l to extricate himself from a position
which, whatever effect it may have had on the election,
should never, on mere military grounds, have been occupied at
all[1255]."

This was followed up four days later by a long and careful review of
Sherman's whole western campaign, concluding with the dictum that his
sole object now was to escape to some undefended point on the coast
where he could be rescued by the Northern navy. The war had taken a
definite turn in favour of the South; it was impossible to conceive that
Sherman would venture to attack Savannah:

"For the escape or safety of Sherman and his army it is
essential he should reach Beaufort, or some neighbouring
point on the sea-coast as rapidly as possible. Delay would be
equivalent to ruin, and he will do nothing to create
it[1256]."

Rarely, if ever, did the _Times_, in its now eager and avowed
championship so definitely commit itself in an effort to preserve
British confidence in the Southern cause[1257]. Even friends of the
North were made doubtful by the positiveness of prediction indulged in
by that journal whose opinions were supposed to be based on superior
information. Their recourse was to a renewal of "deputations" calling on
the American Minister to express steady allegiance to the Northern
cause[1258], and their relief was great when the news was received that
Savannah had fallen, December 20, without a struggle. The _Times_
recorded the event, December 29, but with no comment save that Southern
prospects were less rosy than had been supposed. Then ensued a long
silence, for this time there was no possibility of that editorial
wiggling about the circle from excuses for misinterpretation to a
complacent resumption of authoritative utterance.

For the editor, Delane, and for wise Southern sympathizers the fall of
Savannah was a much harder blow than the mere loss of prestige to the
_Times_[1259]. Courage failed and confidence in the South
waned--momentarily almost vanished. Nearly two weeks passed before the
_Times_ ventured to lift again the banner of hope, and even then but
half-heartedly.

"The capture of the city completes the history of Sherman's
march, and stamps it as one of the ablest, certainly one of
the most singular military achievements of the war.

"... The advantage gained for the Federal cause by the
possession of Savannah is yet to be shown. To Sherman and his