New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-12-26


rather civil than military. and the unexpected
temper of city like Savannah must be &C.
cepted as tho symbol of the State which the
city represents Judged by 1t. Georgia ID ready
Ienouch 70 como back to the Union, and Sher-
man may yet figure as tho FIRST Of the pacltca-
tors. But we pass from that to military con-
siderations.
Uarlee. with his l., coo men. saw fit TO cyac-
pate Sayaunah-in Our Judgment wisely. True,
lie could have defended tho Notifications OF the
city for day and probably Cor weeks; but hisfa'c
in the end was sure. Had he resisted the con-
templated assault, he bad moro formidable
foe inside than out, for lie had forty thousand
mouths to feed, land stalJ alton stared HIM in the
face. By abandoning the city in time he avoids
repeatiug the mistake which Pemherton COM
mitted at Vicksbuyg ard lie carries Off with him
an army that may yet do much service Tor The
Coniederacy. The salvation Of that was OF more
consequence than tic retention Of Savannah for
a month. OF course Shorman's previous state
ment tina, he had Invested" the city was a
little loose. Hardccs escape shows that the
left hank of the river had not been occupied,
and we presume his rosd 10 Charleston lay SUI
fcientlv open, since the last dispatch from
those forces of Foster which we're operating
near Pocotaigo Bridge showed that they had
moi actually seized the Charleston and savan'
nah Road. Their hest success consisted N Inc
establishment of battery within range Of the
track. We presume !Hardee has gone for the
present to Wilmington.
The fall Of Savannah Gbcra'es the army OF
Sherman TO pursue whatever plan OF campaign
Gen. Grant had resolved on. We don't pretend
to speculate on bis plms-whether they look
toward Charleston or to any point further north.
But suppose they contemplate only The com.
plete reduction of Georgia, the possession OF
which State by the armies Of the Union is an
absolute. dsmemberment of the CODfederncy.
Savannah lRyer.lis nsyigalle for steamers Of
$50 tuns up to Augusta, and TIERS is nothing to
prevent Gen. Sherman from sending force, II lac
chooses, to that city, and thence reaching to any
and every other point ia Central Georgia. The
possession Of Augusta ia the possession Of every
railway which connects the States Of South
Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia with
Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi. The control
of the river at its mouth makes the occupation
Of Augusta, and tie steady supply OF The troops
there TO be stationed, an easy task. IL there
were no other result 10 be looked Cor from the
capture OF Savannah, this geographical ad.
vantage would abuudantly repay all il has cost.
/ Aud the truth is. Gen. Sherman may 20
where be chooses and do what he pleases.
The South. Fest aud South Yves, arc his. Savan-
nah solves all doubts. There ia no preteuse o.
an army to dispute the control Of the territory
which the Savannah River drains. II .hcre be
city which intrnsically might 10 worth de-
Tending, there is not ono FOR which il is worth
while TO incur the risk Of losing both the city
and the garrison which ght holl 10 for a while
ouly TO surrender in the end. Charleston al
this moment belongs less 70 JEFF. Davis than to
Sherman. Victory et Savannah il victory
everywhere in the Southland since Hood Is
iving from Tennessee with beaten aud de.
moraliled army, utterly incapable to Withstand
the advance Of Thomas, there is in fact 10 army
Irc,nainiDg to the Rebellion but that army which,
under commend of Lee, DOW forms The
garrison of Richmond. And to that army the
question mus, soon be presented, whether II will
tabsndon the cspital Of the Confederacy, or
whether it viii surrender the Rebellion itself.
Not less than this il the meaning, and is sure to
be the result, Of the great Success oil sherman.