Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-10-19


Total -. ....................,.. ''lS bog
Grand aggregate humber Of troops, 81, 1877; guns,
254. s-4 .ar i,
About these figures have been maintained during the
campaign, the number OF men joining from furloughs
and hospitals about ccmpsnsatipg for the loss 10 battle
and from sickness. The armies grouped on the
morning OF May oh follows: That Of the Oumbei
land at and Rnggol6; that Of the Tennessee at
Gordon's MIL on the Chickamauga. and that Of the
Ohio near Red Clay, on the Georgia line, north of
Dllton.
JohMStOn's Force, Under Hdrdss, Hood aud Polk,
Sherman Estimates 45 600 or $4,000
The first point Of attack was Dalton which could not
be assaulted in froIt it covered by inaccessible
ridge, between which snd Dalton s the famous pass Of
Buzzard Roost narrow well obstructSd by abatts and
l,Oded by water from Mill Creek. Dllton, therefore,
had to be turned. General Shermsn's ttsntion was
ereiOre, directed due South. We quote sgain from
bis reporE:-
REsAoA
Ia that direction (due souh) l found Snake Creek
Gsp sff1rdng good practicable way to reach Rs
sac4 point on the oGemys lroad line of commuui-
cation, ei hteen miles below Dalton. Accordingly /
ordered General Mcpherson to move rapidly from his
position GordoI's hl, via ships Gap, Vlianow and
Sake Creek Gap, directly Resscs, the railroad ct
any point below Dalton aud to make bold attack
After breaking the RAILROAD WE'LL he ordered TO fall
osck 10 strong deersive position near Snake Greek
aud stand ready to fall upon tho enenys flank when he
retreated, as judged be would. During the move
ment, General Thomas was TO make strong feint OF
attack in 'front.' while General Scho6eld pressed down
from the north.
General Thomas moved from r nggold on the 18th,
occupying Tunnel Hill facing the BOzz I'd Roost Gar
setng with little opposition. and pushing the enemy
cavalry well through the Gap; General Mcpherson
reached Susko Creek Gap he Sh, completely sur.
prisiug brigade Of cavalry which coming to watch
aud held it, and on the General Scbofeld pushed
down close to Dalton from the north, while General
Thomas renewed bis demonstrations against B. zzard
Roos' and Rocky Faced Ridge pushing it almost to
battle
On the IA h Of May We found tho Rebel army in
strong post on behind Camp Q eek, occupying the
forts a. Rssscs, and bis right some high ohtsnut
hills to the north of the town. at once ordered
pontoon bridge be laid the Costanaus at Lays
Ferry in the direction Of CAhCu7; division Of the l6
Corps, com nsnded by General Sweeney, to and
threaten Oslhtup aso the cavalry division OF General
GArraId to move fom its position at Villanow down
towards me, to cross the Oostanaula and break the
railroad below Calhoun aud above Kingston, If poes.-
BILE and with the main srmy pressed against Resaca
a. all points. General Mcpherson got across Camp
Creek near it's mouth and made 10. gment close up
to the entmy's works, on hills that commanded, with
short range artillery the railroad and trestle bridges;
and'General Thomas pressing close along Oau Greek
valley, threw General Hooker's Corps tue head
of he creek the man Dalton road and down it close
TO Rssaca.
General Scho6eld came up close on his left, and
heavy battle ensued during the afternoon and evening
of the H. during which Gen. Hooker drove the enc
nv from several strong hills capturing gun battery
and many pritouers. That night Johnston escaped
treating south across the Oostausulo, and the next
morning We entered the town in time 10 save the road
bridge but the railroad bridge was burned.
The whole army started in pursuit, Gen. Thomas di-
rectly on his heels, Gen. McPherson by Lays Ferry,
ard Gen. Scho6sld by obscure roads to the left. We
found in Rseaca another gun battery and good lot
Of stores.
It was on the 25Gh Of Nay, when Major Gen. Thomas
Was moving his troops from Burnt Hickory to Dallas
with General Hooker in the advance that the gallant
action of New Hops Church was fought. The report
thus refers the which succeeded that hard
fought battle:
ALLAroNA PASS. ir'.
Owing to the icult nature OF the ground aud dense
forests It took us several Days 10 depoy close to the
enemy, when resolved gradually to work toward our
left aud when all things were ready to push for the
railroad east of Alatoona. In making our develope-
ment before the enemy about New Hepe many severe,
sharp Ell counters occurred between parts OF the army
details Of which will be given ct length in the reports
OF subordinate commanders On the 18th, General
Mcpherson Vas tie point OF closing to his left on
General Tnomas, in front OF New Hope Church. to ems
able me with the rest OF the army TO extend still
to The left and 10 envelope the enemys righ, when
suddenly the enemy made bold and daring assault On
him at Dallas
Fortunately our men had erec.ed good breastworks,
ard gave the enemy bloody and terrible repulse. AT
ter few DAYS delay for effect, renewed my orders 10
General MePdersen to move to his left about FIVE miles,
and occupy General Thomas position in front of New
Hops Church, and Generals Thomas and Schofeld were
ordered to move corresponding distance their left.
Tn move was ,ced with case aud safety on the lst
of lime and by pushing left well around We occu-
pied all the roads leading back TO Aatoona aud A,k.
worth; after which pushed General Stoneman's cavsl
~ RAPID into Alioons, at the eah end Of the PAss
aud Carr rd cavalry uad by the rear 10 the
end of the PasI Both Of these commands reached
the poin designated without trouble and we thereby
accomplished real purpcss of turning the Aatoona
Pass.
JHE BATTLE or KfNKsAw MoUNrlIH
By the llth Of June our lines we're close up. and we
made dispositions to break the lines between ,nesav
aud Pna Mountains. General Hooker was on its right
nd from, General Howard it's left and front aud
General Palmer between it aud the ralold Duripga
sharp cannoDading ir nm General Howards right Gen.
Rockers Lett Generl Pok WAS killed on the I4h and
on the morning Of the l4sh Pine Mountain vM found