Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-31
LEADER
sATTRD1T. 6EdEaaEa 81.


The Year 1864.
The Close of. the year is q ft time for re-
fection on the past and an honest cOntem-
~ plation Of the future. To review all the
hf details Of thspest year in the history of
" the nation, win require the mnumerable
3 tones of the chroniclers of these wOnder-
~ full times. The majestic march of events
S has been SO rapid, the results attained 50
. numerous, the hopes for the future SO
3 3 fraught with promise, that the mind is
/, burthened in their very contemplation.
4 The vast extent of territory upon which
n our military history hss been enacted, the
9 innumerable hosts that have marched 10
and fro over the mighty battle ground, the
gigantic resources in men andmeans which
? have been welded by the government,
! have alike been the wonder and sdmirs
i ton Of the nations of the Old World.
When we look at the past year to sec what
: progress We have made toward the ultf-
mstseztinction of the rebellion, we can
not but receive qualification and confidence.
: Though we may rot have added vast tracts
Of territory to our conquests, and now hold
them by military gsrrisons, we have done
what is better. The limited capabilities of
the South, both in men and means, have
been vastly reduced, until, as last des-
perste resort, the project Is now entertsiH-
ed of adding the blacks Of the South to
their srnnies, which, under Providence, will
be the signal for terminating the war. The
rebel forces have been poundedso thorough
ly that the Gulf States are open to what
ever Rying columns, under Thomas, move
through them. No one who considers the
losses endured by Hood, can suppose that
he can re-organize again so as to regain his
ground or even successfully resist the army
Of Thomas, when it shall advance South
wsrd from the Tennessee.
Among the great results Of the year
1864, ara to be reckoned, not simply the
march through Georgia, and the fsll Of
Savannah, but the possibilities which al
ready begin to appear, when We consider
what Shermau's next campaign will be.
The seizure Of Augusta and the-Savannsh
river, within q few weeks, is as certain to
ensue as the fall of Savannah. That win
b:seet the Confederacy snd cut all the rail-
roads leading from the Gulf States 10 Vir-
ginia. It will give control from the noun
tsins to the sea, will amputste Georgia,
Alabama, and Mississippi from vital con-
nection with Richmond, and thus give op-
portunity fort Observation-Disclosures Of those
States 10 gsin the ascendency. Not only
this, Biebmond is the objective of sher
man. The two Csrolinas are open to
him. Augusta in his pos
session an EASILY swoop down
upon TIA sntisl little city Charles
ton, advsa Raleigh ard Wilmington,
and finally uhite with Grant in hurting
the last foFked thunderbolt of desth at the
army Of Lee, which now constitutes the
strength that is left. Nor Is this magnif-
cent programme unreasonable, for what
force can oppose them2 Certainly not
Hsrdee's 1900, half Of whom are militia,
old men and f'5ys. 7fT1T the 5000 tlsr,ps
at Charleston, nor can Lee detRch enough
men. Shermanlvill not leave Savannah
with less thsn poo men. If the expc-
dition sent aftstipur prisoners succeeds in
reaching them, thousands more may be
added. Grant Aplds Lee in Richmond
and fhst is what i wanted in order to the
success of sherman.
Indeed the military situation at the
close of the year 1855, is replete with hope
for the fu.uts. The rebels feel II, and
howl forth their rage and disappointment.
They resort to all manner of vain boast
ing and sham philosophy to bolster up their
sinking cause. They see Destiny weaving
her web about them, and as it begins to
press heavily on sll sides, they cry. out in
manner which is evidence Of their sp-
preaching doom
We bid the old year goodbye, then, and
take TO our hearts for the new yesT just
aawning, the strong confidence that events
inspire. TIE sturdy philosophy Of faith
in the Republic, viii strengthen US for the
new year. And as we stand on the con-
fines of 1854 and see 1855 at hand, we
trust that our people may all rejoice in
treason oyerthrown, in the Union restored,
in universal liberty to all men, IN the
peace and prosperity which must follow
war, and in the conscious approval of
Heaven. Forward, then, with brave
hearts, into 1885.
The QuOIa OF fOhIO-Can If be Fineae
Our readers are alresdy aware that
Ohio must furnish, under the new call,