The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-15

General sherman's Progress-A Solid
Advanss close Upon Atlanta. 4 Il
The exciting military events Of the last ten
| days IN Northern Maryland and in the imme-
date rear Of the national capital have with
| drawn attention from the progress Of General
Sherman's operations in Georgia. The rebel
raiders in Maryland, however, having as mystic
rlously disappeared as they came across the
border, tie public will read with interest the
further details which we publish this morning
of General Sherman's progress, accompanied,
as they are, by fine explanatory map drawn
on the spot
The last difficult natural barrier-the Chat
tahoochee river-which the other day was be-
tween General Sherman's army and Atlanta,
has since been passed. We had anticipated
severe resistance at the several crossings of
that stream; but 1t appears that the infallible
experiment Of flank movement not only re-
suited in driving the main body of the enemy
away, but in capturing detachment of some
three or four thousand that failed to move off
in time 1t was supposed at the front that
Johnston's next move would be into Atlanta,
only ten miles distant; but it was not believed
that he would attempt to make stand at that
point, tor fear Of being fanked again. Atlanta
although place of great military Importance
as the focus Of the whole railway system of
Northern Georgia, and as the seat Of numerous
army factories, foundries, machine shops, &c.
is but small town, among the hills, of four or
FIVE thousand inhabitants; SO that with Sher-
mans army il necessary, it may be completely
invested.
An intelligent correspondent, abiding to this
campaign, says that since getting out OF the
mountains, and south Of the Kenesaw ridge,
Gen. Sherman has been reaping the fruits of bis
mastery movements; that the great superiority
OF his army over that of the enemy which ia
estimated at forty-seven thousand men, has been
made plainly manifest; that heretofore, on
mountain tops aud sides, and in ugly mountain
defles, the rebels have had all the advantages
of natural Notifications, and their loss has been
comparatively light but that, since getting into
the broad, open valley of the Chattahoochee,
they have lost five or six thousand men, while
we have lost none.
Joe Johnston, therefore, driven or flanked
from all his strong positions for hundred
miles down from the Tennessee border, into an
open country, where Sherman's superior forces
can be brought more effectually to bear upon
him, may be considered q dead cock in the pit
Sherman, in securing Atlanta may move east
ward for Augusta and Savannah, or southwark
for Macon, or southwestward for Montgomery,
Alabama, and Mobile, taking his own time 70
gather up supplies and establish his depots
from point to point. We expect soon to hear
Of some decisive and comprehensive results
from this energetic, still onward and over
whelming campaign Of General Sherman in
Georgia. He has fought his way over, through
and around the mountains, and, with the oft
vanquished and still retreating rebels before
him, it may be said, be is now master Of the
plains Of Italy, and can move in any direction
he pleases.