Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-02-16

; TaURsDAX, FEBFggA.EtlH 70, l1see.,
II ~ SIesv,Ii1 q A. iPEogress.ssi aa
n sbsr16s1 bsins again buried IN the heart
of South sU61oIina as he was in thtte of
Georgia, cur only news and that very |
mosSrs,g comes to US through Richmond |
papers. There Is now no longer any doubt
shat Bfanchville Is in our possession. The
Richmond papers have admitted al along !
that the eIossing of the Rdisto BY Sher-
man would be the tigusl for the eEAcuA-
ton Of Charleston. Of the crossing Of the
EdiSso there is no doubt whsteveE. There
IL also a report that the railroad north OF
HBnaobviIle baE been leut, thus isOlstlng
the place entirely from sll communication
eithsf with Richmond or Augusta. The
road has also no doabt been cut between
Charleston and BrAnehville as portion Of
IShefnnsu's forces threatened TO cross the
Rdist6 I've miles south OF Branchvile.
ThsseisaTe Of the piAee Is Of more conss-
auence, IN the estimation Of military men,
3 shan Bhe possession Of Charleston. Sher-
nan has regarded it as the key 10 South
Carolina, the possession Of which would
give control Of Augusta and Charleston
and Oolumbia. From BrsnchVills to
Columbia il fifty miles, to Augusta seventy
milear to Charleston ffy-fEs miles. It
presents an intsriOE base whence Sherman
may operate sgsinEt either place as he may
see ft. ss' ~ t-
The plan Of General shermAn's opera
tions by which he has thus seized
Brsnchyille ! Is similar 10 the strategy
practiced by him In his Georgia campaign.
He moved from Savannah in three columns,
The right directed toward Charleston the
center toward Branchville, and the left to-
ward Augusta. Zach Of these columns
may be operating not only to distracs at
tsntion from BranehYille but also TO enable
Sherman 70 ssizs all three places Simultane-
ously. Richmond papers of Saturday re-
present the right wing Of ShermAn's army
which left Beaufort, as making actiYe de-
monstrations near Combahee Ferry near
the Charleston and Savannah road. This
being 50, there can be no doubt that the
occupation Of Charleston by the right wing
is intended by General Sherman, as he is
+ reported to be with that column. The
brilliancy of ShermAn's campaign would
be wanting in one very important feature
Hhe should feel obliged to give Charleston
thsgo,by. It seems altogether more pro
bable that its seizure Is one of the steps in
the war programme that he may have q
new base Of supplies, if necessary, before
reaehing Wilmington. Then in moving
northward frem Savannah his right wing
would be most likely to fellow the railroad
running directly north from Charleston to
Florence on the Wilmington and Man
chester road. The country east Of that
road il too marshy and SWamPy for mill
tary operstions. We expect soon, there
fore. TO hear of the official announcement
Of the fall Of Charleston.
The fact that a yet Sherman has met
no armed opposition of any magnitude,
would indicate that the rebel machine in
South Carolina is about played out. We
have had fassy intimAtions from Rich
mond that q formidable rebel force under
Hardee and Besufsgsrd were TO make
minoe meat of Shermans warriors. Davis,
in his Richmond war speech, declared that
this would be the last march Of Sherman I;
that certain doughty rebel chieftaina weis
in his 'front.' and prepared to put an end
70 his career. If this were SO, we should
hssE more of the blstant boAstinRs Of the
Richmond press. They would be ecOnduct-
ing another campaign, with furious rhet-
osie, on paper. But notwithstanding their
bslligerent tone, they content themselves
g with simply chrOnicling his movements.
They see him approaching steadily, while
they arc undergoing aWeeping, wailing,
and gnashing Of teeth" The hand Wri-
ting on the wall grows more and more
d. threatening as the probable junction Of
Sherman and Grant becomes more AppR-
rent. In Sherman they see the iron hand
Of Fate, and grow furious and gRssh their
teeth in impOtent rage