The New York herald., 1864-09-05
Sherman's Great victory-Its Miiltar
and Political Effect.

ShcrmRn's Great VictOry-Its MILITARY
and Political Effect.
The fall of Atlanta is no longer matter of
doubt or conjecture, based upon the gossip of
pickets, the mysterious admissions of the Rich
mond journals or the dubious bulletins Of the
War Secretary. The telegraph wires
which were temporarily destroyed by the
rebel chiefs Wheeler, Forrest and Roddy
Of the defeat of Hood and the occupation Of
Atlanta from General Sherman himself has
reached US, and is published in our columns
to-day. The victory appears to have been com.
plete the plans Of General Sherman we'll ex-
ecuted, and the result entirely satisfactory.
| ATLANTA is ours, and fairly won," says Sher-
man. Hood, finding that his army was cut in
| two, blew up the magazines at Atlanta, and
abandoned the city, which was at once occu-
pied by General Slocum.
without being furnished with the par
ticulars Of Hoods loss, we may readily
conceive that it must have been most
disastrous. His army was in a position to
break all to pieces when it broke at all;
and all that we know of the previous position
of the two armies in Georgia rs the as
sumption that this defeat is one TT eaves the
rebellion no army and no hope in the Southwest
and is blow from which 1t ia clearly impossi-
Bile that the rebellion can ever rally. Up
to the time Of this battle the position in Geor-
gia was justly regarded by the rebels
themselves as equal in Importance to the posi-
ton in Virginia. Atlanta was as vital as Rich
mond; Hoods army not less important than
Lees All the material that the rebellion
could get together was in that army-all the
detached bodies OF troops and the State militia
Mobile, Florida and Charleston were stripped
to strengthen it, and every element of resist
ance that was not necessary for Richmond went
to Atlanta. Sherman's success therefore by
the capture Of Atlanta and the victory over
! Hood, destroys that onehalf the power tina.
tue confederacy relied upon. Aud such was
the intimate relation between the power in
Virginia and that in Georgia that the destruc-
ten OF that half is the destruction OF the whole.
for neither part can live alone. We 60 but
very little further than the London Times did
when it contemplated the possibility Of this
success in saying that the victory at Atlanta
has put down the rebellion.
Another battle will certainly be fought In
Virginia. and Wa may regard il in advance with
the peculiar interest that will naturally pertain
to the last battle Of this great war. Though it
will be the last battle it will not be the Water
| loo, for the rebellion has received its death
| blow. That battle cannot save It, though ii may
hasten the collapse. AT any hour we may hear
that Lee has once more devoted his army to a
| useless slaughter and buried the small rem
nant Of his men against Grants lines. He can
not change the issue, though he will simplify IT,
| He will reduce the number OF those who can
possibly give trouble to the government in
future lost to ell the restraints OF society
will take to the mountains aud the woods. and
make the Southern States for the next fifteen
years au unpleasant country TO travel in
| oliver Cron we'll said that q man-of-war was
the best ambassador. General Sherman has
! proved to be the best peace negotator. He
has knocked Colonel Jscqsss and Colonel
Jewet., Greeley vAllsndgbam and Wood com
Iletely out OF sight In all our political his
tory there never was . party started on less
intellectual capital and with = smaller amount
Of brains than this peace party Of vallandig.
ham aud Wood. One battle has taken from
them the very ground that they stood upon.
Before the period arrives at which they can 80
before the people the question that they pro-
posed to subnltto the people will have been
decided beyond peradvsnsurs by our armies.
There will be pesce bsfore they oan ask the
people to vote for peace-and their ascendancy.
Their platform contained one idea--cessation
OF hostIlitlss. It said clearly IS . platform
could 'dont bit tho South any morei she
! oapk AiAsd IT,. Rps Nv Es@al BNl