The weekly Panola star. [volume] (Panola, Miss.) 1857-1881, 1870-10-22
VOLUME "A NUMBER 10


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H.Imi.s uuth a. bg roIellsd only
a.MnuI1u embarrassing marches
m nrr.t accompanied bg all The
'.muI1trg r7rmiituts Of q ret.
n.rl. movement
Johnston. with The army " Ten.
uar hy ~ Dalton Iolk was
mocm up from Nabama with hs
rps and opened communication
with Johnston by the sth Of May
and by the i2th was in person with
The forces of sherman commence
cd their advance on the 7tli Of May;
on the evening Of the 7th Schofcld
was 1T l,cd CLAY; Thomas was
moving down nuzzard's Roost hol-
low, opposite Mil creek gap; Me-
phcrou, marching by the valleys
on the west, directed his march on
Snake gap, Rockyface Ridge lay to
the west Of Dalton about two and a
half niles extending north and
south some twenty miles through
it penetrates three Gaps--thc most
uorthcrly, Mill Creek gap; next
and about six miles south, Dug gap;
seven miles south of this, Snake gap.
Opposite Rcsaca, Ilardee and Hood
lay, with their right resting near
l;cd Clay, their left looking into
Dug gap, 10000 strong. Polk was
arriving rapidly at Resaca, opposite
Snake gap, while Wheeler's cavalry
was in observation at Tunnel Hill,
and guarding three gaps; plcketing
also towards Rcd Clay, between
Hoods right and Schodcld, and to-
ward Rome.
1t will be seen at once that Sher-
mau's army was divided, and its
communications interrupted by
mountain ranges,t the passage through
which were in the possession Of John
ston. The question Immediately
presents itself to every soldiers mind
why did not Johnston, leaving u
sufficient force to guard the gapsy
throw Hardee and Hood in a crush
ing attack upon Schofeld, crush
him,and then passing eithert Trough
Mill Creek gap, or turning the noun
tain further north, fall upon Thomas
rear, whilo his army was crowded
with all its trains in the narrow val
ley west Of Rockyface, attacking
him in flank through the gaps, and
having dispersed him, dispose Of Nc
Pherson at bis leisure.
General Johnston determined to
abandon Dalton. On the night Of
the 18th the army commenced its re-
treat and fell back on Resaca, which
lies on tho north bank of the 0usta-
naula river, near the junction with
another stream
Thomas Immediately came pour-
ing through Mill Greek gap, Scho-
field advanced from Red Clay, Me-
Pherson passed through Snake gap,
and on the 10Th Sherman's whole
army was concentrated in front OF
Johnston, who lay at Resaca, with
the River at his back, and re lily in
the forks of two streams. The po-
sition was perilous; indeed, had he
been opposed By a great captain,
hopeless. Aftcra sharp struggle,and
a loss of about five thousand men,
Johnston on the night Of Tie 18th,
commenced his retreat across tho
river. His escape was miraculous.
Shcrman's guns commanded all tho
bridges. Their passage at night.
with a pursuing army in their rear;
was attended, necassarily,with great
confusion; and had Sherman opened
with a single battery, and fired du-
ring the night, Johnston's army
would have melted away. There
are thousands Of the survivors ofthc
army Of Tennessee who remember
that night with anxiety.
The army reached Cassvillcon the
18th, aud took position on "a bold
ridge Immediately IN rear Of Cass-
vile, with an open valley before II.
(Johnston's Report.) Here on the
18th, it remained, and the hearts Of
the entire army were Hlaslehcd by
the announcement IN general orders
from Gen. Johnston that The retreat