The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-02-21

pretend TO serve the Government by SIS
serting the right of Africans to govern
white men ?
The situatIOn-A Gigantic Enter
prise.
In order to fully comprehend the Mill
tary Situation, and to form . rational
conjecture regarding the objective points
Of the great expeditions now in progress,
in the cotton states, it is necessary to
consult = carefully prepared Railroad
Map, in which all the strategic posi-
tions are laid down. Laying aside the
expeditions which will doubtless be sent
from Chattanooga, to the Southwark, at
the proper time, there are four heavy
columns in motion, all of which are under
the direction of experienced leaders, and
which are designed 10 cooperate, in the
work of freeing the States of Mississippi
Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, of armed
rebels.
Two of thege-those from Jacksonville,
Florida, and Corintb, Misissippi-Are
either wholly or partially mounted !;
while the others consist chiefly of infant
ry, and light artillery. In conjunction
with these, sea expedition, under the
tried and true Admiral Farrsgut, has
already left New Orleans, and the pub
lie may rest assured that it will perform
its part with vigOr.
What is the destination and object, Of
each Of these advancing columns, and Of
the fleet? We think that this question
will no! be difficult to answer, ifnO dis
aster overtakes us; and we spprehend
none.
The main column, under direct CON-
msnd of Gen. Sherman-thsn whom an
ADLER officer is not to be found in the SER
vice-left Vicksburg, some two weeks
since; and with little or no difficulty,
penetrated to Meridian, one hundred and
forty miles to the Eastward, by the 18th
or 18Th of the month Gen. Polk having
fed before him. a glance at the maps
will be sufficient TO evince the strategic
importance Of this place; itssvers the only
Railroad communication betl0een Mobile, and
and tie remainder Of reBeldOm. Whatever
may be the magnitude of the garrison Of
that place, it will be utterly useless, if
isolated the seizure of Meridian half
effects this and the capture of Selma,
on the Alabama river, completes the work,
by cutting off steamboat navigation.
The rebel papers, of the latest date
conjecture that the move of Sherman in
to central Alabama, is designed express
ly to compel the evacuation of Mobile
and we strongly suspect they are right.
Their fears are induces of the feasibility
of the plan. Unsupported, the garrison
of Mobile must evacuate the place; and
and with Meridian, and Selma in our
hands, it will be unsupported.
The Alabama river empties into Mo-
bile Bay, and is nAvigAble for large boats
TO Selma; and one or two imprOvised
gunbOats, would clean the river Of the
feet of merchant steamers, through which
the troops obtain supplies or what is
nearly equivalent, compel them to take
refuge under the guns of the rebel bat
teries, and continue there.
It is to be supposed that guerrillas viii
do ell in their power to cut of ShermAn's
communications but they viii be -
powerless there IS elsewhere f; they may
temporarily interrupt it-nOthing more.
Gen. Polk will either move southwark to
Mobile, or eastward, to Atlanta; more
probably be will adopt the latter alter
native as to re-enforce the garrison at
Mobile, would be only TO eat up the sup
plies accumulated there, without svailing
anything.
In the meantime, the large cavalry force
under Gen. Smith will not be idle but
will occupy itself in cutting railroads;
attacking detached forces Of the enemy;
harrassing the retreat of the main body
cutting of supplies swinging guerrillas,
etc. and in its work, il will have every
thing its own way, IS the rebels have no
cavalry force adequate TO the task Of re-
sisting it. Where, and how it will strike,
will doubtless depend much on circum-
stances; the exigeneies of the occasion
will be duly considered, and provided
for. It viii, Of course, act as an auxiliary
to Sherman.
In the meantime, force is moving, or
intending to move, directly upon Mobile
whose base Of supplies will be the gulf,
and which viii be directly aided by the
fleet under Farragut.
The expedition from Jacksonville, ia
intended to aid in the contamination Of
the gigantic campaign in progress; it
will clear Florida Of rebels, and threaten
Savannah and all Georgia, on the South,
until our advancing columns shall reach
the ChattahOOchee,On theIWestern bound
airy Of Georgia.
The campaign is the most stupeRdOus
ever conceived by 3 master military
mind, since the days of the invention Of
gunpoWdsr; and its success viii vindi-
cate its adoption, and will place him
who planned il in the liss Of military
heroes.
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