Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
Dec. 29, 1864.—We have finally got a mail through up to the 15th. Huntsville is rapidly resuming its old appearance, and the citizens generally profess to be pleased with our return. The rebels did but little mischief during our absence.
We know but little of army movements except those that pass under our immediate notice. I suppose Sherman is in Savannah, and I think the rebels are right when they say that the loss of that city is of but little consequence to them; but the destruction of their railroads on his march, and the capture of their cannon and locomotives by Sherman, is a serious disaster, almost irreparable.
Hood will lose half of his army, and the balance is powerless for mischief for many months. This is the worst blow the Confederacy has had, but it all avails but little towards closing the war so long as Lee sits defiantly in the gates of Richmond. When that army is routed and destroyed, and not till then, can we begin to look for the war to close.
I am glad to see a call for 300,000 more men. They will be needed, for the term of enlistment of half the army expires next summer and fall.
