The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1864-12-21
THE GRAND CAMPAIGN.

pasS-DotnlDg Out VlctoIleS thiS Etoiious
morning. From Tennessee, from Georgia,
from Mississippi, frcm Virginia-fron all
quarters where the brave soldiers of the
Union are defending the Flag of the Re
public, laureled Victory sits upon their
swords and smooth success Is strcwed be.
fore their feet. Thomas has beeten Hood
the besieged defeating the besiesar
Sherman has taken Fort McAllster, aud
brushed from his path toe last Vbs'acle
between him and the sea Candy 10
Mississippi has fallen on the communica
tious ofthe Rebel army that threatened
Nashville, and has DESTROYED them; Stone
man aad Burbridge in West Virginia
have struck the rear of Breckiurid ge, and
have cut off at once his line of suhply and
his liae of retreat. From one end of the
line to the other, it is whirlwind Of vic
tories!
Fort cAllister will be- remembered as
the formidable earthwork that last wear
de6ed the efforts of the mentors We
hawken and Passaic. Originally built to
guard the passage to Savannah from the
sea, it guarded equally in this emergency
the approach of Sherman to the feet
which brought him reinforcements and
supplies. 1t was the one defence which
protected Ossabaw Sound the point we
have indicated as the probable end Of
Sherman's march and upon this priced
~afegnard Of Savaunah Sherman has fall-
en- with the suddenesS and force of
thunderbolt, anu has carried it by an ir.
lesistible coup de main. II is one Of
tho keys to Savannah, which the genius
and courage of Sherman have made to
unlock-iustead of closing the avenues
10 that stronghold of the Rebels. We
have meanwhile, report by way of Ann
apolis that Savannah itself is fallen; but
whether that be true or not 1t is at leas!
clear that Sherman has simultaneously in
vested that city and cut its northern CON-
munications. The Junction Of Geu. How
ard, vino commands the right wing of
Gen Sherman's army, with Gen. Foster,
who has severed the Charleston and Sa
vannah Railroad at Pocotaligo, completes
the insulation Of the ely Of Savannah,
and so clearly foreshadows the fate of this
commercial capital uf Georgia that it is
scarcely important TO consider wheth ar
the Annapolis report of the capture oe
true in fact or be only an anticipation of
the fact. We do at oil events know that
Gen. Sherman is absolute master Of the
situation IN Georgia.
The dispatches from Gen, Thomas a:
Nashville ale Of the same joyous tenor as
those which from Gen. Sherman thrill
the country with anucipat;ons of complete
and fnal victory over the Rebellion. Abon,
doniug the defensive, Gen. Thomas has
resorted at last to the strategy of attack ;
penetrating at the right moment the fatal
mistake of Hood in converting cam-
paign, which was stategically offensive,
into a tactical defensive. The elaborate
carthworks of the Rebel commander,
which we're meant to environ Nashville,
have failed even to protect him against
the retributive onslaught of the force he
supposed himself TO have shut up ip a
garriaoned city. The battIa of Thursday
vas the vindication Of Thomas's battling
aud retreat;ng conduct of the campaign
which he now crowns with triumph un.
der the walls Of the city which he chose
to defend IN accordance with his vel
known views of prudent and secure war
fare. The dispatches show that Thomas
having been reinforced and deeming him
self strong enough TO resume ouce mere
the offensive, assaulted on Thursday, the
intrenchments Of Hood, carried them
, drove the Rebels eight miles toward
Franklin, and effectively and finally Iais
! ed what has been called the seige ot Nash
vile. Hood lost seventeen guns and many
prisoners; lost the initiative Of the cam
rai.u; lost his chance Of success in Tenn
essee lost even his security of retreat
into Alabama; and dependent upon
chance for temporary and insure retire
ment on the line Of his advance.
Add to all this the occupation hy she
forces of Gen. Candy of Hoods line Of
supply aud base at Jackson, Miss, and
where vanishes the hopeof the Rebel lead
er? He has none remaining but IN iu
mediate aud precipitate fight, and not
much even in that
The same taic falls on Brcckinridge in
East Tennessee. lie shares the i'll luck
Of his superior. for his sole railway line
into West Virginia is gone and the very
existence Of his army is put in peril. S,
from one end to the other Of the military
field wAne the fortunes of the Rebellion
aud wax with unexpected rapidety u
increase the fortunes ofrLe Republic.