Washington telegraph., 1864-09-21

has at last been evacuated. All that we
have to congratulate ourselves upon is
hat it has been the work of whole
summer for the enemy, and that every
mile of their approach from Chattanooga
has cost them scores of lives. With
their overpowering forces, by concentra-
tion Of almost all their western armies,
with almost unlimited supplies of provis-
ions and ordnance, they confidently ex-
pected to celebrate its capture on the 4th
of July. With our small army We have
delayed them two whole months beyond
that time, and they now find themselves
III the barren possession of this point,
near the close of the season. and with
far heavier objects before them, to be vet
accomplished before the real sim Of the
campaign can be attained.
For it is obvious that ifthey do nothing
| else but hold Atlanta. they must retire
again. They cannot remain SO deep
within the bowels of our lanl'' cut off
from their fleets on tho coast. and with
only one slender line of communication
with a very imperfect base at Chattanoo-
ga, itself dependent on a still longer line
to Nashville, already infested by South,
! ern partizans.
They must 60 10 the coast or turn
back again, as the man struggling in the
quagmire mwst reach the farther bank,
or return, or perish.
1t is a long cry yet from Sherman 10
the fleet at Mobile or Charleston, and
many obstacles lie in the way. He must
reach his friends or perish, or yet retreat
ignohly to the defences around Chatta-
nooga.
| We hoped too much of Atlanta. AL
though not quite to the same extent, NE
committed the same error in regard TO il,
rs we did with regard TO Bowling Greer,
and New Orleans, aud Yickshurg-the
error of being too prone to rest every
thing upon the strength Of each place.
When they fell we were in confusion and
dismav, and required time to rally our
energies. 1t is not So much so now. We
have learned some philosophy and are less
easily dismayed. We are csllner and
more determined, and above all, more
united. Despair is impossible. but still
there may be little too much despon-
dcncy,
Looking back over the campaign in
Georgia, We can see much that we
have done, and that gives Us high hopes
in the future. Up to the time of writing
this, the accounts are that our army has
sustained but little loss 500 reported and
still faces the army of Sherman. Atlanta
is but step. as We're Dalton and Altoona
heights. lie has many before him and
disaster aud defeat more probable in
each, as his lines become longer and his
army becomes weakened by battle and
disease, and irregularity of supplies.
We do not wish to be thought uncan-
did, and TO maintain the loss of At
lanta to be Il small matter. 1t is great
loss, and must be received with all due
and manly regret. We had hoped that
this would be the ending point of Shrr-
man's campaign, and that being bailed
here and forced TO retreat, confusion and
despair would sooner overtake the North
and peace be more speedily forced. We
are disappointed. The campaign will be
prolonged. 1t will still cost us more
Iattles. That is certainly enough for
regret, but that is ALL The elation at
the North will be even less durable, than
after the fall of Nicksburg, when they
find out that Shernan's army has still
tolls and sacrifices and dangers to en-
counter before it succeeds in cutting the
Confedcracy in two. We do not think
the draft will beany more easilv V enforced,
or that volunteering will revive.
On tho other hand, we congratulate
ourselves that we have our army whole,
and ready still to take such positions and
makcsuch drfenccs as were at first thought
most advisable bv Gen. Johnston whilst
in command. To him, certainly, Atlanta
was not ofvital Importance. Why should
we suppose it more! We cannot but
think we have gained BY the defence of
it SO long. All delay of the enemy inurcs
to our advantage. and we have still the
country to fall back upon which we had
when the enemy first crossed the Chatta-
hootchie.
Let us then feel this due regret as be-
comes patrio's-a regret not go much for
the loss of Atlanta itself, as for disap-
pointment of the hope that here the cam
paign of Sherman was to meet It's end
But let us not encourage the slightest