The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-12-05
Eastward from Atlanta.

Eastward nom AbihnS~'
The lay of the land in Inc regio.' -.
Sherman and his army are is matter IL "n,rH
we all feel deep interest at this ume' ~
know the geography of a country sniousn
which armies are marching greatly assis's one
- understanding their movements and the oD-
;active uoints to be gained. Gen. Sherman Is
in an enemy's country and beyond the reacn
Of any assistance from his government. The
axtent of the enemy's territory would be con-
sidered immensely large in any European
country, and in some parts it would embrace
several kingdoms. We who inhabit such a
broad expanse of country, do not appreciate
its magnitude as others do who are confined
to narrower limits.
Such magnificent distances" as Sherman
and his army have trayersed may wen aston
ish the military powers of other countries.-
From Atlanta to Augusta by railroad Is III
miles and fromAugusta to Charleston III miles.
Savannah is 1872 miles from Augusta. The
country from Atlanta toward Augusta is quite
rolling, and in many places rocky, with album
dance of water, wood and forage for an army.
It is we'll settled farming region, having but
few swamps, and the roads are generally good.
The only serious obstruction the inhabitants
could place in the way OF Sherman to impede
his progress would be the destruction of the
bridges over the Savannah at Augusta. Should
that be done, Sherman could move on Savan-
skill enough in his army to rebuild the
bridges without causing any serious delay.
The country lying between Augusta and
Charleston is not so favorable, portion of it
being inhabited by poor 'sandhillers," and an
other portion very sparsely settled. From
Branchville-the point where the railroads
from Augusta and Columbia form junction
to Charleston is 90 miles. Here the coun-
try is very fat, full of swamps and in summer
time so miasmatic that it is not much inhabit-
ed, and yet there are some large plantations,
and the slaves, when cotton was king. were
kept at work on the dry spots in these swamps.
In cool weather an army could march over
this region without serious danger, but in the
heat of summer such march would be attend
ed with deadly consequences.
The road from Augusta to Columbia, the
capital of South Carolina, Guns over what is
called "the ridges" which are generally low
sandhills and over small streams, the borders
of which grow cotton, and the farmers raise
a good deal of stock, have plenty of grain and
sweet potatoes, excellent food for an army
The Congaree river at Columbia is good
sized mill-stream, and SO is the Wateree east
Of it. The two Pedees are also small streams.
Should Sherman attempt march from Au-
gusta to Wilmington, he would find no serious
obstacle in the way except in time of high
water
The distance from Augusta to Columbia is
about so miles and thence to Wilmington, N.
G.. is 200 miles. Some OF the richest cotton
planters of South Carolina are found along
the rivers which an army would cross. If
Sherman passes over this region he will find
"good picking" and greatly annoy these cot
ton nabobs Slaves too will be found in album
dance in this region.
Wilmington, N. G. is an important place for
the rebels. This town is strongly fortified. 1t
is about so miles from Wilmington to the sea,
and the Cape Fear defenses are formidable,
and render naval attack difficult and hazard
GUS. This, in part, is owing to their proxim-
ity to the channel through which vessels must
pass to enter the mouth of the river which is
navigable for large steamers. The river runs
through level, marshy land we'll wooded on
either bank. At the mouth of the river and
stretching across it, is long, low, narrow is
land, affording only two entrances, called Old
and New Inlet. Here are two forts, Fort Fish
or and Fort Lamb, and at the western bar is
Fort Casewell which guards the river equally
as well as the other two.
Besides these, there are Notifications, con.
sisting of earthworks and batteries mounted
with heavy guns, scattered along the beach
aud located at favorable points to bear direct
ly upon the track of vessels coming into the.
river. When Wilmington Is attacked it will
not be done by naval force alone. A land
force would be necessary to ensure any thing
like success. How the town may be attacked
on the land side, or what defeHses there are
we have no means of knowing. One thing is
certain, the capture of Wilmington would be
severe blow upon the rebellion, but whether
sho PAoSO ID Ouo vi tuc ODJcCtiNo pOlutS Oner-
man has in view we know not. Time will dis-
close the result of his operations. Thus we
have described the lay of the land and the to-
biography Of the country through which Gen.
Sherman and his noble army are marching.
The last news heard from him is favorable.
Aud the silence OF the rebel journals in rela-
ton to his movements is not bad sign. As
usual they blow their horns very loud, and in
timate that some great disaster will befal the
Union army but we shall not be troubled by
any thing they may say. 1t is time enough
to mourn over bad news when it comes to us
through reliable sources; until then we feel
authorized to indulge hopes of Sherman's sue
cess. We not only hope, but believe he will
succeed in reaching the sea coast where no
doubt preparations have been made to meet
and join other forces to those he already CON-
mands. 1t may be fairly presumed that Sher-
man and the Government knew to what point
he was going, and at that point forces will be
in waiting for him. A few days more and the
public mind will be relieved from all doubt on
the subject. ii