July 12.— Our hospital is filled with sick and wounded. The army is now eight miles east of Atlanta. The enemy have driven it back step by step. General Johnston has given up every stronghold. All are now breathless with expectation, waiting to see what move he will make next. There is much conjecturing on the subject. Few seem to have lost confidence in General J.; they think he is acting as well as he can with his means.
We have had some desperately fought battles lately; our side does not lose nearly as many as the enemy.
We have a captain from Tennessee who lost a leg at the battle of New Hope Church. He was for some time a prisoner, and was sent through the lines. He says he saw the dead of the enemy at New Hope Church, and at some places they were piled six deep. They told him that in every battle fought lately they had lost at least five to our one.
As the army has moved east of us, this part of the country is left open, so the enemy can pay us a visit any time they please. It is a moral impossibility for our army to protect the whole country. The enemy have Rome, and they have hung some of the first citizens of the place. Not a day passes but we hear of some brutal outrage committed by these vandals. I have been told that when they reached Cassville the town was given up for them to sack. The whole place has been laid in ruins, and other outrages committed, all because some of the ladies thoughtlessly insulted the prisoners who passed through there about two years ago. We daily see droves of wagons passing, filled with people who have been driven from their homes by the ruthless invader.
We have a very nice old man—Mr. Yerby—who is forager and a little of every thing else; we call him our right-hand man. When we want any thing extra done, or any particular message carried, we call on him. He is friendly with all the country people, and if there is a possible chance of getting any thing from them he gets it. Many a bundle of nice rags he brings us, and a great treat they are. He entered the service at the commencement of the war, and he has two sons in it; one of whom is a prisoner, and he has not heard from him for many a day.
A day or two ago he heard of the death of a young brother, who had just received a commission.
Lately he received a letter from a sister, living in Athens, Georgia, informing him that her cousin, living near there, an old man, between seventy and eighty years of age, was riding in a wagon, when he was accosted by some Federal cavalry, who ordered him out of his wagon, and took all he had from him. They unharnessed his horse, and put a negro who was with him on it, and made the old man walk along side of the negro. He remonstrated, and the vandals beat him; then placed him on an old unsaddled mule, and carried him off. These valiant knights, who war so bravely on helpless old age, women, and children, have sent this old man to a prison in the North.
Our men are not all killed off yet; if these heroes wish to display their valor they will find a few who are ready to combat with them. How hard it is for us to know of these outrages, without the bitterest and most deadly hatred being aroused against these fiends in human shape.
If there was ever one spark of Union feeling in the breast of the Georgians, surely this will extinguish it.
We have a number of Louisianians, members of Point Coupee Battery. Like all from that state, they are very clannish. One, Mr. Dodart, ever since the war commenced, has fought side by side with his son. Poor man I ho can scarcely restrain the tears when he talks about his wife and children, who are now in New Orleans. Another of them, Mr. Lambert, informed me that in coming through Alabama, I think near Demopolis, the battery encamped a few days near the house of a wealthy lady. She very kindly invited them to spend the evening at her house, and entertained them very handsomely. She told them that a few days previous an Alabama battery had been there, and by their misbehavior had frightened all who came in contact with them.
Among these Louisianians is a little boy; I am told he is as brave as any of them, and has done good service in the field.
