Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-07-19
Railg gntelIigeuter
The hIevonLh week of tho Cam
pnIgn.

the above remark made by Genl Grant at
Yicksburg to an Ohio Colonel, concerning
General Sherman, "in front of Atlanta"
What superb generalship, indomnitable
will and fxedness ofpurpose, are summed
up in the four words. How vividly they
recall to view the long weary marches from
Chattanooga, the successful hAnking of the
strong hold at Dalton, the gallant dash
| through Buzzard's Roost Gap and Alatona
Pass, the stubborn fights at Resacs, Dallas
and Ackworth, and the heroic, though uu
successful, charge upon the feeling crags
of Keneshaw. The reward of all their Ia.
bors IS just within the grasp of our brave
boys. They feast their eyes upon the church
spires of the Richmond OF the West and
nerve themselves for the final encounter.
AS reticeut as he is brave, Gen. Sher-
man has Issued no bulletin since the 4,h
of July, but has lett the public to learn OF
his progress from the newspaper despatch
es. From these, we ascertain that Johns
ton, alter abandoning Keneshaw Peak, the
last of his three strongholds, crossed Hoods
aud Folks (now Stewarts) corps TO the
South bank of the Chattahoochee, leaving
Hardee to dispute Sherman's advance. But
the later quickly divided his army into
three columns, and while one remained to
attract Hardees attention, the remaining
| two were despatched over the river, above
and below the point crossed by Johnston.
| This double flank movement not only com
| pelled the latter to withdraw Hardee, but
10 abandon the strong and elaborate forti-
fcations on the eloWer bank. of the river
According to the Nashville Times of the
| 18th, our entire army then crossed and
rapidly marching over the eight miles iu-
tervening between Atalauta, appeared be
fore its walls. The appeal of a recent
date intimates that instead of making
direct assault, he would now flank them
again, and come up on the South side of
the city. Such a movement it confesses
would compel the evacuation of the place.
It is very possible that Sherman has by
| this time settled the question. He has now
reached an open country, and can operate
with much greater facility than at any
time since leaving the Tennessee.
Another most important advantage has
been secured. By gIanciug at the map, it
will be seen that the ChaItah oochie river
rises near the Carolina line, and Iravers-
ing the entire width of the State, turns
southwark, and forming the western boun-
Diary, empties into the ApaIachiola. 10
obtaining possession of this river, sher.
man therefore secures strong defensive
line, corresponding to the Tennessee, aud
removing the danger heretofore existing to
his routes OF communication. Right here
on this river he can establish a fourth
base of supplies, corresponding to Nash.
Vile and Chattanooga.
The enemy may turn with wistful eyes
to the trans Mississippi for help, but so
long as our navy keep a watchful eye
| along the Father OF Waters, Kirby Smith,
Taylor or the other generals in Louisiana
aud Arkansas, will not be able to effect
passage.
The latest intelligence from the Upper
Potomac is to the effect that our forces are
still in pursuit cc the retreating invaders.
What Grant is accomplishing below the
James is best summed up iu the following
extract from the Georgia Constitutionalist,
of the 29th uIt.:
Grant has it in his power to besiege the
capital, or force an attack on himself, or
force an evacuation of Richmond. Mt
that he has his choice of these three
things, but can force that choice upon us
Ia Grants moving upon the south Of
Richmond and threatening James river
near the city, General Lee has. choice OF
two evils. If he keeps ahead OF Grant,and
holds the Petersburg line inViolate, that
tanker necessarily gets between bin ana
| Redmond, and walks iuto the city at his
leisure If Lee keeps between Richmond
and Grant, the latter, of course, gels be.
tween him and the Southern States com
muuicarion, and cuts off the only source
of supply now left, as the valley of VW
Riuia is in the hands of the enemy -
If Lee wants to save Petersburg and Rich
moud both, he will have to attack Grant 10
one of his craw6sh movements, aud will
have to attack the positions and inlrench
ments which the granny spade and pick
army never exist an hour without.
| If General Lee chooses to stop the game
by q fight. he has to put lis 6nger on the
slippery Grant and stop his flsa like fl Ink
iugs; and having found him and stopped
him for a fight, will have to charge the
hills Grant will occupy. aud the trenches
Grant will dig. If President Davis con
cludes to swap capitals, and giving Grant
Richmond, starts off ahead of him for
Washington, we will have the army to sub
sist in the desert waste between the two
I-capitals, have to make time on foot that
will beat the transports on the Potomac
and Chesapeake have the Notifications OF
Washington to storm; and seige to stand
there should we get inside.
We lose Richmond if we hold the Wei
don and DanvilIe Railroads; we lose the
railroads if we save Richmond, or we
attack Grant in his trenches If we try to
save both. 1t is true that Gen. Beaure.
gard could still keep south of Grant, and
prevent raids into Carolina, but could not
keep him from stopping the roads south
unless be has enough men to attack Grant
in reverse, and place him between two
fres. We hope Grant thinks be has
This is a game with no possible hiudrance
perfectly plain to even such unm'il'ery