New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-05-21

4
ment may BIO hourly expected. We do not
caro- to speculate on the probable direction, but
we see no reason in the operations of Wednes-
day 10 change tho opinion heretofore expressed
that Grant will finally move on the right flank
of the enemy, and that the next battle must effect
a material change in the positions Of the two
armies, and in the prospects Of the campaign.
Gen. Sherman's advance continues to be
pressed with ability, resolution, and success. A
telegram Of yesterday puts him in possession Of
the line of the Etowah River. which at the point
whore it crosses the railroad is forty eight miles
from Atlanta. and is well south of that region
in which the most obstinate defense of Northern
Georgia was expected. II seems that the Reb-
els prefer to fall back on Atlanta, and trust
finally to the works covering that place,
which are reported to be strong. Between
The Etowah and Atlanta, however,
flows tho ChattahOOchee, a considerable stream
at It's intersection with the rcaroad, and which
may DO found q temporary obstruction to the
rapidity of Gen. Sherman's advance. more
serious obstacle would be the extreme length to
which his line Of communication is protracted,
but for the fact which seems to DO well attcsted,
that south Of Dalton the railroad was left UNI
harmed by the retrcating Rebels. Yet it is
strange that the bridge over the O0stenaula
should not have been destroyed, and that the
lesser bridges which span the frequent creeks
along the line should also havc been spared.
Johnston il not known to have any conSdcra-
bic force of cavalry, and without it he can
scarcely expect to interrupt or to seriously
harass such a line Of railway communication a.
Sherman holds, and will extend with his adj
vance. But since the turning of his position al
Dalton AMI the battle at Resaca, the retreat OF
Johnston has been unsccountably prccipitate.
II NAV be that his force has been left even
weaker than was supposed by the imperative
acquisitions OF Lee for support in Virginia.
Particulars of the battle Of ReSaca, which we
give elsewhere, show that the action was a Sc
we're one. -Four general officers were wounded.
and the estimate of losses amounts to four thou
sand, which, in proportion to the number ell
gagged, seems pretty large. The Rebels lost
seven guns, and lost also their last hope OF hold
ing their ground in Northern Georgia.
II is now admitted that the forces of Gen.
Butler were withdrawn after the battle OF Mon
day, into the line ofintrcnchmentS which defends
the Bermuda Hundred peninsula and which,
with the aid of Admiral Lees squadron, consti-
tuteS his base of operations.
Whatever may have been the reason Of his
withdrawal, an officer so distinguished a. he Is
for energy will speedily resume tho offensive.
Even as matters stand, the work of his forces
has been of high value The destruction of the
Weldon and especially of tho Danyille road
by Gen. Kautz, aud the damage done To the
James River Canal, are such as cannot be
restored or repaired for weeks. and the accumu-
lated stores which have been burned can never
be replaced. Their loss may not be felt this
week, or next, but before the struggle ends it
will bear hard on the rapidly failing resources
of the Rebellion.
Further accounts from Gen. Ayerll confirm
and extend the previous statement Of bis opera
tons on the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad.
The best evidence of the utter defeat OF the
Rebels under Jones and Jenkins at Wythcyllc,
is that Gen. Aycrillc, after the roui, pushed
81 aight forward on tho line OF the railroad, and
its destruction TO n point four miles
east OF Chnstansburg, more than fifty miles
from Wythevile. OF his subsequent move
ments or of his intended operations there is no
Intelligence.