The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-11-14
THE FALL OF ATLANTA A SEVERE BLOW
Tho South Making. Fearful Strides Towards
q Centralized Government.
SEPARATE STATE ACTION.
Tho DeserterS Of The Rebel Army
Denounced as Robbers,
d.. &c.. 10,
Report Of the Rebel Secretary or War.
WAR DEPT. CONFEDERATE STATES AMERICA,

Report OF the Rebel Secretary or War.
WAR DEPT CONFEDERATE STATES AMERICA,
RICHMOND, Nov. 3, 1854 !
10 PRESIDENT THE CONFEDERATE STATES
en-The operations Of the War Department since the
Aate Of my last report embrace their scope
Tho present campaign. which at that time had not
ruly opened and which has not yet been brought TO
slose also the instituted for the increase,
ganzaon equipment and supply Of the army under tho
laws adopted the last session Of the first Congress-
me importance OF the elections 10 within the
United States during the present year. the condition OF
sAeir finances, and = growing discomfort among their
people OF the duration Of the war induced be-
NJ that their executive and military authorities would
psoeeeuts the campaign with extraordinary vgor and
sssk 70 render decisive and final Nor has this anci
patton been disappointed. In the winter and spring the
ssemy collected larger body OF than he had before
assembled in the neid who commanded BY his favor
~ generals His fleets were enlarged, and their
asnaments embraced all the improvements that naval
architecture had discovered. His and equipments
wore Of the most approved model and whatever re-
CURED for the OF the campaign supplied with
lavish profession he opened the campaign by attompt
70 obtain command the States bordering the Gulf
q Mexico. He invaded Florida, foot expedition
b sweep through Mississippi and to effect the capture Of
Mob and he penetrated with formidable armies TO the
western limits Of Louisiana establish his dominion
70 give him firm hold upon these States. and enable
him 70 concentrate all his energies upon the campaigns
N Virginia and Georgia. But these nvasions do.
ssatsd or repealed.
ta THE TRANS. MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT.
Ny last report the victories obtained in
Ne States Florida and North Mississippi that relieved
Alabama and Florida from the invader, and have now
- q seres Of brilliant trumphs obtained by
sur arms Louisiana and Arkansas, commencing with
extending into the interior OF Missouri where vlcto
sious troops at the date Of latest Information
Almost the entire Mississippi Department enjoys
security and repose and the troops long engaged with
Invaders there may now, as in part they already are be
employed In formidable offensive operations.
raR DEPARTMENT xoRrHERx VIRGINIA
Bat the primary object OF the enemy to effect the
apeure Richmond and the defeat and dispersion Of the
armies OF Northern Virginia and Tennessee. He
osd his main army for this purpose In April last the
Rappahannock, under General Grant. Another
collected on. tho Peninsula, under command
q General Butler, to cooperate on the south
side OF Richmond. third was designed penetrate
she James river through the Valley Of Virginia. and the
forces In Western virginia apd Kentucky to
she mountains and join II on Its march IS believed
chat more two hcndred thousand troops were COM
bnsd the execution Of this plan April last and that
from nifty 70 one hundred thousand have been
added as renforcements
army OF General Grant met at the Wilderness
"a tho 9th OF May last, and defeated It was encoun
tered with the same result spotsyvana Court House,
the Po the North and at Cold Harbor after which
u abandoned It's march Richmond and crossed the
James river 70 form junction with General Butler
Petersburg. The army or General Butler had landed
she south side OF the James at Bermuda Hundred early
In May. to cooperate with the army Of General Grant,
which expected to arrive before Richmond in short
smo On the 10th day Of May this army met with de-
feat at Drewrys Bluff and confined to s inrench.
ncnts from that time until Joined by the army OF
General Grant,
Tho army OF General sge designated for the invasion
The Valley Of Virginia. defeated at New Market In
May last and the troops from West Virginia driven from
The valley Of the Upper Roanoke about the time
A later period these armies united under General
Hunter, and after successful march up the Valley OF
Virginia were encountered by General Early at Lynch
burg and driven to tho Ohio river General Early,
1nding Washington city and Baltimore exposed,
passed through the valley, defeating all opposing
vorces, crossed into Maryland, and penetrated
10 the suburbs OF Washington city and Baltimore The
cavalry raids OF sheridan and Wilson defeated and
the attempts to permanently obstruct our communica
lions have failed. The campaign projected by General
prant with such mighty preparation has been frustrated
and Il no depended alone upon the means that we're
provided and were deemed to be superabundapt his
allure would be absolute But proclamation US been
made for the draft OF Ave hundred thousand men by
the President Of the United States recruit his defeated
and dsprted army, and yet claim security or
snst.
TIE DEPARTMENT rrrrEssEsv
In tho great central State Of Georgia the campaign
opened about the time but operations been
ssr less favorable 70 Preparation had been
ahcro made early 70 meet With adequate force
srcsedng the relative disproportion which has
usually existed with all armies and repel
lhs enemy on the threshold OF the State
but prudence strategy led the general entrusted with
NE conduct Of the campaign 10 prefer reIeating and
dssensye line OF action. In consequence, our forces