Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-12

doubtless move In this direction so soon a. he ca
repair the railroad from Nashville to Chattanooga
/ The. ~iiLdrawal Of Hood from Middle Tennessee wi
fmake rs medium Of transportation secure, ap
thus furnish an nexhaStihlc source Of supplies iron
Tennessee. Kentucky, &c With no. importan
bridges 10 repair on The railroad line, ana but SINAI
portions of the tack destroyed, and populace Ia
vOrabe TO his advance, Thomas can move WIN hucl
rapidity, securing 10 himself supplies snhcleht 10
his army, however large.
| Sbouij Thomas move up on this line, threatening
| Lynchbns. Sherman will mOve.up IN the direction
! OF Columbia or CharleSton-nore probably III th'
former directions thus Threatening the saieey OF o
national capital and the army OF general Lee, whist
| the grand army living before Richmond and Peters
| burg under the immediate command of Grant, vii
| act in concert with them. The movement ora col
| umn south OF the Blue Ridge. supported by one
| which should move On L.fnehburg, has been pet
/ idea of General Grant for more than twelve months
This movement was urged 10y some able contributor
to the New York press more than two years since.-
But little attention given so the seeming pre-
sumption of the Yankee strategiSt until the eyacua-
ton of East Tennessee aud the success of Sherman.
That column, moving on 'Lynchburg, rs Indicated
above, would be support ITO one moving south OF
the Blue Ride, is not presumed, only III dividing the
| forces OF General Lee for defence.
Too great Importance can't be attached TO the flu
turc inducements of Thomas, Tor lac is evidently one
Of the encniy's most willy Generals and with the res
cent successes of has command and that OF 1.-The Fed
eral armies he will he bold and active in his move
nents. The strength OF his army can be of no mean
character when take into consideration tina, one
of the best armies in the Confederate service has
been forced ia retreat before IT, This army will be
considerably strengthened by The different GARRISON,
and forces from Kentucky. Even should 4hOmas
moi make the anticipated move, the forces Scattered
through Kentucky viii be collected aud brought TO
East TeGIUSSea for operations IN Southwestern Rir-
ginia. IT'S fatal dcuSon 10 presume that the
my viii ncaliempt the occupation OF this country
Yiginui eye should be kept the arsenal and NH.
tary prisons at salisbury n. &. Should Sherman
move mp through South Carolina III the direction OF
Columbia BrauchyIlle, cavalry rad could be
made almost with inpunIiy from this front, joining
Sherman in they were pressed.
Every effort is being made 10 the reorganization
OF this department, hut owing 10 the inclemency Of
the weather but little progress has been made The
people are somewhat gloomy over the recent news
Irop Gen Hood and especially the successor Sher-
man. The success Of Bragg at " limngtOn will
doubtless, IN great measure, dlsspate this gloom,
aud give new hope 10 those VINO would seek compass
sion at the hands of Abraham Lincoln ON the basis
of reconstruction This element is one OF no small
magnitude in the government, and arises from
greater appreciation Of property than liberty
Strange 10 say thousands who have sacrificed their
offspring IN tbs revolution, ready 10 forget those
losses aud misortuneS and return, in meek Submis-
sion, to those who meted out them such woiul afu-
tons. Something must be done, and thaa soon, to
re-establis public confidence. The entire energies
Ot the Government should be given 10 this with a
view to military success, which is the only medium
through which to restore confidence. BIRD.