Wilmington journal., 1864-09-15
From the Richmond Dispatch

As the facts in connection with the evacuation o.
Atlanta gradually unfold themselves the public mind
becomes reaseured 1t is already asserted thet there
DO disaster, that the spirit OF our G unlmpair
ed, and that they defiant low as they the
day before tie evacuation took place. General Hood
never believed he could hold Atlanta permanently His
great object to hold it as long ne could, and to
AXE the possession of it by the enemy cost him as
much as possible. This object has been fully attained
Hhe eEemy has been delayed his progress towards
the South upwards of two months, and within that
time has lest more men than the Euglish portion OF
the expedition lost at the siege of Sebsstopol-proba
bly, as many as both English and French Lost. Attain
ia had done its share of the duty assigned to it, and
when 1t wss no longer tenabe it evacuated. It
| was taken at last by flank moVemeHt-t 1ever could
have been taken by dltct assault.
Sherman has passed through AZ immense tract of
conntry, and he has conquered much Of it lies
within the range Of his guns His course has been like
that Of ship through the sea. The waves give way
before it and close around its stern The population of
the country through which Sherman has advanced yield
ed as he came on, to the weight of his colossal
force 1t scattered from his front to reunite in his
West Tennessee has already slipped from bis grasp and
there is every indication that East Tennessee may
shortly follow. In Kentucky civil is actually rag
ing at this moment. The people of that unhappy land
submitted to their property from conscaion or de-
sructon under the hope that they would be allowed to
remain neutral in the conflict They never contemplated
the probability of being forced to bear against
their countrymen II they compelled to fight,
fight on the Confederate SIDE But they hoped to avoid
the necessity of fighting altogether They have now
become-not too late We hopefully aware of the folly
of their choice. They have not been able to preserve
their property, for which they had sacrificed their honor
nor have they secured exemption from military duty
by submission. Lincon's emancipation proclamation
has swept of their slaves into the ranks of the Yam
kee army. Their fat cattle have become the prey of
Yankee Commissaries their blooded horses have
served to mount Yankee cavalry their fine crops
have been pressed for the wants of the Yankee army
AS for the neutrality which Mr.. Crttenden ex-
hored them to maintain, it has turned out to be as
unsubstantia moonshine in the water. Their coun
try is subject to the Yaokee draft and they are expect
ed to assist in saughtering and ensaving their neigh
bors and brothers. A portion of that spirit which
distinguished Kentucky in other days still seems to
be sumbering n the bosoms even of the Union men.
They evince Disposition since fight they must, to
fight against rather than for the Yankees and they
are said to he focking to the standard with zeal
which no efforts of the Confederate armies themselves
could arouse The Yankees have done for US what we
could not do for ourselves. They have made every
Kentuckian who he's spark of spirit and honor re-
maiuiug detes them if each of their nation was
personal enemy 1t is clear that, in passing so long
distance through the country, Sherman has conquer
ed nothing but the ground his army occupies for the