The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-07-21
The Georgia ampaign-Atianta-zts
Military Importance.

The Georgia Observation-Disclosures
Military Importance.
There no longer remains doubt of the
speedy occupation of Atlanta by the great
Western army Of General Sherman. Over
tie exceedingly difficult mountainous region
from Chattanooga to the Chattahoochee,
for more than one hundred miles it has
pressed the defensive army Of Joe John
sion, by fighting and fanking. from one
strong position to another, till not another
Is left him. He is now in comparatively
open country, and by the superior forces OF
Sherman may be readily expelled from or en-
veloped in any place of shelter to which he
Dsy retreat. OF this daring movement of
Sherni an. $50 far into the interior of the con-
federacy." the Atlanta Appeal says "it is GER
tainly the boldest, not TO say the most reckless
on record, not evon excepting the advance Of
Napoleon upon Moscow" that "such an oppor-
tunity for destroying or annihating an army
has never been offered to an opposing foe,"
and that "if something is not now done in the
gobbling up business we shall think there is
sad want of combination and cooperation
among our military leaders
But this campaign has shown that the in
superable difficulty to Johnston las not been
and is notthe want on his part Of hard fight
ing nor of skilful combinations or co-opera-
ton, but the want Of men, which the exhausted
confederacy can no longer supply. Herein
lies the unfailing advantage which has enabled
General Sherman to advance to Atlanta over
the most difficult region east of the Rocky
Mountains to an invading army, and to over
come the most formidable defensive positions
that military ingenuity could devise. We have,
too, in this superior strength Of Sherman's
army-which can be constantly reinforced,
against an inferior army which cannot be re-
plenished-as satisfactory guaranty that the
game is in his hands. We come, then, to the
inquiry, what are the military advantages
to be gained by General Sherman in gaining
Atlanta, and in what direction from this point
will he resume his line Of march,
We answer first, that in gaining Atlanta we
gain the important centre from which radiates
the whole railroad system q Northern Georgia,
and we gain the various military furnaces,
foundries, machine shops and factories estab-
lished at that point by the enemy since the be-
ginning of the war. In the destruction OF these
manufacturing establishments and the rail-
roads around the town, together with
employment given to Johnston's army,
it is believed that, in q military view,
we shall be fully compensated for all
the costs of General Sherman's cam
paign. But the great object here secured
by Sherman is new base for his future opera
tions, from which by rail he may move east,
west or south, as circumstances may invite or
demand.
In what direction he will resume his line Of
march will depend very materially upon the
line Of retreat that may be adopted by John
ston. With the demolition and dispersion Of
Johnston's army, Sherman may move with i'm
punity in any direction he pleases; for in fact
the rebellion from Georgia to the Mississippi
river on the one hand, and to the Gulf on the
other, will be vanquished. Sherman, then, to
secure this GROWING result, will continue to
follow up Joe Johnston, or Bragg-n it be true,
as reported, that the latter has so far risen
again in favor at Richmond as TO recover his
old position, while the former has 30 far fallen
from grace W W lOsc Al Wy cfcut tuo
destruction OF the rebel army Of Georgia be-
Ing the grand object Of Sherman's campaignyit
will be pursued VII accomplished. The dlrec-
ton, therefore, in which that army may retreat
from Atlanta will be the next movement Of
Sherman.
We conjecture that In order to maintain bis
communications With Richmond, Johnston, or
Bragg, as the case may be, will move eastward
70 Augusta, on the Savannah river. AS il In
anticipation of THU necessity, It appears that
large quantities Of the rebel army supplies
have already been moved from atlanta to
Augusta. The distance between the two points
II one hundred and seventy miles, over favor
able country for an advancing army, both in
regard to IL topography and ~ abundant sup
plies. There Is no stream along the whole
route vhioh NJ not h. tozdad u almost anX