Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1864-09-20
SOUTHERN NEWS.
a Rebel Common Sense VTsv of the Situa
ton around Atlanta and its Practical

The Richmond Sentinel, which is under
stood to be the organ of the Administra-
ton, insomuch as it puts all its favorites,
abuses all its antipathies, aud gets large
share of the public printing; the Rich
mond Sentinel. whose vagaries, by the way,
have been little remarkable oflate, pub.
fishes an article which is meant to prove
the satisfactory aspect of the situation, and
which does array a number of pleasing
and cheerful facts. In this article slIusion
is made to Atlanta aud its probable fate.
The writer thinks it will stand. He be-
lieves that Sherman is in hopeless quag-
mire. He argues, rather hippantly il must
be owned, that the condition of the Yam
KEGS in this region is deplorable, and
closes his remarks with the following pas
sage concerning the event of the capture
of the city:
"But suppose he were to take it. Would
that better his situation2 No, but make
1t far worse He would lose a third or a
fourth of his army in the battle in which
he won it; be in no condition for for
ward movement, and less able than ever to
retrace his steps to Chattanooga, aud
thence to Nashville. Victory or defeat will
be equally fatal to him. Cut off from re-
Inducements, he is situated just as Pyrr-
bus was in Italy, when, looking over tent
ed field of battle after a splendid victory,
that great warrior exclaimed; Zone more
such victory and am undone.' Let Sher
man gain two great victories over US, and
he and his army are ours. But we will
have them on cheaper and better terms.
His lines of Communication will be cut of.
He will be compelled to attack Hood be.
hind his entrenchments-willb be defeated;
and seeing no hope of escape, he and his
army will surrender at discretion. This is
the most probable result, and, at all events,
sooner or later. and whether he captures
Atlanta or not, he and his army will be
captured or cut to pieces in the attempt to
escape"
The whole of the above is the most arrant
fustian and trash. Who does not know that
the capture of Atlanta would be the max
ing of Sherman. His ruin, indeed 1t
would PROSTATE the peace men, it would
counterbalance Grants losses, and it would
continue the war indefinitely As to hold
ing Atlanta, there is no doubt of it. Hsvn't
they held Nashville with a long line of rail.
way through Kentucky, and a river chan
mel only in winter2 HaVn't they held
Chattanooga, with long line through
| Tennessee Havn't they held their posi-
ton outside here for two months 2 And
yet this writer (who doubtless has penued
many an article headed "no cause of de-
spondency'') would cheer up the country by
insulting the common sense, by whispering
the fall of Atlanta down the wind as a
trifliug affair, after all, the very worst luck
which could befall Sherman.
If this really be so, Gen. Hood had bet
| ter give it up at once.
Like the writer in the Sentinel we feel a
| marvellous deal of confidence; but it springs
| chiefly from the settled conviction that we
shall hold both Atlanta and Richmond !;
| that change will be brought about by
| these military successes in the politics of
the North that negotiations, instead of
battles. will open with the spring, aud that
| these will be followed by peace. In all
these conclusions we are sustained by round
calculations. They are not the illusions
of an overheated fancy, or sanguine tenn
per. But let US loose Atlanta and the bot
tom falls from our hope, and we shall look
for the re- election of Lincoln aud another
four years of blood. Only, we don't expect
to loose Atlanta
The soldiers out in the trenches assure
US daily they appreciate fully the heavy
toad of responsibility which presses upon
them, and that they will stand by Hood to
| the death in the defence of the city.
The militia, whose services and proves
are no longer the scoff and byword of vets
Grams, have been so drilled aud disposed
under their matchless Commander, that
they are a tower of strength and glory 10
the Empire State of Georgia.
| We have Sherman confused. We have
forced him to change from and alter his
base. The next order he issues will be one
involving right. about face aud a double
quick toward the classic bogs of Dalton.
| The Richmond Sentinel can spare us it's
mo case for dependency twaddle." We
do not need it. We scout it and laugh at
it.
THE GEORGIA FRONT.