Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-10-13
REBEL VIEW OF sHERMANs NEXT
CAMPAIGN.
He gill march ON Savannah and de
Georgia.

The Richmond Enquirer of Oct. sth,
thus speculates on Sherman's probable
campaign:
Sherman is shut up in Atlanta by For
rest with his lines of communication so de-
stroyed that his Government has not heard
from him for several days. He captured
Atlanta, but it may yet prove his ruin,
We learn from a reliable source, that in
Washington City there is great rejoicing
over the reported movement of Hood to-
ward the Alabama line. It is said to have
been Just the move that Shel man desired
Hood to make. That sending off the cav
airy toward Tennessee, and marching his
army toward the rear of Sherman, was
playing into the lstter's hand. Shearman
is said to have accumulated from ffty to
sixty days supplies in Atlanta during the
truce; and as soon as Hood is far away to
the right, and Forest and Wheeler deep
into Tennessee, Sherman will start on his
really grand campaign for the seacoast at
Savannah-the men of Shearman's army
carrying IN their knapsacks ten days ra-
tions in Wagons. The army of Sherman,
concentraed into a solid mass, Is believed
to oe strong enough to overcome any force
he may find in his front, and bis start of
Hood will enable him to keep far enough
ahead of him 10 prevent any delay or con
sumption of supplies before reaching the
seacOast. The country overrun will be
stripped of all supplies, and the march
through made in fteen OF twenty days.
This Is said to be the campaign. VIII it
succeed
The distance to Savannah is about two
hundred and fifty miles, and from twenty
totwenty-fve days will be required to make
the march. If the people tnrn out in
Georgia as they have done in Virginia,
blocking up the roads in his front, hanging
upon his flank, harassing his rear, and
capturing his foraging parties, his march
will prove his ruin but if the people fly
from his path and do nothing to reGard his
march, Sherman may reach the sea coast.
Such march across Georgia would de-
stroy the railroads and devastste much of
the country, but otherwise would do no
harm. Tennessee and Kentucky would
be open to our armies and the way to the
Ohio invite ms to enter and re-occup, 4.
the enemy would herald this flight of
Sherman as his victorious march through
the Confederacy and claim that it
was the completion of the original cam
paign. 1t may succeed, and it may fail /;
if il is not successful Sherman is ruined
and his army captured.
By some it is believed that Sherman will
keep within Atlanta and compel Forrest,
for want of supplies, to move off his lines
Of communication, and the accumulation
of supplies was to enable him to stand an
| ordinary geige But we are inclined to be-
lisve that the bold and desperate effort to
march to Savannah will be the solution of
the Atlanta problem. To undertake to re-
treat to Chattanooga would be to confess
failure upon the heels of admitted triumph,
and would make his name by-word of
contempt, as well as ruin the prospects of
Lincoln. To march through Georgia,
crushing under the weight of his army. all
opposing forces and capturing Savannah,
with its depot of prisoners, and, from the
sea coast, turning in early spring to reopen
Northernward campaign, would be mil
itary achievement of no ordinary charac-
ter. The very difficulties that appear to
beset such an undertaking may contribute
to its complete success. If our authorities,
because of these difficulties, take no step
to prevent his march, Sherman will over
come the difficulties aud reach Savannah,
Let General Besure gard look out both In
front and rear. E"'