Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-08-19
THE APPROACHING BATTLE AT ATLANTA

The movements OF the enemy In irons OF Atlanta
ind ate that dlRl aud decisive engagement Tor he
possession Of that city will shortly take Ilics. IRE
heavy columns OF troops bsi7g ssd cur left III
coon Compel either to attack to eVscu3te Atlanta
and neither prudence nor policy could impe General
Un1er such circumstances should feel surprise If
a. any hour army assumed the aggressive aud the
stuggle-fraught with the de tGies Of Georgia, and
filed with The gr6a ess impotinos TO tie Contederscy
should commence for the possession Of city whose
Importance TO Us olnnot be over estimated That Gan
Ied will 6sht have the strongest essurauc. in the
doggsd resolution th which he has held the or envy 40
Ch ok for the past three weeks and in series of PAR
ia engagements Tepulsed every effort of tn enemy 10
fofc3 out OF Atlanta either by direct ASSAULT or BIZ
the more prudent m .,hod OF flukiDg
The partial engsgem nts have been but The pre'use
tO-a bloody carnival which must soon be held in The vi.
oaity Of Atlanta Pre- viog hat his attacks on pcr-
tinls Of our lre have all o'en unsuecessfu and that
the raids which be inauguraed have mot smll T fate
to tho Of bis colleague in Virginia Sherman appears
10 have changed his tIoos AID by per5 ealy nlespg
forces our lof Invites the attack which aeoessy
must soou compel rs 10 maze There ia no 6cuos that
10 so dcing he has acted with considerable prudence
and materially decreases tbs dangers Of his
By focug US 10 assume the defensive wiki an army in-
fvrior 10 his 10 uunoers he will gained decided
advantage. HIS Columns are steadily pushed forward
in tie direction OF Els Point aud unless we force them
back The possession Of the railroads leading to Macon
and West P0in! viii Il into bis bands snd neoessi ate
the abandonment o. Atlantis Tor the preservation OF our
my. This must be prevented al every heard an
ere ctr ali that the effort viii be nade. III the
qusifos arises whether the strength Of our army will
warrant en- attack On the enemy iutFelohed as hs will
be in powerful Woas and possessing vast 6upesiori
10 uugbsEs
Tbs hour is fat approaching whom bloody and dei-
perste battle viii b. fought In fact il cannot he dc
lsyed may days Toe Gods are against US, so far as
numbers are cocceraed out mu Eust to the tried
Vlor Of our men 10 make up ell fciepcies In che
msanimo, it is the du;y o. every man Hho is absent
Ei-l without leave that he shall promptly rfion his
commlnd sna help 10 sSell our ran5s The very cr,sg
IN the fate of Georgia and of the South is NJ han a1d
this is hs time for eVerg m8u 90 per the obi cation
he owes his country. Furloggas tan temporarily be-
laid aside, and patriotic prompin5ss in reporting TO
their respective commands be substituted by our SOL
irs. We are aware that tho pleasures OF home aud
tho society Of relatives and friends possesses great 81
uTemen and fascinating 70 the ersu bu! ne must
be wiling to ior, 60 the happiness of b Ing vito bis
loved o. eJ hile Duty must no obeyed, aud whsn
victO is achieved and tie my is cent hoWrg back
TO the Tennessee they repose the aures Won bY
cir patriotism and herosm. The battle will be fought
in leN daJs ana every I'D iitionsl man will odd tower
OF strength tAe army. We trust for the ke OF the
cause in which you engaged that no man will so
far guore the claims OF his country by ab7enng him
sell rOm tie battle ID at the preseng tine when his
pFe5eEc5 and tht or thOualds Who absent, might
turn tue scale ef battle aud vTess vct2Ty from tncaa
neIs Of cue eBeDy. She,n is nov playing bis last
card. II we can beat MIN back the resuL L be IN
doubted. Bss'en o.cs moro be wi be compelled 10
seek "a ely In fight and the lowering clouds HhiohnoW
threaen to Oyerwhelm u5 in sasLeE will be di5peed
bV the bright sunshine Of Curious triumph mac N
Telegraph.