Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-11-22
DAILY LEADER.
rUGsDAY. NOyFHBEs ss.
,,o,en,ant alonr t.e whole Liae.

me military condition Of the rebellion
has come to such pass that we look for
movement along the whole fiery front OF
Hsttle. The latitude in which our srmies
are now operating is favorable to an active
campaign in every direction. The chief
,,oints Of interest are the Northern part Of
Alabama, where Hood seems yet to be lin
esring as if not knowing what to do,
whether TO advance on Nashville, Mem
phis. into Western Kentucky, or make
hasty retreat with view 10 operate against
Sherman; the csr trail and Eastern portion
Of Georgia in which the brave Sherman Is
aisporting himself, and the country round
about Peters burgh and Richmond. In no
case Is the rebellion, in any force, on the
offensive. It is at every point thrown
upon the defensive, and under circumstsn-
ces that Indicate greater military disasters
than have yet been suffered by the rebel
lion since the beginning Of the war. As
the winter months approach the difficulty
of provisioning large force in Richmond
and Petersburgb increases all the time, and
the tone of the rebel press clearly indicates
that serious apprehensions are felt as to
their ability to maintain their lines of COM
munioation. Grant has been gradually
approaching the southside Railroad, the
great military Canal Of Butler draws
towards its completion. The operations
he is conducting can be carried forward
during the winter with nearly as much
facility as they have been during the fall
Certainlv. though slowly, he is push
ing TO the left the immense army with
which Richmond and Petersburg are sur
rounded. No sane man can doubt that
each successive step in the problem Of tax
ing Richmond, is more easily solved than
was the capture Of Vicksburg.
But the condition Of Lee is rendered
still more precsrious by the movements of
Sherman. Ifhe succeeds in the seizure OF
Aurusta snd the Savannah river, he cuts
off the rebels in Virginia from their chief
supplies in Georgia and Alabama. These
two States contribute more than eli others
to the support Of Lees army.
The destruction Of the railroads and the
occupation Of the line of the Savannah
river, utterly sewers all communications be-
tween the East and the West Of the Con
federacy as efisctaally as the opening of
the Mississippi isolated the region West OF
it. So far a, all human calculations can
determine, it seems that Sherman must
succeed in this movement.
The rebels in Richmond cannot conceal
their alarm over the prospect before them
They are quite certain that Grant will soon
attempt their defeat on larger and more
dangerous plan than any yet attempted.
On the Atlantic sesboard States every
thing promises well for the success Of the
Union armies.
The Richmond correspondence Of the
London Times which we published few
DAYS ago, testifes unmistaksbly to the
preoarious situation of Richmond. Writ
ing When hood was threatening to aceom-
plish wonderful things, he compares Lee
TO q prize fighter with one arm tied, and
oonfesses that "he cannot afford to risk
t,0eaty lines IN a tentative operation" The
the following passage shows how Grants
strategy has pressed upon the rebellion.
The writer says;
From the 4th Of Nay up to the present
hour Lees army have been continuously
IN the trenches, either actually under FIRE
or at any rate knowing at what moment
it might not be attacked by savage and
multitudinous foe. The Confederates have
Been fighting on the rack without inter
mission for more than five months.
We sll remember how the work In the
trenches told upon our officers and pri-
yates IN the Crimea 1t cannot be won
dered that far more uninterrupted pres
sure for more thsn five months should have
told fearfully upon the poor OonfederateS
exposed to one of the fercest summers
ever known in Virginia, scantily fed upon
msat-mostly salt mest-and bresd, with
cut vegetables, with coffee only OCCASION
ally, with no ether stimulant, and threat
ened cesselessly with overwhelming nun
Sers, l0ho 6aos at thsir command all The
JaUls6 orofll5ioH Of eEpezditUrs snd the
scientific experience of the whole civilized
world can contribute. 1 cannot be blind
TO the fact, as I meet officers and privstes
of Gen. Lees army, that they are half
worn out, and that, though the spirit is the
same a. ever, they urgently need rest.
So much for the East In the West
Thomsa is being rapidly put into condi-
ton for offensive operations. We see,
therefore, the indications everywhere that
the winter is to witness an advance all
along the line, with power, and an assu-
rance Of victory, such as we have never
had before. Grant Thomas, Sherman,
Sheridan, these four matcbless command
erz are all on the offensive and soon will
make their power felt in gigantic blows.