Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-01-23
rhs war Of the TItnus.

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The War Of the TItaHs,
Il Is evident to every rejecting mind
that the present lull in military affairs is
20 be followed. before many days, by the
thunderings ofgrlm, terrific battle. While
the air is stiu with the rest cur armies are
enjoying, the materials and plans for the
spring and summer oampaign are brewing.
Il is safe to assert that the hopes of the
rebels are SO fsr crushed, thai they hold
eut mainly with the expectation Of some
more fortunate results under different
administration. Being compelled TO yield,
as says General Grant, they look to the coz
Eervati7ss for aresloration Of their dOmes-
tic institution. 10 them they look for len
ienoy and an unreasonable mercy.
What schemes the rebel leaders are siin
plotting in their crazy brains, none can
tell; aud yet the facts in the problem are
as plain to Us as 10 them.
The most omnipotent fsct Of al is, Ulys-
sess. Grsnt, with his spleldid army plant
ed in the heart Of The CoBfedersey, and
ready like lioa to leap upon his pIey.
Already the territory west CT the Missis-
slppi is lost. The State itself is virtu-
ally gone, and now they sre threatened
with another fssure which will clseve the
rsmsining States. It is clear, therefore,
as the Richmond Wbig has confessed, that
the overthrow OF General Grants army is
absolutely essential to their cause. His
victory will be the entire defeat Of the re-
bellion. We must therefore look for the
battle Of the Titsas in Georgia. It is
here that the continent must be made to
quake by the laundering Of mighty srmies,
dashed against each other in what must he
q mortal combat Everything else mast
be abandoned, il necessary, every resour-
ees subsidized by the rebels, 10 accomplish
their ends. The best General they have
will be sent from Richmond to take com
mand Of the rebel hordes that are to be
preeipitated ike an svslsnobe upon the
most vulnerable point in the lines Of Gene
raj Grant. For this end, Longstreet is to
hold his mountain fastness until Spring,
in order that it may be dashed upon the
tanks Of cur army or hurried through
Cumberland Gap for another raid upon
Kentueky.
The best authorities estimate the army of
General Johnston, now in Northern Geor-
gia, at 10000. This force, by calling in
gil Struggling detachments. and by draw
inr heavily from the vicinity Of Richmond,
may be increased 10 100000 men. It is
believed that General Grant will have
10000 more, with theserious disadvantage,
however, of bass Of operations hundreds
of miles away. If his magnificent array
OF cavalry can te employed to sever the
r;bel communications south Of Atlanta, he
will be on equal terms for while, but in
case Of the retreat of the rebel army still
farther into the interior, his base Of sup-
plies must be transferred from Nashville
t,Moutgomery, which can easily be done
OF the capture Of Mobile. He would then
hold water Communication with the Calf
OF Mexico and railroad connection with
the Mississippi at Vicksburg. We have
always been Of the opinion that this shift
ing Of the base must take plscs unless
the rebels choose to stake the issue by
a citing General Grant as far north as the
COosa River.
Confrmatory Of this view Of the coming
clmpaign, are the well-defned evidences
Of an intended abandonment Of Richmond
The transfer OF property and government
traps has already begun, and while they
hold the veil of a great display Of force
north of Richmond, We may loOk shortly
to hear Of the entire withdrawal from
Richmond. Already a large Federal force
is collecting in North Carolina to sever
the Southern CONNECTIONS Of Richmond 81
Weldon and in the present rickety condi-
ton Of the Southern Railroads, not admit
ting transfer of troops at the rate Of
more than four miles an hour, we must
expect they will seizs their opportunity be-
Tore such isolation Of theis crimes can be
effected.
What tie results Of This terrific struggle |
VII be, God only knows. The desperate
70 o,tunes Of desperate men, in one wild
t ,mpestuous whirlwind Of death, are to be
dsterminei Lee sgainst Grant, Rebellion
against Loyalty, Barbarism against Civil
izstion,-this is the struggle. Let the au-
.horities be vigilant as well as strong.
Let them not lose the golden hour for the
,oncentration Of all scattered energies.
Let every available man in the West be
forwarded 70 Grant. Let re endorsements
be sent from the East The fortunes Of
war thus far have been discouragirg 10
rebels in the West, and with a proper use
of all our means, they will continue to be
70 hereafter. Though the struggle be-
.ween Lee and Grant be 8 war Of the
Eitsns, let US trust that mountains Of ruin
will bury rebellion forever.
IN APPuHI from Rebel Generals TO JeG.
Davis.