Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-02-25
shermau's March

An object OF Gen. Shermsn's campaign hss
been accomplished. he has captured Columbis,
the capital of the state of South Carolina. and
the place where the ordinance for the secession
of South Carolina was ineucated. The city IS
of the utmost importance TO the rebels both as
arsenal and depot of supply, and what is OF
far greater value, il is one of the grand centers
OF railroad communication. It's possession sewers
the line OF the military road south of the city and
compels. as the rebels canddy confess, the
evacuation OF Charleston. Augusta, also, is
rendered valueless 10 the enemy. and the tourni
Qusi which Gen. Sherman has applied TO the
great artery of com munication Of the south at
Columbia and below checks as once the flow OF
supplies for the rebel army in Virginia. which
have teen FOR a long time their chief source OF
sustenance. This act of Sherman. therefore, II
il does not Immediately destroy the vitality of
Lees army. must seriously cripple its efficiency.
THE sxxr OBJECTIVE roIsr
The Richmond papers. which announce the
capture Of Columbia. venture to speculate upon
General Shermsn's next objective point Flor
encs. 5. c.. and Charlotte. n. c., are both con
sidercd in their turn. bet the rebel editor seems
to be at loss which 10 6x upon. The fact that
General Sherman is moving with his army d.
vided in 40 many columns. aud that the head o.
each phalanx seems TO be directed toward so
many important points. evidently puzzles the
tnte Richmond editors They argue the oues-
ton of an advance upon each place critically;
confess that he has no need of going 20 Charles
ton for a water base: intimate that in fact he
carries his base with him. subsists on the courtry
and can do so; and counsel people 20 lay waste
all their lands and deprive the enemy of all that
may comfort or aid him.
It is not PROBABLE that Gen Sherman will re
trace bis steps and retnrn TO Atlanta. which has
undoubtedly been evacuated. because he has one
column of his army under Gen. Gilmore, whose
especial mission is understood TO be the occupa-
ton OF that place The fruits of his late victory
will therefore fall ripe into the hands of the
skilliul officer Who has expended so much
though, and labor 10 accomplish By force of
arms and ordnance, tina, which has resulted from
simple strategy, without the loss Of a msn. The
course of Gen. Sherman will, therefore. be on
ward he NAV cast glance, so 10 speak,
in the direction OF Charleston. just sufficient 10
open communication with the restful cradle of
the rebellion ard assure himself of the success OF
his strategic NOV ement; but IL will be simply a
glance His army il well in hand, and invinci-
BILE, as the retreat of Besuregsrd fully proves.
Under these circu instances We may consider that
Sherman will not rest until he has accomplished
the object Of this grand campaign.
rHx oRASD MILITARY LINZ or Tx SOUTH.
Taking Columbia az a center and carefully
coming a we'll delineated map of North Caro-
lima the course Of Ge1ersl Sherman is made al
most appareni as IL it was involved in a general
order. We know that General Scho6eld is al
ready operating upon the line Of the Wilmington
and Manchester road: il is also well known that
large force ia advancing from Newbern. in the
direction OF Goldsboro. IL General Sherman
should move from Columbia upon the line Of
railroads which pass through central or western
South Carolina and North Carolina be would. at
every step. pass farther from his base and line of
communication, aud be compelled 10 depend upon
his own army alone IN an emergency. Ga the
contrary. il he should pass to the eastward upon
the line Of the Manchester and Wilmington road,
be would ms.t Gen. Scho6eld's column at point
and period most opportune. and united. the army
could accomplish most important results. Be
sides. AZ Florence. which would lie directly in
his path, he could possess or destroy one Of the
now few srsenals which are held by the confede-
rsev, and perhaps rescue some OF our prisoners
Who are sUppossd 70 be held 81 that place 6y the
rebels.
General sherman entered Columbia on the
Eth Florence is but eighty nine miles distant,
aud General Shsrmans advance could readily
reach il oy Saturday, or Sunday at the latest.
The next news from TIE south nav announce the
capture of Florence. in ~hich case the direction
OF Genera sherman vii be made clearly mani
fest FrOm the facts that General Schoheld has
been seLI 10 the coast Of North Carolina with
bis corps: that General Grant has recently been
a visitor 10 the headquarters Of the corps operst
ins seainst Wilmington, and that there are move
menis OF all the armies. including Neades and
Schohed's all tending toward the dismember-
ment of the grand line Of rebel railroad com
municston commencing at Richmond, passing
through Goldsboro. Wilmington. Florence and
COlu mbia. We ihiak that the purpose or General
Sherman Is clear, and that bis intention il 10 &C.
capy ADD possess esery point uyon the grand line
OF railroad communication which nav be proper /
" termed the Atlantic coast route"
THE xEsrL FORCES II sHEENASs yRoNr
Bcsuregsrd is in commsnd Of all the forces o.
Grating against Gen. Sherman. His armv coz
ss,s OF she troops under Hsrdee which evacuated
and fell back upon Augusta and
Charleston: cavalry under Wade Hampton:
= portion OF the army under Hood snd which I,
vas defeated in Tennessee; fire divisions Of
troops from Lees army in Virginia. and the
militia OF South Carolina, With the troops which
have been gArrisoning Augusts Charleston. Flor |
esee, and other poir a upon the Atlantic co.s,. /
Altogether these n nber rot less ihan 50 900
The tact ih., Beauregard "a. fallen back FROM
b. anchville snd ColCmbi4 before the advance |
Of Sherman Indicates one o. two tbings: either
that he Il too weak la BIS entire army 10 hold
the positions he has ATTEMPTED. o. that be has 50
Tar ossseoerslsi ssaursard as - compel him