The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1864-03-26
The Expedition of Gen. sherman.

The Expedition of Gen. Sherman.
We clip the following from the Nashville
Union of the 9th inst:
The mystery which has so long shroud-
ed the designs of Gen. Sherman is begin
ming to be dispelled by the course of events.
That he is now retiring leisurely to Vicks-
burg, without the least apprehension of
danger, appears to be settled.
The question, then, naturally arises, what
were his designs, and how far was he en-
abled to accomplish his purpose And
preparatory to answering, it will be neces-
sary to briefly refer to the situation of af-
fairs in Mississippi.
The farmers of the southern and central
portions Of that State, relying on a Federal
advance. and feeling secure on account of
their isolation, from rebel impressments, had
planted largely both of corn and potatoes
but Notwithstanding the hoped for immu-
nifty, no sooner had the crops matured than
heavy cavalry force, under Lee and For
rest, was sent thither to gather them and
send them to railroad stations for transport
tation to Georgia. The subsistence thus
obtained was a matter of the first impor-
lance to the rebels, and we'll did the Rich
mond Wing declare that to cut these off
would be 10 damage them more than to win
victory.
In the next place, the railroad from Sci.
ma to the Big Black was in running order
and we have reason to believe that it was
meditated at Richmond, to seize and hold
some point on the Mississippi; at least to
hold it long enough to interrupt communi-
cation for some time, and to draw reinforce
ments from Arkansas or Texas. In the at
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force would have been necessary in order
| thousand rebel troops, iudiciously distribu-
ted, might keep large army employed in
defending the banks of the river.
The expedition of Sherman has not only
cut off the rebel supplies to which we have
on any point of the Mississippi untenable.
The destruction of the railroad to the Tom
bigbee, is better than a defending force Of
twenty thousand men.
The road has been effectually destroyed.
Bridges, ties and culverts were burned, and
rails bent go as to render them worthless
and we are all aware that there are no facil-
tiles in Dixie to replace them indeed, we
doubt if, under any circumstances, the
road could be put in running order in four
months.
But this was not all. The extension of
this road was destroyed as far as the Tom
bigbee, and perhaps farther, though we
have no positive information upon that
point,and the Mobile & Ohio road was rem
dered equally worthless, as far south as
Quitman, and to place twenty miles north
Of Meridian.
This VIII effeetUally cut off the corn fields
of North Mississippi, and will end all ap-
prehensions of rebel raid on the Mississip-
pi rive.
It is almost certain that Sherman would
have penetrated as far as Montgomery, had
not the expeditions of Smith and Grierson
failed, and rendered communication with
the Tennessee river impossible. Much has
been lost by that failure but with this
draw back, Sherman's expedition has been
productive of as many advantages as any
since the war began.
We will also sefer to one thing more it
effected. Il is not now out of place to refe
to the weakness of our army during the
winter, on account Of the absence of two
thirds of the men on veteran furloughs
the return of the greater portion of these
troops, with the arrival of large bodies of
recruits, has rendered il useless to hold the
secret longer. The diversion created by
Sherman prevented Johnston from attempt
ing to take any advantage of our weakness;
and if nothing but this had been accom-
plished, the expedition would not only
have been fully justified, but absolutely de-
manded.