The Bombardment of Atlanta
A great many houses in Atlanta have been pierced by Yankee shells. A dozen shells have struck Wesley Chapel and the Parsonage. Two batteries have the range of the Car Shed and the Wesley Chapel, and they peg away night and day, making line shots in the direction of the State R. R. bridge. The women and children fly to the cellars, and the men walk about watching where the shells strike. The Atlanta Relief Committee are busy distributing rations to destitute women and children.
The Georgia Militia Moving to the Front
Sixteen hundred of the Georgia militia started from Macon for Atlanta Tuesday. The Telegraph says they made a fine appearance as they marched through the streets, were in the very best spirits and appeared ready to meet the enemy in defence of their homes. The material of this brigade is as good as that of any in the South, and we are certain they will do honor to the State when brought into action. The Telegraph also states that a similar number will go down to Atlanta each day during the week from this place. There is now a large force of militia at Macon, which, when sent to the front, will prove a valuable accession to our gallant army.
Miscellaneous
His Excellency Gov. Joseph E. Brown, Gens. Joseph E. Johnston, B. Bragg, Anderson of Tennessee, Wayne and Hindman, were all in Macon on Sunday.
Reinforcements from Gen. S. D. Lee have arrived, and a large number of troops from the same direction are on their way.
SHERMAN’S CAMPAIGN—PROVOST MARSHAL’S OFFICE, ATLANTA—CITIZENS GETTING PASSES TO GO NORTH, IN CONSEQUENCE OF GENERAL SHERMAN’S ORDER FOR THE DEPARTURE OF ALL CITIZENS (FRANK LESLIE). LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
The army is in fine spirits, eager for a fight, and confident of success; and while they deplore the removal of General Johnston, have implicit confidence in Gen. Hood and a fixed determination to stand by him and never allow Atlanta to fall into the hands of the Yankees.
The Charleston Mercury
August 2, 1864
The news of the defeat and capture of the most famous of all the Yankee raiders comes in like a welcome gleam of sunshine upon what was fast growing to be a very dark picture. It need not be disguised that the aspect of affairs in Georgia, viewed in the list of the rumors and advices that had reached us up to yesterday afternoon, was far from cheering. Vague reports of another battle in front of Atlanta had indeed gone abroad; but we listened in vain to hear, through the smoke of the conflict, those shouts of triumph we had expected from the veterans of HOOD. Meanwhile, SHERMAN, with his multiplied bands of mounted vagabonds, was traversing the fairest regions of Georgia, working his will with her magnificant railroads and, seemingly unresisted, brginging fire and sword to the very gates of her capital.
But the scene has changed. The Army of Tennessee, after inflicting another terrible chastisement upon the foe, still stands, like a wall of fire, around Atlanta; and SHERMAN, baffled and disappointed, is as far as ever from the mastery of the city. The Grand Raid, too, has come to grief. Its main force, doubtless already broken down with fatigue, has been swept like chaff before our pursuing squadrons; its chief aims have all been defeated; and its bold and skilful leader, with many of his officers and men, are captives in our hands.
The contradictory despatches leave us in doubt as to whom we have to thank for this gallant and timely achievement. But of the achievement itself, there is, happily, no doubt whatever. No matter whose the arm that dealt it, truly it was a right lusty blow, and struck at the happy moment.
The Charleston Mercury
August 2, 1864
The Great Georgia Raid
The Savannah Republican of yesterday gives the following review of the recent operations of the Yankee raiders in the region east of Macon:
On Thursday the telegraph reported a party of raiders at Clinton, in Jones county. At eleven o Friday night this party made its appearance suddenly at Gordon, on the Central Railroad, twenty miles this side of Macon, and the point of junction with the Milledgeville and Eatonton Road. There was no force to meet them, and the raiders proceeded to destroy everything that fire could burn. The railroad depot, Wayside Home, and passenger shed were all consumed, with the houses immediately in their neighborhood. The greatest loss, however, was in rolling stock. Thirteen locomotives and twenty passenger cars, belonging to the State Road, were destroyed, together with a train belonging to the Central Road, known as the train. The track was torn up in every direction, both on the Central and on the Milledgeville Road.
The day following, about 10 a.m., the raiders reached the Central Railroad bridge over the Oconee river, about thirty miles this side of Gordon, and this was also destroyed without, so far as we can learn, any effort to save it. A guard from Savannah had been posted there for several days, up to Friday morning, when, on information from the military authorities in that quarter that the raiders had retired toward Atlanta, they were, unfortunately, withdrawn, leaving that important work wholly without protection. This mischief accomplished, the raiders are said to have struck off in a northerly direction.
From the best information we can obtain, the raiders numbered only two or three hundred, and any sort of organization might have worried them out of the country, and saved us from harm. It does not appear that we had out even scouts to watch and report their movements, or that our planters in the most populous section of the State took any steps to meet them. The whole thing is strange, indeed, and anything but creditable to our State.
In addition to the foregoing, despatches have been received here, in military circles, stating that a large body of Yankee cavalry, to the number of about 4,000, made their appearance at Griffin on Friday. No particulars are given.
These parties are said to be off-shoots from a main body, under Stoneman, numbering 8,000 men, with 16 or 18 pieces of artillery. When last seen they were in the vicinity of Covington, on the Georgia Railroad, when Stoneman sent out his raiders in various directions, with instructions for all to meet at Macon, where they would be joined by Rosseau, with 3,000 more, and after the Union march on Andersonville. Such is the report, and military circles receive it with some degree of faith.
Details of the Damage on the Central Railroad
A despatch dated Gordon, July 31, from Mr. BRENNER, of the Telegraph Company, to President CUYLER, of the Georgia Central Railroad, says:
From 152 mile post to 153, three pieces of the track have been burnt, about the length of three cars in all, in two places across stock gaps. From 154 mile post to No. 15, the track is all right. At No. 15 the side track is partially burnt. From No. 15 to 157 mile post all right. Between 157 and 158 mile post two tressels have been slightly damaged and five uprights burnt, which will cover all the damage. All the track to No. 16 is perfect. The side track at No. 16 partially burnt. From No. 16 to the gates at Gordon, all is right.
All the cars at Gordon except those containing families were burnt; also the warehouse and some small houses near by. The passenger shed is not burnt. The engines were all burnt, but not much damaged. The sideling is mostly injured at Gordon; only about fifty yards of the main track is burnt. All the information we learn at this point is that the force at the stations above number 260, and that they left No. 15 for Milledgeville at 4 o p.m. yesterday.
There was fighting near Macon yesterday; report says we repulsed them. Walnut Creek Bridge (near Macon) is damaged.
I will give you the condition of the rest of the road as I pass over tomorrow. Hope to have the lines working through then.
The Charleston Mercury
August 3, 1864
Telegraphic
Official Accounts from Petersburg and Georgia
The Latest Accounts from Georgia
ATLANTA, August 2
All is quiet along the lines this morning. The enemy shelled the city for a half hour last evening.
The army is much elated at the defeat of the raiders in their rear. The enemy is still massing his forces on our left.
MACON, August 2
Atlanta trains arriv
e and depart regularly, in schedule time.
Yesterday affairs wore their usual aspect at Atlanta. There was some picket firing and shelling yesterday afternoon, which did no damage. The Yankees have apparently abandoned their advance across the Georgia Railroad, and are massing on their centre and right, endeavoring to work their way down between the city and the river.
The raiders who cut the Macon and Western Railroad were driven towards Newnan by JACKSON’S division of cavalry. Their advance reached Newnan just after the arrival of the train carrying RODDY’S command to Atlanta. He immediately attacked them in front, and the pursuing forces of JACKSON having come up, the Yankees broke and fled, leaving about 500 prisoners, 700 horses, and all their artillery (three pieces) in our hands. The rest sought to escape across the Chattahoochee. It was supposed that more would be taken.
The three pieces of artillery captured from STONEMAN have been brought here. It is also reported that we also captured 600 horses and 800 mules from STONEMAN’S force.
The State militia forces are pouring in, and are being rapidly sent forward to Atlanta.
The Charleston Mercury
August 6, 1864
Our Position at Atlanta
Every day delay, in which our enemies at Atlanta are kept at bay, it appears to us, is favorable to the Confederate cause. They draw their supplies for subsistence from an immense distance through an exhausted country, at a period of the year when the rivers in their possession are obstructed in their navigation, by the fall of waters; we, on the contrary, with our railroads repaired, are in the midst of our resources to support our army. The disasters of their late raid, to isolate Atlanta from these resources, will, in all probability, prevent the repetition of such an expedition; whilst it has stimulated the population of Georgia, under the patriotic call of GOV. BROWN, to hasten to the defence of their homes and their native State. We take it to be a matter of course, that our troops will be reinforced, not only by the militia of Georgia, but by Confederate troops, if not from the army of Virginia, from the army under General PRICE, or KIRBY SMITH, or by FORREST, or by MORGAN. It appears to us to be quite impossible that, with such large resources for reinforcing the army at Atlanta, disencumbered from any immediate pressure of our foes, the army at Atlanta will not be reinforced. Independent of the interests of the Confederacy, the promotion of General HOOD to the command of that army, we have not doubted, would secure to it the necessary reinforcements. Since he took the command of it three conflicts have taken place, in two of which he attacked the enemy behind their entrenchments. In both, the wonted valor of our troops hase been displayed. They carried two lines of entrenchments, but failed to carry the third; and our troops returned to the positions they occupied before the conflicts took place. We cannot doubt that, in these engagements, our losses were heavy. Indeed, we would suppose, from the fact that our enemies fought behind entrenchments, which were stormed by us, that our losses, in killed and wounded, must have been heavier than those of our enemies. These battles, however, teach us an important lesson. They show that, with the number of troops we have at Atlanta, we cannot assume aggressive war with any hope of driving our enemies before us. A defensive warfare is our policy, until reinforcements shall arrive, which shall put us on something like a numerical equality with our foes. General JOHNSTON being removed from the command, because he would not assume aggressive war, we suppose General HOOD was obliged, in some way, to try it. He has tried it; and the result plainly proves, that if he persists, in it, without reinforcements, he will be carrying out the policy of GRANT, without the safety of GRANT, who had a living reservoir of blood, to supply his losses. The policy of every General with inferior numbers, is to fight only when he can fight at advantage. He cannot afford to lose man for man. He must injure his enemy more than his enemy injures him, or he will be ruined. Time, if he can obtain it, is his great ally; which, whilst his enemy is at bay, brings to him reinforcements and strength. And whilst reinforcements, we cannot doubt, will soon gather in front against our foes, may we not also hope that LEE or FORREST will burst upon their rear; and our whole force gathering together its united power, will roll up the Yankee army like a rotten scrowl.
The Charleston Mercury
August 9, 1864
Atlanta and its Environs
The Macon Confederate has a long article on this subject, from which we derive the following interesting facts:
There are four railroads terminating in Atlanta – the Georgia Railroad, the Western and Atlantic, the Macon and Western, and the Atlantic and West Point. The first of these, the Georgia, was completed in 1828, and then terminated at Whitehall, a small country tavern near the centre of Fulton County. Commencing at Augusta, it ran in a northwesterly direction to that point. Then the Macon and Western was constructed from Macon to the same point, and soon after the village of Whitehall was named Atlanta. The West Point Road was the next constructed, running to the Chattahoochee River over the western boundary of the State. The Western and Atlantic, running northwest to Chattanooga, followed.
Atlanta soon became a city, with factories, shops, merchants, mechanics, traders, speculators, and whatever pertained to a first class commercial emporium.
The Chattahoochee River rises in the Black Mountains, a spur of the Blue Ridge, in Habersham county, and not far from the headwaters of the Savannah. It runs west one hundred and fifty miles, and empties into the Apalachicola 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, destroyed by the Confederates, has been rebuilt by the Yankees. A few hundred yards above this bridge Peach Tree Creek comes into the Chattahoochee from the east. A little creek, called Nance, runs into the Peach Tree just above the mouth of the latter. Farther up the Chattahoochee, sixteen miles northeast of Atlanta, is Roswell, the present base of the left wing of Shermanarmy. Stone Mountain is an isolated peak, several hundred feet high, sixteen miles from Atlanta. Decatur is a depot on the Georgia Railroad, four miles from Atlanta. Stone Mountain is the only elevation of any importance anywhere about Atlanta.
It is 138 miles from Atlanta to Chattanooga; 171 to Augusta; 84 to West Point; 168 to Montgomery; 110 to Macon. East Point is six miles west on the West Point Road. The Macon and Western and the Atlanta Roads form a junction at East Point. At one place Peach Tree Creek runs within five miles of the city. The enemy, at last accounts, were all along this petty stream.
The surface of the country in Fulton county is generally flat, with here and there small ridges.
The Charleston Mercury
August 16, 1864
Telegraphic
Latest from Atlanta
ATLANTA, August 14
The enemy opened fire upon the city with six batteries at 8 o last night, their batteries being stationed on the Marietta street, Peach Tree and Williams’ Mill Roads, and in front of the Medical College Rolling Mills. The fire was very heavy, and continued until 4, a. m. About midnight a shell entered the frame storehouse of BIGGERS & CO., on Marietta street, between Peach Tree and Church streets, setting fire to some loose cotton. The flames spread rapidly, and the building was soon enveloped. The alarm was given, and Engine No. 3 responded promptly.
The enemy immediately concentrated their fire on that point, yet the firemen nobly held their ground despite the rain of shells. They succeeded in saving the building and the large warehouse of KYLE & CO. Some few other buildings were consumed. Not a citizen was injured. The women and children sought safety in the bomb proofs.
But little shelling has taken place along the line today. No movement of the enemy is reported.
ATLANTA, August 15
At a late hour yesterday evening the enemy drove in our pickets on the centre, and, after a sharp skirmish, were repulsed. There was desultory firing along the line throughout the night and today, but few shells have been thrown into the city.
A body of the enemycavalry dashed into Decatur this evening, m
oving in the direction of CobbMills. A small force of infantry is reported to be posted in Decatur. Their actions indicate another movement on our right. Lively skirmishing was going on along our centre.
Everything looks brighter and more hopeful than at any time since the siege began.
The Charleston Mercury
August 16, 1864
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 stores, 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 SHERMAN’S communication is now about to be realized. The Federal cavalry have nearly all recently been destroyed, and Gen WHEELER is now out just at the right time.
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