troops—­for the militia hug the breastworks close.  I do not deem it prudent to extend any more to the right, but will push forward daily by parallels, and make the inside of Atlanta too hot to be endured.  I have sent back to Chattanooga for two thirty-pound Parrotts, with which we can pick out almost any house in town.  I am too impatient for a siege, and don’t know but this is as good a place to fight it out on, as farther inland.  One thing is certain, whether we get inside of Atlanta or not, it will be a used-up community when we are done with it.

In Schofield’s extension on the 5th, General Reilly’s brigade had struck an outwork, which he promptly attacked, but, as usual, got entangled in the trees and bushes which had been felled, and lost about five hundred men, in killed and wounded; but, as above reported, this outwork was found abandoned the next day, and we could see from it that the rebels were extending their lines, parallel with the railroad, about as fast as we could add to our line of investment.  On the 10th of August the Parrott thirty-pounders were received and placed in Position; for a couple of days we kept up a sharp fire from all our batteries converging on Atlanta, and at every available point we advanced our infantry-lines, thereby shortening and strengthening the investment; but I was not willing to order a direct assault, unless some accident or positive neglect on the part of our antagonist should reveal an opening.  However, it was manifest that no such opening was intended by Hood, who felt secure behind his strong defenses.  He had repelled our cavalry attacks on his railroad, and had damaged us seriously thereby, so I expected that he would attempt the same game against our rear.  Therefore I made extraordinary exertions to recompose our cavalry divisions, which were so essential, both for defense and offense.  Kilpatrick was given that on our right rear, in support of Schofield’s exposed flank; Garrard retained that on our general left; and McCook’s division was held somewhat in reserve, about Marietta and the railroad.  On the 10th, having occasion to telegraph to General Grant, then in Washington, I used this language: 

Since July 28th Hood has not attempted to meet us outside his parapets.  In order to possess and destroy effectually his communications, I may have to leave a corps at the railroad-bridge, well intrenched, and cut loose with the balance to make a circle of desolation around Atlanta.  I do not propose to assault the works, which are too strong, nor to proceed by regular approaches.  I have lost a good many regiments, and will lose more, by the expiration of service; and this is the only reason why I want reenforcements.  We have killed, crippled, and captured more of the enemy than we have lost by his acts.