Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-03-04
Important from the South.
SHARP FIGHTING IN THE SOUTHWEST.
Rebel Opinions of General Grants
Movements.
THE UNION MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI.

L
| THE UNION MOVEMENTS IN MISSISSIPPI.
i from the Richmond Examiner, Feb. 22.l
Official dispatches received yesterday
from General Polk state that the enemy
had made no advance from Meridian, and
was supposed to be awaiting cavalry rein
forcements.
1t is conjectured that reinforcements to
Sherman's column are on the way from
Corinth.
General Beauregard telegraphed yester-
day that the enemy was making demon
stration in heavy force against General Fin
negan, at Lake City, Florida. 1t is probable
that the Yankees are attempting to get
quasi possession of the State for political
purposes and theprestige Of the next elecA
tion. &
There appears yet to be considerable
doubt of the intentions of the movement of
the enemy in Mississippi, and it is variously
Interpreted as strategic policy or coup
de gueTe. There are no certain signs as vet
that Mobile is the object of this movement.
On the contrary, there are now some strong
reasons to believe to the contrary.
If Grant expects to defeat Johnston, then
such an event would leave Georgia and AL
ALBANIA open to him, and the consequence
would be that Mobile would fall without
struggle. The fate of this city is involved
in the affair of Grant and Johnston, and
the enemy would naturally await the So
luton of that crisis rather than incur a
needless hazard In attacking Mobile at this
time. 81.
Itmay be that the object of Sherman is only
the uninterrupted possession OF the rail-
road from New Orleans to Memphis, to Sc
cure which it would be necessary to drive
our forces back into Eastern Mississippi and
Alabama Retween this road and the Mis-
sissippi river there is large belt Of cotton
growing country; and, while securing this,
the enemy would at the same time protect
the navigation of the Mississippi from in
terruption of our troops on this side of the
river He would, also, by such a.movement
secure a new base from which to commence
operations in the spring.
1t would be extremely hazardous for
Sherman to leave the Mississippi river many
miles in his rear; and it would be still more
hazardous to attempt his reinforcement from
North Alabama, as any column moving from
there. would leave Gen. Johnston on its flank
and rear. tt fteh
These are speculations which the enemy
will soon determine for us. The movements
in the Southwest are evidently on large
scale, and are not likely to progress to their
termination without an important battle.
The war News.
from the Richmond Examiner, Feb. 97.l 4
ts4H GEORGIA.
An official dispatch was received by the
President from Gen. Johnston yesterday,
stating that the enemy was skirmishing all
along his lines northeast from Dalton. 1t
is not doubted that the enemy is making a
general advance in Georgia.
CHARLESTON.
General Beauregard telegraphs that all is
quiet in his department.
FLORIDA.
There are no details of the victory of
Gen. Finnegan. Our recent success in Flor
ida has so far resolved in our favor what
was most important crisis in that part of
the Confederacy. The enemy had made q
sudden landing at Jacksonville, he had PEN
etrated into the interior, and he had sue
ceeded, without opposition, in advancing to
within few miles of Lake City. His prog
ress was checked in the late battle. At last
accounts he was retiring towards Baldwin.
General Finnegan appears to be resolved to
drive the enemy back to his ships. He has
published an appeal to the people of Flori-
da to combine themselves into efficient mill
tary organizations of mounted troops, if
they have horses, and of infantry, if they
have not, and report to him for temporary
military service with such arms and equip
ments as they have.
.E.b MOBILE.
Now that SherInan's force is dispersed Or
withdrawn, there appears to be but little
anxiety as to anything Farragut may ac-
complish with his fleet off Mobile. He
would find it very difficult to get his ves-
sells through the shallow waters Of the pass
es and the fords. The Mobile Register re-
marks: Hartford frigates and his Moni-
tors can have no place in the picture, and
we have nets enough set for his smaller
crafts. He must come here, then, with a
large army; and he must come to. encounter
the best Confederate troops, behind the best
and strongest works that have been erected
in the South.' ,6 ss4s