Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-03-09
THE WAR IN THE CAROLINAs.

General Shermans line of march through
North Carolina was expected by the rebel
strategists to follow the line of the railroad
from Columbia to Charlotte and Green's
boro, and accordingly they made their
preparations there to Obstruct his progress
and offer battle. They have now ascer-
tanned to their own satisfaction that they
were mistaken, but not until they had con-
centrated their forces on that line, and al
lowed Sherman time to penetrate into
North Carolina on his own chosen routes,
and proceed to carry out his plans. The
rebels had evidently fortified Charlotte and
prepared for a siege. To keep them there
Sherman seems to have advanced de-
tachment along the line of the railroad
from Columbia, and passing through Winns-
bOro this detachment would seem, after
threatening Charlotte, to have got around
it and destroyed the railroad north of it.
Meantime Sherman, with his main army,
did not go by that route at all. In fact he
went off in the direction of Camden, S. G =,
which place he passed through on his road
north. The Richmond journals now inform
us that advices from Charlotte indicate
that that place is not now threatened, and
that Sherman's line of march is in another
direction, from which we infer that the de-
tachment which was operating near Char
lotte, having accomplished its purpose in
keeping the rebels there as long as was
necessary, has now gone off to join the main
army Some of the northern press now
fancy that Sherman has gone to Goldsboro,
which would be altogether unnecessary as
with the capture of Wilmington by our
forces the Weldon Railroad becomes of no
use to General Lee and it is therefore not
likely that he has attempted to hold the
Goldsboro junction, except temporarily as
an exterior defence of Raleigh.
Should Sherman attack Raleigh, of course
all the rebel troops in eastern North Car
oina would be previously withdrawn and
concentrated there, as Sherman's strategy
has separated Beauregard's forces from it.
The troops available for the defence of Raj
eigh are those of Hardee and Bragg, and a.
gainst Sherman's main army they would be
unable to hold the place unless heavily rein
forced by Lee. Here Sherman would be
joined by Schofeld Our impression is that
in marching north Sherman has preserved
an interior line between the eastern and
western forces Of the rebels, not following
the railroads at all, but moving on and
using every common road leading north, so
that the whole country is filled with his
troops, and is laid under contribution tc
furnish supplies.
But on reaching Raleigh he would un-
doubtedly use the railroad from Whining.
ton to that place to obtain all he might
stand in need Of As to the rebel force under
Beauregard or Johnston, should they at
tempt to reach Raleigh by railroad, they
would most probably find all communica,
ton by railroad destroyed 1t is evident,
then, that Sherman's position in North Car
olina, as well as his policy, are much the
same as in South Carolina separating the
rebel forces, apparently threatening seve-
raj main points at once, and yet attacking
none. Supposing Hardee to be at Fayette
vile, Bragg at Raleigh and Beauregard's
troops at Charlotte, Greensboro and Dan
vile, with Sherman occupying the interior
position between them ALL it is evident that
he has them at a disadvantage, and can
move as he chooses and fight where it suits
him