The situation in Georgia.
Through the courtesy of
Mr. W. C. Farnes, of the Express Company, we have receive
Atlanta papers as late as the 8th inst. The following is a brief statement of the position of the two armies now in the vicinity of that place:
Since the armies on our front left our chain of defences at
Kennesaw Mountain, there has been little fighting and really less skirmishing than usual.
The enemy cautiously approach and carefully occupy their positions for batteries and lines from which to operate, with as much safety as possible to themselves.
On Wednesday, they occupied the hills on this side of
Vining, and as near the river as they seem to desire for the present.
From their batteries, which are situated on very high and commanding positions, they shoot smells promiscuously ever the bluff along the river, though their effect has been trifling thus far.
Sherman still passes to our left, and threaten by flask to displace us again.
It is idle to speculate on his prospective movements or his apparent manœuvres.
The heavy demonstrations is the direction of
Campbellton are not indications that he intends to give battle there.
His strategy has hitherto evinced an unusual shrewdness in the disposition of his plans for the capture of
Atlanta.
He must necessarily arrange his movements to engage the attention of our front during a few days, against his , whilst he secures his positions and repairs the railroad so that he may bring to his immediate near his railway supply trains.
He will be delayed some days on account of the frogs and a considerable portion of the raffle having been removed before we left Maritain, by order of
Gov. Brown.
When he succeeds in establishing his depots of supplies at convenient and proper places, he will again begin his advances.
Thus it will occur that several days must elapse before the enemy can make any advances on this city with such force as to seriously threaten our occupation of cause us to evacuate if battle is not given.
Noon of the 8th--The enemy this morning made a heavy advance on our extreme left, and commenced severe skirmishing with musketry and artillery, exhibiting an intention to cross the river at
Green's ferry.
The skirmishing has continued to increase in intensity and rapidity up to this hour, but without any advantage bring secured by either party.
It is evident that the enemy is making this sudden and persistent demonstration for the purpose of attracting attention away from their operations in some other important quarter.
There cannot be the slightest probability that
Sherman will force a battle in the present position of both armies.
His evident intention is to insist on tremendous artillery operations to drive us from our position and then cross his forces to the south bank when he hopes to divert our centre from its position and thus succeed by movement again, in securing our central strongholds.