The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1864-09-07
Atlanta Correspondence.


abOuts, and what is going on as near as l
know. Just now there is a considerable
number OF - Butternuts prisOners) pass
ing our camp, all for the land of freedom.
After three days absence from Lansing, l
arrived in Louisville, Ky, place of about
-, 900 people. The transition in passing
from free to slave territory can be imagined
by any one, but can only be appreciated by
experience. In freedom everything looks
prosperous. lively and life like; in serfllom.
everything looks stohd and dismal Louis
vile boasts Of doing more business than
ever before, yet the streets are filthy and
ragged, notwithstanding all their advan-
tages in water works which are sufficient TO
wash every street perfectly clean: but they
are too lazy to do it. The laborer has made
himself free and joined L. S. : army. At
heart TO day Louisville is rebel, vet there
are many good Union men there: raiders
and guerillas are tolerated by the Un.on
inhabitants to within ten miles of the city,
ald would come nearer if il was not for
l. Sans army there. Farming is almost
entirely neglected, and consequently tobac-
co will be high next year. In passing from
thence to Nashville. Tenn, saw but little
farming and few crops, but a great many
Notifications where there had been strife
and bloodshed. Nashville is a perfectly
break neck city. The sidewalks are almost
impossible by daylight, and perfectly so by
night, unless one knows exactly where to
put his foot. The site of the CITY is lovely,
and the location of the State House is beau
/ full, yet there is no neatness there The
Capitol is surrounded with fragments OF
broken stone and sledge rock. The build
inc htself is model of fine architecture,
solid masonry of marble, and the finishing
isOf beautiful variegated Tennessee marble,
the handsomest | ever saw. The founda-
tons of the building were laid after the
manner Of strong Notifications, and have
been with little additions, made strong
fort and protected with heavy guns on every
side, and cannot he taken with anything
|
ed by very strong forts all around the city
Nashville cennOt be taken.
The country from thence to Chattanoog;
is not farmed very well, yet there is cOnsid
cradle cotton planted and those who ar
knowing in such things say 1t looks well
All along on the line Of the railroad FORTH
cations are frequent, and at every import
ant place they are strong. 1t is Difficult
for any citizen to pass from Nashville to tn
front unless he has very important business
From Chattanooga troops of all grade
ride on top of freight cars TO the front: YER
few others are allowed TO pass. Chatta
nOOga is a small town nearly as large a
Mason, surrounded on all sides by higl
hills, and every hill is strongly fortified
jeff Davis can never again see the inside @
the city, and how Hooker ever drove tn
rebels from Lookout | cannot tell 1t is a
strong by nature as Gibralter, and mad
dOubly strong by art. Our folks have fOrti
fed in and out. Finally they have dug
all over, and it is defended by plenty O
ordnance. | finally arrived at Genera
Sherman'S headquarters before Atlanta. Tn
first night went ont with chaplain /,
view rebel Qualifications, and had beeI
there about half an hour when a rebel sharp
shooter dropped a four ounce Whitwortl
ball within about ten feet of us We wer
admOnished that our presence was no
needed merely for PERSONAL qualification
and consequently We made a mastery re
treat, which you know by some is cOnsid
cred a great military .eynlQt. 80. -. va,
TALON Ohio Volunteer SharpshOOoters "a
the headquarters of the department of Tia
Cumberland.
The health OF the army is good. Gu
days are cool and fine and the nights ar
cool enough for sleeping well.
Since have been here there has beef
constant skirmish night and day, and fire
quent assaults on both sides, but they hav
invariably resulted in our favor The rebel
are getting tired, and three nights ago 10
broke from their lines and gave themselve
100 and a captain. Last night We too
quite large number Of them prisoners
don't know how many We are all feelin
we'll and very much encouraged. i can loo
into the city by going about half a mile;
is terribly riddled by our shell.
The army is well supplied will things nc
cessary for cOmfort-of course We have I
live in pine woods, on pilot bread, coffee
tea, sugar, beans, ham, beef, whitefish, rice
condensed milk, &C, and all OF good quail
ty, and have suitable tents to dwell in
Finally. we have all the comforts that larg
army could furnish.
The country here is laid waste, there ar
no crops, buildings of every description ar
leveled, and the boards are used to max
the camp comfortable. The country is nc
worth having. mean it is no better tina
a new one. All Improvements will have
be made anew. The inhabitants have a
fed and been cOnscripted into the reb'
army. and the women and negroes take
South. What the rebel army leaves tn
Union army destroys. Devastation is tn
order of the day Every nook and cornt
for ten miles wide and five miles to rear al
filled with troops, ordnance, supplies, con
missary and quartermaster supplies, an
material of war. have seen none that
knew in Michigan.
The supplies for this vast army are mos
ly brought from Louisville, KY. One lin
Of railroad does all the work, and it take
many men TO guard it, yet it is well dOn'
and only once in a great while rebel get
10 it, and then cannot do much damag,
Wheeler tried it four days age and got mos
beautifully thrashed. Fitzpatrick is aft,
them now, and you will hear from him sOol
Atlanta must fall, but you must be patien
1t is strongly fortified, and Hood and JOhI
son and many other Of the best rebel gene
ais are there. Yet We think Sherman wit
Thomas, Howard, Reynolds and sever
other eminent generals are enough for then
II