, 1865-04-28

OF sherman, composed or The hncSt Stutf
which the Tederals have ever put in the
field, flushed by Il career of success I'M
broken since it first advanced, Ten months
ago, from Dalton, intoxicated ~ The
plaudIfs OF It's countrynrn, formidable in
numbers, and eiill more 50 in m0rale,
streams rc>isIlss>ly upwards from the
South, and it is felt that II ever an Ame-
rican battle promised to be decisive it
will be the battle seemingly destined to
take place in the neighboufhood of Ra-
leigh between Johnston and Sherman.
Your readers will have followed Sher-
mans course since he captured Columbia
and hlnked his enemy out Of Charleston
and Wilmington. In the first Instance
it seemed to be Shermau's design to adj
vance along the railroad which connects
Columbia with Charlotte in North Caro-
lima; but whether he was checked by
Beauregard's firm attitude (2revious 10
the assumption Of command by johnston
on the CataWba River to the south of
Charlotte, or whether he was bafIled by
the difficulty Of moving supplies and
artillery through the miry sWanps of the
Carollnas, Sherman, shortly after captur-
ing Columbia, struck eastward towards
the sea coast With the apparent design Of
making a fresh sea base IT Fayetteville,
which is connected with WiimInotou by
the Cape Fear River. simultaneously a
strong force Of FedrraIs, probably 10000
strong, under General Scholie,d, Is strik-
ing inWards from the coast 1T NeWbern,
with a view TO cltectinS a junction with
Sherman near to Gold>borough-an I'M
portant station on the Wilmington aud
Weldon Railroad, and distant not more
than 40 miles from Fayetteville. 1t
seems probable that the coming battle
will be fought on the line between Colds
borough and Fayetteville, unless Johnston
elects to give up Raleigh 10 his enemy
with a view TO getting him deeper into
the heart of North Carolina before he
ventures upon battle. Meanwhile the
old lesson of the wan about the immense
ty of Southern distances is again likely
to be taught TO Sherman. In order to
gain a new base at Wilmington he has
been compelled to set free the main arte-
ry of General Lees army from the South
the railroad from Columbia 10 Rich
mond, UQ Charlotte, GreensbOroagh, and
Danviile. 1t is my belief hat the lmpos-
sibiiity of starving out the Confederate
armies while Johuston's army derives
supplies from South Carolina and Georgia,
and The abundant resources of Virginia
and North Carolina are available for Lee,
will be learnt before many weeks have
flown. The obvious danger which me-
naces SecesSia is that, in order to defeat
Sherman, Lee may be compelled so 10
weaken his army as 10 be unable TO hold
the lines around Petersburg and Rich
mond. But it will, [ think, be found that
in the coming battles the Contederates
will fight with the old elan and impetu-
osity which carried against superior num-
bers the heights of Charlottesville, and
hracketted with Albuera the recent name
Of Gaines Mill.
10 that distant southwest Of the Con-
federacy, which is both to Confederaies
and Federals a sealed volume, a promise
of a brighter Confederate future seems III
store. A despatch from General Forrest
"a mar who when the true history of
the war is known will share with Jackson
and Lee lis choicest honours-announces
that he has a force which is, in his iadg-