Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-06-02

ed upon the operations of the Army of
the Potomac, the important campaign
| of Gen. Sherman is almost overlooked.
| His successful onward march towards
Atlanta Ca, is, however, known to our
readers Our space has admitted no
lengthy description of the battles fought
| by him, but we make room this morn
| ing for the following interesting account
of his victory, gained on the 14th and
18th inst, over the rebel Gen. Johnston,
at Resaca, Ga. The account is from the
correspondent of the New York World:
| son the l4th, the first battle of the
campaign was fought in Sugar or Resa
ca valley, fertile plain of about ten
miles square The enemy here had
made a stand after his retreat from
Dalton. The lines Of the army extended
| distance of seven miles around the val
ley; the right resting on Oottikalaga
creek, or Calhoun, and the left on the
river north of Tilton, in the form of
semi-circle. The corps in position were
those of Mcpherson, Hooker, Palm
er, Schotield and Howard. Skirmishing
commenced early in the morning. AT
nine o'clock Gen. Schotield was ordered
| to withdraw and take a new position
on the left of Newtons division of the
4th corps. Gen. Palmer closed up the
gap but Gen. Cox's division of Scho-
fields corps, failed to get up in time, and
Judah misinterpreting the instructions,
advanced upon the enemy. This was
about noon The rebels opened very
destructive fire, amid which Gen. Judah
endeavored to carry the breast works,
but failed after two successive efforts.
He was then relieved by Gen. Newton's
division of the 18th corps. The engage
ment was then at its hight all along the
lines, and was most sanguinary In It's
character McLean's brigade went in
with thirteen hundred and eighty eight
men and lost five hundred and ninety
five in a very brief period. The engage
ment subsidized into desultory skirmish
about two o'clock. Gen. Cox met with
: better success in his movement af
ter he got into line and dislodged the
5 rebels from their works at the point OF
|, the bayonet. The heaviest fighting was
on the center Carlin's brigade, John
sons division, of Palmers corps drove
the enemy into the breastworks, but an
! assault not being ordered, they took ref.
uge in ditch and held their positson as
! sharpshooters until night. All of the
4th corps, Maj Gen Howard, with the
, exception OF Beattys brigade, was en-.
: gagged during the day, and carried the
!, enemy's works in their front,
About half past two O'clock in the af
ternoon Johnston assumed the offensive
He commenced massing on the left,
:. where Stanley had been feeling of the
/. rebels while they were endeavoring to
:, break the center. Generals Sherman and
/, Thomas prepared to resist the movement
Hooker moved to the left of Stanley in
5 overwhelming numbers, and though
. bearing against the shock bravely Stan
e ley's men were finally driven from their
e position. Scarcely had they begun to
h waver and fall back, when Robinsons
>. brigade of Hooker's corps, rushed in as
4 support and stayed the advance of the
!. enemy, Fighting with terrific valor
|. | they saved the lines and sent the rebels
|. reeling back from their furious assault
0 The fighting was terrible during this
i brief action, and the loss upon the enc
/ my must have been severe. The battle
at this point saved the fortunes of the
day, and though no decisive victory was
obtained, the enemy could boast Of
nothing, and the lines of our army were
slightly advanced from what they were
:, in the morning The losses of the day
were heavy; probably exceeding two
e thousand in killed, wounded and miss
ing. That night the rebels were hem
med in between the river and our line
and as the stream was not fordable, il
> was thought they could not escape
4 without having another engagement
During the night the rebels were occu
I, pied in telling trees and throwing up de
i fensive works upon the hills surround
4 ing the valley.
a On the morning of May 18th, the Skin
: mishers opened fire on the rebel line
y which was vigorously returned on tn
left and center. The rebels did not seer
disposed to resume the offensive, afte
r the terrible punishment they had II
] ceived on the night before. Our lin
F was changed somewhat, and was the
r. about fourteen miles long About moor
T Gen. Hooker threw Butterfield's divis
d ion forward, supported by Williams an
d. Geary, against the strongest position c
m the enemy The movement was after
ed ded with great success, and line afte
es line of the rebel works was carried, vi
1t. til Butterfield came upon lunette of tn
r enemy. Several attempts were made I
k. carry it, but they were unsuccessful
I'm Finally Butterfeld, by desperat
ID charge gained a position under the prt
til jecting works of the fort, so close to Il
10 guns that they could be touched by tf
NJ mems hands. The contest thus far wa
k bloody one After various unsucces
full attempts to carry the lunette b
IL storm, Hooker's forces gave up the col
, s test and lay for the remainder of the ola
tis under the breastworks, protected frol
hi the enemy's FIRE, and picking of ever
m rebel who showed his head above tt
an works. As soon as darkness favore
Il him, Hooker began to mature plans fl