Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-09-23
For the Delaware Gazette.
NOTES IN DIXIE.
w
MONTGOMERY FERRY, GA, |
Sept. 1st, 1868. }


The compansating advantages Of forti6ca-
tions for ineriorty of numbers have been
demonstrated in no portion OF this war more
fully than in Gen. Sherman's operaI ions around
Atlanta. For months previous to the ap-
proach of our army 10 the city the enemy, IN
derstanding that il would be the objective and
key point to the coming campaign, had indus
trously aud perseveriugly employed every
available means in encircIing the place with
a Gordon Of forts, breastworks. redoubis, abat-
lis and every conceivable obstacle known
TO the science of fertilization. Besides this,
knowing the fanking prociivjIes OF his dar-
ing antagonist he carefully covered his rail-
road communication with line OF defensive
works extending far South OF Atlanta, and so
constructed as to be almost next 20 impregnl
able against anything less than regular siege
The commanding site of A tlant2 and the roll
ing character Of the country III it's vicinity.
added much to the strength OF these various
works. hey also posts ei tbe vast advantage
Of forming an inlesior defensive line built
leisure and without any hiudrance 0 choice
Of ground. The attacking party must Of ne
cessity assume an exterior line which, in order
to protect the hanks, must be drawn out to
much greater extent, Such we're some of the
inherent and artificial advantages of position
possessed by the enemy. To these must be
added still others found in The peculiar ar
raugement of his railroad COMMUNICATIONS. -
Since the enemy's position wos so etiectually
guarded against assault here remained for our
army but two algerrauves, viz: either to lay
siege to his works or to cut his cOmmunics-
tions Ger. Sherman chose tie latter. In
doing so he nndoubled y selected tie one leas,
difficult but nevertheless fuit OF obstacles and
embarassments. Two railroads lead out Of
Atlanta scuthward, and one northward The
direction OF these three roads as they proceed
from their common junction near she center OF
the city is such hat lines drawn from one to
the other, at points equi-distant from that
junction, are equal to each other, and form sn
isoscels triangle. By this arrangement the
longest possible line is required in order 10
hold all three OF the railroads at the same
time Our own communication of course
must be covered. To abandon it entirely, as
was done at Kingston and Kenesaw. would
not do now with the Chatahooche 10 our rear
and the enemy lodged behind Notifications
which he could hold with half his force. But
10 lay hold of the two lines OF rebel commu-
uicatiOn, viz: with Augusta and Macon, and
at the same time cover its own communication
with Chattanooga was too much even for the
vast army of Gen. Sherman. The Augusta
road was seizzd aud held by our forces On The
left, but after extending the line nearly four
teen miles il was found impossible for those
and the right 10 envelop the enemy's fortifca-
lions and reach The road leading TO Macon
Il became apparent Iba: to accomplish this
object the same bold fdnking policy which
| gave US AIatooDa Pass and the lines OF Ken
| esaw mnst be again resOrted 10. Nothing bat
| starvation would loosen the enemys desper-
ale grasp upon Atlanta. But to starve him
we must obtain possession of the Macon road
That involved not only the abandonment Of
our lines iu front OF Atlanta, but, by the
great, part of the army at least of lis line
of communication. II was resolved therefore
to detnch one Corps, the 20th, to hold the
Chattanooga railroad while the main body Of
the army would move boldly upon the enemy IS
rear. Such was the daring plan conceived,
and now partly executed, by Gen. Sherman
During the night OF Aug. 25th the great
movement began. For some days previous to
that dale it had been understood that some
great adventure for the entire army was i'm
pending The picket firing had gradually
dwindIed along the entire line until the almost
only hostile demonstration remaining was the
iucessant bombardment OF the city by our bat
teries.
The sun of the 25th went down in serene
glory. A Roman would have said the omen
was auspicous for the great undertaking, in
volving the interests aud destin,es oi nation
about to be inaaguraled amid the gathering
gloom. To Withdraw great army from the
immediate presence OF another great and hos
tile force is always delicate mntter, hut par
ticulariy so when that withdrawal Initiates a
grand offensive slragetic movement, As the
evening shades began 10 gather a sorr Of aux.
ious feeling prevaded the mind OF every one
from the Major General down to the humblesi
private. A random musket shot, the jolt o
an artillery carriage, the too bright glenn Of a
camp fire, the strange ghmmer Oi distant
light, any unusual, or seemingly unu~ua, sish
or sIund excited the nerves and quicSeueC
Q pulsations that seemed TO feel and beat in com
mon throughout the army. Shortly after