New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-03-15

cavalry force under Gen. w. s. Smith was TO
have Joined him ct Meridian, but that the de-
caat of the latter and its return to Memphis
made IL impossible for Gen. Sherman to execute
fully his part of the plan--if this, which Is the
plain truth, had been told, we believe 1t would
have produced neither palic nor discourage
ment among the loyal millions OF the North.
Gen. Sherman LEFT Vicksburg with force OF
about 80, COO men. He had two objects; inst
to desolatc the country through when lie
marched, and to destroy its railways in order to
make a Rebel campaign in force Impossible
during the Summer; second, to 60 to Selma.
In the first object he has succeeded; In the
second he has failed. But he has succeeded so
completely in the FIRST, and has done his work
with such unexpected and extensive thorough
ness that his failure TO reach Selma need
not be deeply deplored. The Southern
Mississippi Railroad, crossing the State at
right angles TO the river, is destroyed.
The Mobile and Ohio Railroad, running through
the castcry part Of the State parallel to the
river, has been torn up and irreparably injured
for distance Of fifty-six miles north and south
OF Meridian. The immense supplies accumu-
lated by the Rebels at numerous points on the
Inc of these two roads have been burned, and
the mills, manufactures, machinc-shops, public
buildings-in word, everything which
contributed to the military power of the
Rsbellion-haye been anniia.ed. There
are no longer the means Of transporting
or Of subsisting any considerable force
of Rebel troops-oavalry perhaps excepted-in
Southern or Central Mississippi. The unintor-
ruptcd navigation Of the Mississippi River and
the security OF Louisiana from u Rebel invasion
are results of this Expedition. Between the
forces Of the Rebellion east and west Of the Mis-
sissippi, there can henceiorth be no cooperation
scarcely any regular intercourse. For all
military purposes the State which Sherman has
travcrsed is desert-its vast territory not
merely useless to the Rebels, but an impossible
barrier between them and the region in which
they expected TO have pursued an aggressive
campaign.
II is ,aid that Cen Sherman felt himself able
Notwithstanding the inability Of Gen. Smith
to join him-to have marched direct from Me
rdan on Mobile. and to have captured the city.
We have known before that the Rebels e1-
pected him 10, and that the city was slightly
defended on the land side. Probably il would
have fallen had il been attacked, but the re-
sponsibility for the failure does not lie at Gen.
Shermans door. FaTagut was sent to New
Orleans, expecting cooperation from land
force-but not under Gen. Sherlnan'S command.
he was disappointed. and has been forced to
conten. himself with blockadiAg harbor which
he has not force enough 10 enter. By the time
the Louisiana elections are over he may find
some other General than sherman at leisure to
give him helping hand.
With the return Of Gen. Sherman to ViHkS-
burg. the expedition ia of course OF an end' but
not the campaign. The forces embraced III the
Division Of the Mississippi were never IN so good
condition for work, or so little hampered by
defensive necessities. They pass wholly under
the immediate command of Gen. Sherman. VINO
is Gen. Grants selection TO succeed hun, and
who has tho confidence both of his soldiers and
the country. What be he's done in this expedi-
ton paye5 the way for the decisive work Of the
Summer-ior the campaign which We trust is
to carry him inosistibly 10 the Gull, and the
success Of which must destroy the military
strength of the Rebellion.