retreat, Goldsboro is strong, being the intersection of the North Carolina Railroad with the Wilmington and Weldon. But they cannot hold it, for Sherman will use his never-failing stratagem of marching around them without attacking, and tapping their rear; and so, like the wandering Jew, they must move on, or fight Sherman where he chooses to receive them, and where they must be beaten. Thus far the march of Sherman has met with but little opposition, and he has captured and destroyed immense amounts of valuable government property-at Columbia, forty-three pieces of artillery; at Cheraw, twenty-five pieces, and thirty-six hundred barrels of gunpowder; and at Fayetteville, twenty pieces, and large quantities of other war munitions. Later:-Schofield is at Goldsboro, and Sherman at Smithfield. We copy from the Herald dispatch of Captain J. E. P. Doyle, the following, which will, by the aid of a map, present to our readers a clear view of Sherman's movements from Savannah and Beaufort to Fayetteville CHRONOLOGY OF THE CAROLINA CAMPAIGN. JANUARY. 16th.-Right wing (Fifteenth and Seventeenth Corps) transferred from Savannah to Beaufort. 20th.-Left wing left Savannah, marching on either side of the Savannah River towards Augusta. 23d.-General Sherman transferred head-quarters from Savannah to Beaufort. 25th.-Left wing delayed by rains in camp, seven miles from Savannah. 26th.-Left wing at Springfield. 27th.-Advance of the left wing reached Sister's Ferry. 29th.-Right wing moved from Pocotaligo towards the Combahee River. Left wing in camp at Sister's Ferry delayed by rains and high water. 30th.-Right wing moving along Savannah and Charleston Railroad, and between the railroad and McPhersonville, encountering small parties of the rebel cavalry. Left wing still at Sister's Ferry. 31st.-Right wing at McPhersonville. Left wing at Sister's Ferry. FEBRUARY. 1st.-Right wing moved from McPhersonville towards Hickory Hill. Left wing still water and mud bound at Sister's Ferry. 3d.-Right wing moved to Brighton's Bridge, over the Saltketcher, when enemy made resistance to the passage of the stream and burned the bridge. 4th.-Right wing effected passage of the Saltketcher. Left wing moved across the Savannah. 5th.-Right wing crossed Whippy Swamp. Left wing moved to Brighton, which had been burned by the rebel cavalry. 6th.-Advance of the right wing; fought Wheeler at Orange Church on the Little Saltketcher. 7th.-Right wing at Bambury, and midway on Charleston and Augusta Railroad. Left wing moved to Lawtonville, which was burned by the Twentieth Corps. 8th.-Right wing crossed the South Edisto River. Left wing in camp at Lawtonville. 9th.-Right wing at Grahamsville. Left wing reached Allendale. 10th.-Right wing crossed the North Edisto River. Left wing reached Fiddle Pond, near Barnwell. 11th.-Right wing captured Orangeburg. Left wing marched through Barnwell, which was left in ashes, and encamped three miles from White Pond Station. 12th.-Right wing made a rapid march from Orangeburg towards the Congaree and Columbia. The left wing tore up ten miles of the Charleston and Augusta Railroad. 13th.-Left wing crossed the South Edisto River. 14th.-Left wing crossed the North Edisto River. 15th.-Right wing effected the passage of the Congaree, and began shelling Columbia. General Carlin, in the advance of the left wing, skrimished with the rebels near Lexington, capturing and burning the town. 16th. The right wing confronting Columbia. Left wing marched to Hart's Ferry, on the Saluda River, and crossed. 17th.-Right wing occupied Columbia. Same night Columbia was burned. Left wing reached the Broad River. 18th.-Right wing in camp at Columbia, and left wing in camp on Broad River. 19th.-Left wing crossed the Broad River, and destroyed Greenville and Columbia Railroad, camping near Alston. 20th.-Right wing left Columbia, destroying railroad to Winnsboro. Left wing moved to and crossed Little River. 21st. The whole army was concentrated at Winnsboro, thus leading Johnston to suppose that it was Sherman's intention to push upon Charlotte. 22d.-Right wing engaged in passage of the Wateree River at Pay's Ferry, Left wing tore up the railroad above Winnsboro, and moved to Youngsville. 23d.-Right wing on Lynch Creek. Left wing reached Rocky Mount, Catawba River. 24th.-Part of the left wing crossed the Catawba (or Wateree) River. 25th.-Right wing captured Camden. Left wing passing Catawba River. 27th.-Left wing still engaged in difficult passage of the Catawba. General Carlin had a fight with Wheeler's Cavalry. 28th.-Right wing moved from Camden towards Cheraw, encamping on Lynch's Creek, and halting for three days, waiting for the left wing, delayed at the Catawba River, to get up. MARCH. 1st.-Left wing moved to Hanging Rock. 2d.-Left wing marched to Horton's Ferry or Lynch's Creek. 3d. The left wing being up, the whole army crossed Lynch's Creek. 4th.-Right wing captured Cheraw. Left wing crossed Thompson's Creek 5th.-Right wing and part of the left crossed the Great Pedee River. Davis's Corps of the left wing moved up to Sneedsboro. 6th.-Davis crossed the Great Pedee, and the whole army was massed to move on Fayetteville. 7th.-Left wing moved to near Downing River. 8th.-Right wing at Laurel Hill. 9th.-The whole army marched on the several roads converging at Fayetteville to within twenty miles of the place. 10th.-Marched to within ten miles of Fayetteville in line of battle, anticipating an engagement with Hardee. Kilpatrick's Cavalry struck the rear of Hardee's retreating forces near Fayetteville, and engaged Hampton in one of the finest cavalry battles of the war. 11th. The whole army entered Fayetteville, having been engaged in the campaign for fifty-four days, and having marched four hundred and forty-three miles. From the environs of Richmond, for reasons already suggested, there is little to chronicle. There are rumors that the rebels have countermined one or more of our forts, but that the engineers cannot find the spot upon which a globe of compression would destroy the gallery: Doubtful. Reviews inspire and discipline the troops. General Grant receives his glorious due, in the shape of the gold medal voted by Congress. We watch the Southside Road, and the troops nearest the enemy lie upon their arms at the first scent of possible attack. Whether as a feint or not, Lee masses his troops in our front at Petersburg, and the great battle may begin at any moment. In Richmond affairs are almost at their worst. The Examiner declared some time since that the evacuation of the capital would be the loss of all respect towards the Confederate government; and yet the Congress is deserted by its members, in spite of Lee's wail that "unless these abide in the ship" it must sink. Davis asks them to postpone their adjournment, and they give him, with the generosity of fear, one working day. Admiral Semmes, they say, is planning a grand expedition down the James, by which he will break through our obstructions and do wonderful things. The transports, if he could get at them, he might sink, for his hand is in for that sort of thing, but the men-of-war may, like the unchivalrous Winslow, be mean enough to plate or chain their vessels, and then Semmes would have cold water thrown upon his plans, even as at Cherbourg. By the last accounts, the newspapers in Richmond were "temporarily" suspended. Only the Dispatch was left, and that found it a blessing to appear on half a sheet. Sheridan's march deserves special mention. After the defeat of Early by Custer's Division near Staunton, he marched forward in rain and mud, inflicting immense damage upon the railroads and canal, and going very near Lynchburg and Richmond. We can present no better summary of his movements than will be found in the following dispatch: HEAD-QUARTERS, MIDDLE MILITARY DIVISION, } "Lieutenant-General U. S. GRANT, Commanding Armies United States:"GENERAL-In my last dispatch, dated Waynesboro, I gave you a brief account of the defeat of Early by Custer's Division. "The same night this division was pushed across the Blue Ridge and entered Charlottesville at two P. M. the next day. The mayor of the city and the principal inhabitants came out, and delivered up the keys of the public buildings. "I had to remain at Charlottesville two days. This time was consumed in bringover from Waynesboro our ammunition and pontoon trains. "The weather was horrible beyond description and the rain incessant. "The two divisions were during this time occupied in destroying the two large iron bridges-one over the Rivanna River, the other over Morse's Creek, near Charlottesville-and the railroad for a distance of eight miles in the direction of Lynchburg. "On the 6th of March I sent the First Division, General Devin commanding, to Scottsville, on the James River, with directions to send out light parties through the country, and destroy all merchandise, mills, factories, bridges, &c., on the Rivanna River, the parties to join the division at Scottsville. The division then proceeded along the canal to Duguldsville, fifteen miles from Lynchburg, destroying every lock, and in many places the bank of the canal. At Duguldsville we hoped to secure the bridge to let us cross the river, as our pontoons were useless. "On account of the high water, in this, however, we were foiled, as both this bridge and the bridge at Hardwicksville were burned by the enemy upon our approach. Merritt accompanied this division. "The Third Division started at the same time from Charlottesville, and proceeded down the Lynchburg Railroad to Amherst Court-House, destroying every bridge on the road, and in many places miles of the road. The bridges on this road are numerous, and some of them five hundred feet in length. We have found great abundance in this country for our men and animals. In fact, the canal has been the great feeder of Richmond. At the Rockfish River the bank of the canal was cut, and at New Canton, where the dam is across the James, the guard-lock was destroyed and the James River let into the canal, carrying away the banks, and washing out the bottom of the canal. "The dam across the James at this point was also partially destroyed. "I have had no opposition. Everybody is bewildered by our movements. I have had no news of any kind since I left. "The latest Richmond paper was of the 4th, but contained nothing. "I omitted to mention that the bridges on the railroad from Swoop's Depot, on the other side of Staunton, to Charlottesville, were utterly destroyed; also all bridges for a distance of ten miles on the Gordonsville Railroad. "The weather has been very bad indeed, raining hard every day, with the exception of four days, since we started. My wagons have, from the state of the roads, detained me. "Up to the present time we have captured fourteen pieces of artillery-eleven at Waynesboro and three at Charlottesville. "The party that I sent back from Waynesboro started with six pieces, but they were obliged to destroy two of the six for want of animals. The remaining eight pieces were thoroughly destroyed. "We have captured, up to the present time, twelve canal-boats laden with supplies, ammunition, rations, medical stores, &c. "I cannot speak in too high terms of Generals Merritt, Custer, and Devin, and the officers and men of their commands. They have waded through mud and water during this continuous rain, and are all in fine spirits and health. "Commodore Hollins, of the rebel navy, was shot near Gordonsville, while attempting to make his escape from our advance in that direction. "Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FORT FISHER. "P. H. SHERIDAN, Major-General Commanding." [The universal interest excited by the capture of the "impregnable" Fort Fisher prompts us to place on record, for future history, the following letter and sketch of the work, by General Comstock, the chief engineer of the expeditionary army.— ED.] HEAD-QUARTERS UNITED STATES FORCES, SIR-I have the honor to submit the following report of engineer operations in connection with the capture of Fort Fisher, together with a sketch of that work, and another of the country in its vicinity. Fort Fisher is situated on the peninsula between the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean, about a mile and a half northeast of Federal Point. For five miles north of Federal Point, this peninsula is sandy and low, not rising more than fifteen feet above high tide, the interior abounding in fresh-water swamps, often wooded and almost impassable, while much of the dry land, till one gets within half a mile of Fort Fisher, is covered with wood, or low undergrowth, except a strip about three hundred yards wide along the sea-shore. The landing of the troops composing the expedition was effected on the sea-beach, about five miles north of Fort Fisher, on January 12, and Paine's Division was at once pushed across the Cape Fear River, with instructions to take up a line to be held against any attack from the direction of Wilmington. This line, on the morning of January 13, was already defensible, and was further strengthened during the day; while, on the 14th, a second line was laid out, and begun under charge of Lieutenant J. H. Price in rear of its left. Pioneer companies were organized in Ames's and Paine's Divisions, and as during the 14th the fire of the rebel gunboat |