The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-12-16

vance scouting parties Of Shermnn's
cavalry wore then within few miles
of that city. 1t seems to be believed
in all quartoI $, that at any rate Sher
man is well on his way to Savannah,
and beyond the possibility of success
full interruption.
This, then is the time to interpose
a not unnecessary caution. We are
so apt to grow enthusiastic over our
victories, and call them ovcrwhelm-
ing, that there is danger ofa popular
reaction when the real results Of Sen.
Sherman's operations become known.
Already men arc talking about the
complete isolation of Alabama and
Mississippi from the rebel Confeder-
acy, as If General Sherman's march
had left a Chinese wall in its wake;
and about q concentration of all our
forces on Lee, rs if Lee alone remain
ed to conquer. But it is idle to un-
nerve ourselves with these pleasing
ldelusiions.
General Sherman has, by q brilliant
stroke of audacity, marched across
the territory of the Confederacy, de-
stroying bridges, tearing up railroads,
laying waste some sections. Let lis
not forget that destroying rebel prop
crty is not destroying rebel armies.
Hoods army remains; Lees army re-
mains; and till they are conquered,
maching about ''lnsidc the she'll may
serve to show its hollowncss, but
will not keep the armies from turning
up quite lively on its circumference.
The fall of Savannah may he accept
ed us reasonably certain; in TACT the
War Department considers it already
practically assured. That will be n
permanent gain. Then certain
amount of destruction along the line
of march, interruption Of commune
cations and the Ike is secured; but
that is only temporary Transfer
Sherman from Atlanta to Savannah
and the enemy may soon open thcii
lines again across the track over
which he has marched. The disor
ganization of their labor system, in
tcrruption of planting and destruction
of corqs, are of more consequence
but their extent, though enough tc
greatly harrass and incommode th'
enemy, cannot be enough to prove
virtually dangerous.
, There is another view. however, IL
which the movement may have
more important effect. AT Savannah
, Gen. Sherman is within three days
easy sail of Grants army, with un
limited water transportation; mean
time he has, for the time being, Sc
eiTectually crippled their railroad sys
tenn that if Hood should seek to JOIN
Lee, he can only march across-al
undertaking that would require no
| less than two or three weeks. L
would seem possible in that time TO
) Sherman to aid Grant III overpowcr
ing Lee.
In this connection it is interesting
I, to know that u staff officer OF Gaut
went over to New York to-day, t
catch the earliest transport to Por
| Royal, and bear dispatches to Sher
man. Officers from Scerman's army
who had been on furlough North, ar
, also going down the same way, t.
|, Join their commands; and the Quar-
tcrmastcrs and Commissaries ar
, shipping supplies to the same desti
, nation hy the same rout.
2 In the House on the 18th the mos
3 important measure taken was the au
, thority given the Committee on Ju
, dietary to inquire into the eXpedicnc
t Of law to dcnationalise dcscrtcr
who go abroad to escape the draft
, and requiring regular naturalisatio
before permitting them to again eS
ercise their rights of citizenship
Gen. Schenck proposed the measure
. The regular Committees were AZ
G pointed in the Senate, without tll
S usual formalities of an election. MI
= Sherman, as announced few day
g ago, succeeds to the Craftsmanship {
the Committee on Finance, and MI
J Wade to that on Territories. Th
cast of all these Committees had pre-
, viously been decided in Union caucus
i and shows Enthusiastically the wanin
Y influence of conservatism" in tn
: loyal councils of the land.
= E1- By direction of the Presiden
e announced in General order of til
war Office, 900, Maj Gen. f. Steel
is relieved the command of the 1t
army corps, and the Department
Arkansas, and Maj, Gen. j. j. ReN
= nolds is assigned to the command
!, his stead. Maj. Gen. Steele will II
rport to Major General Cauby for a
n signment to command.