Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1863-12-11

Among the mountains Of Northern
Georgia there is triangle Of railroads,
the three angles Of which are ChstignoO-
"a, Dalton and Cleveland, which is destin-
ed to great celebrity in the military histo-
~ Of the world. From the commence
ment Of the rebellion the crafty conspira-
sors Of Richmond have attached immense
Importance 10 the scquisition and control
Of that formidable chain Of bastiOns BY
which it is enclosed, knowing thstit is By
nature the whole key to the Southwest
portion Of the OORfederaey. For its de-
fense every quarter Of the Gonfederacy
had been depleted. All the coast cities,
Charleston, Savannah and Mobile were
weakened Of their defenses and troops
hurried forward to the support Of Bragg.
Bot thirty.f7e Thousand Of Lees ragamuf-
fms we're left to defend Richmond against
the magnificent columns Of Meade, num-
barring at least eighty thousand. Davis
made q special visit himself to the army
Of Bragg to inspire with fresh valOr the
poor wretohes whom he has cruelty led
into this maelstrom Of death. The rebel
press, far and wide, howled their dissatis-
faction over the worthless attack Of Bragg
ct Chattanooga, but hoped some compen-
sAtion for the loss Of Chattanooga and the
failure to overthrow the legions Of Gener-
al Thomas, if they might still, ably hook
or crook, /" maintain their possession Of q
portion Of the famous triangle.
But alas for the fekleness of that gid.
dy Fortune to whom they locked for help
Bragg's stupidity becomes Grants oppOr-
tunity. While Longstreet was hurried to
Knoxville to sWoop down upon the gallant
heroes Of Burnside, the invinoible army Of
Grsnt-the east and the west Joined OIL
western soil in fraserusl struggle against
the hosts Of darkness-moved its massive
columns up the mountain's side, into and be-
yond the clouds, down upon the retreatinl
foe, pushing him to the bloody crest Of
Ringgold. The fiery Hooker dashed hil
corps, for q time under the undeser7et
suspicion Of want Of valOr, against th'
flying fugitives; until stlength, as if BY
magic, but only by the snohantment Of
undauntsd herOlsm, the triangle has beer
swept and the great Southwest is redeemed
from rebel rule. The result Of al this
Is impossible to unfold. Alresdy Long
street, pursued BY sbermsn and FOste
and Burnside is endeavoring to rescu
his Inflated veterans through the tortuOu
valley Of ths HOlsteur, along the railway
to Abingdon, or through the passes Of thr
Blue Ridge.
It Is impossible for Longstrest to escRp
without great loss in men and in thi
munitions Of war. The flower of Grant
army may now be detached to strike bold
ly at Montgomery, and thus, BY gettinl
control Of the Alabsma river, como dow
upon Mobile from the North. Or, if d.
sired, he can by moving through the mOur
tain passes connecting Tennessee sn
North Carolina, place himself by the 81
sistsnoe Of the loyal men Of that region |
an attitude to strike either at RiehmOn
or Charleston. The possession Of a chat
Of mountains like that Of the Blue Ridg
will give him an advantage from whic
the distrsoted rebellion never CO
recover. From it, as have done the rebel
herstsfore, he msy launch out his fOrct
In sny direction upon his enemy, it thl
preventing Concentration sufficiently raj
i'd tomeetthe blow. Let US hope magnil
cent results from this possession Of the fl
nous triangle which is nov to all intent
our triangle.