Year: 1864

NEAR ATLANTA OA7 July 18TH, 1854.


EDITOR LEADER.-The rays of Geor-


gia sun just at this season of the year are


so intensly hot, that it seems like the air


of place, underneath our notice; so very


far under, that hope you and yours may


never reach 1t. The earth is so dry that


constant pOntooning is necessary to get


the inhabitants over the seams and chasms.


In fact, it is somewhat warm. Before


this reaches you, the telegraph viii have
conveyed news of our movements since the


morning ofthe 18th. We foresee that the
result of these movements will be the oc-
cupancy Of Atlanta in short time, and
thereto is attached much importance in
the army and at home. It is hard cam
paigning in such weather as this, but we
are convinced that it must be done, and
well done, or there must be another sum-
mer' work Of war, and God forbid.


General Woods Division of the 4th


Corps crossed far down the river and
marched up with the left resting on the


Chattahoochee, and the right far up into
the country Atlanta-wards Il was a bold
stroke risky venture; but that is the
present spirit of this army. 1t is with an
iron will and courage, that the Federal
mass of true blues started out on the sum
mer's campaign, and that is still the feel
ing actuating each and every one. The
style of Woods advance after getting on |
the south side of the river made it conve- |
nient for him to shoot at the enemy end |
rays, as the natives call it, and many pris- |
oners came over to our side, rather than |
be made fun of in such manner. There |
is truth in the assertion so often made, |
that the rebel rank and file are discouraged |
and mutinous in spirit; only needing op-
portunity to desert to so great an extent
that their officers would be left with no
command. We are in good health and
excellent spirits in Battery G., considering
the amount of hard wo rk we have done
and the state of the weather. Many that
but few months since were strong and
noble looking specimens of humanity have
BY the inevitable effects of campaigning
in the sunny south became mere shadows
Of their former selves. But these same
men will be in a short time, more a sub
stance than a shadow, more fit to endure
the life before them, thar. previous to their
debility. The health Of the army at large
is very good, and the number OF those GO
ing to the rear, Is no larger than of that
coming from it. Our ranks are kept full.
1t seems that our army is all sufficient to
the duty predestined TO be accomplished
by it.


Supplies come up in quantities that ans
wer all purposes, and we, of course are
thereby made happy. We owe much
10 the hundred days men for bringing
about this last named condition of things,
but we are not going TO fall down at their
silver sandaled feet, to worship them for
it, nor kiss the hem of their garments
No sir. Nor will we consent to call them
.he "1ower of the country as they have
been called by papers at home. Allow
me TO tell you how we feel in the gsteran
ranks about this style of talk concerning |
,he men alluded TO. At the same time
hat we see Clearly before Us, our duty as
,ood soldiers and loyalcitizens of America,
We see also that adulation is piled upon
Unworthy shoulders for the doing of duty {
ong deferred.


Therei no sense or jnstice in calling I
men "the flower Of the country who
Iavg Ueen three years IN finding out that
hey ought to go to war as we'll as their ]
leighbors and ought for common cause.
A great multitude at home are in mourn =
ng Tor dear ones lost on the battle-felds
If the past three years war. Can they
,e made to rejoice and be reconciled at the |
.reat loss sustained by having the brave g
mes who still survive the battle shock un- I
errated in value to the country and to
heir own hearts by being shown up as
ess than the flower of the country


May we soon see the end, and be again 6
N terms of peace with all the world. Ii


Yours, truly,