, 1864-10-31
tFrcm our Special Correspondent

4 gentleman connected with the army has
arrived here, direct IRON Sherman's army,
which he lsft On Saturday morning, making
his way with courier to Chattanooga. He
gives an inspiring account Of the Situation
and INSERTS that be never saw troops in 6
better condition than are those with Sher
nun. They are all confident that they vii
soon oYertake and utterly rout Hood, Who's
rear guard Ia otter in sight Of our advance
The men are well supplied with provisions
and forage for animals is abundant. Whe1
he left Sherman, our forces were in the VI
cin1ty Of Galesville, few miles to The north
of the Coon, where they had encampsd, on
Friday rIght-Hood being short disraacs
on the Gadeden road-
even more than their wont, In struggling,
and somehow these stragglers continue to
reach our lines. They amount to several
hundred day, and are nearly all with out
shoes. That this Is no exaggeration, have
occular proof; 1870 Of thtm arrived In this
city this morning. and walked along the
streets, through the cold rain, amid deep
a1ush, more than half Of them barefootei,
and but few with blankets.
They representa- hed.a conversation With
several of them-that- before reaching our
lines, they had nothing but parched corn to
eat, but OF this they had plenty, fo1aging to
their hearts' content.
The men here represented all three Of
Hoods corps, 60 that no doubt can exlst Of
the fact that he has his whole army with
him, which numbers some 27,o00 men, In
c1nding cavalry.
When Hood reaches Gadsden, be has but
two courses in which be can march; be must
either move to the Tennessee River, at Guu-
theresa, or southwark to Jackson vile, the
terminus OF the Montgomery and TAlladega
Railroad. Although It will be an act Of des-
peration On his part to move north, there
are many REASONS to believe he will do 1t
JEFF Davis told the Georgians that he would
strike g onr communications tar IRON the
point Sherman expected an assault, and he
also promised Cheatham's men that they
should soon tread Tennessee soil. and In one
OF bis speeches he declared that he expected
$1,000 Tecruits from Tennessee. a retreat
southwark Would, certainly arouse the people
Of Georgia, who are now demanding peace; /;
therefore be must move north. Or ru9 the
detach itseH from the Southern Confed-
eracy.
Beside, desperate diseases require despe-
rate remedies and, while RoQd has shown
himself no General, so far as Judgment Ia
concerned, be has never exhibited aug fear
ever reckleea but he has played war until
he has loet half his army; and 1t is hardlY
supposed that be has become cautious at
this late date =.
There are indications of an intention, on
his part, to move North besides the general
of the 10th, said that all mails and baggage
for the Tennessee army had been ordered to
q point In North Alabama, near the river !;
and Forrest ia known to be reconnoiterine
for a crossing place ut the Muscle Shoals,
while Dick Taylor is gathering all hls forces
in the vicinity Of Mert Han. A complete
make IN army Of 81, Goo Infantry, Il, 600 cav
airy and a:full supply Of artillery; but II
that force gets North Of the Tennessee, 1t
will neWr get back again. I know
that Sherman Is extremely anxious that Hood
shall undertake this movement. The Tennes.
see River IS very high, and the rise is not a
rains; 1t ia plenty up, for six months, and
our gunboats can patrol 1t, from Ch ltta-
nooga to the mouth, except at the shoals,
which are 20 miles long, and 1t Is here that
the rebels wish to Cross.
think they will find little resistance, In
their northern movements, till they get across
the nver; but getting south uill not be sc
Atlanta ia perfectly safe, as there are nc
rebels In arms, in Georgia, outside OF Hoods
army, ard even II there were. the p1ace could
not be token BY 50, COO men fp three months
and not In that time, except by cutting our
communications.
The first train over the road from Chatta
nooga to Atlanta will leave tomorrow morn
ing; the brnke made by Hood being noW n fully
repaired. Thus has departed another stat
upon which the rebels leaned.
That It is necessary for Hood to do some
thing, Ia apparent from the tcne Of tht
| Southern rapers If he fails, they admit thai
oil is lost. BE has taQ<d and If he attempts
more he will meet with positive and irrepar
| able disaster.
a fewdays will probably develop the situa
| tiop, and enable Us to know positively wha
will come of 1t; at present, we can onl
frame rfneonAb1e nresumDtiOn.