The New York herald., 1864-12-12
Grant-shcrman-Tho MILITARY
Triangle.

rebel armies are now concentrated at three
points. which represent an isosceles or pyra-
midal triangle, with it's base line between
Richmond and Savannah, aud with Nashville
as the apex Of the pyramid. The distance, as
the crow flies, from Nashville northeast to
Richmond, is about five hundred miles, and
southeast to Savannah nearly the same, while
between Savannah and Richmond the air line
does not exceed four hundred miles. 10 the
contracted area within this triangle, the Davis
confederacy, in a military sense, is now re-
duced. Its existence now depends upon the
chances OF repulsing and dispensing the army
OF Sherman in Georgia, of capturing Nashville
and holding Richmond.
What are the prospectsf Beginning with
Sherman, all the rebel reports of bis move
ments show that, so far, his progress to the
seaboard has been deliberate and unopposed,
save by triaing guerilla resistance. De-
peting all the country from Petersburg down,
we doubt whether the enemy can muster at
Savannah 80 large force as twenty thousand
men; and in concentrating their strength at
Savannah they are In danger Of being
cut off from Charleston by Foster, aud
of losing that important centre Of their
remaining railroads. Sherman is out Of
the woods" and may strike for Charleston
or Savannah, as circumstances invite. The
capture Of either place secures the fall Of the
other, and in simply moving between them no
fanks them both. With his compact, powerful
and thoroughly equipped army of veterans he
may keep the open field, and in compelling the
enemy to come out to secure their lines Of COM
munication, he may avoid the tedious opera
tons of siege. He may adopt still another
line Of action Leaving Foster and the navy
to keep watch and ward over Savannah and
Charleston, Sherman may take ship and move
for Wilmington or to the James river for a
direct cooperation with General Grant. This
last move is what the soroly troubled rebels at
Richmond are most afraid Of. Savannah is in
great danger, Charleston is not safe, Whining
ton must be held in readiness for an assault;
but still it is possible that Sherman, to SIM
plify the game, may develop the real object
Of his expedition in flank movement against
Richmond. Meantime, in the withdrawal Of
rebel troops which would otherwise be alb
sorbed in the army of Lee, Sherman may be
considered whore be is equal to thirty thousand
soldiers TO Grant, and master Of the situation
against any combinations or rcinforcemenfs
which the rebels oan bring to bear against
him.
Next turning to Nashville, We have no ap-
prehensions whatever Of the issue of events in
a. ~
reached the end Of his tether; that he will not
attempt to storm the forts in his front; that he
cannot flank the gunboats in the Cumberland;
that he has neither the provisions nor ammuni-
ton for siege; that the season OF rains and
mud is upon him, which renders his passage
over the rough country into East Tennessee
absolutely impossible; that he has nothing to
gain by striking west for Memphis, another
fortified city; and that be will be lucky indeed
II he shall contrivc to get BACK over the Ten
nessee and into Alabama with Ills wagons and
artillery.
What, then, is the situation of things at Rich
mond! It has at length come to this-that Loo
must abandon that place and Petersburg for
safer position, or ran the hazards OF being com.
pletely detached from his supplies by Grant
and Of being Gagged on limited rations by the
arrival of heavy Union reinforcements. The
operations commenced by General Grant the
other day may be retarded by rains and mud;
but these impediments will more effectually
arrest any forced marches Of Leo to save his
threatened depots apd stations. We have
pretty good Information that Lees army is
reduced to less than fifty thousand men--a force
which is safe only in its intrenchments against
the army Of Grant. The object OF Grant is to
compel his adversary to come out and we dare
say that the man who has marched his armies
over the swamps Of the Mississippi will not be
embargoed by the mud of Old Virginia.
We have all the advantages OF numbers,
equipments, position. subsistence and facilities
OF communion at Richmond, Nashville and in
Georgia. ln the triangle marked by these three
points there are no means Of railway commu-
nication between Lee and Hood, nor between
Hood aud Savannah. They have been de-
stroyed, or are strongly held in our possession.
Hood is completely detached and dependent
upon bis own resources. Lees only remaining
arc with Breckinridge, In
East Tennessee; with Early, in the Shenandoah
valley, and with Wilmington, Charleston, Sa-
vannah and Augusta His railway lines are
limited, practically, to one side of the triangle
and these, if not now cut off, be may
lose at any moment Two years ago be pos
sessed such vast and perfect system Of inte
rior railway lines, that be could beat Us in
superior army at almost any
point. Reduced now to three inferior armies,
each with its hands full, oil demanding REIN
forcements, and with only, we may say,
single track OF railroad between Richmond aud
Georgia, and none between Georgia and Hood,
the great struggle draws to a close, and the
Issue at all points is in the hands Of Grant.
VIOLENT ASSAULT on A Cry RAIIRnAn.--