The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-01
COMMUNICATIONS.
Letter from the Southwest.
On THE CHATTAHoooHEE,
July IL. 1894.

Lelt6f from the oOutlWesl.
On THE CHATTAHoooHEE,
July IL, 1854.
To The Editor Of the Press ,
SHRRMAN's CAMpAIeN-THE SITUATION
vE-RErRosPEcTIvE.
The telegraph will have announced that
the rebel army is across the Chattahoochee-
that part of the national army is also across,
and perhaps news much more thrilling than
this, before this letter reaches you. II
takes about ten days for letter to go to
Maine, and by the end of ten days We hope
to be closed in around Atlanta SO snugly that
the rebel army there will begin to starye, if
not to suffocate from the pressure.
One hundred thousand fighting men are
slowly, but surely, gaining ground on Georgia
SOIL No mean army in any stage of the
worlds history, yet in these unwonted times,
its doings are completely overshadowed by
the vasier and more terrible operations Ia
Virginia. And although the capture OF At
lanta by the Federal army would be scarcely
less fatal TO the rebel cause than the fall Of
Richmond, and in strictly military point of
view is regarded by many as lmore important,
yet since Richmond is the rebel capital, and
has been so long the objective point, not only
for our largest and most complete army, but
in a great measure for the whole nation, the
demand for the capture of the rebel capital
being unanimous and universal among the
loyal people), for these reasons the operations
OF this army, however momentous its results,
viii occupy less of public attention. Besides,
thus far, Gen. Sherman has made steady
progress without any such terrific battles as
have characterized the Virginia campaign
Deliberate assaults of the enemy in his chos-
en- and fortified positions have rarely been at
tempted. This was done at Resseca, where
we already had him at disadvantage by
having closed in around his left flank nn-
til within cannon range of the railroad upon
which his supplies were brought up. There
Hooker lost more heavily than any other
corps, as he conducted the main assault on
the enemy's extreme right. Again Hooker
unexpectedly met the enemy alter the army
had executed its great flank movement from
Kingston across the Etowah river TO Allatoo-
Pass. Gen. Sherman believed that johnson
could not have taken up position with his
entire army and intrenched already, Tor he
tJohnsonl had not reached that point until
that very day. Gen. Sherman therefore or
dered Hooker to attack with yigor, and the
4th corps lHowardl was brought up to sup
port But it was late into the evening before
Gen. Hooker was ready to begin the attack,
and night fighting is rarely, If ever, decisive.
Great numbers OF our men were slaughtered,
and the rebel lines were forced back consider
ably. The fighting was continued in the
darkness, but the rebels, having put their ar
tillery in position, and having drawn up their
lines in order, waited the onset and delivered
their FIRE. We gained nothing and in the
morning the enemy had so far fortified as TO
necessitate a further development of cur
own lines before anything more could be
done.
This fight OF Hooker's occurred on the
18th Of May. Two days after Woods, Div.
4th corps (Howard'sl made an assault, hay-
ing first marched two miles and reached the
enemy's extreme right near Picketts Mill.
Wood was supported by Johnson's Div. 14th
corps tPalmer's) one Of the best divisions
in the army. containing one brigade Of regu-
lars. The movement was conducted by Gen.
Howard in person, who had been ordered By
Gen. Sherman to assault, but was allowed to
select his point Of attack. You have had
accounts OF this fight which would have
doubtless proved successful had Johnsons
advance brigade come up promptly and
squarely abreast Of Hogan's which was the
leading brigaee of Wood.
Notwithstanding the high wooded hills and
deep rayines-the movement had been com
pletely successful in reaching the enemy,s
right flank. Two Regiments Of Hazens brig
ade Tapped beyond the enemy's works. But
there heavy masses of Rebel troops were able
TO hold their ground without works and forced
back Hazens left owing to want OF connection
between him and johnson as have indicated.
Seribaer's Brigade (which had the advance
in Jehnson's Div.) lost about 800 men-John
sons other brigades were not engaged.
Woods Div. lost about 400 men,
The last great assault was made By the
occurred just one month after Woods fight
at Pickett's mill. need not repeat the details
OF these unsuccessful attempts to carry tie
enemy's strong position at and near Kenne-
saw Mt. While these assaults were occupy
ing the whole attention of the enemy and pro-
badly taxing his resources TO the utmost Sher-
man was gaining advantages on the right
which finally resulted in forcing johnson to
evacuate this his strongest position and with
1t relnquish Marietta And throughout the
campaign II is not the bloodiest operations
which have been the most beneficial In re-
suits though as In this case hard lighting hiss
been the cover under which important ad van.
tages have been gained
But accounts of the severe battles merely
land 1t is chiefly those that reach the nao,lc
through the telegraphD would give neither a
true nor an adequate idea of what this army
has accomplished or the measures by which
the Rebel army has been forced back for a
hundred miles from Tunnel Hill aud Dalton
TO the Chattahoochee River and beyond.
Ny last letter lif remember rightly left
onr army at @Ruffs" Station, 3 miles below
Marietta, sometimes called Meal Dow's"
Stationl and the Rebels had, the night pre-
vious taken up their line of retire for the
Chattachoochee. Deserters, prisoners, "Con-
trabands" and what few Inhabitants they had
left behind them did not agree in their reports
as to whether the Rebels would make stand