Illinois Daily State Journal. 'Gen. Sherman's Expedition' in the 'Illinois Daily State Journal, 21 November 1864' . Springfield, IL: Daily State Journal, 1864. [format: newspaper], [genre: article]. Permission: Public Domain
Persistent link to this document: http://lincoln.lib.niu.edu/file.php?file=isjournal11211864.html

Judging from the latest outgivings of the Richmond press that have reached us, the rebels are still as much puzzled about Gen. Sherman's movement as when it first commenced. At first it was reported that his column had taken a Northerly direction. Next it is announced that at least a part of his force was marching in the direction of Selma, Alabama, and Mobile is believed to be the objective point of attack. This opinion is strengthened by the alleged appearance in Mobile Bay of a large fleet of transports, believed to be laden with supplies for Sherman's army. At the same time we have the report by way of Hilton Head, that great consternation prevailed at Savannah growing out of the report that Sherman was marching upon that city, and the citizens were reported leaving in large numbers.

Another report is to the effect that one column of Sherman's army is to strike at Millen, an important center of the railway system in Eastern Georgia. This place is on the Central Georgia Railroad at the junction of that road with the road from Augusta. It is 79 miles northwest of Savannah, 53 south of Augusta, (although only about twenty-five miles from the Savannah river at the nearest point,) 111 miles east of Macon. The distance from Atlanta to Augusta by the Georgia Railroad is 171 miles, and Atlanta to Macon 103 miles. So it will be seen that, to reach any of these points, a long march is necessary requiring from one to two weeks for its accomplishment.

Whatever may be the direction Gen. Sherman has taken, the movement is the most audacious of the war, and has created the utmost consternation throughout the whole South, even to Richmond. Of its complete success we have little reason to doubt, when we remember the consummate ability of the leader and the success which has marked all his previous undertakings.

The Indianapolis Journal of Thursday last, has the following information obtained from a gentleman who left Atlanta on the 21st inst., and who came up on the last train to Chattanooga:

His (Sherman's) army consists of four splendid corps; the 14th, in command of Gen. Jeff. C. Davis; the 16th, under Osterhaus; the 17th, under Blair, and the 2[unknown]th, under Slocum. Fifteen thousand cavalry, under Kilpatrick, and a brigade of artillery are added, making a total force of between fifty thousand and sixty thousand men, the whole perfectly equipped, well supplied with war material, and imbued with as much pluck, confidence and good health as were ever compacted in any body of troops in the world.

Our informant left Atlanta upon the same train with the Paymaster, which was understood to be the last train that would leave that city, and Atlanta is before this time pretty thoroughly destroyed, that is, all its public buildings, depots, manufactories, &c., rendered worthless. The railroads North and South of that city, and all the surrounding defensive works have been destroyed. There is to be no turning back, and nothing left behind that might prove valuable to the enemy.

Gen. Geo. H. Thomas is at Chattanooga organizing an army to attend to Hood, and is reported to have sufficient troops at command for an offensive movement whenever it is deemed necessary. Many military men assert that it will be impossible for Hood to escape South.

A correspondent of the Cincinnati Times writes that paper, under date of Nashville, Nov. 15th, as follows:

A portion of the army left Atlanta on the morning of the 9th, and followed the railroad to Macon, destroying it as it proceeds; the column will take Milledgeville in its way, and it is probable that the cavalry will attempt to release the Union prisoners.

The second column started on Saturday morning last, and goes direct to Augusta, the chief manufacturing point of the Confederacy, the one in which nearly all the powder used by the Southern army is made. This will be reached in about twelve or fifteen days.

At this point the whole army will concentrate, and then move on one of three points, as Sherman shall deem most proper. These are Savannah, Charleston or Beaufoot. He believes Savannah, with the railroads through Georgia cut, will be perfectly harmless, and there will be no advantage in holding it. The same may be said of Charleston. Let Sherman advance to Branchville, twenty or thirty miles out, and that place is cut off effectually.

To capture either Savannah or Charleston, fortified as they are, would take time, even though not strongly garrisoned, while the moment the army reaches Beaufort, it meets supplies in abundance and ships to transport it to any point it may be made most useful.

This I know to be his plan at present. However, it may become necessary to make Augusta a new base, and in that case Savannah must be captured; But Sherman now believes that he can as easily make one on the sea coast, and in the meantime destroy all the railroads in Georgia and South Carolina so effectually as to render them worthless during the war. Unless, therefore, unexpected obstacles are met, he will reach the ocean at Beaufort in about thirty-five of forty day.

He will meet no enemy on the way. The Georgia militia are very harmless and few in number. There are at Savannah about 2,000 troops, beside city militia, and in no other part of Georgia are there any men, except cavalry and guerrillas, and these are not numerous.

No force can be spared to meet him. Thomas can take care of Hood, and Lee can do nothing but defend himself against Grant and Sheridan.

We shall have no further communications from Sherman. We should soon hear from him through rebel sources. A few days since he telegraphed a "good-bye" to his wife and told her not to write again till he reached the ocean.

Further advices from this most remarkable expedition of the war, which we will undoubtedly first receive through the rebel press, will be looked for with intense interest.