Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-11-22
shermau's Expedition.


be cut loose from Atlanta about the 18th. and it
is therefore probable that we shall soon hear the
route he has taken aud thus be able TO Judge his
probable destination.
A Louisville correspondent. who seems veil
posted, in letter of a recent date gives the fol
lowing speculations on the subject which throws
good deal of light over the probable plans and
purposes OF the movement and the objects to be
accomplished il it should prove a success;
WHERE Is SHERMAN GOING?
The great federal army Is aiming az one of
three points. Indirectly and at one OF two points
directly. Either il is going TO Pensacola or some
point on the Gulf, OF u Augusta. AT the latter
place il will be in position to strike either at
Charleston or Slyannah Augusta is at the
head of navigation on the Savannah river Sup
pose that simultaneous with Sherman's arrival
there a federal feet should force passage into
that river. The communication would theu be
direct with the north from point in the very
heart of the confederacy On the other hand.
should he advance against Charleston and take
the place, he would then be in direct communi
cation by the way OF Port Royal and Morris
leland with the north, aud with immense fleets
whence he could draw all necessary supplies.
WHAT SHERMAN CAN DO Ey goyFE.
General Sherman, capturing Macon, would
hold one Of the most important IL not the most
important, of the railroad centres of the South,
aud thus iniiict great damage upon the varions
railroads terminating at that point OF course
such damage, asSe have had occasion to learn
in the history Of the war, would not amount to
much in the end; for il has been found that no
operations in the way of the destruction of South.
ern roads however thorough, have permanently
injured them. Once at Macon, he could easily
and safely detach a corps for a movement 70 An
Jacksonville or Milledgeylle where he might pos
sibly tnd some OF our unhappy prisoners But
the probability is that he would find none. Many
of the captives formerly held u, these places
have been removed 10 Savannah for exchange:
and 1t Is not To be supposed that the Confeder
Stes left in charge would fan to remove the re
mainder TO some point out Of Sherman's reach.
The dense negro population of Middle Georgia
might be considerably demoralized; ard there is
no doubt that the country would be devastated
over a slip OF territory from twenty TO thirty
miles in width. extending from Atlanta to the
seabosrd But all these things would be of only
temporary benefit to the Union cause; and it is
not probable that any permanent injury would be
inflicted upon the South by such operations.
WHAT CAN THE REBELS Do?
And now the question comes up, can the rebels
marchf If he IS moving for the gulf, il seems
more than probable that they can seriously inter
fere with the contamination of his plans, if they
do not intiict material injury upon his army A
look at the map will be OF assistance in deter
mining this question. 1t will be remembered
that at the time when We learned that Sherman
was about to march in some direction from At
lanta, the main portion of Beauregard's army
(or Hoods as il is generally known had just
| II Al. III a.
river. We next heard of Beauregard at Cor
inth and that a portion of the Confederate army
was marching rapidly westwardly to that point
Gen 5 II. Lee has also fortified $50 it is report
| ed the town of Jackson, Miss, as though ex-
peetng an attack by an army marching due west.
Ii any one will take the trouble to look at the
map be will see that Beauregard. at Corinth. has
unobstructed railroad communication with every
important point in the cotton States at all likely
to be menacei by Sherman. If the destination
of the latter Is Mobile. the rebel general trans
porting the army rapidly by railroad. can probs-
bly, reach that place before Sherman, moving, as
the latter Is, overland. The same reasoning APP
plies in the case Of Pensacola Ii is, however,
a question of time. If Sherman reached Macon
surprising him to have marched on that point
before the rebels on the Tennessee river were
aware of his movement. the time they must con-
sumo in marching across the country TO Corinth,
would give the federal commander leisure TO
reach Pensacola Mobile. 1t is, therefore, just
possible, regarding the Pensacola theory, that, in
spite of railroads, Sherman may have got the
start of Beauregsrd
THE MOST PROBABLE THEORY.
There is little reason, however, to put any con
fidence in the Pensacos or Gulf theory General
Sbermans surest aud safest course would be to
march direct to Macon. and thence to Augusta
Tearing up the railroad as be advanced, the Con
federates would DE unable to move with anything
like his rapidity, and they would labor under the
additional inconvenience of advancing through
desoiated county. Once at Augusta, as | have
already intimateG, General Sherman would be in
position TO strike either AT Charleston or at
Savannah There is reason to believe that the
first accounts OF his advance, representing him TO
be moving directly on Charleston, were founded
on something better than conjecture.
sHERMAN's OBJECT IN MOVING UPON CHARLESTON
Ii is not, at first glance, easy to see what Gen
Shermsn's object is, in moving either against
Charleston or Savannah Long before he could
get within striking distance OF either point, Gen
Lee would be made aware OF his movement and
would be enabled 20 send considerable force
by indirect raroa. lines, to the defense of the
points threatened. For Lee could withdraw a
number of men sufficient to hold these places for
a long time without materially endangering the
safety of Petersburg or Richmond. 1t Charles
ton could be captured. IN immense blockading
/ feet would be released; aud position could be
gained, whence movements into the heart of the
! Confederacy could be projected with comparative
safety and great probability of success.
On the other hand, if Sherman takes Savan-
nah. communication with the interior OF the Con
federacy by wateT--the Savannah river would
be opened Augusta would then be made grea
centre for movements diverging in all directions
I iato the cotton States. General Thomas gath
ering 10 the scattered Federal troops in Tennes-
see anu elsewhere shout Chattanooga, could move
down 10 Atlanta, which would then be Tor the
first time an important Federal strategic point
With great Federal army at Augusta. and an
other at Atlanta. with Federal corps stationed al
various points d 'GyDgi betweed Atanta and Au
gus.a. and with uninterrupted Federal communi
cation between Augusta and the sea, the Confed-
erocy would De completely and hopeiessiy sew
cred, and lis strength would become exhausted
precisely as the juice OF orange Is dis=ipated
when the fruit il cut in halves IL would ooze
out and disappear.
THE MOVEMENT \ CRITICAL oSE
When the details of General Sherman's glove
ments are officially announced. there viii be OF
course. the usual flourish OF trumpe.s. IL would
be vel for the public, hoseyer. to look At mat
iers isst a. they are. General sherman has 4
long and arduous march before him, he has 10
provide for three corps, numbering certainly uos
less than 6ffy thousand men. and probably sixty
thousand lie must, therefore, have taken with