Operations in Sherman's rear.
--It is stated that Wheeler has destroyed the bridges across the Etowah and Oostanaula rivers and burnt the track the whole way from Marietta.
A large amount of stores are said to have fallen into his hands at Resaca, which was destroyed after our cavalry had appropriated all that was needful to them.
At last accounts, the report says General Wheeler was rapidly marching in the direction of Dalton, where an immense amount of stones, both subsistence and ordnance, has been congregating for some time.
From the Macon Confederate of Friday we learn that General Wheeler massed his cavalry corps near Covington, on the Augusta railroad; and on Monday morning the grand cavalcade of gay cavaliers started for adventure and Sherman's rear.
It was rumored in town yesterday that he had captured Marietta and burned the Federal stores there, and had taken an immense number of prisoners.
Be it as it may, it is certain that the long-expected effort to cut Sh
ge was done.
Kilpatrick is moving after Wheeler.
As is supposed, he turned towards the Atlanta and West Point railroad, which he struck at Fairburn, where, having cut the road and telegraph, he has gone in the direction of the Macon road, and, it is supposed, thence to Andersonville, for the purpose of releasing the prisoners.
His force is estimated at from twenty-five to thirty thousand.
There are reports from the enemy's rear to the effect that Wheeler had burned the bridges at Etowah and Resaca and Dalton, between the up tunnel.--[The enemy, then, is undoubtedly on half ration.]
[Second Dispatch.] Atlanta, August 22.
--Kilpatrick's raid, composed of twenty-five hundred men, crossed the Chattahoochee at Campbelton and struck the road at Fairburn at 3 o'clock on Friday morning, destroying it for six miles. The raiders then crossed over to the Macon road, striking the road at Lovejoy's on Friday evening, and moving towards Jonesboro'. The Federal infantry suppor
ssee.
Rogersville is the court-house of Hawkins county.
From Georgia.
Atlanta papers of the 18th report that, on the previous night, a heavy cannonading and musketry fire commenced along the centre and continued for several hours.
It is stated that the enemy made a pretty general assault upon our advanced lines, but was successfully resisted in all his efforts.
Rumors from Sherman's rear are to the effect that our cavalry, had destroyed the railroad at Acworth, burn the bridge at Etowah, and badly damaged the track from that place to Adairsville.
These points are on the Western and Atlantic railroad.
Acworth is thirty-five miles from Atlanta, Etowak forty-six and Adairsville sixty-nine miles. Rumor adds that one thousand prisoners and six thousand head of beef cattle were captured — which is, doubtless, an exaggeration.
The sale of all intoxicating liquors within the limits of Atlanta, except upon an order from headquarters, has been prohibited.
The Appeal, upon
d, wounded and missing. General Corse is reported wounded.
On the 4th instant, a large force appeared on the Chattanooga railroad, near Ackwerth station, destroyed several pieces of the track and burned Big Shanty.
Two bridges across the Chattahoochee at Cartersville and Ressaca have been damaged by heavy rains.
A rebel force, near Dalton, on the 3d, moving in an easterly direction, had two hundred and fifty wagons.
A division of the rebel force was seen moving up the Etowah river, probably with the intention of crossing to this side.
The Herald has New Orleans dates to the 29th ultimo:
The rebel Trans-Mississippi army was said to be concentrating near Rodney for the purpose of endeavoring to get on the east side of the Mississippi river.
The first Legislature of Louisiana, under the new free State constitution, was to meet on Monday, the 3d instant.
A few cases of yellow fever had appeared at Algiers, opposite New Orleans, but none in the cit
e said of a hundred days rations and an abundant supply of food, we know very well that there is no truth in the statement.
Sherman's supply trains were captured, one after another, and immense quantities of army food destroyed by our cavalry.
A considerable amount was run into Atlanta, but it could not have been very great.
There may be a quantity of commissary stores at Knoxville, but that is about as accessible to Sherman as to us.
Sherman's army is not so great as is generally supposed; they are, however, the flower of the Northern army, and fight well.
There is one corps, eight thousand strong, at Atlanta.
Thomas has twelve thousand with him. There are five thousand at Cartersville, two thousand at Etowah, and the remainder of the army will count twenty-three thousand.
This makes a total of fifty thousand.
The cavalry amount to about five thousand.
This being the approximate strength of the enemy, our army, if well managed can easily disconcert and baffle them.
that the accounts heretofore received of the overwhelming defeat and hurried and disorganized retreat from Missouri of the remnant of Price's army have not been exaggerated.
Included in the large number of his men captured by the Union troops are about one hundred commissioned officers.
The Latest from Sherman.
A telegram from Nashville, dated the 31st, says:
Direct communication with Atlanta by rail is open and secure, although there are swarms of guerrillas between the Etowah river and Big Shanty.
The New York Herald says:
Not only is there no foundation for the absurd report, recently set afloat, that General Sherman had abandoned Atlanta, but the place is not considered in any danger whatever.
General Sherman has assured the Government that he will hold it in spite of all attempts to dislodge him. The rebels are active along the Tennessee river.
A portion of Forrest's command, with three pieces of artillery, is reported to have sunk a steamer and a ba
th of property, among which was a few thousand dollars worth of condemned and unserviceable Government stores.
Nine rebel guns, captured at Rome by our troops, were burst, it being deemed unsafe to use them.
One thousand bales of fine cotton, two flour mills, two rolling mills, two tanneries, one saw mill, an extensive foundry, several machine shops, together with the railroad depots and storehouses, four pontoon bridges, built by General Corse's pioneer corps for use on the Coosa and Etowah rivers, and a substantial trestle bridge nearly completed for use, were destroyed.--This trestle was constructed by the engineer corps, and, I am told, would have cost fifty thousand dollars North.
Recollecting the gross outrages which I alluded to above as being perpetrated upon Colonel Streight by the "Romans," our troops, as soon as they learned that the town was to be abandoned and a portion of it burned, resolved to lay Rome in ashes in revenge for insults offered to our prisoners.
Gener
lry regiment of near one thousand men — all commanded by a colonel, he thinks.
In addition to this force, they have ten pieces of artillery.
They have not a very good supply of provisions at the post, but a considerable amount of stores; and the general prevailing opinion is that they will not evacuate the place unless forced.
All the able-bodied men in that section are thoroughly organized, and rendering most efficient service.
There are at least two thousand men, organized, between Etowah and Chattanooga, who force the Yanks to "remain in doors."
Our informant reports that the road between Altoona and Resaca is in better condition than it has been since the commencement of the war — it having been relaid with new iron, which the enemy failed to destroy on their retreat.
There are also several depots still on the road uninjured north of the Etowah.
The citizens from the counties around Dalton are fast returning to their homes, and are sowing large crops of wheat, and
