Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1864-05-21
GEN. SHERMAN'S CAMPAIGN,
The Battles Near Resacca, GeOrgia---
Hard Fighting Saturday and Sun
day-Our Losses Nearly 5OOO---iO0O
Rebel Prisoners and Deserters Cap
tured.
BATTLE OF SUGAR VALLEY OR REsACCA-
" SATURDAY, MAY II.

SATURDAY, MAY Ia.
The heaviest fighting of the campaign has
taken place to-day, and though it was indie
cisive, we have cause to be thankful ut the
results.
Our line as formed last night was in the
| form of semi-circle, to the northwest of
Sugar Valley, while the 0ostanaula river,
completes the circle on the southwest. SUI
gar Valley is fertile little plain of about
ten square miles in size, much broken by
hills, which at this season of the year are
covered by dense underground of small
trees and vines, rendering them very diff
cult to penetrate. 1t was in this valley, be-
| tween the projected Rome and Dalton rail-
road and the river that encircles Resacca and
| Tilton, that the enemy made stand after
being closely pressed on his retreat from
| Dalton. From our center to the river, the
| distance this morning was about seven miles,
| Our line extends completely around the
valley, McPherson's right resting on the
river near its junction with OOthkalaga
creek or Calhoun, while the left strikes the
river north of Tilton near the junction of
the river with Swamp creek that takes its
rise in the hills OF Sugar Valley. Lick and
| Camp creeks also burst out from the hills
| in the valley and empty their waters into the
| Oostanaula river, which is very broad and
deep, but can be forced, when the water is
low, at six points. The above is as intelli-
gible description of the field as can be
given without the aid of map; and now
| for
THE OPENING OF THE BALL.
AS have already said, our line was FORM
ed in half circle, extending from the river
| on the left to point on the river near Cal
houn. The corps occupied positions in the
line as follows, extending from right to
| left: First, Mcpherson; second, Hooker;
third, Palmer; fourth, Schofeld; fifth, How
| ard.
Skirmishing commenced early in the
morning and many prisoners were brought
| in as the result, although the attack made
by us was but family responded to. Skir-
mishing continued, with occasional truces,
lasting from ten to thirty minutes, all the
morning. Meantime our General officers
were not idle. Generals Sherman and Thom-
as, with their indefatigable. corps COM
manders, rode along the line with their
stats, personally experimenting the park
| ing of ambulances and ammunition trains,
and assigning batteries to positions where
they could be of the most service In the
event of a general engagement.
JUDAH's ATTACK AND REpULsE.
General Judah Just before noon received
an order from General SchOfield, to open
the attack, and though his left flank was
liable at any moment to be turned, he in
formed General Schofeld of the fact, and at
once moved forward upon the enemy's skir-
mishers. The boys moved rapidly through
the vines and shrubbery, down the valley,
drove the enemy before them, and with a
cheer crossed the deep gorge near which
the enemy had thrown up strong breast
works commanding the valley. The enemy
opened very destructive fire, and for half
an hour the battle was a bloody one, the
main lines being within few yards of each
| other. The enemy at once opened q de-
structive fire from their artillery, which the
brave division stood for some time, vainly
striving by superhuman efforts to carry the
breastworks. 1t was repulsed after gal
liant effort, and retired into the valley in dis
order. We had not yet got up on the left,
and no artillery dsp was resaIred at moi
to retire without one more effort. Collect
ing together the fragments of his broken
but not discouraged regiments, new line
was hastily formed and the whole division
were lust in the act OF advancing in Q
charge which all felt would have put 1t In
possession of the enemy's line of works
when the division was
RELIEVED BY GEN. NEwToN's DIVISION
OF the 18th Corps. In the meantime the
0ap i'm the line was filed, Cox took his po-
sition, and for an hour the incessant roll o
the musketry, as volley after volley wa!
poured into the ranks of the enemy, and al
vigorously returned, told that the confiic
was desperate one. Artillery fire was de
livered into the enemy's ranks rapidly, ant
with excellent effect. Their artillery die
not do much injury, as Palmer had silencet
eight guns with his regiments, who undel
cover acted as sharpshooters and picked OF
the cannoneers as often as they advanced Il
work their pieces. No better evidence cal
be given of the desperate nature Of the con
f1ict between Judah's division and the enc
nv. than the loss in McLean's brigade
which went into the fight with 1883 men
q and lost 500 in the short time it was engag
ed. Gen. Newton's division pressed the en-
envy strongly, and inflicted serious injur!
upon him. Every man, with the exception
half dozen stragglers, stood up to the worl
like veterans. A piece Of shell struck Gems
Hooker and Manson, butboth escaped with
out serious injury, Gen. Hooker remaining
on the field for some time, while Gen. Man
SON Is rapidly recovering from the effects o
the shock. About two o'clock the firing OF
the center in front of Newton subsidized int
slight skirmish fire.
GENERAL cox's DIVISION.
The division of General Cox, which final
ly turned up on Judah's left, fought wit