New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-19
From sMEnMAN,s ARMY.
A Great Flank Moyement-Siruggie Tor
the Macon ". B.-Detaiis Of the En-
eugcmeut- Galinutry Of the I'd d I'D
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Raid.
From our Speclal Correspondent.
R1nnr VINO OF TIE ARMY,


Southwest Of Atlanta, Aug. ..
The Army of the Ohio has spent four days Of
fstiguing labor, marching fighting and entrench-
,ng and TODAY witnesses its final effort in coujunc
ton with the 18th Corps, TO turn the enemys left
flank Southwest of Atlanta The enemy, from the
best information we obtain, are not likely to be
taken anawares. Large bodies of rebel infantry
have been reported going yesterday and last night,
bound 10 the right on the SGndtown road. ho0d
has evidently ssed this part Of the line in an
tcipation of our attack IL is but natural that he
should EXPECT our heaviest blows TO fall here in our
only practicable line Of approach to the Macon
railroad. Atlanta is no longer the objective point
With their railroad communication permanently
severed the occupation Of the city for any len9'h
of time would be impossible. The struggle Is
therefore for the protection of that great artery OF
supply for the army-not for the city, which be-
leegured. beshelled and beyond peaceabie living ID,
is an object of no strategic importance 10 inc
rebels the loss of the sity would doubtless, carry
borrow and decentralization through the South,
while 10 US the eclat Of .torluing and taking the
empty town, would poorly compensate Tor the loss
of life which il would cost.
Inc country III NutNi w AA' nv" -'"'---'
confronting and fighting the army Of traitors, Is
the most difficult Tor military operations which we
have seen in Georgia Our forces had hrsi to dis
lodge the rebels from high ridge OF land, whose
wooded crest and lateral gulches, dark with ancient
trees, foliage and creeping vines furnished hiding
places and shelter for sharpshooters With cour-
age and impe,uosty which must surprise even tic
rebel bushwheckers, they were attacked and cap
tured in these Businesses, or driven back ana COM
PEELED TO take up new positions beyond. But "hA'
is the less of one Lii, two, when each succeeding
mile furnishes a stronger or more deiensDle one
The Union troops are now engaging Hoods army
behind his enrenched works two miles south of the
line where the rebel skirmishers were FIRST met, ans
where the troops Of Gen. Hascalls Division, onc
later hose Of Gen. Bairds, captured whole lines
pickets In getting at their main line, we have hat
10 pass chiefly 10 the right across Utoz Creek, anc
two high ridges beyond, running transyelseiy L
our line of advance,-the second ridge being aces
sible only otter cutting road through Il dense
wood, up the side Of hill steep that artillery
can only DO moved by doubling and Trolling Tho
teams.
No one who Is not Oh the spot can appreciate thu
cmbarrassments Of prosecuting an aggressive cam
paign in such a country. To add to the difficulty
the enemy of course, taking his own time, has Sc
lected all the salient points for establishing bate
ries 50 that his artillery sweeps all the avenues
approach; his shot and shell skim every hill, plov
UP each rayine and scatter death and destruction
through our ranks Ourmen are compelled to bui.'
their rife pits under plungng fire Of shot, eaniSto
and shell. Their heads aud legs arc shot of while
constructing their defenees Our ambulance trains
hidden III some rayine, are suddenly found BY some
stray shot and the horses are killed OF have thei
limbs carried OF, so that humanity requires that
they be put out Of misery, oblgng US 10 finish the
numerous work begun by the rebel missiles.
We ride, walk, sit down, write, cat, sleep, AID do
everything else under fire. Since began this let.
ter there has been no cessation Of the crash Of ar
tillery and the shrek and bursting of shells, right
andleft, within few hundred yards Of the place
and several rifle balls have passed whizzing over
head, cutting Oft branches Of the trees, cutting
mp the ground in different directions. There is no
escaping these missiles by going TO the rear unless
one resigns all hope Of properly watching the move
ments Of tho day. Luckily, the rebel shells do not
all explode. A twolve.pound sdell which hur-
tied Though our quarters while at dinner, l picked
mp fifty ya,ds the rear Of our camp. Tie fuze.
which seems 10 have been inserted in the core Of
pine plug, either burned out, or was extinguished
by lie striking the ground 1t contained iull