The New York herald., 1864-12-22

son into Georgia further aud further from base until
Atlanta fell into hands, and Sherman found that
HOODS army was still formidable for mischief With
Atlanta We severed the railway communications for
time, but tho branch roads around Milledgsvle ana
Macon sll enabled the enemy TO draw supplies from
Florida, Southern Georgia. Alabama and Assssppi, for
the subsistence Of their armies, while gave u one
hundred and forty miles more Of railway TO guard
against raids upon TANKS and guerilla depredations in
the rear.
inc further pursuit Of Hood, consequently, seemed
frought with danger and perpsxisy and Sherman
10 have studied web the problem shorten his line
OF supplies, and at the time hold Chattanooga the
key 70 Tennessee. Tho campaign Of the summer had
ended Hoods army being not less than thirty thou.
sand, while the draft had very largely swelled
Shermans ranks Is was then that the
great genius Of the solved the question: and this
campaign was created andworksd upon the map Tho
moment he could draw Hood away from 'front.' beyond
the reach Of railway communication with the rebel base
supplies, Sherman that by dividing bis large army
be could with the wing Keep Hood employed and BY
bold and rapid strike and open up
new line OF supplies, OF the large rivera from
which no could operate against tho interior Of Georgia.
Alabama and the Caronas.
have the best authority for saving that the subse
quent advance TO the shemsn own coucep-
ton, submitted and explained by him to General Grant
and tho War Department, and by them heartily ap-
proved.
With the subsequent movement Of Hood to shernau's
rear the cutting OF his communications the apparent
hardness OF Sherman In pursuit. and this escape
Of Hood into Norshern Alabsma, the reader is
familiar and at the time, doubt. felt like censurng
Sherman for not showing determination energy
against inferior numbers But they now see that
this was part Of snerman's well matnred plan.
While Hood was boldly pushing away from his base
Sherman was gathering a his strength for desper ate
blow that was destined break the outer shell Of the
rebellion and expose its vitals.
PREPARATIONS FoR THE MARCH
Sending the Fourth and Twenty third corps Thomas
as nucleus for . command, a new army wss or.
Eanzed under that well tried general and then Sherman
bade the North good bye, destroyed the railroad from
Atlanta 70 Chattanooga rehtted his army at Atlanta
cut ioosc-destnation, the coast: object new base.
Loading his wagons with sixteen days ra tions for q
march Of three hundred miles throug Oh an enemys
country he frst divides his command into four
columns, marches via the Augusta and Atlanta Rail
way, destroys II in his march as well
as the road 70 Macon. While his right wing
threatens Macon the left occupies the capital or the
State and lays waste the railways, cotton mills foundre.
and machine shops. In his march he subsists his
armies upon the fat Of the land branches or threatens
Augusta, cuts tho railway communication with savap-
nah then rapidly turns south, the ogeechee
with tue two streams and direct upon Savannah
and the coast completely destroying the railways or
Georgia, leaving not enough subsistence behind him to
winter kid. invests savannah and in thirty days from
the time be cut loose, opens up line o! supplies
with his base cny ten miles from his army.
And sll this marching OF three hundred and nfty
miles through enemys country b performed without
the css d wagon or mule, gun pound or ammu.
milton.
The intelligent reader will see the importance or
this csmpsign iD military point Of view With Georgia
stripped os all its summer crops, the ralwdys de-
sroyed Hoods lrmy cannot su5sist upoa or occupy IL
orng him be cannot hurry 10 the relief OF Savannah
aud Charleston, which toslsrlng TO their down
fall
With large army under sherman and grand navy
under the gallant dog Dobigren threatening them
their possession by MS n only question OF few weeks
Bet has bad another Important effect upon our cor.
mon enemy. Heretofore Lee has drawn . large amount
Of subsistence from Florida, Georgia, Asbaps. Misss.
sppi aud Texaa. This raid OF shsrman's has not
only cut every line OF communication with the
Southwest, but bloted ous the mscn,no shops and
iron works that furnished tho material for
pairing shcse railway arteries sad veins. Hence
Tor She future Lee dspead entirely the Caro-
ipae snc Virginia FOR subsistence bis army. lie may
endeavor 70 invade Esst tennessee end Obtain supplies
romshat quarter but the withdrawal OF any considerable
force for that purpose would eudanger Richmond and
open the gates to Grant.
taken ~ wnole, am forced 10 no ocscluson that