Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-11-10
SHERMAN's REPORTED MOVEMENT
ON THE COTTON STATES.

We yesterday gave dispatch from Cincin.
matt stating on the authority Of the Indianapo.
lis Journal Of Monday that General Sherman
returned from Atlanta early last week, with
five corps Of his army, leaving two corps in
Tennessee to watch Hood, that he DESTROYED
the railroad from Chattanooga to Atlanta, that
Atianta was burned, and that he is no. march.
ing directly for Charleston, S O.
This story is not believed in military circles
The Official information receired from Gen. Sher-
man cannot for prudential reasons now be
made public, but it may be said that the pros
encouraging, and that his supplies are ample
and in NO danger Of interruption.
The following from the Chicago Times will
be read with interest in this connection:
Sherman's Winter Campaign.
II was undoubtedly part of the plan of
Gen. Sherman's Southern campaign to halt at
Atlanta only sufficiently long to enable him to
accumulate supplies, after which it was his
Several things have occurred tv prevent the ex i.
ecution OF this design, among which Hood s
raid upon his communications was most prom I.
inent With more foolhardiness than wisdom
Hood staked everything upon this move and
lost Without permanently disabling the road
he was driven back with loss, and with the
remnants OF his force-some 4O,OOO-he has
made his way across the mountains south of
chattanooga, and is supposed to be striking for
Tennessee and Kentucky.
Whatever may be Hoods Intentions they do
not apparently give Gen. Sherman great con-
Germ. Instead Of following up Ho I'd he has
only made show of pursuing him while he
has been busily engaged in preparing his forces
repairing the railroad broken by Hood, and ac-
cumulatlng supplies for new movement of
the greatest importance Hood having left
Georgia unprotected and gone north with the
hope of drawing his antagonist after him, Sher.
man is availing himself of the opportunity for
grand movement southwark.
1t is learned from what Is believed to be re-
liable sources that Sherman proposes, after
gathering sufficient supplies at Atlanta, to
abandon the railroad from Chattanooga to At
umn on winter tour of the cotton States. This
step is full Of daring, but it is not without
promise OF success. The experiences of the
last few weeks have shown that the attempt to
keep intact the railroad from Chattanooga to
Atlanta is an impossibility. The original in
tentlOn OF Sherman, which was to provision
Atlanta and use it for q secondary base OF op-
eratlons, was therefore obliged to be aban.
doned. The active mind of the victor OF At
lanta was equal to the emergency, and he
promptly decided upon a course of action,
under circumstances Of difficulty which, to
most men, would have proved an insoluble
problem. Hood was beyond his reach, the
cost of protecting the railroad was excessive
and its difficulties nsuperable; he would leave
sufficient force to hold Chattanooga and look
after Hood, and with the remainder OF his
army strike across the southern States. Such,
we have reason for believing, was Gen. Sher-
man plan, and 1t is this which he is about to
put into execution.
Two Of his army corps will be left at Chat.
tanooga, while the other fl We, under Sherman,
will cut loose from all lines OF supply, will
leave the railroad 10 whoever wants it, and
push across the Cotton States. He will take
with him such supplies as can be carried con-
yenlently, and, when these are exhausted, will
live upon the country. OF his destination
nothing is known. Before him lies the broad
expanse of the Gulf and Atlantic States, and
he can shape his march to suit his iHclinations,
for there is no force to bar his progress. Before
m n IS tnh rc Inhi and nj
Gulf forces are slowly concentrating to his
left is Andersonville, pen In which are suf-
ferng thousands of gallant soldiers; and not
an unreasonable distance to the Southeast
are Savannah, Charleston, Wilmington and
Richmond.
1t is probable that the coming week will
witness the starting of this expedition, or as
soon the soldiers who have come home to
vote shall have joined their comma eds