Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-07-21

ICyorrespondence Cincinnati Commerciall
ONE MILE SoUTH OF CHATTAHOoCHIE RIVER,
July Is, 1861
THE SITUATION.
The crossing of the Chattahoochie has
been effected without loss, and though the
army has not been wholly thrown over,
enough now rests on the south bank to as
sure the safe passage OF the REMAINDER
Several corps-it might possibly De lmpru-
dent to say how many-occupy ridges on
the south bank, northeast of the railroad
bridge. and have fortified the bold hills and
heads of the bridges in their rear until their
safety and even impregnability is assured.
Before this reaches you Sherman's whole
army will have passed the river, and that
the great event of the campaign will soon
follow. no one can doubt, for already At
lanta is but seven miles distant from por-
tions of our center, and is in easy view from
various heights in rear OF our lines.
The days are exceedingly hot-so very
hot that brilliant movements-such move
ments as wear out men by the thousand
when the temperature is not murderous-
are simply out of question. But iittie skir-
| mishing Is going on. That portion OF our
army already across the river have found
nothing in their immediate front but cav
airy, i'm the two miles over which they have
pu.
ed somewhere between here and Atlanta,
and, as the solitary paper published In At
lanta has been chuckling over some mystic
rious stroke of good fortune that has befal-
| len them. perhaps there Is something par
ticularly mischievous in their inactlon.-
| But. from a hundred sources, we hear that
Atlanta has been almost entirely disman-
tied. Every thing for which transporta-
tion could be secured has gone further
south-to the slender bit of terra ytirmd call
ed Dixie. Newspapers have taken their
immaterial departure, leaving an excessive
| ly stout-hearted extra to assure the troops
| that ''day is about breaking'-thatS Shef-
man is to be pitied for his misguided course
that Atlanta can never be taken, ana au-
dibly smiling, in another paragraph, over
the fact that we shan't find any thing when
we do get it. They may be as mysterious
and Historically funny as they choose; the
fact that Sherman has passed every great
natural barrier between his army and the
..Gate City,n remains. He has dislodged
them from positions to which any one they
NAV now assume in defense of their city,
is as a wart to Ossa. Those who remember
the solemnity and stiffness OF the Vicks-
burg journal, two or three days before the
greatest surrender in history TOOK place,
need not be surprised if our advance occu-
pies Atlanta within week. On the other
hand, the enemy has erected strong works
for its protection, and, Notwithstanding the
encouraging tone of The Atlanta COntederd-
cn we may not be there In iortnlght. NO
doubt it expects us sooner.
Bragg is with the rebel army in our front
in what capacity has not yet been dis
closed. 1t is universally conceded, among
GOOD Judges i'm our army, that Bragg is the
most dangerous man we have ever fought.
There is infinitely more fight in him than in
Johnston, while he is equally adroit in se-
treat. He is watchful and subtitle; but
he cannot stay the progress of Sherman, at
this stage, were he Fabius and Napoleon
combined.
The army is enjoying, while the cautious
passage of the river is in progress, season
of partial rest, much needed, and warmly
appreciated. Though our communications
grow longer every day, ratlons come up III
abundance. Neither are they confined to
fine coffee, bread and meat which are really
ssthe ration" during a campaign. Beans,
vinegar. dessicated vegetables, potatoes,
and the delicacies of the soldiers allowance,
are now supplied, and even clothing is fur
nished. where the need of it is great. Guer-
rillas make desperate efforts to destroy the
road to Chattanooga, and succeed In cutting
ont a train occasionally, but thus far they
have suffered severely, and accomplished
next to nothing. The road is well guarded,
and by detachments who, seeming to feel
the responsibility resting upon them, are
watchful and plucky, to a degree worthy
of the highest compliment.
THE GATE CITY.
The country to the west and south of At
lanta is quite open and level for distance
of seven miles, and the city can be readily
approached. On the northeast side is for
midable ridge extending nearly two miles.
'The citv is surrounded by a line of fortifi-
cations of an irregular formation, distant
one mile from its center. On the north side
of this formidable work is another line OF
almost impenetrable abattis, running half
way round. On the Notifications are twelve
lunettes mounting formidable batteries, be-
sides countless number OF smaller callDre,
bearing on all points of the compass. Ihus
was the CITY defended two months ago; but
should the enemy be so foolhardy as to re-
treat within them, l fear we will find the
strength of the works enough to try our
| skill and courage for weeks.
ARRIVAL OF BRAxTON BRAGG.
The arrival at this juncture of General
Bragg i'm JOhnston's army, is indicative OF
importance influence upon the movements
and policy of the enemy. Bragg arrived
| on Tuesday last, and was received with
enthusiasm by the soldiers of his old COM
mand, many of whom still retain their old
reverence for him and long for his return
to the command. Johnston, 1t is well known,
is Jealous of Bragg, who, as military ad-
wiser and Commander-in-Chief has nc
doubt arrived on the theater OF operations
TO give new line of policy and chalk out {
new road in which Johnston must wall
hereafter. My information as to his arriva
in and reception by the army, is correctant
NAV be relied upon. Rebel papers are very
silent upon military affairs just now, ant
this celebrated addition to the army o
Northern Georgia, is not even announced
The Memphis atlanta Appeal however, o
Yesterday, a copy Of which have been per
mitted to peruse, is quitej ejubilant over some
thing and declares that now the Yankee ar
NV viii be driven into the Chattahoochie
The last retreat has been made and Atlapti
is safe. Strange to say, in another column
the editor grows grandiloquent over the ca
reer of The Appeal which it declares will
remain in Atlanta to cheer and eneourag
the soldier, until the enemy reaches the gate
of the city. 1t also announces that all tn
newspapers, except it, have left Atlanta TO
fine South. that the work of emptying tn
city of movables goes quietly on, and tina
when the Yankees enter they will find moth
Ing but empty houses and bare walls b
greet them. This does not look much lik
having confidence in their ability to driv
the Yankees into the Chattahoochie.
HI. HosMER, ESQ.,, Of Toledo, Ohio, for
mer editor of The Blade, and for some year
past Assistant Clerk of the House of Repre-
sentatives in Washington, has been appoint
- ~ T.,.tsoo - tha Irt,itod 2fataa C0uf