Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-07-22
tEFTER rRON FHR lOth OHIO.
Correspondence Of the Cleveland Morning Leader,
CAnP or rHE 18TH 0. vi,
NEAR THE CaATTAHooCHIE RIVER, GA,
Triv 10Th 1gGA |

NEAh IhE AnAlLAhoulhlE AlNLhs UA-g
July 18th, 1864. }
We are bivouaced for the present with
in half a mile of the Chattahooche river,
The point where we first struck the river,
July 9th, was on the main road from Ma
rietta to Atlanta.
The Third Division of General Howard's
Fourth Corps was the fist to reach the
river. The rebels had just time to cut
their pontoon bridge loose on this side,
when our skirmishers reached the bank,
thus preventing them from getting it
away.
The rebels had entrenched themselves
on this side of the river, in front of the
Fourteenth Corps, which joined our right,
and stubbornly maintained their position.
They finally cut their pontoons loose to let
them float down within their own lines,
but they swung around and lodged on our
side, and our boys tied them up.
From that point Atlanta is about seven
miles distant, and from the summit of
hill one-haf mile from the river it can be
plainly seen with the naked eye. 1t is
considerable of town, and in the days of
its prosperity, no doubt, was one of the
most thriving towns within the limits of
the Confederacy.
( Prisoners and deserters report that the
rebels are removing all the Government
works. The naval laboratory, the cap fac
tories and all the military manufacturing
establishments, together with other valua-
bles are being removed to either Macon
or Milledgeville, in anticipation of the
early occupation of Atlanta by the Union
forces.
On the 9th instant, the Fourteenth Corps |
charged the rebels, but were compelled to |
fall back again into their works During |
the night the rebels fell back across the
river and burned the railroad bridge. This
was caused by our cavalry, supported by |
the Twenty-third Corps, taking possession
Of ford about eight miles up the river
Pontoons were soon placed, and the Twen-
ty-third Corps Is now across and have en-
trenched themselves.
On the 10th instant, the Fourth Corps |
moved up the river about eight miles, and |
within a mile and a half of the crossing.
We expected to cross yesterday, but did |
not, nor are there any signs of moving at |
present. Some grand and important flank |
rr-hfoh =
noted, may soon be looked for, which will |
give US possession of Atlanta without a |
general engagement.
This part of the country is nearly de-
serted by its inhabitants, they having
taken their movable property and gone
South before the advance of our army
Oct asionally group of half-scared women |
and children are found in some out-of-the- |
way place, fearing to go near their homes
until our army passes, by which time some
Of the marauding vagrants and scoundrels,
of which there are always more OF less in
the army, have pillaged and destroyed
everything they could get their hands on,
leaving the poor sufferers homeless and in
a starving condition.
The weather is excessively hot here-too I
hot for comfort, even in the shade. Day I
before yesterday we had quite refreshing I
shower of rain, lasting over an hour; but
to-day it is apparently as dry and hot as
ever.
Our regiment has lost about one hundred /
men in killed, wounded and missing since |
the commencement of the campaign.
must close for this time, as we have |
just got orders to cross the river.
Yours, &c, P.