The National tribune., 1903-02-26
DEFENSE OF REsACA.
Hood outmanuvers Sherman, But is Eeaten
~,s..~.- in Actual Fighting.
Copyrighted. 1911. by the Publ

.~s..-s in Actual Fighting.
1t has been seen that Gen. Hood began
crossing the Coosa River on the night OF
Oct. 8. and completed the crossing Oct
10, and that while this passage of the
river was going on, lie caused heavy
demonstration to be made along the river
in front of Rome inducing the belief Ill
the mind of Gen. Corse that Rome was
to be attacked. This feint had the effect
it was intended to have, namely, to induce
Gen. Sherman to move with his army to
the relief of Rome. AS the Confederate
forces crossed tile Coosa River they moved
out and took the road northward to
Resaca.
On the night of Oct 10, Gen. Hoods
headquarters were at Coosaville, on the
west side of the river. 10 miles southwest
of Rome. On the night of the 11th his
, headquarters were Mt OrInuchee Post
Office, 10 miles northwest of Rome; his
cavalry, under Gen. Wheeler having adj
yanced into the valley Of Johns Greek.
INVESTMENT OF RESACA.
On Oct. u Gen. Hood moved his
army forward at an early hour; his adj
vance entered Sugar Valley by noon. AT
10 O'Clock the investment of Resaca be-
gan.
Col. Clark r. Viewer, 18th Iowa, was
in command of the Second Brigade, Third
Division, Fifteenth Corps, and occupied
the post of Resaca with a portion of the
brigade. The regular garrison consisted
of the S0th Ohio, commanded by Lieut.
Col. PreI Metham, two companies of the
10th Mo-, Capt. J. w. Strong, two conf
panies of the 9th Cav, Capt. Coffman,
and a garrison battery of four guns, COM
manded by Lieut.. Samuel Winson and
manned by details from the brigades.
Upon learning through citizens that the
enemy were encamped ON Johns Greek,
Col. Viewer called in as a reinforcement
the seth ILL.,, Col. John 2. Hall, conf
mandng. Five companies arrived from
Calhoun at 10 O'Clock on the night of the
11th, and five companies under Capt
James z. Files arrived from Adairsyille
at o'clock on the morning of the 18th,
having marched II miles during the night.
FIRST BRUSH WITH HOODS ADVANCE
COLUMNS.
The advance of Gen. Hoods forces was
met and skirmished with by small de-
.tachment of cavalry under Capt. Coffman,
which retired before largely-superior
force. until they crossed Sugac Greek,
where they were met by company of
the 56th Ill. This combined force held
the Confederate advance in check for
sometime and until Col. Hall, by direction
of Col Viewer, moved out with four addi-
tional companies of his regiment, when he
deployed a skirmish line of about 1000
yards on the east bank of Sugar Creek,
the enemy still remaining on the other
side.
The Confederate forces were constantly
extended to complete the investment from
the Oostanaula River on their right to the
COnnesauga River on their left. In short
time the enemy reached the railroad, tore
up portion of the track and destroyed
the telegraph line. Upon this portion of
Gen. Hoods column Col. Viewer caused
his artillery to be directed: the firing was
heavy, increasing continually until 4 80 p.
m, when Col. Hall Informed Col. Viewer
that a flag of truce was approaching.
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER DEMANDED.
Col. Viewer sent Capt. ". W. Mccain
mon, "A. A. A.-GeneraI, to confer with
the bearer of the flag. Capt. McCammOn
soon returned, being accompanied by Col.
Hall, and brought the following communi-
cation:
Headquarters Army of the Tennessee,
in the Field.
"Oct. -, 1864.
sTo the Officer Commanding q. S. Forces
at Resaca, Ga.
''Sir: l demand an immediate and I'M
conditional surrender of the post and gar
rison, under your command, and should
this be acceded to all white officers and
soldiers will be paroled within a few days.
If the place is carried by assault no pri-
soners will be taken.
'.Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
u. y. HOOD, General.
To this peremptory summons Col. We
yer returned the following reply:
Headquarters Second Brigade, Third
Division, Fifteenth Corps.
"Resaca, Ga, Oct II, 1864.
0Ganaral T r Hood. Your no.npnuni-
cation of this date is received. In reply
I have to state that l am somewhat sur
prised at the concluding paragraph, to the
effect that IF the place is carried by as
sault no prisoners will be taken
"In my opinion l can hold this post;
II you want it, come and take it.
Il am. General, very respectfully, your
most obedient servant
CLARK r. VIEWER, Commanding Officer"
Col. Hall delivered Col. Viewers answer.
The truce was ended, and the fight re-
stunned.
TIMELY ARRIVAL OF COL. wATKINs's COM
MAND.
When Col. Hall withdrew from Calhoun
to reinforce Resaca lie left the defense of
the post to Col. Lewis ID. Watkins, COM
manding the Third Brigade, First Divi-
sion, Cavalry Corps, composed of the 4th
Ky. Cav, Col. Wickliffe Cooper, command
ing: the 9th Ky. Cav, Maj. William H. |
Fidler, commanding, and the 7th Ky. Cav,
Col. JnO. +. Faulkner, commanding. When
Col Watkins heard the roar of cannon
coming from the direction of Resaca, il
was a sufficient summons to him; he re-
Eponded at once, and with every man of
his command made hurried march to
Resaca. He arrived just as Col. Viewer
had returned the answer declining to sur
render the place. There We're three in
closed works for the defense of Resaca
besides the rifle pits-two east, and one |
Eest of the railroad.
Col. Watkins threw his men into the |
forts east of the road, while a portion of |
the SOth Ohio occupied the fort west of |
the railroad, and the rifle pits in front of |
1t. Tho 50th Lii. held the skirmish line, |
with reserve, aided by Capt Coffman's
Cavalry, dismounted, and the 10th Mo. /
detachment under Capt. Strong. While |
these operations were going on in and
around Resaca large bodies of the Con-
federate forces were pushing nOrthward, |
and the work of destroying the railroad |
and telegraph line was being actively per. |
formed.
A point three miles north of Resaca |
known as Construction Camp was held |
by Capt. White with 4 detachment of the |
10th Mo. 1t was the intention of Col. |
Viewer to call Capt. Whites command in |
to Resaca, and he sent a messenger for |
that purpose, but the Confederate forces |
had anticipated him; they had already ex-
tended their line to the Connesauga River,
thus cutting off Capt. White.
The post of Triton was garrisoned by
the 18th Iowa, commanded by Licut.-Col.