The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-02-22

II is the general impression that Sherman will
have something else to do before marching direct
on Mobile. His expedition may first strike the
Tombigbee at DemopoIIs and capture Selma and
Montgomery; but the final point Is the Gulf city.
The Atlanta appeal, speaking of the situation,
says:
The late movement of the enemy in Mississippi,
whether regarded as military enterprise strate-
gc policy, or coup de gT1e, is certainly the most
extra rdinary of the war. For an army of thirty
or forty thousand men to cut itself loose from fts
base, like balloon from lis mNOrings, and plunge
into the depths of an unexpOred country, con-
fronting the hazards not only Of resistance but OF
exhaustion and starvation, Is mark of bOdness,
not to say of extreme TecklessneSS, and is but an
additional evidence of the extremities to which the
enemy Is driven In order that an end may be &C
complished or point carried.
There can scarcely be doubt, we presume, but
that the capture of Mobile Is the ultimate ain and
purpose of this enterprise, whatever may be lis
present purposes and, SO far, from all We have yet
learned, the enemy have met with but few Obsta-
cies to oppose his advance. His movements have
been so rapid and eccentric that our Generals
seemed to be baffied their efforts at resistance,
not knowing where to make stand or what points
to defend.
One plausible supposition lie, that if Mobile be
not really the objective points of this movement, it
their purpose to push our army back into Eastern
Mississippi and Alabama, thereby securing the un-
interrupted possession of the railroad from New
Orleans to Memphis, and redeeming the large belt
Of cotton growing country lying between that road
and the Mississippi river. This supposition would
seem to receive strength from the fact that the
Federal force il said to have divided at Norton
column going North and the other South. BY a
light detour, these columns would again strike the
railroad, the at anton and the other HGzle-
hurst or Br0okhaven, while at the same ti:e the
VickseHtg and Jackson road il being rapidly re-
paired to the latter place.
Several objects would be accomplished by the
eonsumn,atiOn of design Of this sort. In the first
place, the navigation of the river would be freed
from the interruption Of our troops on this side,
tranquility, might be induced 10 plant largely Of
cotton, which Is now worth more than gold TO the
Yankees, while new base or bases would be Sc
cured from which 10 commence operations when
the spring shall have fairly opened.
We are 10th to believe that the enemy is SO reck-
less as to project an overland expedition from
Vicksburg against Mobile at this season Of the
year. Their policy hitherto has been TO advance
by gradual approaches, and so we thin. II wiz De
IN this instance. The distance 30 travel, the dan
gers to hazard, and the obstacles to overcome, are
TOO many and great TO justify such belief But a
few days at most must develop the plans and pur-
poses of the foe, when we shall be enabled to pass
q more correct judgment upon his conduct.
We fnd the following items In the Mississippi
papers:
The State archives Of Mississippi are being re-
moved to Selma, Ala.
Nothing has been heard Of column Of flAeen
shapsand, pFomised by tho Yankees papers, 70 ad-
vance from Port Hudsou; neither has there been
any force landed as Psseag0ula ~ VISA expected
The cars on the Mobile and Ohio failr0ad do not
10 above Citronclli
some Of our exchanges think Mobile Is the place
Sherman intends to attack, Others think he intends
To move on Columbus, Macon and Dcmep0ils.-
From DemOpolls they say the Federals would ad-
vance on Tuscaloosa aad Selma, with the purpose
Of cooperating with column from Huntsville.
The fedeEals were known u be In the vicinity
Of Decatur, Newton county, Mias., In force, ON
Saturday evening, aud Confederate troops In their
front.