New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-02-22
GEN. sHERHsN's PROGRESS.

| Reports that Gen. Sherman has struck the
Mobile and Ohio Railroad ct Enterprise or at
Meridian were reported yesterday from Cairo
place never famous lor trustworthy accounts.
SATURDAYS statement came Eom Chattanooga,
| by way Of Cincinnati. The latter reported q
battle at Enterprise on the authority Of Mobile
papers, "with unknown results" This morn
ling we hear Of no battle but Gen. Sherman Is
positively asserted TO have reached Meridian
ten days after leaving Vickktrg. He leii
1Vicksburg on tho Sd, yet is reported at
Jackson on the 9th, after successful struggles
at the Big Black River and at Clinton. 1t
Ii, difficult to believe that so largo force rs
Gen. Sherman commands, marched 40 miles and
fought two battles in two days, and still more
difficult 10 credit the account which makes him
10 have marched 40 miles in ten days across
such country as Mississippi in present 5tar'-
ing condition. And yet third report from Men,
phis repeats the statement with The more mar
vclous addition, that Polk, who was a. Enter
prise, marched TO Jackson about the time that
Sherman reached Meridian, and has cnt of oil
communication with the latter. II that we're
true it would be interesting to hear how The
news OF the occupation Oh Meridian came
through.
Altogether, we are compelled TO regard all
accounts yet received Of any advance Of Gen.
Sherman beyond Jackson as needing coniirma-
ton. The occupation of Meridian a; any date
yet given is so improbable, that We await
further news before basing any hopes or specu-
lstions upon it. We take 1t for granted that
Shernans column moves with transportation
enough for its wants, there being nothing to
indicate any capacity in tho country to feed it.
On that assumption, its reported rate ofprogcss
is greater than we have yet seen in tits war.
The statement that Gen. Thomas army was
in motion from Chattanooga toward Tunnel Hill
and Dalton having been authoritatively contra
dicted, tho forces immediately cooperating with
Gen. Sherman are reduced to Gen. Logan's
Corps, reported as moving from Huntsville in
the direction Of Rome or some point further
South. OF the progress Of this body nothing
has been heard, nor, which is moro singular,
has q single account or even rumor worth notic-
ing been received about the advance OF the
cavalry columns which LEFT Holly Springs and
Corinth some time before Sherman's infantry
left Vicksburg. There wero two OF these col
unns, under W. S. Smith and Griorson, rospcc-
lively; and they were presumably to descend
for some distance On tho parallel lines Of
the Mississippi Central and the Mobile and
Ohio railroads; 20 unite Of apoint not indicated;
and to reach Meridian, or pass beyond it, be-
fore the arrival of Sherman. 1t will probably
appear in the end that tho forces Of which we
are now hearing at Meridian arc the cavalry
only, and it may well be that the advance Of so
heavy force, although Of mounted troops
wholly, has driven Polk from Enterprise. The
communications with Mobile lay at the mercy
Of any brigade which would take the trouble to
go far enough South to cut them, and when they
were once severed, his gang Of conscripts and
demoralized troops from vicksburg would be as
good as worthless.
Still, though this is a reasonable and the
only probable explanation Of the reports re-
ceived, We advise nobody to put much conf
dence in suoh stories as have hitherto come over
the wires, Sherman is doubtless doing well,