The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-12-20
sHERMAN'S RETREAT-HOoD'S AID
VANCE
From the Augusta Register.

1
! VANCE. zs
From the Augusta Register.
In the eager suspense with which we await The
result of Shermans retreat to new base on our
coast, VIC shall not lose sight of the advantages
which are likely to grow of the grand strategic
| movements which forced him to evacuate Atlanta
and to look eastward for the security of his army
| The mist which has so long obscured the move
| ments Of General Hood is at length breaking, and
the golden bow Of victory arches the horizon in
that direction The march of Hoods army from
the borders of Alabama to the heart of Tennessee,
has been sgnally successful; the raw recruits left
to impede his march, have melted before him; the
fortified posts of the enemy have after another
capt. ulated and Huntsville Chattanooga, Bridge
port and historic Murfreesboro', are ours; he has
been routed horse, foot and dragoon from his last
desperate stand at Franklin, and our victorious
legions 1aunt their proud banners around the en-
trenchments of Nashville, into which the retreat
ing vandals have fled for security: If our latest
adyices true, they have suffered one OF the most
crushing defeats Of the war; and their &C
counts admit the retreat on Nashville, and the i'm
mense destruction of the property of loyal citi
zens to prevent it from being used to supply our
army. Whatever Hoods future movements may
be-whether to press on to the Ohio, or co operate
with Breckenridge in relieving East Tennessee,
aud re-opening the upper route to Richmond, be
has accomplished results which demonstrate the
wisdom of his plans, and mark his last campaign
as one Of the NEST brilliant of the war. lie has
not only driven Sherman from Atlanta-which he
never could have done by confronting him-but
he has recovered the strongholds which MARRIED
the advance of the enemy into our State, and re-
deemed upper Georgia and most of Tennessee. He
has recovered territory whose temporary occupan-
cy cost the enemy millions of dollars and thousands
OLIVES; and given to the enemy and the world the
most convincing evidence Of our capacity to defe.u
all schemes for our ubjugaion. To-day he invites
the thousands of refugees from Cherokee Georgia
and the volunteer State, to come back to their
homes, and thousands of hearts are swelling with a
Joyous and grateful response to the summons.
So much for the victorious advance Of the dash
ing Texan. He has accomplished these crafty
ing results with very rifing loss. 1t is said that
he has received accessions to his forces much in
excess of the loss sustained He has Inflicted Sc
rious damage upon the enemy, capturing their
garrisons, and destroying immense quantities Of
stores, not to include the thousands reported hors
de combat from the victory at Franklin.
The Withdrawal of Hood from Shermans front
left open the road to the ocean unrestricted, and
he soon found that he must take this route for a
water-base, or make humiliating or dangerous
retreat over the mountains. 1t was in this despe
rate strait that he boastfully announced that his
course to the South. He afraid and
ashamed to acknowledge his incapacity to hold At
lanta by an unequivocal retreat So he goes for
ward, but with all his Boosting he cannot conceal
the fact that he is flying from untenable posi-
ton-that Hood has forced him to give up the
dear bought fruits of long campaign, and aban-
don his boasted hold upon the heart of the Iebc-
ion. True his course is marked by those acts of
cruelty, and waste, and plumber, which have dis
graced the enemy throughout the war-women
and children, and other helpless non com batants
have been made to suffer, and homes once tie
abode OF peace aud plenty, have been sacked and
despoied; but all this does not weigh feather TO-
wards accomplishing the helish work of subiuga-
ton. The spirit of resistance grows bri ehter than
ever in the hearts of the people, who have renew
ed cause to hate the remorseless vandals. These
personal trials to portion of our people, constitute
the chief result Of Shermans retreat admitting
that he reaches secure base on the coast; an adj
mission that we do not yet deem probable A base
on the coast affords him advantages, except the
single one Of obtaining supplies for his army, from
which Hood cut him off in Atlanta. The enemy
has held for years Port Royal, Brunswick and nu-
merons other ports affording all the advantages
which Sherman will secure, bases for operations
against the interior, unless he shall 90 to Savan-
nah. AS he has Stunned every city and town
having any means Of defence on his route it is not
likely that he will attempt to reach that city. L
will perhaps be fortunate for us if he does
In this hurried glance at the progress of the
two armies under notice, do we not find much
more cause for cougratulation than anxiety and
gloom! A month ago Sherman was in the heart
of our State, which he had reached in spite of our
best means of defence. His raids harassed every
portion of the INTERIOR and all our cities were ap
prebensive of an advance. 10 day he is founder, |
ing in the marshes of the Coosaw hatchee praying
for the advent Of some of his masters water craft
which are said to penetrate "wherever it is little
moist"
CONFEDERATE Victory IN THE CHoCTAw Ma !
TIoN.-The victory achieved by Gems. Gano and
Waite in the Choctaw Nation, some time since, |
was complete success. They attacked the enemy
in his camp at Cabin creek, fifty miles north Of |
Fort Gibson, on .he Fort Scott road, and captured
some $50 wagons and 120 prisoners, with but a |
IL. a e L ! j q 1