The "Siege" of Atlanta.
The
Atlanta correspondent of the
Columbia Carolinian, "Personnel, " gives the following intelligible summary of the operations near there the ten days preceding the 5th instant:
‘
I 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 hospitable gates of Camp Oglethorpe, where I saw him a few days since, looking the personation of object misery and despair.
He was formerly
General Hood's captain in the Second United States cavalry, and afterwards served upon the staff of
General Hood in
California, and was quite a favorite with the officers of the old army.
’
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 a time cut off. That to the
West Point and
Montgomery road was far greater,
Rousseau having done his work well; but the repairs are being speedily pushed forward, and it is said the trains will be running as usual within the next two days. On the
Georgia road no steps have been taken to repair the immense damage done us; that road is still liable to be cut at any time.
So much for the railroads.
The situation is continually changing, 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 our works by parallels, after the manner of
Grant in his operations in front of
Petersburg, and then by mining to gain possession of our works.
I learn from an officer of the engineer regiment that they are now engaged in trying to undermine the salient on Marietta street, and if this is true, we may shortly expect a repetition of the affair at
Petersburg.
The enemy for the past week have been withdrawing their forces from our right and pushing around to the left — their left now resting on the
Houston street road, with their pickets on the Georgia railroad, and their right at a point about a mile west of the green's ferry or Sandtown road,
Legan's — who takes McPherson's place — headquarters being at the
Half House, distant about six miles from the city
Yesterday afternoon an attack was made upon the line of works held by
Cleburne's and
Bate's skirmishers by a heavy force of the enemy.
The action lasted about one hour, and raged quite A small portion of the line was carried by the enemy, although the main body was repulsed, but our forces were speedily reinforced, the enemy driven from the works with considerable loss, and our lines re-established as before; heavy skirmishing and cannonading continued until about ten o'clock last night, when a determined assault was made upon our skirmish lines, extending from the centre to the extreme loft.
It was at first supposed that the long-expected attack had come, and our men sprang to the works with alacrity; but the skirmishers, who had been heavily reinforced in anticipation of the attack, were fully equal to the emergency, and drove them back in confusion and disorder, and thus prevented them from advancing their works.
Our loss among general officers lately-has been quite large, and among them are General who lost a leg;
General Strahl, slightly wounded in the foot;
Lieutenant- General Stewart, in the head; and
Major-General Loring, slightly in the breast.
All of these have been compelled to go to the rear, which leaves a number of vacancies, which have been partially filled as follows:
Major-General being in command of
Stewart's corps, and
Major-General Patton Anderson, lately in command it.
Florida, of
Hindman's division, he being still absent on account of injuries received by a 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 despite the danger from the missiles which the enemy continue to hurl into the heart 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 a shell entered the house of
Mr. J. H. Hanner, superintendent of the gas company, and entering the bed where he and a bright little daughter were lying asleep, exploded, mangling them horribly and producing instant death.
The Memphis
Appeal and the Southern Express Company are the only public institutions that have so far braved the storm of shot and shell and remained at their posts.
The
Appeal is daily issued in the shape of an extra from the old office, not with-standing the building has twice been struck by the
Yankee missiles; and the Express Company continues to ship and receive freight as before.
The indications are 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 as close and sultry, and yet the enemy bear up bravely under the burning sun of August; and, as I from the
medical director, the health of the army was never better.
A letter of the same date in the August.
Chronicle says:
‘
Sherman continues his working operations towards our left, as before reported, and doubtless for the purpose I have stated, viz: to endeavor to throw his main line across the railroad between here and
East Point.
Of course, counteracting movements are going on vigorously.
’
Our army has been strengthened to a considerable extent of late.
How many thousands of State troops have arrived I cannot mention; but this much I can say: ‘
General Smith is at the head of a large and splendid body of men, and they are daily increasing in numbers.
And, in addition to them reinforcements, the old fighting material has been increased by putting guns into the hands of the working details.
Negroes are now performing this service for the men in the trenches.
An effort is now being made to secure negro drivers, which, if it succeeds, will add three thousand more to the ranks.
From all sources, there has been an addition to the army that greatly increases general confidence in ultimate success.’
