The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-08-01

From Georgia.


Cayoltuton, writes an acet uat on tfe 10th Of the
fight which took place on that day-the first of
the series OF attacks commence ed by General Hood
after taking command:
Riding along our lines last evening, found the
men busy In building entEenchmehis after their
own nOtiors, and preparing for the battle which
appeared about To burst. Some OF the commands,
u;t,re nice than others, had even erected bowers
of leaves above The works Us shield from sun
and rain, Skirmisbing WAS aadib:e In the dis
tance while from the extreme ieit the heavy booms
of artillery proclaimed "A duel batHe n two fiVai
batteries Ihe mov emsnts ~ this morning have
been In a measure significant OF the events about
tu follow. Al daylight, the enemy commenced
pressing our cavalry on the tight, now covering
the Augusta and Atlanta Railroad, several miles
of which they destroyed Heavy skttmishiDg en-
sued, during which the enemy plan ted battery
thin range OF The city, and threw three shells in
the vicinity of Of hospitals, not more than
! five hundred yards from he heart ri the town
! General Whetler, observing this diaboiicai act,
p, promptly Tau battery mo pusitioB aud after &
! halt Dozen we'll directed shots, drove the Yankees
/ from their temporary fonthoid. Believing that
| this demonstration was The beginniDg ot general
! attack, | left Wheeler's llaes and rode towards
headquarters. Troops appeared to Be la motion
on all sides.
! General Manieaut, with ;hree hrgades Of Hind
| mans division, was throwing up heavy breast
| works across the elegant gTnuadS which enclose
bue of the hands0mcst residences In The vicinity
fOf Atlanta; dismountrd cavalry werr getting ihto
Hue; wagons pushing TO the rear and cOuTitrs
dashing by while far and near there aToSi iboVs
the luxuriant liage OF the woods heavy clouds oil
| dat, which betokened the man4uVHng OF troops.
kSpurriug f0fp ard TO the headquarters OF The COM
mander-in chief, which had been uans'e rred 10
ESshe edge of town, and nearer the centre nf nui
dines found there Other signs which added 10 the
| perplexity of the moment. the principal officers
| Af the army were In close council all grave, Sc
we're, and apparently deeply impressed with sont
new Tesponsibility. The consultation concluded
kthr Generals mounted aud, followed by their re
kspective stats, I0de swiftly away In direction
'f>Qf the army.
| Hand, y own military household la front OF head
| uuafters announced still anUtiieS in the chain O
| ,a, steiIous events. Bnt had not long To wal
for the unIaveiing of the web The nobie Texan
arrayed In full uniform, lean ng on his ctutch
| stick, WAS Standing In tho door way, bis a,anne
| catm, but his eyes ishing with strange indies
cribabir light, which sieams from them only In tb'
hour of battle, his first observation, as 1e tool
| my hand, was, "Mr -, at O'Clock aiiac'
| the enemy. He has pressed our lines until he 1
| within a short distance OF Atlanta, and mas
| fight or evaeuate. am going to fight. The odd
| are against us, but leave the issue win he Coz
| Of Battles" We parted, and General Hood will
his staff, General Lowell. General Mackaii, ant
escort, then proceeded 10 the lines. l have te
| mained al headquarters To write these hurried
| words, aatcipatOrs of the battle
| be moments are slipping by-as anxious mo
| ments always dO-tediousy, aud yet not withou
sensation of heart agony that Is utterly depress
Ing One hour more, and the mettie of our arn
| opposed 10 double its numbers, fighting behiD'
bfeastworks, with ciabolic incentive, the spires
Atlanta In view, and Its booty In prospect, will b.
undergoing an ordeal by fire. One honr more
| and hundreds of dear ftieDds, whose merry iaug
| you have answered around theiI camp fires, ma
be weitering In thfir blood ON these strange iiii
| sides, or gone forever 10 their long home. On
| hour more, aud thousands will become widow
aud orphans, and weary heart cries viii ascend 4
| Heaven over the new sacrifice which this cTut
| struggle demands, while brave men, borne 10 III
| rear, will lingeT for a time under the kalfe an
| saw of the surgeons, aud then, perhaps, return
. | their homes manned for life
NIeKr, July ga battle, or rather an engage
! mrnt has taken place, aud the fifai hasbFs q
| musketry along the lines denote thai II has ende
| without substantial results. l ana too weary
| enter mach into details, and probasiy IL wou no
be prudent to do so - FIRST, because OF the incom
peieness Of the affair, and secondly, the iiabiit
of capture while this letter Is en- roste 10 Macon,
being feared that the enemy will strike our ont,
remaining line of communication tonight. III
| following, therefore, Is only simple outline u
/ the afternoons work:
| The object of General Hood In planning the al
, tack was two fold namely, 10 "ithafa", II pos
sble from the enemy's itfI 10 cenft anu fisht
| portion of the forces with which ne Mad bsen
| nersistentiy pressing our right ana 10 defeat an
| cut I'D one OF his wings. ~ examining the ma
and recalling the preceding description OF ih
situation of Sheymaa's forces, You viii ot
s.rv, ,hat n portion of the line-oi the latter 4
tended from near the junction OF tbe Chatiahot
chee and Peachtree creek La an easiefy aEeetof
Ipto this angle II was believed tha', oy pfop'
1
, | right of Shetman's army and effect the object
| view. Stewards corps held our left, Hardee's tn
: ceulre, The attack by these Two bodies Wa
' nearly simultaneous The aivanee commence
about two a,cluck. Leaving their breastwork
! our men slowly but confidently pushed the
: | way towards the front. saifmishing hfga
= : | almos, tmm ediateiy. Strange 10 say, pa
: of the enemy,s line was discovered TO
| also advancing. Our men charged WI
veil, and drove IL back In disorder.
> | One. two and, in some instances, three lines
. inelnient or q m ,orary breastworks were mouate
: | and LET, behind and the batie In our favor q
| reared 10 go ou swimmingsy. Suddenly stewa
. was brought 10 stand STILL La his front was II
| main line OF Yankee entrenchnsenis and redou
h | maaned BY battery. Gathering Hesh suengt
!, however one 0f his bsigadts plunged asatust !,
!. WON and Il yielded. A heavy enfiading fire fra
!. 4 co.'s Ut artillery on the right drove them bac
= The Federais re occupied The fedonot. Our m
| advanced a second time, and snn captured, n
by the sams terrible nrc poured upon them no
!. | the Distant artillery were ccmpei'ea 70 abano'
| the prixa. Meanwhiie, Hsfdee Mad also reach
| the continuation of the sane line: Ills NE
fehsiua brAvrly, had Cyafcome every o6ssas
q mus far and were prepared TO dash yei sas'h
4 On and drive the eneu5y into tue creek. Hui nc
: the Judgment Of the commander ard the gsilan.
e Of inc troops wefo ss variance Geasra Hard
dseasd Il impsudsus 70 sisk the HIVES q hts 2
A la sebisvisg a. object VI, ich threatened " G