The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-06-19

While Gen. Mcpherson was terrifying
his position in front of the entrance to the
gap the Confederate cavalry became some
what bold. They established a line of
skirmishers and pickets about seven miles
III length, so as to observe every move
ment of the Union forces.
Gen. MCPHERSON, however, decided not
to attack, but to fort;fy and hold the
mouth Of Snake Creek Gap, and await
the arrival of the balance Of the army,
and he 50 advised Gen. Sherman.
Gen. Johnston had been informed of the
presence of a large force in his rear, but
held on to Rocky Face and seemed indis-
posed TO withdraw. On May IL Gen.
Sherman dispatched two letters to Gen.
Mcpherson. as follows:
May II, 1864, Morning.
Maj.-Gen. Mcpherson.
General: received by courier Tin the
night yours of 5 and $50 p. m. of yes
terday.
You now have your $1,000 men, and
Gen. Hooker is in close support, so that
you can hold all of Jos. Johnston's army
| in check should he abandon Dalton. He
| cannot afford to abandon Dalton, for he
has fixed it up on purpose to receive us.
and he observes that we are close at hand
| waiting for him to quit. He cannot afford
detachment strong enough to fight you,
as his army will not admit Of it.
Strengthen your position; fight for any
thing that comes, and threaten the safety
Of the railroad all the time But. to tell
the truth. would rather the enemy would
stay in Dalton two more days, when he
may find in his rear a larger party than
| he expects in an open field. At all events
we can then choose our own ground. and
he will be forced to move out of his
works. / do not intend to put q column
into BuZZard Roost Gap at present See
that yOu are in easy communications with
me and with all headquarters. After to-
day the supplies will be at RinggoId.
Yours, w. T. SHERMAN.
May II, 1864, Evening.
Gen. Mcpherson, Sugar Valley.
General: The indications are that John
ston is evacuating Dalton. In that event
Towards Corps and the cavalry will pur-
sue: all the rest will follow your route. l
will be down early in the morning.
Try TO strike him il possible about the
| forks of the road.
Hooker must be with you now, and you
may send Gen. Garrard by Summerville
to threaten Rome and that flank. / will
cause all the lines TO be felt at once.
w. T. SHERMAN.
JOHNSON ESCAPES.
On May II, Gen. Sherman found that
Gen. Johnston was withdrawing his forces,
whereupon he ordered all of Thomas's and
Schohelds troops, except the Fourth
J Corps, now commanded by Gen. o. o.
| Howard, to join Mcpherson.
Gen. Howard was left behind to watch
the enemy and follow and attack him if
opportunity offered.
On May IL and Is Gen. Sherman had
passed through Snake Creek Gap with his
great army and moved forward toward
Resaca. Gen. Johnston mad already as
sembled his army at Resaca, and had con-
structed an extensive system Of rifle pits
for the protection of his position.
Resaca is on the north bank of the Cos
tenaula River. which is deep, bold
stream formed by the junction of the
Coosawatee and Connesauga Rivers about
a mile above the town. The former of
these streams flows from the east, the lat
ter from the north. Gen. Johnson's line
of defense from right to left extended from
river to river, and with the forts and rife
pits constituted formidable work.
On May IA Sherman's army had estab-
lished strong line west and north of the
town-Thomas in the center, Mcpherson
on the right, Schofield on the left. Two
pontoon bridges had been thrown across
the Oostenaula three miles below Resacn
to afford q crossing to threaten the rail
road at Calhoun, seven miles below Re-
SAGA.
Gen. Garrard, with his Cavalry Divi.
sion, had been dispatched on the Rome
road, west Of the Oostenaula, with orders
to cross the river IL possible and seize and
destroy the railroad at some point below
Calhoun and above Kingston.
The 10th day OF Mag witnessed bloody