Through the courtesy of the Southern Express Company, we have
Atlanta papers of Tuesday last.
We extract the following relative to the war:
‘
The Sabbath passed without the anticipated engagement occurring.
There has been little more than skinnishing along the line during two days past, and no results have occurred which affect materially either side.
From a courtier from
Gen Johnston's quarters we learn that the
Yankees are entrenching south and east of
Peavine and
Pumpkinvine creeks.
Our forces maintain their positions on the commanding eminences to the north of
Altoona, and are entrenched on the crests of the hills to the southeast.
We hold the key to the positions the
Yankees are monœuvering for, though at present the opposing armies are nearly in the same condition with regard to base.
The enemy haul their supplies from
Cartersville and
Etowah to
Dallas, making a line of over twenty miles. Our line is nearly as long, but arranged with the master skill of our great
Captain, with a view to securing the best advantages of supply and defence.
We look on the arrangement as perfect and masterly as the mind of a great master of war can make it. We are certain, too, that the defence and necessary strategy will foil the plans of the enemy and ruin the foe. His legions are now dismayed at the thought that a dangerous foe is swooping down like an eagle on his track and tearing his communications in the rear.
His strength dwindles daily, eventually his broken cohorts will be driven base, cowing before the steady advance of our brave and invincible veterans.
We learn that on Friday the enemy attacked Clebuthe's line, and, after a onset, a large number of them cast down their guns and threw up their hand catting for quarter.
Our troops firing.
When the enemy were in a few feet of our line, over the half of them having retained their guns, fired on our men — Such treachery astounded our veterans for a moment, but in another instant they fired on the dastard foe, and poured volley after volley into their broken and fleering ranks.
The slaughter was awful.
That it was must justifiable, in our opinion, will be seen in the assertion.
We regret that a single one of the dastard foe escaped the retribution their treachery deserved.
An avenging
Nemesis hovers over the accursed enemy's track.
We hope the red beaked of destruction will soon overtake them, and end our suspense by shrieking its cries over the hosts of their dead, and screaming in the track of their retreating and broken columns.
We have just learned from a responsible source that about half past 8 o'clock last (Sunday) night, the enemy assaulted our lines along their whole front, but especially functions on our left and left centre, about New Hope Church.
The assaults were determined, and the fighting on both sides very severe during three or four hours, and was kept up during the entire night, but our soldiers repulsed them at all points, and at more than one position drove them into and from their own entrenchments.
The last was a battlefield report.
We think it doubtful, because it is to our interest during a night assault to keep our line of battle infect, and let the enemy waste his strength in futile efforts.
Gen Johnston has been expecting a night attack for several nights past, and was well prepared for the onset.
Our men were well entrenched for advantageously meeting the assault.
We cannot learn the loss on either side, but the most reasonable report we have is that our loss is very light.
’
