Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1864-12-15
From the Augusta Eegis:sr. Dee. Il.


In thu eager suspense With which We await the result
of Shermdus retreat to a new base on coast We
SHALL not lose sight Of the advantages which likely
to grow out of the grand strategic movements which
forced him to c1ate AtHCta ald 10 look cOastward
for the security of bis army The mist which has 80
long Dbscured the movements Of ifeuetal Hood is at
length breaking, and the golden bow Of victory arches
the horizon in that direction. The march Of Hoods
army from the borders of Alabama to the heart of
Tennessee, has been signaly successful the raw re-
crults left to impede his march, have melted before
him the fortified posts OF the enemy have One after
another capitulated aid Huntsville Chattanooga
B iidgeport aud historic Murfreesbor0', ours be
has been routed horse foot and dragoon from his last
desperate stand at Franklin, and our victorious legions
faunt their proud banDers around the entertainments
Of Nashville, into which the reirearg vandals have
fed for security. II latest advc true, they
have eufared OF the most crushing defeats Of the
war and their oTn accounts admit the retreat
Nashville and tie immense des uclion of the property
of our loyal citizens tOprevent it from being usd to
supply army. Whatever Hoods future movements
may bewhetier to press TO tt OHIO cooperate
With Breckenridge n relieving East Tennessee, and re-
Opening the upper route to RcbnloI d, be has accom-
pIlshed results which demonstrate the wisdom Of bis
plaus and mark bis last campaign as one Of the most
brilliant OF the He has not only driven She
from Atlanta which he never could have done by
confronting him-but be has recovered the strongho!ds
which marked the advance of the enemy into
State, and redeemed upper Georgia and most OF Ten
nessee. He has recovered territory Whose temporary
occupancy cost the enemy millions OF dollars, and
Thousands Of lives and given TO the enemy and the
world The most convincing evidence of capacity TO
defeat all schemes for Cur subjueation To-day be in
vs the thousands Of refugees from Cherokee Georgia
and the volunteer State, to back to their boms,
ADD thousands OF hearts are swelling with joyous and
grateful response 10 the summons.
So much for the victorious advance of the 1ashng
Texan. He has accomplished these gratifying results
with 7sry yOg loss. 1t is said that he has recelyed
accesaions 10 his forces much in e3cesso the loss
tanned. He has ind cted serious damage upon the
enemy, capturing their garrsons, and destroying i'm
mense quantities of Stores not to include the thousands
reported iors de coslt from the victory at Franklin
1 he withdrawal OF Hood from Shsrman's front left
open the road to he ocean unobstruced and be soon
found that he must take this route for Waterbase, or
make a humilating or dangerous retreat over the
mountains. It was in this desperate strait that be
hoastuiy announced that has course was to the South
He was afraid and ashamed to acknowledge his incapa
city to hold Atlanta by unequvoca retreat. 81 be
goes forward, but with all his b. ang he cannot con
cea the fact that be is ing from uatenabe posi-
tion-that Hood has forced him to give up the dear
bought fruits OF a long campaign, and abandon bis
boosted hold upon the heart of the REBELLION. True his
course is marked by those acts Of cruelty, end waste
and plumber which have dsgraced the enemy through
ont the war-Women and children, and other Gepess
non. combatants have been made to suffer, and hmes
once the abode of peace and plenty, have been sacked
and despoiled but all this does not weigh feather
toward accomplishing the belllsh work Of subugaion.
The spirit of resistance grows brighter than ia the
hearts OF the people, who have renewed cause to hate
the remorselss vandals. These personal trials to a
portion of our people, constitute the chief result of
Shermans retreat, admitting that be reaches secure
base On the coast admission that we do not yet
deem probable. A base Oh the coast affords him no
new advantages, except the single one of obtaining
supplies for bis army, from which Hood cut him of 10
Atlanta The enemy las held for years Port Royal,
Brunswick and numerous otoer ports afording all the
ADVANTAGES which Sherman will secure, as bases FIR
operations against the interior, unless be shall go to
Savannah As he has summed every city and town
having any means OF defense on bis route it is not
likely that be will attempt to reach that city 1t will
perhaps be fortunate for Us if he does.
In this hurried glance at the progress Of tho two ar
mics under notice, do not fad much more cause for
generalization than anxiety and gloom A month ago
Sherman was in the heart Of our State, which he had