Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-12-06
Bearings of sherman's March,
Special Dispatch to the New York Times.

.
WASHINGTON, Friday, Dec. g.
s The extraordinary fidelity With which
the Richmond press has obeyed the die
tates of the Confederate authorities, to
preserye an entire silence in regard to the
operations of Gen. Sherman through the
Iheart of The Confederacy, does not prevent
the outcropping of illusions and indica-
tions, which give the assurance of the
complete success of this grand campaign.
| After more than two weeks of almost un-
broken silence, we find him localized at q
point so proximate to his destination that
imagination. may catch the figure of his
advancing columns'ss they near the coast,
and his tired but triumphant army may,
after an anabasis more wonderful than that
led by Xenophon, begin, like those old
Greeks. to shout: "Thalsssal Thalassal-
the sea the sea l"'
During the season of darkness which
the intimations of the rebel press only
served to render visible, the only guide
left. to the blind was that faith which the
Apostle calls t'the evidence of things not
seen"-faith in the genius of the Com
ma nder, and his magnificent army of vet
erans; but even the most robust confidence
has been put to a severe strain, and, as
day by day elapsed, the fears of men in
creased, their faith diminished. Reflection
will, think, however, show that this mood
of mind was the result, not of auy failure
ON the part of Gen. Sherman in his achieve
ment, but of his failnre to work ont his
campaigu in the way we expected. When
Gen. Sherman, ia his advance eastward
from, Atlag n, passed gnheedipg,by Macon
leaving il of to his right, certain disap'
pointment was felt. People expected him
to4take Macon, and when he neglected to
= af ryio aaanna6 tn
have elnded his grasp. Then the popular
IMAGINATION fastened itself on Augusta as
his objective point, and eagerly anticipated
its capture, but day after day passed with
out the intelligence of the expected prize.
The rebels we're able to affirm that neither
Macon nor Augusta was cspturedi and that
neither city had even been threstened--a
further cause for " eak souls to grow faint
hearted. i't
Now, however, that it appears to have
beeu as little in Gen. Sherman's program
me to take Augusta, as 1t was to take Ma
con: now that he actually turns mp at q
point much nearer his ultimate objective
than if he had taken the line by Augusta,
perhaps our critical and captlous public
will be content to let Gen. Sherman con-
duct his campaign after his own method
trusting its plan to be justified by its re-
suits.
II needs but slight appreciation of the
nature of Gen. Sherman's task to justify
his wisdom 10 not staying his march for
the capture of places that must fall into
his hands as ripe fruit on the accomplish
ment of his design. Such a procedure
would only1 serve to exhaust hi. supplies
and use up his ammunition, in the execution
of minor results that are the necessary
Ionrollariee TO the successful. execution of
| his general plan.
Sherman aims at great ulterior resultsi
when he shall have achieved his end, ne
will have permanently severed the Gulf
States from those Of the Atlantic seaboard. J.
We shall hold the line of the Savannah
River. and confne the main army OF the
rebellion within the limits OF Virginia and
the OaroIinas. ss,
What, then, has been the actual progress
of Gen. Sherman thus far in the execution
Iofhis purposeI First, we know from the
testimony of the Richmond journals OF
| Yesterday, that he has successfully trans
ferred his whole army over the Oeonee, the
only river he had to cross ere reaching an
ontlet on the sea. We know, secondly
tbRt he is moving far south of Augusta, or
1 the Hne conneotipg that city with SaVan
nah,:. and on which they both depend. we
Know. thirdly, that he had, at last advices
phshed forward so far that he was aole e
throw ont q cavalry column to communi
cate with tho fleet We know, fourthly
/ both through the confessions Of the Rich
mond and Georgia press, and through tn
declarations of Gen. Grant, thatsthe rebels
have no hope of,being able to thWart Sher
man. This despair is strinkingly mani
tested in the tone of angry comment which
1.-The Richmond press heap on JED. Davis TO
Ibis policy in sending Hoods army on (
fruitless raid into Tennessee. instead of re
tainiDs it where it cOuld check the advance
of Sherman.
Saws the Enquirer of Wednesday:
nYithout. s1stai6iug any physical injurI
frou Sherman's successful march to tat
snas.. our cause cannot escape . greai
moral defeat by triumphant raid thraagl
The heart of the Confederaey. 1t is neithel
nroner nor profitable 10 inquire into tn
Tisdom of theIside track strategy bnt, st
fntnre day, it wilIabe we'll, If for nothing
else. at least for curiosity, 70 ind ont Wn
Il vas that so entirely succeeded IN rem
lderiug absolutely useless the army Vi AeA
nessee." AZ
3Oth ultimo: 40 sJ'i
ain the meantime, while. We do NOT anee
Ito be a Judge of military matters We can
mot but regret the absence of Hood. Hhe
the eut of ShsE1nah,s eommunication aboV
Atlanta, we,isupposed he intended 70 fol-
litjfv@himself" upon the rail road and hgt
him when he came ont to restorelthsm.
he should choose bolder game, the gam