New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-07-25
GEN. sMERuAN's CAMPAIGN.

Confused kilograms from Nashville, Louis
vile, and Washington leave us in doub. as 10
the extent and results of last weeks fighting
near Atlanta. II is known that Gen. Sherman
has occupied the Augusta road, east Of Atlanta,
in force, that he was attacked on Wednesday by
Hood, successor to Joe Johnston, and that Hood
was repulsed with considerable slaugh-
ter If the statement Of Gen. Hooker,
that the enemy had lost 400 killed
and wounded in front of his corps alone,
bo correct and if We add to it loss OF 300 killed.
and probably 2, 300 wounded in the conflict with
Gen. Notwithstanding altogether nearly 1000
it il evident that Wednesdays battle was q
very severe one, and very disastrous to the
enemy. No estimate places Hoods army at
much more than $4,000 men, and 40, 900 is prob
ably nearer the truth. In either case it Is I'M
able to endure many stcl contests.
1t is further reported that on the Friday
following there was hard fight of
which the most important result was that it
caused the death of Gen. McPherson-a very
heavy loss TO us. Next to Gen. Sherman he
was the officer most trusted by Gen. Grant
Young energetic OF brilliant talents and
wide experience; constantly occupied. with
the most perilous and important move
ments during this campaign, and achiev-
ing success amid obstacles that would
have disheartened any but tho most resolute
commander. II must have been a very decisive
success which could atone for his death. As
now stated briefly by telegraph, the action was
brought on, like that of Wednesday, by the
Rebels, whose headlong assault upon the left,
which Gen McPherson's grand division held,
was momentarly successful, but finally re-
pulsed. The enemy was driven into his In
trenchments, suffering, a. on Wednesday, very
severe losses.
To this is to be added the account Of a suc-
cessful expedition by Rousseau, which is said to
have cut the railway communication between
Atlanta and Montgomery, Alabama, leaving
open no other line of retreat or communication
to the Rebel force than that to Macon. If they
move in that direction, they abandon at once
Alabama and tho whole Of Northern Georgia.
Hitherto the difficult question in relation to-
Sherman's advance has been tho maintenance
of the railroad in his rear. Gen. A. J. Smiths
expedition, and his repeated defeats of Forrest,
who was moving with view to operate de-
cisivcly on Shermans rear, seem to have settled
this question. The present straits to which the
army Of Hood Is reduced must prevent him from
undertaking any operations except Immediately
in his 'front.' or in retreat, and as tho force under
Wheeler has been too small to do more than
temporary damage, we may infer that the rail-
way is safe against any serious or continued in
corruption.
Altogether, there il no reasOn to doubt that
the enterprise Of Gen. Sherman Is drawing rap
idly toward its main object, the capture Of At
lAnts. It is apparent, also, that tho circum-
stances in which the Rebel force will be left
whom that city 10 finally surrendered. cannot
hold out 10 them any promise Of pro-
tracted resistance on any other portion Of the
railroad line, which it is Gen. Shermsn's purpose
10 possess and divide. The movement on
Decatur was master stroke, which decides tho
final course Of tho campaign. Tho effect will
be seen when the desperate efforts Of the almost
surrounded army Of Hood shall have died away
into sullen retreat, and left Gen. Sherman in
uossass;or nf two. cola '''"'~-~