The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-09-13
TUESDAY MORNING. SEPTEMBER Is, 1864
THE WAR NEWS.

Many exaggerated rumors have been in cirf1la.
tion regarding tho skrlnish that took place at All
early hour Saturday morning. but the facts are sub
stantially stated i'll yesterdays paper. Genera
Fnnegan retook the inner line Of pits that had bee,
captured by the enemy, and took fifty nine prisoners
among them one commissioned officer No attempt
was made to re-establish the outer line, and conse.
quently the rumor to that effect without foun
dation. During the skirmsh there was considerable
cannonading and musketry firing, which virtually
nisled those at distance to the magnitude of the
affair. An apprehension that the Confederates
would attempt to re-establish the original lines led
the enemy to make preparations to meet it, not only
by strengthening his skrmishers III front, but by
bringing up considerable force of supports in theiI
rear
The Yankees occasionally relieve the monotony oi
the situation III front Of Petersburg by throwing shells
at the city, and on Saturday last used teen-inch
naa1taE tax that purpose. The continuation Of this
barbarous practice, while it does comparatively little
damage and results in military advantage, stamps
the foe with character for brutality that will live
to the latest generations.
The observatory, or tower, in Chesterfield county,
was elevated to yet lofty proportions and COM
pleted last week It's height is now about two hum
~-~ OAi pay upon III
at distance, but have not, thus far succeeded in
damaging it. A shorin that direction from one OF
our guns invariably calls forth heavy reply from
the Yankee batteries.
Ii Is reported that there spirited artillery
duel between the enemy's monitors and our bate
rles at Howletts Saturday. Persons who vis-
lted that neghborhood on Sunday, however, heard
nothing Of it.
The Yankees still engaged in their enterprise OF
digging canal at Dutch Gap, and have thrown up
breastworks to protect their laborers i'll the event
that the Confederates attempt interference with
their operations.
The Northern papers still insist that Grant is re-
ceiving heavy reinforcements, and boast that he
will Soon have that lone hundred thousand" with
which he has promised to crush the life out of the
Confederacy. As the latest accounts, however, re-
present that the draft is to be enforced spite Of
Stewards assurance to the contrary. these state
ments may be received with good deal of doubt.
Everything continued quiet i'll front Ut Peters
burg yesterday, and there has been further
change Ill the situation than that which resulted
from the skirmsh on Saturday morning
THE FALL OF ATLANTA.
We have received particulars OF the fall oi
Atlanta aud OF events immediately preceding,
which will be perused with interest. On the eve
hing OF the lst instant the enemy left his entTench-
menta and moved against our works i'll heavy force
Four successive and furious assaults were in ,lr,l
met and repulsed, but oil he fifth charge the force
thrown against Govan's bI sade was 70 overwhelnl-
ing TO fierce IT back, Thereby thanking those pof-
tions Of the line which still stood firm Under these
circumstance outiankcd and Ill want Of ammu-
uition-Heneral Hsijee was compelled 10 withdraw,
which he did III the direction OF Loyejoy's beyond
JOnesboro'. General Les, who appears to have
held the night Of line i'll this days fight also
withdrew during the night towards Atlanta for the
purpose OF forming a junction with General Hood
and the main army.
On the next morning, Hardee's corps having been
cut off, and the enemy being fi,my lodged Oh the
Macon railroad, it evident that Atlanta must
be given up, and accordingly, at the early hour Of
two o'clock, our army evacuated the place. retreat
Ing southwark towards Hardee. a few hours after
ward, that portion Of the enemy still in position be-
fore Atlanta entered the city, and after leaving
garrison pressed through the track of our forces
During the day it dees not appear that any hostl-
ties occurred further than some skrmishiug on flank
and rear.
About one o'clock on Saturday morning. the 81.
Hood effected his junction with Hardee and our en-
tire army was drawn up i'll line of battle before Love-
Joys, not at all demorazed and but little weakened
by loss Of men nateriel. Our right rested at
McDonough, this place having been probabl, chosen
IN order to permit the line to be extended if neces-
ssry, toward Covington, on the Georgia railroad
Our total losses attendant upon the fall Of Atlanta
amount to only fifteen hundred men. Eight field
pieces Were lost by Hardee; siege guns left by
Hood i'll Atlanta; from five to eight locomotives ;
between hundred and fifty and two hundred
freight ears, and some ordnance, commissary and
quartermaster stores destroyed The blow though
undeniably heavy, is By means disheartening
The loss Of position, be it strong is not
our death-bow; for have, ere this, suffered re-
verses trebly severe, and still live through it all
Reports from Atlanta, previous TO the issuing of
Sherman's order, state that no outrages had been
committed by the enemy, and the only annoyance
felt was from piifering and robbery by straggers-
Some Of the inhabitants who raised the white fag
on the advent of the Yankees were met with vol
ieys of abuse for THEN cowardice and declarations
that they tthe enemy would not trust those who,
after living SO long in rebel city, had at length
turned against their feliOw-citizens