The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-10-25
OPERATIONS OF HOODS ARMY

An official dispatch from Georgia states that
General Hoods forces have destroyed the Western
and Atlantic railroad, from near Resaca to within
a short distance of Tunnel Hill, and portion of
the Cleveland road, capturing Dalton and all in
termedate garrsons, with stores, arms and equip
ments, and about one thousand prisoners.
The last official intelligence we had from our
army in Georgia previous to the above -mentioned
Dispatch was to the effect that General Hood had,
by circuitous march from Jonesboro', on the Ma
con and Western railroad, twenty two miles south
of Atlanta, placed himself on the Western and At
lanic railroad at Big Shanty, twenty-five miles
northwest of Atlanta, aud had destroyed the rail
road from Big Shanty to Acworth, a point ten
miles further north. In this position he was d.
recly in Shermans rear, the latter being at Allan
ia, and the Western and Atlantic road being his
sole line of communication. 1t was believed, if
Hood would hold this position, Sherman would be
compelled, by lack of subsistence, to march out
from Atlanta and attack US, with the hope of re-
opening his communications Nth Chattanooga
But it seems Hood did not maintain this posi-
ton. From Acworth he sent French against AL
toona, Sherman principal depot OF supplies which
is only FIVE miles north of Acworth and is in point
of strength quite fortress. French failed to tax
Altoona. lie is said to have stormed the outer
works without difficulty, but drew off his forces
without attempting to carry the inner line of en-
trenchmtnts. The Yankee accounts of F-cnch's
loss in this attack were grossly exaggerated They
say he left thousand dead and wounded on the
field when, in fact, his whole loss is now ascertain
ed to have been considerably short of six hundred
| in killed, wounded and missing.
For some reason unknown to US, Hood, after this
failure to take Altoona, left the Western and At
lantic railroad at Acworth to strike it again, &C.
cording to the above entioned dispatch, at Re-
SAGA, which is fifty miles north of Acworth and
eighty-four miles north by west of Atlanta
The dispatch tells US his 'forces have DESTROYED
the Western and Atlantic railroad from near Resa-
ca to within short distance of Tunnel Hill, and a
portion of the Cleveland road capturing Dalton.
&c, &C." Dalton is sixteen miles due north of
Resaca, at the junction Of the Western and Allan
tic and the Cleveland roads. From this point of
junction the Western and Atlautic road runs north
west to Chattanooga, passing Tunnel Hill seven
miles beyond Dalton. The Cleveland road runs
due north from Dalton 10 Cleveland, where it forms
junction with the Tennessee and Georgia rail
road.
1t will be seen that Altoona, like Sherman's ar
my is, by these recent operations of General Hoods
army, entirely cut of and isolated from Chattanoo-
ga and Cleveland. For ten or fifteen days thew
have been IN this isolated condition, without COM
munication with Yankee land, and dependent for
their subsistence upon whatever supplies the pro-
violence of Sherman had laid in beforehand
From the accounts given by the Georgia papers.
these supplies have already run low, and the Yam
kee army reduced to limited rations of hard
bread. When Stanton daily telegrsphs Dix that
he has received dispatches from Sherman-as re
see BY the Nortpern papers he never fails to do
he simply tells fasehood.
The reader will agree with US, that the military
operations now in progress in Georgia are of ab-
sorbng interest-Their result may settle the ques-
ton whether We are to have immediate peace or
continued and protracted war.
General Braxton Bragg, hitherto commanding
general, with his headquarters at Richmond, has
been relieved, and goes at once to take command of
an important military post in one of the more
southern States. The transfer of Gen. Bragg is