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against the profession which he had so lately followed, succeeded in creating quite a sensation for the moment, by informing our boys that the rebels were then, and had been for several days, engaged in evacuating the city of Atlanta; but the response given to our batteries at different points along the line played sad havoc with his smoothly-told story, and caused expressions of unbelief to gather upon the faces where confidence and pleasure had but lately sat secure.
If the rebels should conclude to resign their cherished city to the Federal troops, the opinion prevails that it will be only to make a more desperate and decided stand at the village of Eastport, some six miles south of their present location.
At this place the junction is formed between the Mason and Montgomery railroads; and it is supposed much more formidable works, both military and artificial, are located.
The city of Atlanta merely is clearly of little importance in the eyes of the Commanding General as a desirable military position.
Had the object been solely to take that place, the matter would have been concluded long ago, for there has not been a day in the past four weeks when our army could not have occupied it by one of the most simple movements known to military men. But Sherman does not want Atlanta, unless he can also receive Hood's whole army within his lines as prisoners of war. Hood well understands our commander's main object.
He therefore racks his already almost exhausted brain for new plans, which may assist him in warding off the final blow until the latest possible moment; and evidently believes that by presenting a bold front, and assuming a defiant attitude, he will deceive even Sherman, the man who can see so far into and divine the intentions of a wily, subtle foe.
Our losses during the part of the month which has passed, are comparatively small to those which have been inflicted upon the rebels.
Our successes during this time, though in each individual instance they might be considered unimportant, yet in the aggregate present sufficient remuneration for the slight exertion put forth.
A few more days must be passed just as the past few days have been spent, and the rebels in our front will be rebels only in name.
Warnings have proven useless, and a subject for contempt in the eyes of those for whom they were intended.
If their doom should be more signally fearful than that which has enveloped their fellows in the past, it can be truly said they invited it, and apparently rejoiced at the awful prospect.
It is not my purpose to speak of the movements which the past few days have witnessed, for too much injury is, innocently, no doubt, effected by such ill-timed disclosures.
The slightest hint which a newspaper correspondent permits himself to disclose is eagerly caught up, and frequently affords the, enemy a clue to a movement of eminent importance.
We have lost many brave men through the eagerness of writers to impress upon the minds of others the power of their perceptive faculties, while the knowledge of movements and relative positions thus disclosed really benefits, or even interests, no one but those who have a desire to prepare counter-movements for the purpose of opposing and rendering them ineffectual.
The weather in these shady forests is delightful, though in the dusty roads where many are obliged to spend a greater part of their time, it must be anything else than pleasant.
The broad leaves of the trees afford an excellent shade, and the soft breezes of the South as they reach us through the innumerable ravines with which the country abounds, fan us gently, and yet effectually.
Strange that this favored section could not have filled the hearts and ambition of its people.
Stranger still that they would, by their own acts, permit war and its evils to swallow up their lovely homes!
But they courted the tempest, and it has brought forth its fruits.
They claimed that they were wronged, but they injured themselves permanently, irrecoverably.
The inhabitants in many instances are returning to the homes they deserted on the approach of our forces; though there are a few who remained and were treated well.
The country people are very ignorant and stupid, but it can easily be accounted for by the associations to which they have been subjected in the past.
I visited a family who live within a mile of our lines.
In a conversation with the old lady she informed me that she was the mother of thirteen children, and though living within two miles of Atlanta for twenty years, she could not even approximate toward the size of the place, or the number of its inhabitants.
By a reference to her son, a lad of fifteen, I was able to make out that “it was bigger nur Merryet.”
This family has continued to occupy the old homestead during all the fierce engagements which have occurred in their neighborhood; and, though shot and shell have shattered a part of the roof, and completely ventilate one side of the house, they remain there still, and cannot be prevailed upon to give up their old home.
Old memories cling around the hearts of the humblest, and naught but death can separate their minds from the loved object.
on the Banks of Utoy Creek, August 20.
A considerable skirmish took place on Thursday along the front of the Army of the Tennessee, and portions of our picket lines were again advanced.
This was particularly the case on General Logan's front, where we now have a battery (Griffith's Iowa). sunk in the earth, so as to be perfectly protected, and within seventy-five paces of the principal rebel line.
Near this battery, Captain Percy, Fifty-third Ohio.
Engineer on General Harrow's staff, was killed,
Yesterday, there was a fearful cannonade along the same portion of our front.
It commenced about noon, and lasted nearly an hour.
The roar was terrific, and sounded like the continual 