, 1865-03-23

We pint t,elscwhere detailed and interest
ing narrative Of Gen. sbermau's great march,
from the time be left Savannah, Jan. 20, until
Ills arrival at Fayt ttcyillc, N. c., March Is.
It is record Of which every loyal man will
feel pFond, as showing the material of which
our soldiers are made, their powers OF endur.
sance, their Eallantry, stlfeacrifce and patti
otlam, the skill and ability display.d d By th i.
officers, aud the invincfble determination vi h
which both officers and men pressed onward,
determined to hew their way through the
Tery core Of the rebel States. For three
years VIC had fought the enemy on his bound
airy line with varying success, losing here
what VIC lad gained there, and at The end of
each campaign leaving the main armies Of the
rebels comparatively intact and his bases OF
communication and supply uudisturbed. Gen.
Sherman, early In the war, conceived differ
ent theory, and believed that the enemy
could only be destroyed or subjugatcd by
striking at vital points, destroying his rail-
road system and b1eakiug up his min depotss
1t Was undoubtedly with IN eye to his subse-
quent march from Atlanta to Savannah, and
his recent march from Savannah to Fayettc-
vile. 10 be concluded at Richmond, that he
undertook the advance upon Meridian, q
movement which must certainly have Sue
ceedcd but for the failure of his cavalry sup
port.
There orc certain circumstances attending
that expedition, however. which rendered his
later movements entirely feasible. Tint
ma1ch 10 Meridian was the end Of the 81 scat
tcrat;on" policy. Concentration Of troops,
rapid marches, and quick, strong blows ut
vital points, made up the new programme.
It's advantages are apparent at the first
glance. Ills march through Ge.rgia severed
the eastern and western rebel armies, and
confined the scat of war to narrower area.
His march from Savannah Theoretically closed
every port On the Atlantic coast, put an ab.
solute end to blockade running, and closed
every avenue Of sympathy and supply from
the outside world. The rebel cause is
narrowed down to such contracted limits
tllat single battle must decide its fate.
There IL another element Of interest de.
veloped in this march, South Carc1ina, parent
of secession, has been made to fell the
weight of her reasonable crime. Sherman'i
army has swept that State as with q bcso1
Of destruction. He has left in Ills path 8
broad belt Of ruined towns, blackened walls
and pil1aged fields. His mailed maud fel
with all the fury Of war upon the people whc
inaugursted that war, and they have learned
to their sorrow thnt all they hat take th,
sword shall perish with the sword" Hlstor,
Will record it as an act Of st ict justice thai
so great punishment Was mcted out for *
great ctime. But when In the triumph
Progress of his march Gen. Sherman reached
North Carolina new ordsr Of thugs was in
aaeufatcd- North Cnrollno was The last apl
4nost feiactant State 10 Pass the ordinance
~ 1eceseion. From tic first day Of The wa,
70 Inc present, there has been in t1,e s,a+~ q
1tlopg tnaoh party making dete mined re.
sss'ahce TO the idiots Of Davis and suffcr,no
so sacf1nces 1or the cause OF the Union, Gpn.
eaefmsn did not regard the pc pie of sontl
carolina as enemies nf the Union. NJ bo.
ilcved that the State was taken out OF the
Union by the traitorons acts Of the o her States
and BY the intrigue OF few traitors. and
Consequently ordered that every effort should
be made to prevent destruction Of property
ana unkind treatment Of the people. This
action Was judic:ous and we'll timed. It will
fsnoVe erroneous Impressions, eradicate
prejudices, and bind that Slate still. more
drmly eto the Union. He will find friends
mol enemies, among the people. His course
WILL prove strong moral auxiliary In hasten-
ing the dissolution OF the Confederacy,
View She1man's march In whatever light
We may. assume even that It should end In
inter failure, and still 1t mnst be set down as
one Of the best planned and best executed
military operations In all the annnls of war.
Assume that 1t ends In entire success, IN
assumption that 1t Ia not only possible but
probable. and its elimination inyolvea 4hp