Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1864-07-20
RUFF's STATION, W. a. R. R., ELEVEN
MILES NORTH OF ATLANTA, July Z.
Il LEFT WING


MILES North OF ATLANTA, July Z.
THE LEFT WING
Has to day peer for the most part qui-
escent. This is for the present the 4th
Corps, supported BY the 23d, which lies
in reserve, The Army of the Ohio. as
o o as it was relieved on the right by
the army of the Tennessee. at once set
out to resume its old position. and arri-
we'd at this point yesterday at noon 1t
has not yet. and probably will not imme-
diately, take UP a position in the front
line, for the simple reason that the other
corps form a line OF sufficient length TO
invest completely that of the rebels, and
rest securely on the river at either end.
There can be but little doubt that a con
siderable portion Of the rebel forces are
already across the river. as well as the
main portion of their trains and heavy
artillery; at least they find occasion 10
employ very little of the latter in reply
TO our almost incessant challenge.
In front of the 4th Corps there was,
this forenoon, considerable c-annonading,
and this afternoon the 18th and Goth
have been directing, ST short intervals, a.
heavy fire upon the strong intrenchments
in their front. 1t might seem hat the
artillery practice of late was slow, and 50
it Is somewhat, but for the very good rea-
son hat il requires time-often much
time-to develop by the infantry skirm
ishers the locality Of works OF sufficient
strength TO justify heavy Smelling, SO lur,
ing and secrelive are the rebels in plant
ing them, and 80 grim is the silence they
maintain. We have los approached suf
f~ciently near TO the river TO become en-
tangled in the river bluffs, which are very
steep in many cases ami little cleared. of
fering many obstacle, to the formation Of
the line of battle and the prosecution of
skirmishing. The river level seems to
be two or three hundred feel lower than
the face of the country about il, and the
descent from the main plateau TO the riv
er bottom is broken into the numerous
ragged and irregular hills, forming a lab
yrinth eminently suitable for the exar
else of the peculiar rebel strategy. The
greater portion of our line is just well in !,
TO the edge of these fastnesses, and to mt
tempt to charge upon any works of which
We are necessarily ia 20 much ignorSnce
as OF these, ould be criminal madness.
1t is pleasing, therefore. to hear the thun-
der Of our tlreless artillery playing upon
rebels, rather than the shout and the
rush of men throwing themselves away
in a brave but useless assault on these
pits of hell. WHAT is more sensible or
more humane than to endeayor to crush
in their lines and drive them out of the
thick pines and rocks by the EMPLOYMENT
of cold iron rather thar Of flesh and
blood? Patience, then; let the skirmish-
ers slowly cautiously find out where the
lie thickest, and then let our nu
merous batteries maui them.
AT Kinesaw the rebels hal the better
Of US. They were above and we below.
and they laughed aloud, no doubt. as
they saw their murderous shells drop
among US while they were out of harms
way, but now the tables are turned: they
ire lower than we, and it will 90 hard. /
out we will make them smart for it in
r
GROUNDS OF THE REBEL CONFIDENCE,
Napoleon says land does he moi know?l
When two armies are in order of battle.
md one has to retire oyer a bridge, while
he other has the circumference of the
open, all the advantages are in f.
Tor of the latter. 1t is her a General {
hould show boldness, strike q decided q
low. and maneuver upon the flank of 7
lis enemy. The victory is in his hands"
Such are the relative positions of the 4
armies to day, and such the balance
# chances. One would naturally expect, i
hen that the rebels would scarce C
y have ventured to delay this siGe the 9
iver, for fear we should shell them out
4 their defenses and hen rush sudden
= upon them, before they could effect a
rossing. aud ent their rear to pieces
ZEN. johnson did not fall on his head,
therefore,, we must seek reasons sufficient a
D account for his action. One is found s
odoubt. in the nature of the ground.
hitch offers serious obstacles to a rapid
ursuit: and another and stronger one
out of a suficiency of reliable
of which there are said to be no u
IS than Six These added to the vexa- el
ons and losses he could infict on US for OF
few days, with a good degree of safety il