Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1864-05-26
st. CIaicsviIle, Chic, May 20,
The Army of the Cumber-
land.
BATTLE oE REsACA.
Operations Before sesaca--
Three Days Eishfing---F IA o
Place Occupied Om Monday.

treated from the works around Resaca.
Presunipg that YOU have Intelligence Of
our operations up to when the army lett
Buzzard Roost, | shall speak only Of those
subsequent to that, and in as bilef manner
as possible.
On Thursday May IL, nearly the whole
army was 10 motion toward Snake Greek
Gap, which lies about fifteen miles southo
Buzzard Roost, only Howard, with Woods
and Stanley's divisions being left to threat
en- the enemy in front o! Dalton.
1t should be observed, however, that Gen.
Mcpherson, crossing directly over from VIII
lanow, had passed through Snake Creek
Gap as early as Monday the 9th Of May
By the morning of Friday, May 18th, the
bulk of forces were assembled in Sugar Val
ley near the Eastern mouth Of the Gap, our
cavalry covering the operations Of the infan-
try. Gen. Fitzpatrick was wounded while
attending to this work. During the 18th
the army was occupied in dcploying from
the Gap and getting in position Heavy
skirmishing took place during the day. -
Gen. lIarrow's Division of L0gan's Corps
met with considerable loss. BY night the
enemy's position was fully diicOyered. Res
aca is situated in the Great Bend OF Osto-
nula River, with the convex portion OF the
bend toward the East. Across the neck Of
the Peninsula thus formed extend contnu.
Gus lines of rebel works. with strong field
Notifications, especially about town. Both
their flanks rested on the river, and the
line of retreat was completely protected by
these Notifications. BY the night Of Fri
day our army was in position around the
rebel works, except Towards command
Woods and Stanley's Divisions) which had
occupied Dalton the day before, and were
sweeping down the line Of the Altoona and
Western Railroad to form junction with
the rest Of the army.
On Saturday, the l4th, skirnishing be-
gan early in tho morning aud continued in
cessantly throughout tho day all along the
the line. About O'Clock it was especially
severe upon tho left Of the 18th Corps,
many of our men being picked of by the
rebel sharpshooters. About noon Howard
effected Junction with the rest of the ar
my, and our whole force was then in line,
Schofeld's coming next, Hooker's next,
Palner's next, L1gan,s next, Wood with
two divisions Of tue 10th Corps being in the
extreme right. Such disposition and
changes were afterward made as the move.
msnts Of the enemy, or execution ii our
own plans required, but generally the line
remained as have indicated.
About | in the afternoon an attempt was
made to break the center OF the enemy y
line, or at least to recapture his outer works
Gen. Judah's division of Schofield's corps,
and Newton division Of Howard's corps,
moving over comparatively level ground,
succeeded after desperate conflict \ com
pelling the rebels to abandon the position OF
their outer lipc. We did not continue to
hold this, but our own line being somewhat
advanced, our artillery acting very effective
ly we prevented tho rebels from occupying
IL. Eurther 10 our right we were not st
fortunate. Portions Of Jameson $, Baird
and Weaver's divisions Of Palner's corps il
attempting to charge tho rebels in front
were compelled to throw themselves down
an almost perpendicular bank and wade a
creek waist deep, which ran at the foot
OF the bluff, and then cross valley filled
with ditehcs fully exposed to the fire from
the rebel works. Never did men go to work
more gallantly or contend more nobly, but
they could not accomplish impossibilitlos,
aud after severe losses were obliged to with
draw. 1t was now discovered that the euo.
my were moving heavy force up the Res
aca and Tilton road, with the obvious pur
pose of turning our left. Hooker was I'M
mediately sent to checkmate this move
ment Before he airivel however, thc
rebels had thrown themselves in immense
y
division, aud forced it, after splendid reSis
tance, to abandon the hill upon which il
was posted and retire in considerable confu
sion. The rebels, yelling like demons, came
running across tho road and open fields t
the West oft, when they were met by muir
derous fire Of grape and canister from Smp
sons old New York battery and the 5th In
diana. At the same time, portions of Hook
er's men falling into the opon space, tool
position upon both sides Of the valley ant
supported it, Parts of Cruft's broker
brigade rallied to the rescue and the rebel
were repulseed with slaughter. 1t wa
night when the combat ceased. Meantime
o fierce conflict had commenced upon thu
right. Morgan l.. Smiths and Osterhaus
divisions Of Logan's corps with Sprague'
brigade Of Veatche's division ofthe l6tl
corps, charged the line of rebel rife pits
little to the right of and in sight of Resaca
and intrepidly carried them. This wa
about 7 p. NJ. An hour aftcrward the reb
ell leaders, massing large force, attemptet
ing boldly up tho long hill to the very foo
Of the works they seemed determined to re
take them or perish, but they were met b
q determination as stern as their own. Tn
line Of fire sweeping up the hill was answer
ed by a line Of fire on the summit. Th
yell Of the traitors was drowned in the out
or shouts Of loyal soldiers, and after strul
Cling worthy of better cause, the rebt
host was hurled down the hill, leaving il
sides covered with wounded and dead Ou
men continued to hold this work, which tn
rebels never regained.
On Sunday morning firing commenced O
usual, but nothing Of particular importanc
occurred until about one Z. NJ At that tim
determined charge was made by Hooker
corps which now occupied our left, Palmer
Howard aud Sehofeld having been shifte
toward the right to ill up the gap occasione
by Hooker's withdrawal the day befor,
This charge was al first believed to /
successful. The enemy were driven from
portion of their second lines, aud Wood
brigade, of Butter6eld's division, stormed
small fort and took battery Of four gun
The rebels, however, having massod on th
part Of the line very heavily tho day befor
our men were exposed TO so deadly &
from the inner works that they were compe
cd to withdraw. Part of them continu,
TO hold the small fort and kept possession
the four rebel guns. Notwithstanding th