The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-08-16
FROM GEORGIA.
Correspondence of the Columbia Carolinian.

Correspondence
ATLANTA, Aug. 5, 1S64-Within the past ten
days events have followed SO closely upon each
other that now, when the stirring scenes by which
we have been surrounded have been partially dis
pelled it is yet quite difficult to bring forward out
of that chaos a clear and suscinct account. So
will pass over the raids of Stoneman and McCook,
both of which have fortunately, come to grief,
with their commands broken up and scattered, and
their principal leader safely housed within the hos
ptable gates of Camp Oglethrope, where saw him
few days since.
The damage done to the Macon and Western
road was insignificant and was speedily repaired,
and once more We are in communication with the
outer world, from which we have been for time
cut off. That to the West Point and Montgomery
road was far greater, Rosseau having done his
work we'll, but the repairs are being speed push
ed forward, and it is said the trains will be run
ming as usual within the next two days On the
Georgia road no steps have been taken to repair
the immense damage done u.s. that road Is still la
bic to be cut at any time. So much for the rail-
roads
The situation is continually chang ing, but it is
evidently the design of the enemy to mass his
forces upon our lines to the Northwest of the city,
and gradually approach works by parallels,
after the Of Grant in his operations In front
of Petersburg, and then by mining to gain posses
sion of our works. I learn from officer Of the
engineer regiment, that they are now engaged in
trying to undermine the salient Marietta street,
and if this is true, We may shortly expect repeti-
ton of the affair at Petersburg few days since.
Yesterday afternoon, an attack was made upon
the line of works held by Ceburne's and Bates
skirmshers by heavy force of the enemy. The
action lasted about one hour, and ragged quite
fercely. A small portion of the line was carried
by the enemy, although the main body was re-
pulsed but our forces speedily reinforced,
and the enemy driven from the works with consld-
efable loss and our lines reesablished as before;
heavy diminishing and cannonading continued I'M
til about ten o'clock last night, when determined
assault was made upon our skirmish lines, extend
ing from the centre tothe extreme left. 1t was at
first supposed that the long expected attack had
come, and our men sprang to the works with alac-
rity, but the skirmishers who had been heavily re-
inforced in anticipation of the attack, were fully
equal to the emergency, and drove them back IN
cor fusion and disorder, and thus prevented them
frCn advancing their works.
Our loss among general officers lately has been
quite large, and among them General Ector,
who lost leg; Gen. Strahl slightly wounded in the
foot; Lieut.. Gen. Stewart in the head, and Maj.
Gen. Loring, slightly in the breast. All of these
have been compelled TO 60 to the rear, which leaves
number of vacancies which have been partially
filled as follows: Maj. Gen. Cheatham being in COM
mand of Stewards corps, and Maj. Gen. Patton
Anderson, lately in command in Florida, of Hind
mans division, he being still absent account Of
injuries received by fall from his horse.
The city of Atlanta reminds one very much of
Goldsmith's "Deserted Village" although many
families have been compelled to remain here des-
pite the danger from the missiles which the enemy
continue to hurl into the hear of the city, and the
horrid results of this barbarous practice OF the
Federal commander Several ladies and children
have been killed, and night before last, shell en-
tered the house of Mr.. J. Ii. Hannah, Superinten-
dant of the gas company, and entering the bed
where he ana bright little daughter were lying
asleep, exploded, mangling them horribly and pro-
ducing instant DEATH
The indications that many days will yet
elapse before a general engagement comes off, as I
stated before; the enemy having resorted to the
slow and tortuous method of digging US out. The
air is close and sultry, and yet the men bear up
bravely under the burning sun Of August, and as
| learn from the medical director, the health of
the army never better. W. 0. ".
The Yankees have made the use Of the torch
Legitimate against them By the burning of the fol-
lowing towns: Germantown and Madison G. H., in
Va, Washington, N. c., Bufton, S. c., Darien
and ST. Mary's Ga, Jacksonville and Tampa Bay,
Fla Jackson, Miss, Greenville and other towns in
Arkansas, Alexandria and New Iberia, La Hick-