Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-08-12
SHERMAN'S ARMY.
situation In Front Of Atlanta.
Correspondence Cincinnati Commercial.l
WITHIN Two>M OF ATLANTA, GA,l
August 5, 1854.

Correspondence Cincinnati COMMERCIAL
Z WITHIN Two, MILES OF ATLANTA, GA-l
August 8, 1854.
THE SITUATION.
The enemy has not yet evacuated Attain
ia, though some such movement has been
looked upon as probable, for the last ten
days. Our army has shifted from the east
and north of Atlanta to the west, the ex-
treme left covering the city on the north,
while the extreme right now Is southwest
of the city, running parallel with the At
lanta and Macon Railroad, and near enough,
were the country favorable, to command it
with artillery. An extension of our right,
until it reaches the only line of railroad
left Atlanta, and that running south, seems
to be in progress. The enemy, however,
prolong their lines in the same direction,
and fortify themselves in one or two paral-
lels, Just west of the railroad. When the
23d corps, a night or two ago, was shifted
from the north of Atlanta to our extreme
right, the enemy made corresponding
movement, leaving enough men in the in
trenchments north of the city to hold them,
rs was developed by the demonstration OF
the 4th corps last evening. The works Of
the enemy completely environ the city, and
are very strong; too strong to be carried by
assault. The question of getting into At
lanta seems to depend upon our ability 10
cut their remaining line of communication,
which we are not at all unlikely to 90 at
any moment. Hood will probably be COM
PEELED to withdraw sooner or later (expe-
rience renders one conservative when pen
ming prophecy, on account Of what his
men term anothercowardly fianking move
ment." l9 9s.l.iiG-a -ai .-.r.rl.
Hood is making good use of his militia
reserves. Every man in Georgia, capable
of bearing arms, is arrayed against us, and,
behind Notifications, they are, OF course,
Four or five weeks OF such
as we have down here VIII
turn militia into veterans, and render them
as Indifferent to 1.-The viperish whisk OF
bullet, as those who have been listening to
It for the last three years. Hoods regular
troops have, undoubtedly, suffered very
heavily in the late battles, and his tactics
are to preserve them, now that he has Ito
repeat the growl of a rebel picket in reply
to a question of one of our skirmishers, as
to how many men hey had left mot more
than enough for two more killings" Rebel
veterans, of course, are posted on the sklr-
mish lines but the trenches are held by
while the regular troops are dis
tributed in the rear as reserves, from whence
they are speedily thrown forward in case of
an assault. 1t Is presumed, by those who
should know, that the number of militia in
Hoods army fully equals his old, regular
ly-organized troops. Were it not for them,
he could not confront us another day; but,
if he retreats to the east, toward Augusta,
or the southeast, toward Savannah, or Ma
con, the only directions open to him, they
must prove cumbersome element, and one
that will enhance the pcrils and discourage
ments of such movement.
The fact is, the enemy seems very much
disposed to fight for Atlanta awhile longer.
1t is to be hoped they will. The damage
they have sustained in the recent fights, to-
gether with the loss of morale, incident to
such repeated disasters, is worth a dozen
Atlantas to our cause. Sherman is not,
believe, anxious to have them retreat; for
if they delay their withdrawal much longer,
they must either force us from our tighten
ing grasp around the city, or yield the po-
sition, which will make their retreat eX-
tremely hazardous. ..., .-.... ...
We are within about two miles of the
city. The road that runs in front of the
tent in which am writing enters the main
street of Atlanta Just that far distant. Save
on our extreme left, however, we can see
nothing of Atlanta, for the intervening for
ests and broken country. Being so near
one of the largest cities in the South, we
might reasonably expect to emerge from
the primitive forests, which have been our
habitations for SO many week.s But neith-
er villas nor gardens, country seats nor
pleasant drives are encountered. Dirt roads,
an occasional log house and unshorn old
forests are alone what we see two miles
from the famous Gate City. -,l4.,. III =.
Asnrht af oha11 ic or oil dow oy,1 oil
night affair. Our shells scatter the shingles
Of Atlanta roof-trees, and our round shot
howl through their dusty avenues. They
answer with equal vigor, AID having good
range, they keep our men closely burrowed
when they open at lively rate. They
nave several siege guns in position, whose
,ange is about three miles. The boys have
earned their sound, and so far from being
alarmed at their measured discharge, they
eem only anxious to capture one of the
rebel camp kettles" rs they term the heav-
est projectile, weighing just sixty and a
half pounds. lsJ gfot III. ;.s,.l, -. ...,,.i