Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1864-11-24

picture Of some of the horrible realities of the
THE GATE CITY OF THE sltTr TO-DAY. -
A great deal has been written about the
downfall and occupation of Atlanta, but he
ieve no particulars have yet been furnished
regarding thc size, present appearance, and
the curious rs well as melancholy con Ii 10
of Atlanta To those who may never have
an opportunity of visiting Atlanta, to inspect
its fortitications (n,arvels of strength and mil
tary engineering skil,) and to behold how
lcgbly wars rude desolation" is painted
upon the dwellings of the wealthy, aristocratic
shareholders, as well as upon the humble
cabins of the poor white trash, hasty sketch
may not prove unintcresting. If the whole
story were told, a most thrilling volume Of
sad, yes, terrible facts might be written,
cqualling, if not surprising, the most exciting
romances Of fiction in horrible reality.
TUE soRTIFIcATIoSs oR ATLANTA.
As the stranger approaches the g Gate City
of the South" as Atlanta is called, from the
fact that it controls, in u great MEASURE, the
entire railroad system of the South, he is, even
though familiar with field fortGcatons amazed
at the perfect labyrinth of breastworks, bitches
rihc-pito, formidable abattis, the nicely finished
banqHettcs, well arranged palisades, fierce
looking chcranr dctrise, frowning bastions,
heavy block k-houscs, in fact, complete net
work of all sorts of dcfenscs intcrlacing each
other in such way, that to carry the works
by storm would require The shedding of rivers
of precious blood. 1t is estimated that up-
ward Of twenty thousand slaves were at one
time employed in finishing these works under
the superintendent of the ablest engineers III
the Rebel sefvice, for the safety of Atlanta
was deemed of too great Importance to permit
its capture through the lsck ofproncr defcnses
consequently, the greatest skill and care were
taken to employ none bit the experienced and
talented engineers. This chain of fortiGca-
tions is over twenty miles in length and no
pen cah Convey corrtct impression of its
strength. a visit to them fills the loyal bosom
with rational pride to think that we have
General who ptsscsses one ftle chief requis-
ties for good general, viz, coup-ToH, A
thrill of gratitude to God must fiji the heart
ofcvery Christian loyalist to think that through
Ills assistance Gen. Sherman was inspired to
make this lat grand soup-de-naatn which re-
suited in the downfall of Atlanta without the
useless shedding of blood. Viewing the for
nidabe nature " these works, ohe naturally
shudders as he contemplates the appalling sac
rifce of human life that rashness or undue
haste wotld have ontailed upon our country ;
and norc tan estimate the Importance OF mill
tary prudence and foresight better than the
intelligent prvatc5 who are fighting the bat
ties of our country. Let tho critics AMI vile
Coprerlicads cease their carpings over the
sccihihg delay of our progress. Let the Priv
ilege Of fault-fndihg and cfiticisng be re-
served for the soldiers in the field, who appro-
cia:c thoroughly sucli tactics as Gen. Sher-
nia,i has employed in t!s brilliant eanlpn,ign.
But enough Of fortifcations and fault-Gndcrs.
Let US stroll through the city
THE bREARf, suftnrs op ATLANTA.
The buildings OH the outskirts of Alfalfa,
on the Rebel lines Of Qualifications, were aban.
doned early in the month of July, the thcfts
ard odtrages of southern chiyalry rendering
life there anything but pleasant, while the
slow but sure advance of the Linconites'
was ominous Of stubborn Abolition dispute
which previous events foretold would only be
settled at the point of the boyonct. TO re.
move from sutl pugillstic locality Has wst;
and the inhabitants occupying these primitit.
habitations, bclohgins to the class known as
White Trash" +" Ga term Of reproach for the
-slaveholdng population of the South)
we're obliged to leave consdctabl. personal
property behind tllcm for lack of transporta-
ton. After these houses were evacuated, they
were guttcd and stripped of every piece OF
timber for building shantlcs for jeff. Davis
miniors. Some of them still remain Standing
and these were used by the Rebel sharpshoot-
crs aitd for the conceamcnt of batteries.
Passing on we begin to appro; Oh the corpora
ton limits of the city, and now the spectator
for the first time begins to behold the work OF
destruction which our batteries rained down
so fearfully upon the befeagufetl city. Turn
your eyes in whatever direction you choose,
yot' cannot escape witnessing the demolition
and ruih that seems to have hovered every
where, filling every avenue sand indclibly en-
craving upon nearly every dwelling themarks
of military vengeance and tic riry Of m out.
ragged country.
A ride through the once beautiful Marietta
street, terminating in the Marietta road, pre-
sents one of the gloomicst, pictures that it has
ever betn my lot TO gaze upon. The street,
Hbeihg sery widcs with bong rows of silvcr-lcat
maple, oak cedar and poplar trees, skirtna
each side, with n row of young trees planted
+ in the centre of the street, to cast cooling
shade and separate the two carriage drives.
forms beautiful ateIde. Tlss residences on
fhis street are, many of them, elegant strrc-
lures, Of exceedingly tasteful architecture,
with lssns in front; and here ana there tn
grounds are interspersed witt beautiful flower
gardens. which still smile in all thoir natural