The Chattanooga Daily Rebel. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1862-1864, 1864-02-23

sissippi. Gen. Lee holds Meade in check
on tho Rapidan, BOaurogard's bristling bat
teras ct Charleston arO more than the foe
daro attempt, while Johnston, with the
heroes Of Chieamauga br,s the entrance to
Le.Gsags3agSy ~ 5Tt u Georgia. Failing
every where else to make any progress, the
yankees has though to take US by surprise
in the South west, and capture Mobile. The
enterprise attic opted by Gen. sherman was
a most dar'ug and remarkable one. II
would be- il successful, one Of the most
briili'uJ achievements oftho war, but at the
same line it involved the possible contin-
laucy Of the destruction of his entire army.
IL was one Of those expeditions by which
the onomy must be taken unprSparsd ahd
by surprise, and be executed with great
rapidity, and without Interruption; for II
checked Or delayed, or if it fails in the COM
plete accomplishment of the objects in view,
the disaster is necessarily overwhelming. ~
1t is stated that Shermans army started
with twenty days rations Of bread and no
meat, which if true, shows that the contem-
plated movement was to be consummated
within chat time. The fact that General
Sherman has made no attempt to keep open
his communications withthe base of opera.
tions, from which he started, proves that he
expected to reach another base Of supplies
within the twenty days. OF course if he
does not succeed in reaching tAe new base
within that time, he and his army arc lost
unless they can end subsistence in the coun-
try where they may happen to be, Now
the question arises where is the.noW base of
supplies which is the object of the expedi,
ton, and can he reach it2 The prevailing
opinion appears to be, that Mobile is the
destination OF Sherman's army, and yet it
would seem scarcely possible that so novel a
scheme could be attempted. The march
ts-a worry long one through country from
49,, ,s,-l---a2,ai Th5 Invading army could draw but
little subsistence, and in the eventof rains
which would raise the streams and make
the roads impossible, the army you'd be ar
rested in its progress, and delayed for a
length Of time that would be fatal to its
safety. Besides, tho design would be fully
discovered in time for us to throw sufliS
cicut force into and around Mobile, to-
make its reduction work of considerable
time. If this should occur, aud Sherman
failed to open communication with the fed
oral forces in the Gulf, his army would be,
at our mercy -,5}, .'HI
The distance which the foe has now adj.
yancsl from his original base, renders it.
almost certain that he had no intention Of
returning to it, and tho fact that our oayal-
ry is now in bis rear would make the at
tempt to do SO exceedingly hazardous and
difficult. .3 s.-7lI
One thing is very certain, weighty in,
terosts are BOW doponding upon theros1lts of
'bc campaign in Mississippi If we are as
iuccessful as we ought to be, the federal
army which constitutes the flower Of Ger.
Grants forces will be cut OF and destroyed,
d which event We should indulge we'll
grounded hopes Of an early tornination of
The war We would in that eyont be en-
'blod TO regain, at an carly day, all The
crrt0ry iostin tbolast campaign, andmake
general movement towards the territories Of
.ho enemy the politioU Of the. .oohtond-
og parties and the general appearance Of
Pc contest would be so materially changed,
hat tue happieat results might reasonably |
be anticipated. sa'.4 E,e- go
On the other hand, however, the success
'f the enemy, even If it unfortunately re-
'uIted in the capture Of Mobile, would pre-
sent no occasion for dependency or serious
II would be- a disaster much
to be regretted but not sufficient to create
,uy approhensions OF our ultimate suoaess
At one time, it will be remembered IL wa,
supposed that tho loss Of New Orleans
gould be the total ruin Of our r-i cause ans
Again, 1t was thought that tho salvation Of
he Republic depended upon holding our
'o'itou at VickSburg and Port Hudson. An
hesc important points passed into tho pos
eaiton Of the enemy, and after their loss We
ound that we could got along very wellI
Without them The spirit of our people
.as not broken by these disasters, nor WIS
ur military strength seriously impaired
ust SO it would helm the event Of the loss Of
iooilo The determination Of this people
fight until their independence is achieved
nd Acknowledged, would net 10 shaken BY
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