Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-10
DAILY LEADER.
THURsDAY, NOvEaBER 10.
staraIaE Movement Of sherman.

Wnlle the COpperReads Ike the New
York Ns,Os and World, are undergoing
much hypOcriticsl alarm about the condi-
tioR Of our affairs in Southern Tennessee,
and predicting that Hood will oYerrun the
whole State, we are suddenly made aware
of the fact that Hood has been most aston
ishinglv out-maneuvered. Latest accounts
represent him as being in the vicinity OF
Florence, Alabama with that gallant old
General Thomas who snatched victory
from defeat at the battle of Chickamaugs,
in his front, and amply prepared TO dispute
his passage north. That General Sherman
is satisfied with Hoods present position is
evident in the fact that he has withdrawn
the larger portion of his army from tho
pursuit Of Hood, sending two corps to
Tennessee to assist General Thomas. He
Is also reported to have destroyed the
railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta
sending the IRON to the former city, and
to have burned Atlanta, and then marched
in the direction of Charleston. The des-
truction Of the railroad and the burning
of Atlsnta, (which latter is very doubtful,
however was probably with s view to pre-
venting an advance by the enemy upon
Chattanooga from the direction of Atlanta.
If these statements are correct, and there
seems to be no reason for doubling
their accuracy, weare left to speculate up
on the probable results of this very bold
movement of Sherman. In the dispatch
published he Is represented as moving to-
ward Charleston. Should he do so, he
would have comparatively level country
as far as Augusta, on the Savannah river.
This place JEFF Davis a short time since
admitted to be the ohietpowder manufacto-
ryofthe rebels. Sherman could subsistupon
the country, and in the course of fifteen or
twenty days he might be able to reach
that nest of treason in South Carolina.
We do not, however, credit the report Of
movement toward Charleston. The fact
that he has begun movement South is un-
doubtedly correct, but we think the pre-
pOnderating reasons would dictate move
ment upon Montgomery and Mobile, rsth-
er than in the direction Of Charleston.
The seizure of Montgomery would insure
the fall of Mobile, would cut off Hood from
efectiag reunion with the rebel forces in
Virginia, would give Sherman convent
ent base Of supplies at Mobile and for all
practical purposes, would give him control
of both Alabama and Georgia. We
know that there is great dIsaffec.
ton in Georgia and Alabams, and
that the Legislature Of the latter
state recently adjourned without adopting
a single measure for getting out the
strength of the State in case ofsn invasion
The seizure of the Montgomery and Ala.
bama river would set free large amount
ofcotton which has been concealed in the
interior of that State, and would Civ,
great impetus TO toe growing peace sentl.
ment Ii that State. The negro popula.
tion of the country through which Sher.
man would pass is very great, as the rebel:
have been pushing their slaves toward:
the gulf as Sherman advanced upon Allan.
Ia There of course would be an immense
influx of negroes into Sherman's lines who
could be Immediately added to his Effective
force.
1t is quite probable that in movement
upon Montgomery he would strike south.
ward first, so as 70 reach our prisoners and
destroy the railroad cast OF Macon. Their,
is no probability that any force could be
collected sufficient to oppose his progress
The most that could be done would be &c
arm the militia, which being mostly old
men and little boys, would run like sheep
before Shermsn's splendid veterans. On
the whele, we believe, if this movement
south from Atlanta Is not yet inauguratoj
it soon will be and we may safely antici
pate the most satisfactory results.