Year: 1864

cord the triumphant entry of enr army into
the Gate City of the South. But such is net
vet nv good fortune. Our Immense line
about fourteen miles in length, encircles the
city upon three sides lying across the Georgia
railroad on the extreme left and almost reach
ing the Macon and Western Railroad on the
extreme right. The Army OF the Tennessee
now holds the center, the Army of the Ohio
and 14th Corps of the Army of the Cumber-
land the right, and the 20th and 4th Corps
still in their old positions the left. The entire
line is now so strongly intrenched as to be
impregnable against any force liabls to be
brought against it. The troops idly lie in
camp behind their breast-works and while
away the long summer days as best they may.
All sorts Of devices are resorted to to vary the
mOnotony and give bouyancy 10 the dragging
hours. One of these is the manufacture of
trinkets of every shape aHd species which sol
diers ingenuity can suggest The copper ius-
es from the enemy's shells are manufactured
into rings the elaborate finish of which would
do credit to finer material than copper, and
a more complete tool-kit than pen-knife.


The regular bombardment of Atlanta is
kept up day and night, the guns firing at stat
ed intervals and dropping the shells directly
upon the city. Great destruction of property
has been effected in this way, and there is lit
tie doubt that very many her sons have been
killed and wounded by both our artillery and
musketry in the very streets of the devoted
city. During the quiet evenings the shells can
be distinctly beard whizzing away on their de-
structive mission, furiously crashing among
roofs, walls or whatever other obstacles they
may meet, and finally bursting in the very
beart Of the war-scourged metropolis.


The musketry firing has very much sbsted
along the line during the last few days, the
hostile pickets having a sort of mutual under
standing that they will not shoot at each 9TH
er without having first given due notice.
Take care Yank, or clock out Reb,' is usu-
ally the preliminary warning given when eth
er party deems it necessary to reopen the fire.
At this injunction all spring into their rifle
pits and commence the usual iusiaee upon each
other. This being ended the combatants
again venture slowly out of their pits and a
peace Negotiation" is set on foot which usu-
ally results in the exchange of quantity OF
Yankee coffee for certain amount of rebel
ious tobacco and quite often in the bringing
in by the "boys in blue of rebel soldier or
two who have made up their minds to aban-
don the waning Confederacy.


The cavalry uudrr dashing Fitzpatrick has
Just returned from raid around the rear Of
Atlanta. They report having destroyed two
depots and an important bridge on the Macon
Railroad, and having torn up several miles of
the track. just how long The enemy will be
able TO endure SO many successive interlup-
tions Of his communications it is difficult 10
tell, but it is fair to presume that he already
finds the question of supplies very trouble
some eae to solve. Events are probably not
very farsdistant which will render it still more
so.


A few days since preparations were made
for a grand movement of the entire army
which it was intended should cut short the
siege Of Atlanta by lis complete investment
or by compelling the enemy to leave it.
Whether Gen. Sherman intended the whole
arrangement as feint, or whether some un-
foreseen event spoiled his plan, seems to be
not yet fully understood but, al all events,
the whole n'sv vement was suspended just in its
incipiency. The enemy, suspectiDg that
something was going on, furiously shelIed our
lines carly on the morning of the 18th inst,
upon which day the great movement was to
eliminate. Doubtless to his great dsmay and
| chagrin he found the "Yapks" still in their
works and apparently without any intention
of leaving them. On the following morning
the anxiety of the "Rebs' to know our where
abouts was anticipated by our batteries which
opened about an hour before daybreak, one
of the most tremendous cannOnades that ever
woke snakes" in Georgia Peal on peal the
thunder rose all along the line in one uninter-
mittent. deafening diapason. The cleaning
of the guns, the streaming through the air of
the lighted shells, and the quick, lightning
like flash Of their explosions Illuminated the
shades Of early morning with a pyrotechnic
display which it would be idle for me to at
tempt to describe. The batteries fred in vol
leys or else in that quick succession which re-
sembles file firing in musketry. The enemy
scarcely replied single shot, but seemed to
be thinking only how to preserve himself amid
the terrific storm of iron being poured upon
him. The firing finally sursided to its ordi-
nary proportions and the rebels crawling from
the dens and caves in which they had sought
refuge, were doubtless convinced that the
''Y Tanks" had not gone yet. And they were
right. A. T. SECHAND.