, 1864-06-06
THE BATTLE OF RESaCa,
a Clear md Graphic Desce1p-
lion.

We present below carefully written and
accurate statement Of the battle Of Resaca,
| written By our own correspondent, which,
| although 1t has been delayed upon its pass
age, will be read with interest:
IL TIE FIELD NEAR REsAoA,
May 1Gsh, 1861
At the close Of INF last letter, tie grand
army was in position confronting the rebel
army, which had been in occupation or Nor
tor supplies and the movement Of troops.
Johnston had been compelled to withdraw
from Dnlton-sherman had followed with his
main army, and was ready to give battle to
the rebel army concentrated In Els 'front.'
The Federu1 army was in novel position.
Its front was north. The country in which
the battle was fought Is rolling and generally
dcnEely wooded, with q growth Of timber and
underwood. There are occasional openings
and good roals But 1t was very difficult at
most points along tho line Of battle to see
nnything beyond onr immediate vicinity.
The advance commenced early IN tho
morning Of the 18th. The troops were
mainly on the road through Snake Greek
Gap to Resaca, the right resting at Its inter-
section with the Dalton roaa, sIx miles from
were well up to our front. The Sd cavalry
division, Gen. Fitzpatrick, had the advance,
and soon drove in the enemy's pickets. XII
patfick's command was followed by the army
Of the Tennessee, the 18th corps leading
These troops keeping the main road, the
ton with the Calhoun Roaa, and the remain
der Of the center md left, the 18th and 18th
corps, taking the same direction at the inter-
section with the Dalton road. ktlpatrick's
cavalry had moved forward, driving in the
cnemy's pickets, on the Rcsaca road, nearly
to cross road about two miles from Resaca,
when General Fitzpatrick was wounded In
the leg and compelled to leave the field, tic
commend devOlying upon Col Murray, OF
the 5th Kentucky cavalry.
When the head Of the 18th corps reached
the c1oss road to Calhoun Ferry, it moved to
the right and went into position on eacl side
OF the Rcsaea road, the 18th moving down to
| its right. By o'clock the different corps
were all In position, the enemy WAS found,
| and the picket fire was quite lively.
Resaca is situated on the right bank Of the
0ostananla River, stream running in a
eouthWestcrly direction and not fordable.a
| The object of the afternoons work seemed
| to be to advance the right, 90 that the 10th
corps should rest It's right On the river and
| that the 18th elould secure possession Of tho
| hills in front of Resaca.
About O'Clock Gen Logan rode up from
1 Sherman's headquarters Of this corps-an
! old tree in the road, "Where ia my staff?
Broke up? There is work" Staff officers
| and orderlies were off with orders, and mat
| ters speedily began to assume the serious,
lively lpfEuIAuEE Vi QAtLlE.
Gen. Sher1nan's Headquarters wero near
| those Of Gen. Logan, on patch OF open
| timber. The scene there was Characteristic
| and suggestive. Sherman was seated on the
ground, leaning against tree. bis feet drawn
| up to him, and a map on his knees, his cont
! unbuttoncd, his hat anti-regu1ation and sans
cord Cigar in mouth, he looked no older
and not much worse than when he saved the
first day 3 field at Rhiloh-and footed it above
| Stubs Bayou. Around him stood q large
I amount Of rank-Thomas, and Hooker, Pal
mer 1ogan El1Stt sickleg a hnttsse1d and
ais. They were receiving their final instruc-
| tious for the afternoons field
Logan moved first and drew tho first fire
In front Of his second division was an open
across in the woods Ills line Of battle. At
the bugle, the division fell into line Of battle,
dtplOye ed 6kirmishers, and swept ncross the
| field, driving the enemy. In splendid style.
Gen. Logan accompanied the line. at the
same time Heron, who had fallen back OF the
right, moved, on the double quick, to the
left Of 0sterhaus, the two divisions pushing
into the thick II ood On the left ofthe Second
Dodge moved his command from the Fer
~ road down through the forrest to fill up
the space between the fifteenth and the 0os-
tananla, bis fourth division, Gen. Hatch, hav-
Gen. Morgan l.. Smith entered the wood,
and pushed rapidly for the hills in his front.
As the right Of the 18th Corps came up On
tile rising ground beyond the open hill, it
was found to be uncovered, Dodge's left not
being up. Tho rebels opened severe flank
ing lire, from which Lightburn's brigade suf-
fered considerably. Gen. Smith brought up
battery q, and with q few shots from his
2Qpounder PARROTS, De Grasse upset and
scattered the rebels and their .baTricades.
The 18th moved steadily forward, driving the
were in possession of the hills which they
had been ordered to take. Their loss was
comparatively light. The 10th made its con-
nection to the river, but with considerable
loRs to the 4th division. The S5th New Jer+
sey and e5th Wisconsin received q lire from
ing BY the flank, from which they suffered
severely. send the list Of their casualties,
the sktrmishing regimentst l11th Illinois,
57th Ohio, 9Th Missouri, Of Giles A. Smiths
brigade. losing killed and q wounded, and
the SD md 30th Ohio, of Ltehtburn's brig
ade, losing 81 killed and wounded
The positions having been successfully and
brilliantly carried the ra1,ainCer Of the after
noon was occupied in straighten1ng the lines,
bringing up the batteries, q work Of great
labor and requiring much care, on account of |
the great number Of hills and ravines and the
thick growth Of timber. Tue rattle Of mus
kerry was kept up by the skirmishing lines,
the batteries occasionally putting In their |
heavy notes, 50 that there was much of the I
noise Of baltic until dark. Occasionally
man would come back wounded from the |
skirmish line, but no serious work was done |
after the right wing occupied Its line.
In this afternoons work the 111th Illinois,
Colopel Martin, were for the frat time under |
fire. 1t behaved well, losing eight killed and |
sixteen wounded,
The left and center moved into the posi-
tions ordered without serious opposition.
Lieut.. John ". Rumsey, Of Battery 4, was |
wounded late in the afternoon by fragment |
of shell. Capt. Wood had been compelled, |
By severe Illness, to leave the field on the
eth, and Lieut. Rnmsey YVES In command Of |
the battery. The wound was severe, tearing |