From Gen. Johnston's army.
Through Atlanta papers of the 7th, (received by the Southern Express,) we have the following summary of the "situation:"‘ The situation of our army on the Georgia front has changed very materially since our last writing. The heavy rains of the past few days have made the roads almost impassable and prevented much movement on either side. We learn that the enemy have their advance line about eight miles North of Marietta. Our army has been gradually retiring before the advance of Sherman. There has been but little fighting to prevent them, our movements being made very leisurely, and the process is apparently one of simple displacement.
’ The enemy has distributed his cavalry, and a large body of troops, through the rich valleys about canton and along the Etowah river. Doubtless they are revelling in that rich granary of the Cherokee country. There is little doubt that a heavy demonstration will be made on our right, and by the mere power of weight alone, may be sufficient to force us back to our defences on the Chattahoochee. We do not see anything very distressing in this. We presume Gen. Johnston has not yet quite got the Yankees where he wants them, and we know that it is only at the point he quits retreating that he begins to be effective by fighting.
We learn that General Channers, with a cavalry force of five thousand men, captured and destroyed three railroad trains at Calhoun on the State told, but have not learned any particulars.
There are numerous rumors concerning the whereabouts and doings of Forrest, but we do not learn anything to be positively depended on, though we hope that even the half of the romantic reports may be true, for the effective gleams of sunshine that flash from the swords of that officer and his glorious cavaliers always lighten the hearts of our people with their cheerful tidings. Effective victory seems ever to follow in the path of his command.
A letter in the Atlanta intelligencer, dated "on the field, June 5th," says:
‘ My last letter, hurriedly written, stated that the army would change position on Saturday night, and at twelve o'clock the troops commenced moving towards "Lost" Mountain, under a heavy shower of rain, which lasted till morning "Lost" Mountain is about ten miles from Marietta, to the left of the railroad, and derives the appellation from its being a lofty ridge "solitary and alone" in the middle of a level. Our left now rests near this mountain, and our line of battle stretches out in an oblique direction across the railroad and about three miles from Big Shanty. This movement was made necessary by the Yankees turning the right of our cavalry on Friday night, and massing large bodies of troops on their left.
’ The evacuation of Dallas by the enemy was of no more significance than the change of position alluded to above. It was simply a movement from their right to their right to their left, and did not presage a relinquishment of the "On to Atlanta" movement of the Yankees, as was stated by the reports of the Press Association. The latest reports from the Yankees are that Blair and A. J. Smith, Yankee corps commanders, have arrived at Memphis with parts of their commands, and as soon as the remainder arrives will march to reinforce Sherman. These troops have been drawn from Steel's and Banks's armies, and, so far as morale and du corps. go, will not aid to a very great extent in capturing Atlanta. The movements of the Yankee army are now principally directed against our right, which Sherman hopes either to flank or force back on our centre, thus driving us from the railroad. He cannot succeed.
Official information was received this evening that Chalmers, with five thousand cavalry, had marched through Rome, on Calhoun, a distance of only twenty nine miles. He reached there Friday evening, and captured three locomotives and three large trains of cars, laden with army stores. These he burned, and after burning a small bridge across a creek this side of Calhoun, proceeded in the direction of Resaca, at which place it was supposed he would burn the bridge. He has also captured many prisoners, and is tearing up the track of the railroad on his march. You will recollect that in one of my previous letters I stated that Chalmers was on the march for the enemy's rear.
Another Important item of news reached me this evening. One of our scouts arrived in our lines this evening, and reports that on Wednesday evening, last he witnessed the burning of the bridge at Bridgeport A. strong force of the enemy being on this side of the river he could not ascertain what troops burned it, it is very likely to be those of Brig. Gen. Vaughn, who, with three thousand men, left Rogersville, in East Tennessee, for the purpose of making such a movement. This statement is very likely to be correct, for the scouts attached to this army are an intelligent and reliable body of men, and nearly all the information received at army headquarters is through them.
In addition to these, it is stated that Forrest, with 11,000 cavalry, is marching rapidly in the direction of Chattanooga, where it is supposed he will combine with the two other columns and endeavor to capture the town. This latter news I cannot vouch for, but it is more than likely; for a grand movement of cavalry in the rear of the Yankee army is looked for. Whether Blair and A. J. Smith will be able to compel the three columns to retire is a question of much anxiety. But it is believed that if our cavalry is well hundred they cannot do so.
I regret exceedingly that my letters do not reach you regularly every day, for each morning I send one to Marietta by courier to give it to a gentleman going to Atlanta everyday, he having kindly promised to hand you the same immediately on his arrival. I also perceive that there is some blunder about my specials, which I shall endeavor to sift out, so that you may be promptly posted by telegraph as well as by mail.
There was the usual amount of sharpshooting along our lines on yesterday, but everything is quiet to day. The troops are now busy in throwing up works and in making preparations for the advance of the enemy.
