Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-23

vance = Disapp0intmemt i'm Rich
moad over the Failure to Capture
Washington. EHz
sPEcULATIoNs RESPECTING sHERMAN's POSI-
TIoN-KIRBY SMITH TO OPERATE ON THE
REAR--coNFIDENCE IN JoHNsToN's PLANS,
ETC., ETC.
.,, ,[From The Macon Confederate.l ,.,,,
If Kirby Smith has crossed the Missis-
sippi, as was rumored some days ago, and
which received confirmation from The Nep
York Herald of the 4th, which says, that
Stanton had telegraphed Dix that Kirby
Smith was crossing the river, the position
of Sherman in Georgia grows more ha-
zardous every hour, 1tmay be that Gener-
al Johnston has been for some time aware
of this intended move, and has been ma
nnuvering his force I'm such manner as
to delay Sherman until Smith could strike
his rear, destroy his communications, and
place his army at the mercy of the Con-
federates. 1t is said that the highest officers
under General Johnston are not made ac-
quainted with his plans; and 1t Is not i'm
probable that this willy master of the art
of war has been using for some time his
whole power of combination and strategy
so as to place his antagonist in such aposi-
ClOn L1aU, SIlOulu Iue lOTJuuCo VI uauOiO ~
against him, lie would not only be defeated,
but annihilated. sf ."7s.c s,.s.iS 80
Should Kirby Smith reach the, rear. of
Sherman the Army of the Cumberland will
be in decidedly bad way. In that event
Sherman will be compelled to do one of two
things-attack Johnston at once in his torti-
fications, or send Immediately large por-
ton of his forces to intercept Smith, and
preserve intact his long line of communica-
lions. In the former event Sherman will,
beyond a doubt, be terribly beaten. The
army of Tennessee, behind its Notifications
and free from all danger of being flanked,
will be invincible. Should the Yankee Cen
eral determine to straddle the latter horn Of
the dilemma the resultwil be equally beneti-
cial to the Confederates. His forces will
be so weakened as to enable General Johns
ton to rally from his works and drive them,
routed and in confusion, from the soil of
Georgia.
The prospect brightens. Street corner
generalship is not able to sound with its
short plummet the depths of General john
ston's plans. Let the people remain hope
full remembering that faith Is often as es-
sential to national as to spiritual salvation.
Above all, let them cherish in their heart of
hearts, the firm and unalterable determine
ton that, come what will, they will aid and
uphold to the. very utmost of their power
the army and government, till the cruel
and insolent invader is driven from South
ern soil, and the independence of the Con-
federate States be firmly established.
4 sHERMAN's POSITION.
The Atlanta Appeal, confident of the sue
cess of our army, says:
In his work on military science, General
Halleck laws it down as q principle that
'sdeep lines are dangerous" Sherman's is
just such line as theauthor must have had
in his minds eye. 1t may be said to extend
from Louisville to the Chattahoochee river,
though Nashville is his proper base. His
movement so lar into the interior of the
Confederacy is certainly the boldest, not to
say the most reckless, on record, not eX-
cepting even the advance of Napoleon upon
the city of Moscow. Such an opportunity
for destroying OF annihilating an army has
never been offered to an opposing foe, and If
something is not now done in the ''gobbling
up" business, so much talked of during the
war, we shall think there is a sad want OF
combination and cooperation among our
military leaders. Sherman is now, as it
were, in a net, or cI de sac, and If he and
his whole army are not brought to grief it
will certainly not be for the want of temerity
OH his part.
So inviting field for military enterprise
was never exposed to an opposing enemy,
and we cannot divest ourself of the convic-
ton that advantage will yet be taken of it.
With Sherman's army destroyed, not only
Atlanta, but Richmond and Petersburg are
at once relieved. In such an event Grant
would necessarily be compelled to raise the
siege of the two latter cities and move to
the defense of Tennessee and Kentucky,
both of which States would be put in haZ-
ard of reoccupancy by our army. Such a
stroke would strike the war party of the
North with gloom and dependency, while
the hands OF the peace men would be cor
respondingly strengthened, and would 90
far to hasten the termination of hostilities.
We do not believe it would be within the
power of Lincoln to raise another army for
the subjugation of the South, and he would
necessarily be compelled to treat for peace
on the basis of separation and our independ-
ence. F'U
With his communications cut for few
days or weeks, Sherman would be forced to
retreat, which, in view of the impoverished
condition of the country behind him, would
prove as disastrous as further advance.
Before he could reach Nashville, his army
would be measurably destroyed, and he
might not find it safe to remain even on this
side of the Ohio. Our people are surely as
brave and as patriotic as were the serfs and
Cossacks of Russia, by whom the magnifi-
cent army of Napoleon was well nigh an
initiated on its retreat from their BURNING
capital. We sincerely hope that so fine an
opportunity for master stroke will not be
permitted to pass by unimproved by our
military chieftains. This is certainly a
time above all Others when jealousies of
every kind should be laid aside, and when
there should be jealous and cordial CO.
operation among all our leaders, both in the
Cabinet and the field, for the common good
and general welfare. 5aa ~
NEWS FROM sHERMAN's REAR.
A gentleman, says The Appeal who left
Gainesville, Georgia, on Sunday last, re-
ports that the Federals were shipping of
the sick and wounded and hospitals from
that point toward Chattanooga, and all who
had affiliated with the Yankees were selling
off their personal effects. This, in connec-
ton with the burning of factories and mills,
indicates movement either forward OF
rearward of Sherman's army. The gentle
man also states that had Johnston remained
three days longer at Kenesaw Mountain
Sherman would have retreated. The Fed
erals admit that they have lost five to our
one. I'D r.....
Rebel Accounts from Richmond.
THE CAPTURE OF wAsHINGTo,; NOT ACCOM-
PLIsHED-DIsAPPoINTM TO THE SAN
GUINE PORTION OF THE COMMUNITY
N W A 4