The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-02

THE FRONT, Mn. Dry OF MISSISSIPPI, :
May q, 1864
On Monday, Immediately after the
rebel army had evacuated its position
at Sugar Grove, the Union army ~Syss
modified, and at noon was on the
move in pursuit Of the retreating rebels.
Our force moved in three grand
columns, sweeping the country for
twenty miles. The rebel wounded and
dead were scattered along the road and
in the edges of the woods, where
temporary hospitals had been estab-
lished. Our surgeons had the rebel
wounded conveyed to our own hospitals
in the rear, and cared for. At Resacca
the rebel commissary left behind in
his fight a considerable quantity
Of corn and meal, which was turned
over to the hospitals, or given to the
soldiers.
While the fight was progressing on
Saturday and Sunday at Sugar Creek,
Mcpherson was engaged in shelling
Resacca, to interrupt the passage Of the
rebel army, which, late IN the day, was
observed to be moving in long and I'M
broken trains. The houses, stores,
depot buildings, telegraph Office, were
riddled by the exploding shells and
roundshot, and the place rendered very
uncomfortable The inhabitants, ike
most Of the people from Dalton and
TiltOn, took the train with their house
hold effects. provisions, DC, and went
South The few who remained stated
that a massacre and destruction Of the
people was expected, from the state
ments Of the rebel officers and men
The order for the army to fall back was
captured from the rebel courier on his
way from Johnston's headquarters, and
the whole programme thus revealed to
u.s.
Taking the main road to Resacca, the
enemy rear passed the Coosawattee on
Sunday forenoon, and burned the rail
road bridge, They also attempted, but
failed, to destroy the trestle-bridge near
il, which. with our pontoon, served an
admirable purpose for crossing our
artillery and ambulance train.
Resacca was strongly fortified by
earthworks commanding the road,
which passes through line of irregular
hills, so as to enflade the approach
Being in the bend Of the river which
protects it on three sides, and with forts
crowning all the prominent hills on
each side Of the road, as well as long
lines of riaepits running zigzag along
the sides and bases of the undulating
ground, it would have been next to i'm
possible to have carried the place by
assault without the greatest destruction
to the attacking force. 1t might have
been taken by overcoming first, any
forcesstationed on the south side, and
then by laying siege 70 the place, and
driving out the enemy by artillery at
long range. 1t was evidently no part
of the rebel programme to make stand
at Resacca. .Thereyw some necessary
detention in crossing this river by the
limited means provided, but before sun
set the large portion of the forces with
the immense wagon train were winding
over the hills Beyond Resacca, while
the left wing was crossing the river at
Fields Ferry, and going by the way Of
Newtown. Stragglers and deserters
were picked up at every mile Of the
march Many of them purpOsely stop
ping behind and giving themselves up
The road was lined. and -thiekly strewed
with broken nnuskets, blankets and
clothing, which the retreating forces had
thrown away to facilitate their flight
On Monday eEeing the rear-guard
skirmished lightly with our advance,
but as they were not pushed very hard,
the fight was not q serious one. On
Tuesday the center column, which the
rebels chiefly pursued, came up 70 and
passed Calhoun, q quiet country town
of about 400 Inhabitants. which posses
ses many attFactions for q country resi-
dence. The houses indicated TO some
extent wealth and thrift; there were
handsome gardens, shade trees, an
abundance flowers and ether evil
dences Of refinement and comfort
The people had mostly followed the
army South. Three miles beyond, at
the I" Graves House the rebels made
a determined stand, and our skirmish
ers, assisted by artillery, were engaged
for over two hours in q spirited contest
with the army, whose sharpshooters oc- /
capied the eetagon- cement house,
which served them quite well for q fort.
The Union skirmishers of Gen. How
ards 4th Corps, NeBton's division, Oc-
cupied rail barricades and trees, behind
which they had partial shelter while |
peppering away at.the enemy. An ac- I
eident occurred here from the premature /
bursting Of shell fred from the 9th /.
Ohio Battery. which killed six Of our (
own men and wounded several Others. /
There IL too much Of this defective I
among our ordnance stores. /
Who is in faRlt We had but few cas- /
ualties. and went into camp on the 1
ground. the heavens being lighted up I
by the flames Of burning buildings on I
the Saxten- estate, where the hshthad-
,L
Gen. Thomas and Gen, Howards
headquarters we're at the front
THE ADVANCE rEsTERDAr
Esrly Wednesday morning, the army /
was again in motion, the 4th Corps !