The railroad raid in Sherman's rear.
Our advices from
Georgia would indicate that
General Wheeler has made a decided impression on the roads in
Sherman's rear.
The blowing up of the tunnel at
Tunnel Hill, near
Dalton — which was the most irreparable damage he could have effect — seems to have been done.
A clergyman, who was at
Rome, Georgia, under sentence of exile to the
North, could not go in consequence of the road above there being destroyed; and upon applying to the
Yankee general commanding, he was informed that
Tunnel Hill had been blown up by our cavalry.
The prisoners and deserters who are brought in at
Atlanta tell different stories of how
Sherman is affected by this raid.
Two deserters brought in on the 24th said they were drafted at
Dayton, Ohio, recently, and sent forward to
Chattanooga--one of them in irons; that they left
Chattanooga on Monday last, with five train loads of troops for
Sherman's front, and that the whole body of reinforcements passed through without hearing of
Wheeler or being detained by any break in the road.
They also said they were not assigned to any command until they reached the front, as was the case with many of those who came down with them.
They made no complaints of the subsistence furnished the army, which they said was abundant; but said they deserted because they were opposed to the objects for which the war is now being prosecuted, and would not serve.
On the other hand prisoners brought in the next day affirm that they have been on short rations several days — having received but a single cracker per day, and no meal or flour.
Beef they report abundant, with but little bacon.
General Hood has ordered any man detected exchanging tobacco, papers, or anything else, with the enemy's pickets to be instantly executed.
