, 1864-11-26

fFrom the Richmond Whig, Nov. 10
Sherman has torn up the Atlanta and Chatta-
nooga Railroad, boldly cut himself off from
I'LL connection with his base, aud plunged
hcadlong into the heart of Georgia, depend
ing entirely upon the force he has with him,
und the weakness OF the country through
which lie designs to pass. His aim is, beyond
all question, 70 secure position upon tue sea-
board, where be may receive reinfoTcemcnts
and supplies at leisure, and having there es-
tablishcd his base, to prosecute further oper-
ations next spring or during the winter. ills
not known fol what point Lis course Ia direct
ed-wActher be has selected Savannah or
Charleston as his base, or whether he aims
first at Selma and afterwards at Mobile.
Ne arc rather INCLINED to think TINT he will
prefer the latter, being induced thereto, no
doubt, by the refusal Of the Alabama Legisla-
ture, when summoned by Coy. Watts, to
make any provision for the public defense 4
refusal which the Yankee journals hare not
been slow to interpret into desire on the
part Of that State to return to the bosom Of
Abraham" If we may be excused for adopt
ing, for once, TIC prolane expression Of fseere.
tary Seward. Such movement on his part
would, moreover, correspond with the design
the New York 1iaeS- gave him credit for en-
tertafning last sumMer, when he made his
famous march from Vicksbnrg.
It may be, however, that he thinks it would
redonnd more to his advantage to seize Au-
gusta, the Importance Of which has been
against Charleston, which, with the advan-
tage Of a water base, would allow free COM
nunication with all the ports Of the United
States. From Charleston he can lend hand
! to Grant, who he hopes will, by that time, be
in possession Of Richmond, in operations
supposes, will entirely shut US out from the
sea. The Yankee papers, several weeks ago,
announced the determination to transfer the
winter campaign to the Cotton States, and
this, we presume, is the preliminary more
| ment.
Whichever Of the two movements Sherman
has in view, it Is evident that he calculates
| largely upon the weakness Of the country
| through which he designs to 1narch, or on its
disloynlty to the Confederacy. In both cal
cnlations we are inclined to believe he will be
greatly mistaken. It will be the fault Of the
people inhaliting those countries if his army
have reached either Mobile or Savannah.
The marches Sherman will be compelled to
| make in order to reach the several stages OF
lis journey are great, considering that he
| 1nnst carry the greater part Of bis supplies
with him., From Atlanta to Macon, the first
stage, Is somewhat more than 100 miles, and
| here there is understood to be a. strong garr1-
son, defending powerful works. From Macon
| to Augusta, Ito miles further. there is rail
road, Ihe destruction Of which will, ofconrse,
be attempted By our forces, and will be effect
| cd, at least, to the extent Of retarding his
progress until the portion broken down can
be restored. From Augusta to Savannah the
| distance is about Is miles, and at Savannah,
! Whatever calculations he-may now make, he
| will be pretty certain to meet with stubborn
resistance. Here, then, is march before him
Of 800 miles, throrgfl country sparsefy set-
| tied, and q cotton-grow.ng country, where he
| will not find the necessaries Of life so abun~
lart tbat he can afford to dispense with 1na
azincs, OF that he can replenish these SO often
| as to bc able ut all times to hare them close
| in his rear
When he shall have reached Savannah, sub
ducd The garrison anl taxed possession, he
may think Of Charleston 100 miles fhrthei
north Fisherman can do all this with the
force he has at command, which VIC are dis
| posed 10 thick does not exceed 4o,oo men
then be is much greater commander thai
wc lake him to be, and the Georgiaus are
much tanner people than they have credit fo
being. For our Own part, we cannot see hoH
the Contemplated campaign is to advance tn
design Of subjuga ton, let it terminate US i
| may.
It may serve US as an additional annoyance
TO the people, but it must be as destitute 0
| results as the arrow is destitute Of the poWc
to wound the air through which it passes. I
| leaves absolutely open the entire country II
the rear, from Chattanooga to the Gulf Wher
ever the Yankee army Is not for the time EN-
canpcd.