Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-28
ELECTORS AT Largo.
Sherman's Pursuit.


We know that Gen. Sherman has driven
Hood out Of Georgis into Alabama and that
at latest accounts the rebel force was scam
psring in great haste toward TAllsdega at
which point railroad runs South, connect
ing with the Montgomery main branch at
Sci ma. Sherman is reported at Gaylesyille
nesr the Oooss River, the rebels being at
Gydsden. Alabama. The country west of
Rome which, now, for the first time, being
traversei by our army is said to contain
an abundance of grain and of stock and
our army is living off the country. Wheth-
or Sherman will pursue the rebels farther,
will depend upon the route which they
choose to take. The movement having been
such wretched failure, Hood will feel that
something must be done 70 retrieve the
disgrace ofso signal a defest Of his plans.
It is evido1t tl,s.t l-o i-,so-,os, ,efso- toaring
up as much of the railroad as possible, as
far north IS Dalton, to pass by Chat
tanooga, cut its communication, and sud-
denly cross over into Tennessee, finally, if
possible, compelling Sherman to sbEadOn
everything behind him and follow after.
On leaving Resaca, and passing northwest
through Snake Greek Gap, which is about
seven miles in length, he blocksded it by
telling the trees, so that Sherman's pursuit,
except with infantry, was delayed as much
as two days. But while Sherman delayed,
the Army of the Cumberland, which had
gone north from Resaca toward Dalton, was
ordered to cross the mountain north of the
gap, an achievement which Hood did
not contemplate. The result was that
he found his resr suddenly struck by-a
heavy force, just as he was moving north
toward Lafayette and Stevenson. His OBJ
ject was evidently to draao Shermsn's army |
after him. But this sudden appearance of
the Army of the Cumberland put q new
phase on matters, and the rebel General |
beat hssty retreat towards Rome, and has
since been pushing southwesterly toward
Talladegs. Rome, in the meantime, is oc-
cupied by our troops, and its possession
will prevent Hood from attempting snoth-
er flank movement on the road from Chat
tanooga to Atlanta.
But what will Hood do now? He must
do one of two things. Either by his pres
ent circuitous route retrace his course and
get into his old position south of Atlanta,
or attempt movement northward from
Gadsden toward Decatur, on the Memphis
and Charleston railroad. This is point
with which he might attempt to establish
railroad communication with the South by
the way of Corinth.
A movement Of that kind would, with
the force at Hoods command, be fatal to
him, and yet the probabilities are that he
may attempt il, rather than reeross the
Ooosa river at Gadsden and make his way
back toward JonesbOrO, and thence to
ward Macon If he moves north toward
Decatur, on the Tennessee, he will have
Schoheld and Thomas in his front, and
Sherman in his rear.
So far as his raid on the railroad to At
lants is concerned, it has proved misers-
bic failure. The damage done is already
repaired, and the cars are probably to-day
running to Atlanta. The impossibiiity. of
succeeding in an attempt of that kind has
been proved, and the people of the South,
who had built such high hopes ofsuccesz on
Hoods movements, have been doomed tosn-
other bitter disappointment, if they should
not yet be compelled to sufFera heavier blow
in the utter overthrow of Hoods army.
Sherman is on his heels, and as he has but
one pOntoon bridge, he may not be able
to cross the Coosa, should he attempt
it, before he would be routed by Sherman's
victorious pursuers. In any event. the ,
possibility Of q speedy overthrow of the
rebel forces in the southwest grows bright
er every day. q Crazy Sherman will yet
infict disastrous blow upon him. The
only credits that Hood has in his raid, is !
the capture Of seven or eight hundred men
at Dalton On the other hand, his losses
BY desertion, by his bloody repulss at Ala ]
toOns, and by the wear snd tear Of march /
ing over two hundred miles in rough
country, are among the fruits of his move
nent, While the rebels are growing over ]
hoods achievements, Hood is seeking safe t
y IN rapid retreat