Out of a mass of correspondence dated from
Atlanta, the 24th ultimo, we make up the following account of the position of affairs around there before
Sherman's change of position, officially announced by
General Hood:
The great effort of the
Federal commander, during the last four weeks, has been to so extend his main lines as to cornpel an evacuation of the position here, without a battle, to capture the defences.
In his movements thus far, tending to this end, he has been thrice defeated--first on his left, on the 22d ultimo; and on his right on the 28th ultimo and 6th instant, respectively.
Since the last-mentioned affair he has been stationary, so far as any efforts to extend his lines are concerned.
He has had heavy losses, and his original army has undoubtedly decreased thirty-three per cent. Since the commencement of the campaign at
Dalton.
This is the estimate of those who ought to be posted, if their scouts are worth anything; and they also profess to have certain information that no considerable reinforcements have reached
Sherman.
If these opinions be correct, then we may rationally account for the apparent listlessness manifested by the foe for nearly three weeks past in our front.
The solution indulged in here is, that he has not men enough to hold his lines, which are about twelve miles long, and at the same time inaugurate any flank movement of strength.
He is compelled to lie still.
He cannot take our works by a direct assault.
That he is as well aware of as our men are confident.
Consequently, he must be waiting either for reinforcements, or else is depending upon the success of his raiding brigands upon the rear communications of
General Hood.
Can he get reinforcements?--Will
Grant allow them to be sent to
Georgia so long as they may be needed to prevent his failure in
Virginia!
It is not probable.
The impression, then, is that
Sherman must depend upon his cavalry; and to circumvent them, every energy is being directed.
The arrangements to protect the
Macon road are such that I think no force the enemy can raise will be able to remain on it long enough to do any great damage, and but little fear is felt that the position here can be affected even should they reach the road, as they may occasionally do. They will be driven off at any time before they can injure the road so that it cannot be repaired in a very short time.
Last night and to-day the fire upon the city has been very heavy.
Within the twenty-four hours we have had three distinct fires--one, last night, a dwelling north of the
State Road workshops; another, a large warehouse between Pryor and Whitehall streets, near the old Gate City Hotel; and a third, this afternoon, by which the
lard oil factory and three dwellings on the north side of Alabama street were destroyed.
About five hundred bales of cotton were stored in the warehouse, all of which was lost.
The accuracy of the enemy's fire was demonstrated on the occasion of each of these fires, as they afforded a mark that was promptly opened upon, and struck almost every time.
The post-office, depot buildings and car shed were hit several times.
The only casualties I can hear of occurred in the
Macon depot, where five of the post commissary hands were wounded by the explosion of a shell.
The weather continues pleasant, and the general health of the army is excellent.
Information has been received through authentic channels of the concentration of a force of eight thousand Yankee cavalry near
Summerville.
The impression has been given out by the leaders of the gang to citizens that they purpose operating, along the
Georgia road, farther in the direction of
Augusta than they have yet penetrated the country.
This giving out is, however, regarded as a subterfuge.--They know that this road is as effectually lost to
General Hood now as if every rail was torn up, and their efforts will be directed elsewhere.
They may strike for the
Macon road, but the general impression is that they will endeavor to reach the
Central road again, to interfere with the transportation of ammunition, etc., and then the
Southwestern, so as to prevent the transportation of troops, should they think best to make an effort to capture the
Andersonville prison.
This force has nine pieces of artillery.
Scouts that came in last night expected them to move to-day; and if they have done so, we shall soon have knowledge of their whereabouts.
