--The
Atlanta correspondent of the Columbus
Enquirer says that
General Hood is rapidly increasing the fighting men of his army:
‘
General Hood is putting guns into the hands of every available man connected with the army. --All of the cooks have been armed and returned to their respective commands, and the negroes connected with the army have been employed in that capacity.
Quartermasters and commissaries have been made to disgorge the many superfluous men in their departments; surgeons also.
The result is that the army has received a considerable reinforcement.
In
Clayton's division alone the number of new men returned from the cooking detachments reached three hundred, which at this time is considered a good regiment.
The increase from the cooks alone will reach four thousand effective men.
’
But
General Hood does not stop here.
He has ordered the arming of every artillerist except from No. 1 to 6, who are absolutely necessary to handle a piece; from this source an increase will be obtained amounting to near three thousand men. I must say, however, that this order converting artillery into infantry caused considerable fluttering among the battery boys.
True, many of them take the thing quite easy, being perfectly willing to serve the country at this critical juncture in any capacity that will aid in the overthrow of
Sherman and his "Hessians." From this our readers will at once perceive that
General Hood is determined to leave nothing undone that will subserve the great interest of the country.
I am proud to say thousands of Georgians are responding to the last call of
Governor Brown.
If a general engagement can be delayed one week longer, and the enemy retain their present position,
Sherman and his army will be routed.
Sherman does not manifest a disposition to shell
Atlanta.
For two days he has not thrown a shell into the place.
Large quantities of tobacco continue to be unearthed and brought forth from its hiding places in and around
Atlanta, which
General Hood promptly impresses for the use of the army.
There is no doubt but what the owners thought that
Atlanta would be evacuated and then they and their tobacco would fall into the embrace of the
Yankees.
