Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-07-21
ECI~ Gssunrio., In q, OtPIa


lapte snd the other below aud West of that city.
The Georg a R@il Dad connec's Atlanta with Angus
to- The Georgia Cent al Road. running from Savan-
neh Macon, connects at Macon with the Macon and
Western Road to A nnta 4 branch OF the Central
Road runuing from Mien to Augusta come cts that
line with the Georgia read at Augusta. The Georgia.
or upper line of railroads. with the roads of tie
South Western States by means of the Atlanta and
West Point Road TO Nes. Point, thence by the Mont
gomery ind West Point Road to Montgomery. Tie
lower OR Georgia Central ine connects at Macon with
the South Western Road, and that road, at Fort Va
ley, with lie Musccg,e Road, and that with the Mont
gomery aad West Point Road at Opelika. There are,
therefore, two pes running though Georgia, connect
ing with each other by branches, but independent of
each other 80 FIR as their connection With the roads
South and West IS concernsd. Gen. Johnston might
fall back from Allanta and thus sacrifice his connection
with Alabama BY means of the Atlanta and West
Point road aid still retain connection by o!
the lower lue, having it's Junction with the Montgome.
~ and West Point Road at Opelka.
The average distance between tie middle Georgia
lue-the lower OF the two through lines through that
State, and the upper line through Atlanta, is what we
are unable to say PRECISELY We should think about
forty miles.
back should he indeed conclude to adopt that policy,
we are totally unable even guess It is that
the Georgia Railroad is thrt aentd at Stone Mountain,
the secoLd depot from Atlanta ID The direction of
| Augugta-abcut due East,--by cavalry crossing at
Ro7wel above Atlan.s, AID that The West
| Point Road has been tlrealsned at Ee1nan, for
ty miles South vest OF Atlanta by cavalry crossing the
Chatakoochee ut some ford there. II Gen. JOHN
sToN falls back towards Macon all this upper line of
Railroad from Augusta to West Point, via Atlanta
will be broken up, be interrupted, and ths question
will arise as to whether even the lower line can be held
or So whether the Safety Of this lower line and Of the
important city OF Augusta be simultaneously pro
| vided Tor.
General JOHNSTON has hot fallen back, and We sin
cerey trust that be may not have to fall back from
| TO give up Atlanta, bat all know that the question
has been freely discussed and also that the strategy CT
the enemy has been ploiny developed, and no
harm that calm review of the 'situaion" const q1ent
upon that event cen do. 1t may guard US against
| due panic st bling taken urawares by the receipt of
news which we might readily have anticipated
| By general consent the possession OF Atlanta has
been regarded the objective purpose of the campaign
| in Northern Georgia SHERMAN's force advancing
fanking with view to gaining ground in the direction
army so as at all times inerpose it between Atlanta
and the enemy. Of course ia coming to the conclusion
that Atlanta was the point aimed at-that its capture
was the object sought By SHEa MAN-is defence that
desired by JOHNSTON, due regard had to the result
ing consequences 0f ita retention loss by the Coined
crates; and it is folly deny that they be of the
gravest character Even the near approach which the
enemy ha, been enabled permitted to make to the city
thar
and West, at the Georgia r lad between Atlanta and
Augusta and at the West Point Road between Allan.
ia and West Point. To what point General JOHN
sToN could fall back from his present position without
leaving the route to Augusta on one side or Mongom
cry the Other open to the attempts of the enemy,
are unable TO and close Inspection of the maps
fails to assist 10 any conclusion. The situation of
things in upper Georgia s critical, and We fear
| than critica.-it is dangerous EV>n SHOULD the
paign go 70 fyrher than the fall of Atlanta (uppoH
ing Atlanta to aI) We need not attempt to hide from
ourselves the fact that it would supply Northern nan
and Secretaries Of the Treasury with that element
OF military which Ar. CHASE declared 50 essen
tal to the sustaining Of the Northern credit and the
carrying On OF the wsg by the orthern Government
Neither is it possible 10 suppose that the fall Ct Atlanta
would be felt teavy blow ard great discourage
| ment at the Sjuth It would not be regarded as
conquest Of the South-it would not bring the North
any nearer 10 tie object its desre-but it would be
almost certain to prctract the struggle and perhaps
open up rev Had of woes" to be endured by TIE
much suffering people Of the Conederacy.
We know not what General JoHNsToNs forces may
be- but one thing certain, and that ie that tana
is to be given up Withc struggle the country has been
aboring under mcnstrous deusoD; and if anybody is
to be believed the soldiers have been less vicmized
for we have seen from there, and we have been
posted the sentiments and opinions OF Others and
we know that all have looked forward to struggle to
which they felt themselves cmpeent and in which they
were eager to engage. There is General PEMBER-
TON now under General JoHksroNs command, and upon
General JOHNSTON himself aro the eyes OF the whole
| country turned God grant that their earnest gaze
| may be rewarded by the ga7 sights Of victory.
Further, we may well say here, that if it is sup
posed by anybody that General JOHNSTON fell back
from Kennesaw Mountain, or from bis position in froat
of the Chatahoochee indeed from any of his recent
strong positio in accordance with orders from Rich
moud, feel fully justified in saying that the person
persons so suppospg very much mistaken indeed
We take it fer granted that the authorities at Rich
mord, while they would not have ordered General
JOHNSTON to fight at KannesaE Mountain, certainly
expected him to do We know that the opinion that
attributes certain portions OF General JoHNsroN's re-
cent movements to orders from Richmond is very gene.
ra and get We have reason to believe that it is very
| much mistaken. We have no doubt that it il.