The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1864-11-26

Iueut Vi xIOvlueUC0!-Vs I. zT1OEUCs
Nature Of Gen. Sherman'S Grand
Movement.
NASHVILLE, Nov. 14th, 1864.
Gen. Sherman's new campaign has been
the source of all expectation, and the sub
Ject OF as many speculations as there are
newsmongers. That his army is already
we'll on its grand triumphal march is fact
concerning which there is no doubt. That
bis supposed plan has been freely publish
ed 70 the world, your readers can bear wit.
ness. This is not to be wondered at; for
Gen. Sherman is not especially character
lied as reticent man. He has such IN
bounded confidence in his plans, and in the
ability of his army to execute those plans,
that he has not unfrequently spoken be-
forehand Of his intended operations. As if
disdaining to wrest victory from q surpris-
ed enemy, he freely gives them notice Of
his approach. His last brilliant flank
movement in the Atlanta campaign, that
at one sudden swoop planted his army
to the south of that city. and astride Of the
enemy's communication, was freely spoken
of weeks before its execution, and on the
day the work OF concentration began, so
confident was he Of success. that he began
dispOsing of his spOils. 1t is not unlikely,
then, that. having left Hood with his army
far to the North, in the happy anticipation
Of feasting on the spoils OF many brilliant
successes in Middle Tennessee, and even
In Kentucky, with nothing to impede his
onward march, he gave expression to his
hopes, and that the plans that have been
Published are somewhat similar to those
now being executed. As any thing that
could be written here, concerning these
plans, could not reach the enemy before
the events will have TRANSFERRED or success
as a certainty, propose TO
speak Of the probable results OF this move
ment.
Accepting the assertion that Savannah is
his objective point, his march would be
through one of the finest and wealthiest
portions of the South. The distance is
something over two hundred and fifty
miles, and in his course are rivers and the
cities of Griffin and Macon. The latter, on
the Ocmulgee, is one of the largest coies of
Georgia, and is the center of considerable
manufacturing enterprise. These rivers
will prove but slight obstacles before the
6. P. Buell., 2ssR Indiana, who has charge
OF the pontoon trains. In the country to
the south Of Macon are crowded thousands
OF negroes from Tennessee and Cherokee
Georgia. This country has brought forth
a plentiful harvest, and the well. filled cribs
of corn and bins Of wheat, with the yams,
porkers, beef and poultry, will enable him
to move with little transportation, and give
his army a mobility, promising speedy
marches and q readiness to strike prompt
" at unguarded localities. the right Of
Macon seventy miles on bfUhch railroad
is that scene of so much suffering on the
part Of our captured braves-Anderson-
VILE. Here are still confined numbers Of
our prisoners, though more have been
to Savannah and Charleston
Gen. Sherman, in his letter to President
Yeatman, says he may take the stores pro-
vided for these men in person. It il to be
hoped he will find it pleasing diversion,
and that as he nears the Atlantic coast, his
tried veterans may be Joined by these suf-
fering captured braves, with hearts filled
with joy, and voices giving volume to the
shouts Of gladness aud peans Of victory.
inhuman treatment would nerve them, If
necessity demanded, 70 strike earnest blows
in the deadly strife. The liberatiDg Of these
prisoners at this time would, in itself. be
an achievement, more than sufficient re-
ward for the powers put forth. That this
is an important part Of the plan there is no
reason to doubt.
This march through Georgia will develop
. new principle in our warfare. The enemy
have drawn much comfort from the con-
clusion, that because our lines Of commu-
nication were already so far extended, a
large army could not be supplied any
further in the interior. But this bold cut
ting loose from all lines to the rear, this
forth without any Of the long
trains that always encumter an army and
hamper its progress; this bold trust in the
country to give up its stores of food, dispeI
all these assurances of safety, and demon
strate that even the remotest corners Of the
Confederacy are open to our conc uering
armies. This proof Of vulnerabiliiy may !
open new light upon the uncompromising,
because, supposed to be safe, people may |
persuade even these last ditch men, that
there is no hope for them, that extermina-
lion is only question Of time, and not Of
Those who have fled from the avepging
hosts Of freedom, from far Off Kentucky |
and Tennessee, and who have settled them
selves down to quiet on the shores Of the |
Atlantic, will find that even there the starry !
banner is to come, borne aloft by the same |
hands who planted it on the ranparts Of
Donelson, or high above the clouds on |
Lookout, or within the massive earthworks |
about Atlanta.
Savannah is not a. capable of defense as |
most other cities Of the South. It is situated I
IN broad, level plane, and its defenses, at !