Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1864-08-03
Geographical Position of Atlanta.

In point of population, Atlanta is the
largest city in Georgia, although it is Of
comparatively recent growth. 1t is one OF
those places where several railroads just
happened to terminate, and almost from that
fact alone IL is indebted for its Importance,
for the country around it is among the
poorest sections Of Georgia. And it has
recently, in continuance of its usual luck,
become military point, which somepersons
assert, is not second to that Of the capital
Of the Confederate States itself.
There are four railroads terminating in
Atlanta. The Georgia Railroad, the West
ern and Atlantic, the Macon and Western,
and the Atlantic and West Point The
first one of these, the Georgia, was compile.
ted about 1928, and then terminated at
mWhitehall," !" a small country :taFarn, near
the centre Of Fulton county. Commencing
at Augusta, it ran in northwestdirection
to that point. Then the Macon and West
ern was constructed from this city to White
hall, and soon after the then village of
Whitehall was named the town of Atlanta.
The West Point Road was the next con-
structed, running to the Chattahooehee river
ON the Western boundary of the State. The
Western and Atlantic running northwest to
Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed.
From village it soon grew to town,
then to q small and then to great city,
with endless factories, shops, merchants,
mechanics, traders, spectators, aud every
thing else appertaining to first class com.
mercial emporium. All north Georgia and
western Alabama went there to market, to
sell and to buy. The most beautiful and in
tricate machinery, the mechanics tools, the
farmers implements, together with many
Of the smaller elements of the emotions" of
life were forged at her fouudries.
Now in front of Atlanta stands two i'm
mense hostile armies which, perhaps before
this article is printed, will decide whether
the Yankee or the Southron will domineer
in her halls. As there are illusions made
every day to its local geography, minute
description of it will be in place here. The
county of Fulton, of which Atlanta is the
centre, is bounded on its entire northwest
face by the Chattahoochee river. This
stream rises in the Black Mountains, spurs
of the Blue Ridge, in Habersham county,
and not far from where, in the same county
by the junction of the Tullulah and Chat
tooga creeks, the Savannah is formed
Flowing southwest for distance of one
hundred aud fifty miles, it strikes the Ala
bama line south of the thirty third parallel,
and from thence runs almost due south, di-
giding the States of Alabama and Georgia,
and finally empties into Apalachicola river
and the Gulf Of Mexico .- -: ''''",
Seven miles north Of Atlanta is the Chat
tahoochee bridge, where the Western and
Atlantic Railroad crosses the river. This
bridge has been destroyed BY the. .Confede.
rates, and is again being constructed by the
Yankees. A few hundred yards above this
bridge, Peach Tree creek comes into the
Chattahoochee from the east. A little creek
called Nance's runs into Peach Tree just
above the mouth of the latter. Farther up
the Chattahoochee, and sixteen miles north
east of Atlanta, on its northern bank and
in Cobb county, is the little town of Roswell,
which, at present, is the base of the left
wing of Sherman's army. This town is due
east of Marietta. Decatur is town, or
rather the first depot on the Georgia Rail
road, four miles from Atlanta, and sixteen
from Roswell. Stone Mountain is an iso.
lated, barren peak, several hundred feet in
height, and perhaps two miles around the
base, abruptly rising from the plain like
one of the Pyramids of Egypt, ten miles
from Decatur and sixteen miles from Allan.
ia. 1t can be seen from long distance off,
and from its summit grand view of the
country can be obtained. There is not
tree or shrub upon it, and presents moth
ing to view but rocks and rocky cliffs. 1t
is supposed that Logan'S corps of sherman's
army has now possession of the mountain
and the railroad near it. 1t is the only ele-
walton of the slightest Importance anywhere
about Atlanta.
1t is one hundred and thirty-eight miles
from Atlanta to Chattanooga one hundred
and seventy one from Atlanta to Augusta ;
eighty.four to West Point; one hundred and
sixty.eight to Montgomery; and one hun
dred and ten from Atlanta to Macon. East
Point is six miles west on the West Point
road. The Macon and Western and the
Atlanta and West Point railroads form a
junction at East Point, but trains of either
company run into the heart of the city. At
one place, Peach Tree creek runs within
five miles of the city. Atlast accounts the
enemy were all along this Insignificant little
branch. .. N
Fulton county is bounded on the east by
DeKalb, on the south by Fayette, and on
the west by Campbell, and on the north by
Cobb counties. 1t is oddly shaped, for
whilst itsextreme length from north to south
is thirty miles, its width from east to west
is only ten. 1t is drained by tie Chattahoo-
chez and Peach Tree creek on the north,
and another little creek in the southwest,
the name of which we'have forgotten. The
land is of the poorest red clay, and very
unproduotive. The surface of the country
is generally fiat, with here and there small
ridges, and wholly uninSiting to the tiller
of the soil.
But in the vast system Of railroads cen,