Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-09-08
THE FALL OF ATLANTA.

The news of General Shermans vic
tory has caused great excitement and
rejoicing all over the country. In the |
East bells were rung and cannon fired,
and bonfres and fire. works lighted up
all the cities and large towns.
Let every loyal man in the land
thank God, take courage, and go ahead!
The New York Tribune, of Saturday,
has an editorial on the importance of
this great victory, which we transfer
to our columns:
! General Sherman's advance entered At
| lanta about noon of yesterday--such is the
great intelligence which flashed over the
wires last night, and this morning electrifes
the People of the North. The consumms-
ton of that magnificent campaign which
the genius and indomitablo resolution of
Gen. Sherman have conducted from Chat
tauooga to the heart of Georgia is reached
at last. Territorial key of the Confederacy,
Atlanta ranks in military Importance beyond
even Richmond, and passes into our hands
as the assurance Of the final dismemberment
of the Rebellion, and the hopeless isolation
of its component States. When Chatta
nooga fell, the first center Of the great rail
way intercommunications which held thC
Rebellion together in military conference
was transferred to loyal possession and con
troll. With Atlanta falls the second ant
practically the last hope Of maintaining thu
' integrity of that rebellious empire, which
was linked together by iron roads capable o
upholding system of military defence 70
!, territory SO immense. There remains onl
a railway line, devious, protracted and un
certain; line which scarcely for any mill
tary purpose impairs the completeness O
the possession of the roads which unite a
Atlanta and upon which as a means @
concentrating at either end the joint resoui
ces of Virginia and Alabama and the intel
mediate States, the Rebellion cannot depen
for moment. BY common consent, Al
lnnta has been deemed the Gibraltar of tn
Rebellion; its value understood and admit
ted on both sides its conquest now the flint
confession Of the utter weakness, the val
ishing resources, the exhausted strength
o this accurscd Rebellion.
The Northwest of Georgi
was net work of natural fortresses, ever
doned. When the line of the Chattaho
chez was forced, there remained Atlant
fortified with care, defended with despera
courage-and now Atlanta is abandone
and there is absolutely no line and no for
fed town, and not even broken count
whore the Rebels can hope to fight with
chance of success The fall of Atlanta
truly, and in full military sense, the loss
p Georgia. and it is not too much to say III
thiscrowning triumph Of General Sherman
campaign does in effect incloso the Reb
lion within the narraw limits of the Can
linas and of Southern Virginia. 1t destro
beyond all hope of recovery the unity of Il
Confederacy, and all probaty of its retail
m ing permanent hold on tho Continent
:. Not Now Orleans, not Vicksburg, n
!. Chattanooga, not Gettysburg was such
victory as this. 1t comes at an opportu
IN moment Let the Loyal North take hea
i, Devouty thankful for the great mercy viii
=, is granted us, let us grow stronger in
uH solve, more unalterable in purpose me
nd religiously confirmed in faith, that the /
bellion shall be utterly crushed, and
70" Union of these States be re-established 1
lU- aver