The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-11-29

We have to congratulate the country on the
accomplishment of another important step in
the series OF naval and military operations
which are being directed against the Southern
ports. On Saturday last, the 23d, General Sher
man occupied Tybee Island, which had been
previously evacuated by the rebels, and which,
as will be seen by the map published elsewhere,
lies to the south of and commands the mouth O.
the Savannah river. Concidently with the sell
cure of this place, the federalsts took
| possession of the rebel Notifications at
Braddock's Point, the southern extremity
Of Hilton Head Island, and situated to
the north of the entrance of the port Of
Savannah. Here they captured eight guns be-
longing to the enemy. The narrow channel,
called Catalogue Sound, which lies between
Braddock's Point and Dawfuskie Island can be
closed by the sinking Of few vessels. From
the southern end of Dawfuskie to Turtle Island,
and from the latter to Tybee Island, the sinking
of some half dozen vessels more will offer an
ehcctual barrier to navigation. The APP
proaches between Little Tybee Island and
Great Warsaw Island can be disposed Of
with still less effort. Thus Savannah will be as
etfcctually blocked up as if she had no natural
outlets to the sea. OF the reliability of this
news there is happily this time no room for
doubt singularly enough, at the same moment
that it reached this city, through rebel sources,
by way of Fortress Monroe, the arrival of the
Illinois from Port Royal brought us full con-
firmation of it.
The Importance of this intelligence does not,
however lie in the acquisition of these new
patches of the sacred soil" of the rebel terri
tory. 1t is in the uses to which they will be
put in connection with the operations of the
stone feet, that the interest of the acquisition
mainly consists The first of the outlets of
Southern piratical enterprise which the govern
ment determined to seal up Theoretically by
this new blockading agent was the port of Sa-
vannah, through which SO large proportion of
the arms and supplies which have helped the
rebels to carry on the war have been hitherto
conveyed. 1t can never be forgotten that the
Governor of Georgia was amongst the first to
distinguish himself by his zeal and activity in
the cause of secessionism. 1t was in Savannah
that the first seizures were made of vessels be-
longing to Northern shipowners before the fall
Of Fort Sumter. II was to that port that the
Bermuda continued to make trips so profitable
to her owners, and of such timely aid to the
Confederates in arms and munitions of war.
Inasmuch, then as Savannah has been one of
the prime movers in and aders Of this wicked
rebellion, it is but right that upon it should fall
one of the first and heaviest of our measures of
retaliation. 1t was ambitious of commercial
distinction, and aimed at becoming to the South
ern confederacy what New York has been to
the Union-the great emporium and centre Of
all its business operations. By retribution as
appropriate as it is deserved, it will in few
days be wiped out of the list of the ports of
the Union. The seizure of Tybee Island and Of
Braddock's Point are but measures preliminary
to the barricading Of the entrances to the port
by the stone feet, and which will make Of this
nest Of rebels and pirates scene of commercial
desolation and ruin. The feet left here on the
2Oth and is about eight days out. 1t took with it
upwards of eight thousand tons Of stone. but
| small portion Of which will be required to
| block up all the entrances to the port.
From the military precautions taken by General
Sherman, there is now no probability of this,
one of the main objects of the expedition, being
defeated We hold the land points command
ing the approaches to the port SO that there can
be no interruption to the operations Of the feet
By the close of the week, therefore, Savannah
will so far as its communications with the sea
are concerned, be as valueless to the rebels as
any Of their towns in the interior.
1t is likelylnthat with the receipt of
the news Of the contamination of this
gratifying result we shall have the news
of another conjoint naval and military sue
cess further down the coast. We learn
by the Illinois that General Viele was to
leave Port Royal on Monday last with couple
Of brigades and ample supplies Of provisions
and munitions of war. General Sherman was
to accompany the expedition. Its point Of des
tination was not known, but it will not be many
days before it transpires. General Sherman
must feel strong in his present position, or he
would not thus venture to divide the force under
his command The activity and energy Of his
proceedings will. we trust, silence the earnings
of those journals which see in his recent procla-
nation to the people Of South Carolina only
motive for depreciating and undertaking his
| efforts in the cause of the Union.
| THANKSGIVING SERMONS Yesterday the clergy
| in all the churches delivered Thanksgiving SER
mons, in which was nothing new. They were
stale and hackneyed as thrice told tale. We do
not, therefore, publish them this morning. The
real Thanksgiving sermons were published yes
terday, in anticipation of the discourses of the
clergy. These were the various proclamations
of the Governors Of the loyal States. The clergy
have scarcely ever mingled in our national poll
tics but to do mischief and the sooner they con-
fine themselves to their own proper vocation,
and leave the secular affairs ofthe nation to be
managed by those who understand them, the
better for all parties. As for the questions
now at issue, they are out Of the range Of polit-
cal discussion, and beyond the reach even Of
statesmen. They must be decided by the sword