The New York herald., 1864-07-23
Eyne On Of AtiantA--Our Great Dan.
gers Another Descent upon Washing.
ton and Eorshern Insurxection.

gers Another Descent upon Washing.
ton and "a Eorshern Insurrection.
Our dispatches ercn Nashville announce the
evacuation OF Atlanta, and its occupation by
General Shermsn's irresistible army. The
government, however, it must be said, had
received no official information Of tie fact up to
late hour last night, aud the news may
possibly have come q little ahead OF time. But
we regard the fall Of the city as certain an
event which fash along the wires may pro-
claim row at any momeat.
Having already explained to our readers
thc comprehensive military advantages Of
this position az new base of opera
lions, il Will saifice for the present 10
say tiat the demolition Of tie oft defeated,
badly crippled aud now seriously exposed
army Of Johnston, ard the complete isolation CT
Georgia, Aaosna and Mississippi from Eics.
moad, ere now 'airly within tle power OF Gen.
Sherman. When these objects shall have
bee, achieved, If General Grants immediate
aim be not meantime accomplished. tho visal
forces OF The rebellion will be reduced to
South Carolina and Richmond.
The overthrow Of Lees army. however
under The preseat condition OF tbings, must of
itself inevitably precipitate The collapse OF toe
- called Confederate States" from Virginia
10 Texas. We are satisfied, too, II Lees army
can only lie held to the defence OF Petersburg
aud Richmond, that the tightening lines
Of General Gran. will, before long,
reduce General Lee TO the alternative OF
sorte, in which he will be defeated; an
evacuation, which wa cast him horelessIy
adrft, or close siege, from which he will not
be able to escape. But, in the probability Of
another movement, and this time by the bulk
or Lees army, upon Washington, tncre is
great danger that all the labors and sacrifices
and all the victories Of Grant and Sherman
ard their brave and devoted soldiers may BE-
blasted in single overwhelming disaster.
From the late dashing rebel raid into Mary
land Washington has had very narrow esoIpe.
The loss OF that Invaluable day entailed upoa
the enemy by General Wallace on the Mono
cacT river was the saving OF the nationsl capi.
tai. Bat oven with the necessary time gained
and warning thus given TO the administration
for proper reception OF Early and Bfeckiu-
ridge, they succeeded In reconnaissance Of
the northern defcnces Of Washington which
has doubtless satisfied them that the veteran
army Of Lee, unless confronted by the army OF
GRAFT, could, without much difficulty, force It's
passage "a tic White House at the point Of The
bsvauet.
Whyrhc-, should not General Lee attempt
shit rrsniiirg enterprise! While engaged In
Il ths strong iesences OF Petersburg and Rich
lnc.d nay be held by The army or Basureserd,
ana tse dhaoal.y Of feeding the eighty thousand
'tacil II Let's army proper will be overcome by
moving them to tsc fresh supplies furnished W
tGe lsss Igiliul harvest of tao SHENANDOAH val-
ley, aad TIC still tcsminz northeru counties OF
Maryland. Surprising, ton, that sctre Gue
morning, as on several occasions in 1862 and
i 1868, and once already ID 1864, the people
Of tie Maryland hordsr, durlng tie present.
GUNNER, should be startled again with tie epec-
tscle cf the advancirg legious Of rebel army,
what assurance could be given Of the safety Of
Washington? None, from present appearances,
but tbe vigilance of General Grant; but even
be, or The south side OF Petersburg, twenty
milos below Richmond, may be deceived. upon