The Daily Dispatch: July 30, 1864., [Electronic resource]

Geographical position of Atlanta.

‘ In point of population Atlanta is the largest city in Georgia, although it is of comparatively recent growth. It is one of those places where several railroads just-happened to terminate, and almost from that fact alone is it indebted for its importance, for the country around it is among the poorest sections of Georgia. And it has recently to consequence of its usual luck, become a military point which, some persons assert, is not second to that of the capital of the Confederate States itself.

’ There are four railroads terminating in Atlanta — the Georgia Railroad, Western and Atlantic, the Macon and Western, and the Atlantic and West Point. The first one of these — the Georgia — was completed about 1828, and then terminated at Whitehall, a small country tavern near the centre of Fulton county. Commencing at Augusta, it ran in a northwest direction to that point. Then the Macon and Western Railroad was constructed from this city to Whitehall, and soon after the village of Whitehall was named the town of Atlanta. The West Point road was the next constructed, running to the Chattahoochee river, on the western boundary of the State. The Western and Atlantic, running northwest to Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed.

From a village H soon grew to a town, then to a small and then to a great city, with endless factories, shops, merchants, mechanics, traders, speculators, and everything else appertaining to a first plane commercial emporium. All North Georgia and Western Alabama went there to market, to sell and to buy. The most beautiful and intricate machinery, the mechanic's tools, and farming implements, together with many of the smaller elements of the "notion" of life were forged in her foundries.

Now, in front of Atlanta stands two immense armies, which perhaps before this is printed, will decide whether the Yankees or Southrons will domineer in her halls. As there are allusions made every day to its local geography, a minute description of it will be in place here. The county of Fulton, of which Atlanta is the centre, is bounded on its entire northwest face by the Chattahoochee river. This stream rises in the Black Mountains spur of the Blue Ridge, in Habersham county, and not far from where, in the same county, by the junction of the Tallulah and Chattooga creeks the Savannah is formed. Flowing southwest, for a distance of one hundred and fifty miles, it strikes the Alabama line south of the thirty-third parallel, and from thence runs almost due south, dividing the States of Alabama and Georgia, and finally empties into Apalachicola river and the Gulf of Mexico.

Seven miles north of Atlanta is the Chattahoochee bridge, where the Western and Atlantic Railroad crosses the river. This bridge has been destroyed by the Confederates, and is again being constructed by the Yankees. A few hundred yards above this bridge Peachtree creek comes into the Chattahoochee from the east. A little creek called Nance's runs into Peachtree just above the mouth of the latter. Farther up the Chattahoochee, and sixteen miles northeast of Atlanta, on its northern bank, and in Cobb county, is the little town of Roswell, which at present is the base of the left wing of Sherman's army.--This town is due east of Marietta. Decatur is a town, or rather the first depot on the Georgia Railroad, four miles from Atlanta and sixteen from Roswell. Stone Mountain is an inhibited, barren peak, several hundred feet in height, and perhaps two miles around the base, abruptly rising from the plain like one of the Pyramids of Egypt, ten miles from Decatur and sixteen miles from Atlanta. It can be seen from a long distance off, and from its summit a grand view of the country can be obtained. There is a not a tree or a shrub upon it, but presents nothing to view but rocks and rocky cliffs. It is supposed that Logan's corps of Sherman's army has now possession of the mountain and the railroad near it. It is the only elevation of the slightest importance anywhere about Atlanta.

It is one hundred and thirty-eight miles from Atlanta to Chattanooga; one hundred and seventy one from Atlanta to Augusta; eighty-four to West Point, one hundred and sixty-eight to Montgomery, and one hundred and ten from Atlanta to Macon. East Point is six miles west off the west Point road. The Macon and Western and the Atlanta and West Point Railroads form a junction at East Point, but trains of either company run into the heart of the city. At one place Peachtree creek runs within five miles of the city. At last accounts the enemy were all along this insignificant little branch.

Fulton county is bounded on the east by DeKalb, on the south by Fayette, on the west by Campbell, and on the north by Cobb counties.--It is oddly shaped, for whilst its extreme length from north to south is thirty miles, its width from east to west is only ten. It is drained by the Chattahoochee and Peachtree creek on the north, and another little creek in the southwest, the name of which we have forgotten. The land is of the poorest red clay and very unproductive.--The surface of the country is generally flat, with here and there small ridges, and wholly uninviting to the utter of the soil.

But in the vast system of railroads centering at Atlanta, is its military importance. Once in possession of it, the Yankee General would hold a position of immense and paramount strategical importance. He has pushed our army out of the mountain strongholds of Northern Georgia, and is now upon level plains which possess no natural strength. From Atlanta he can choose either to march in the direction of Augusta or to this city, or turn west towards Montgomery.

But if he captures Atlanta, we will still have another line of railroad connecting the East with the West. That line runs from Augusta to this city, from here to Columbus, from Columbus to Opelika, on the Montgomery and West Point Railroad, and from thence to Montgomery. By seizing Opelika, however, or Augusta, the Confederacy would be again cut in two, or subdivided.