The New York herald., 1864-11-11

ehsuAan's Mastsrly Operstton-TAs
Last Divisien 80 che CoafeAsrasy-
The Decisive Blew.
Sherman he's cut the GordIaa knot His
movement from Atlanta toward the Atlantic
coast line, already begun. II the last news
be true, ID the most splendid operation
OF this great var. He no longer wastes
the energies Of his army on the mere
mass Of country In the cotton States-the inert
material that might be great naton--but he
strikes boldly at that part Of the country
where the life of the rebellion lies-where
there Is vitalky-where the head and
tho heart are-where he may hit oonsecu-
lively MilledgevIlle. Augusta, Columbia,
Charleston and Wilmington. He answers
grandy that very common question, "How
will Atlanta pay for its captures" He shows
that place to be an Immensely important one,
in view Of the effect with which its possession
enables him to deliver this blow; and he fur
nishes sketch In outline OF the way in which
the coup de grace Is to be given to the great
rebellion He has gained such . victory
over Davis. Hood and Beauregard as
i WAt HiuhO buOM cxhMptOb IOTOV0t Vl
military faulty. Hood, Beauregard. Cheat
ham, Cieburne, and the rest OF the
pigmles. are making speeches In Alabama on
their way to Tennessee. They are going into
that State to compel Sherman 10 evacuate
Georgia. Their solicitude is for Georgia, Ala
bama and South Carolina-which States
they desire above all things to keep free from
i nm ruoso md In air oku kn Iriy Char
man from what he has, they have exposed and
laid completely open to him the whole heart
Of their country. Such is the strategy Of JEFF
DAVIS, who told the people or MONTGOMERY,
! with admirable complacency. that he chad
some faith in bis capacity for arms"
Sherman is continuing the advance begun by
General Grant on the Ohio river. and intended
even then to cut in twain the part OF the con-
federacy on this side Of the Mississippi river
The frst success in that advance was the can
ture OF Forts Henry and Donelson. The ad-
| vance was continued thence to Nashville CIV
ing us secure possession of Kentucky and q
good hold on Tennessee. From Nashville It
was carried forward by Rosecrans to Chatta-
nocga. fanking Bragg out Of his strengholds at
Sbelhyville and Tul,ahoma At Chattanooga
affairs were arain taken in hand by Grant who
annihated near there the rebel army that bad
brought Rosecrans to a bloody halt. From
the position gained by Grant the advance was
carried on by Sherman to Atlanta, and now
the same great soldier has started to carry it
to tie Atlantic. 1t is HE good fortune to have
charge of the nart Of this advance that will
appear most effective in the history OF the
war-that may even prove the real decisive
operation Of the war-and which yet has in it
less difficulty ard danger than there was IN
any part Of the same advance through Ken
lucky. Tennessee and Georgia to Atlanta. It
is net even probable that he will have to 6ght
a battle; for through the whole district that
he is to traverse the rebels have no force at
all. and there ia no ab'e-bo6icd ponuation
He has to make march OF three hundred
| miles through p'rnsant country that his
army can live upon II nccessrrv. and he strikes
and involves in common capture the capitals
Of Georgia and South Carolina and Charleston.
He will hold therefore, thoae two States def
niteiy and pcs lively. And to gain this what
does he risk Nothing. His immediate COM
mand is not rsked In the least, nor can It he
supposed that Re risks the safety Of Tennessee.
Hood can do no harm. Hood. Forrest, Taylor
and all the Southwestern rebels together can
not muster moro than ffty thousand men. and
Thomas is undoubtedly able to defend the
State from such force.
Georgia and South Carolina, the capital and
the principal cities Of those two States once
firmly held by Sherman. and what is there left
Of the so-called oonfederacyi Not a single
State. Richmond and Wilmington will be all
that will be left Of the great rebellion. How
long will Wilmington. the only seaport OF the
confederacy. remain in the hands Of the rebels
with Sherman only one hundred and eighty
miles from it and that great squadron, that
troubles the Richmond parers so much, batter
ing at its de'ences! Sherman's march will also
be equally decisive OF the fate Of Richmond; ;
for II Lee, In view Of this advance, does not
suddenly divert large force to meet Sherman
he will In two months be bermetically seal ed
in his capital; and II he does divert such force
his capital will fall under Grants persistent
efforts. Looked at in any light Shcrman's
movement promises to be q most decisive one,
and there is every probability that It will be
the decisive operation Of the war.
Mr.. BELMONT AND TIE CHICAGO CONvEN-
TIoN.-The Chicago Convention, In resolution
declaring itself sort Of standing committee Of
safety, has left in the hands Of Mr. Belmont the
power to call said Convention together again
at any time. He should now exercise that
power, get the Convention together, deliver to
Its members his resignation and his farewell
address, and devote himself 10 the task OF pre-
pairing bis friend Macmillan for timely re-
moval from Mexico, 80 ~ to avoid Q financial
catastrophe to himself, Louis Napoleon. the
Rothschilds, the Erangers, the Slidells, the Bel
Il nj I'll Ill