Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-03-10
FHTDAY. hARCH 10. Isss.


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The absencs Of any definite news Of any
sort, in regard TO the movements of sher-
man after leaving Columbia, is most singu-
lar. TIE RiehnOnd papers are very reti-
cent Gbout the matter, and we infer from
their SiIence that critical moment Is ap-
preaching, and that the great movement
against Sherman, for which Lee and john
ston have been mustering every avsilable
man within their reach, is now beingmsde,
if indeed, it has not already eliminated.
As long, however, IS they maintain their
present reticsnee it Is safe 70 infer that
Sherman has met with no positive disaster,
for Is soon Is the least misfortune should
occur to him the Richmond press would
lose no tine in spreading it before the
people, with glaring headlines and unre-
strained e1sggeraGons, as 8 magnificent
Confederate victory. The dropping and
despairiDg spirit Of the people of Virginia
and North Carolina needs of sll things
the encouragement Of q success, be it ever
90 triyiEi, and as soon as Sherman meets
with the least repalse it will be trumpeted
far and wide. No news, therefore, may
be regarded as good news.
Butwhereis our gallant General? Thst
question is hard TO answer. Since lie left
Columbis. the most perplexing and con-
Trajectory rumors have prevailed as to his
position and destination. The rebels are
evidently at fault as regards bis intentions,
and tie people of the North are equally in
the dark. One report is to the effect that
q column Of his forces had effected the
capture of Augusta, another places him at
Winnsboro, on the road TO Charlotte,
twenty-five miles from Columbia, an
other locates him, on the hetwenty-fourth ult..
st Camden, smother at Florence, while one
which came last night ria Hilton Head,
states that he had arrived at Charlotte.
This last, st any rate, is untrustworthy.
We give much more credence TO the report,
80 persistently itersted for the last three
dsys, that he hiss struck the Cape Fear
river sixty miles above Wilmington. This
report comes both from Richmond and
Wilmington, and is confirmed BY the re-
port of a cavalry engagement at Cheraw,
s. O. which is near the North Carolina
line, about ninety miles from Columbis,
and ffty,ave from Fayetteville, as the bird
flies. That he has not yet effected a juno
tion with Schofeld's forces is, however,
clear.
We wait for further reliable news
from Sherman with the greatest anx-
iety, and yet with very little feeling OF
alarm. His very sloWless and caution
in advancing shows that he fully compre-
hends the critical nature Of the position
He viii not be caught mapping. Affairs in
North Osrolins are very favorable 10 the
success of the Union arms, and the Union
sentiment is more prevalent there than in
any other part Of the Confederacy. Mean
time Grant and Sheridan are keeping Lees
forces busy in Virginia, Meaghe- isstirriDg
at Newben, and Terry is pushing on for
Fayetteville. The circle of the rebellion is
rapidly shrinking toward its doomed cen
ter. Within that circle great and mo-
meutOus battle must soon be fought. We
wait its issue with confidence, though not
without anxiety.