The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-03-14
The Damaging Effect Of sherman's
NDnrafIORs.


Immediately after the capture Of
Fort Fisher, b which the port of vii
miDgton was closed to the rebel block
ade runners the Wilmington Journal,
in review Of me situation expressed
the fear that the South Carolina rail-
road would be cut at BranchViile or
west Of that place, and declared that
the importance of this event could
hardly be cyerestimated 1t added:
The great importance Of the South
Carolina railroad west OF BranchvIlle
arises from the fact that it Is the only
road connecting Virginia and the Caro-
linas With Georgia, Alabama, Florida
and Mississippi We do not see how
any supplies can be brought from the
Southwest for Lees army, and we don't
know whether Virginia and North Car
dina can feed that army and support
their own population This is most i'm
portant question, involving neither
more nor less than our continued abili-
" to hold Richmond and Petersburg
for we suppose tits no news for any one
" be informed that speculations have
been INDUCED ia a.. 10 the possibility oil
Gen. Lee, IL a certain contingency, fall
ing back upon Tennessee.
Notwithstanding this candid admis-
sion, the Richmond papers made light
of the distraction of this important
railroad by sherman. According to
them, it was only another blessing in
disguise" 1t appears, however, that
Gen. Lee differs with them He recog-
nizes the correctness of the Whining
ton Journals opinion; and at his in
stance Gov. Vance has issued procla-
nation calling upon the people of North
Carolina for donations, sales or loans OF
supplies of provisions for the rebel
army. He tells them that, in conse-
quence of the interruption OF railroad
communications with the great South
ern granaries, the subsistence of Lees
army has become greatly jeopardedi
that, as the Wilmington Journal said,
the army must rely upon Virginia and
North Carolina alone for subsistence.
To quicken their patriotism and cause
them to shell out rapidly, he adds that
he has ALREADY rendered to the Com
missary Department one-half of his
entire years supply, and that he in
tends to put his own family on half IA
tionA" Here VIC have ray Of light let
in upon the Bnotia Of the rebel SUBJ
sistence department 1t ia greatly
straightened-the army is likely to suf-
fertile poor plucked people must give,
loan, or sell, one half OF the little sub
sistence left them. How much that is,
we may gather from the statement Of
Roger A. Pryor whilst at Washington,
who offered in extenuation of the star
vation of our prisoners, the fact that
the people-private citizens of Vir
ginia-seldom had meat of any
kind to eat, and instlnced the exper-
fence of his own and other families
Well may the Wilmington Journal
have expressed doubt whether Vir-
rinia and North Carolina could feed
the army and support their own Popu-
lation. We do not believe they could
do it; and Gov. Vance may beg and
coax. and threaten the remainder Of
the year, without accomplishing his OBJ
iect in the old North State The Rich
mond Enquirer affirms boldly that
there " is party Of whipped seceders
in Richmond" - cowed and cowardly
miserable wretches who brought the
war upon the country, and who would I
now surrender TO the enemy"-that
4" the very men who were foremost TO !
secede are the iirst 10 surrender" If
this be true in Richmond, what may |
we not suppose to be the state of mind /
among the people of North Carolina
who never willingly joined the rebel
lion. When Sherman gets up into that
State and sewers other railroad COM
the question of subsistence
will assume a still more important
shape. Lee can master the situation
then, and retain his grip on Richmond
and Petersburg, be viii exhibit more
than mortal power. The fact is, Sher-
mans triumphal march is fast reduc-
ing the rebel leader to the direst ex-
tremity, Unless he can beat and scat
Ter Sherman's forces, he must make a
desperate attempt TO retrieve his for
tunes by abandoning his position; or
be must be content 70 accept Rich
nond as the grave of the Southern
conlederacy.
The prisoners captured by Gen. Sher-
dan have arrived at Winchester There