Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-25
Copyright. 1904. by G. L. Kilmer.l

Sherman to Atlanta is that OF
Resaca, Ga, May IA and Is, 1864. In
comparison with the CORY scenes then
passing in the Wilderness campaign in
Virginia, Resaca was not a great bat
tie, yet victory in fighting on that field
destroyed for the second time within a
week the barrier erected by the Con-
federate general, Joseph E. Johnston,
to oppose Sherman's advance on At
lanta.
Johnston first confronted Sherman
at Dalton and was forced to retreat
from his position by flank movement
effected by Sherman through Rocky
columns from the eyes Of the enemy
while marching around the flank to
strike the Confederate rear Sherman's
advance, under General Mcpherson,
burst through the mountains into the
valley around Resaca the 9th OF May,
and Johnston speedily sent two divi-
sions to Resaca to hold Mcpherson off
until re-enforcements marching up
from the south could reach there and
prepare for defense. Johnston held on
at Dalton until the 18th, then marched
south, leaving rear guard, under Cen
eral Joe Wheeler, at Dalton. General
o. O. Towards Federal corps followed
In Johnston's pathway Of retreat, and
the corps of Thomas, Schofeld and
Fighting Joe" Hooker passed through
the mountains on the route taken by
Mcpherson.
When Sherman's army at last closed
in around Resaca, the right wing, COM
prising the bulk Of the force, was sep
Rrated from the left wing under How
ard. Howard moved up last, having to
fight with Wheeler for the right of
way. Johnston discovered the plight
of the Federal left wing, there being
wide gap between Howard's corps and
the rest of the army on the morning of
the 18th. Promptly sending General
J. B. Hoods corps forward into the
gap, he drove Howard back and turned
the flank of Sherman's army. Hooker
quickly marched to the succor Of How
ard, saved his artillery from capture
and intrenched for the night.
Early on the 18th of May it occurred
to both Sherman and Johnston to adj
vance their columns over the same
ground, Sherman to tighten the tolls
he was weaving around Resaca and
Johnston to shake OFF the threatening
grip Of the foe. Sherman sent forward
Hooker to clear Hood out of the way
of Howard in order to concentrate the
line, and Hood, an equally vigorous
fighter, marched out to push Hooker
from the field.
Hoods front had been strongly in
trenched, and Hooker's columns were
met at the outset with a staggering
FIRE, but pressed forward over the first
line of works, cheering wildly at their
success. Then the leading Federal d.
vision plunged recklessly into ravine
swept by a salient battery of four
guns. Colonel Wards brigade held the
van and finally silenced the battery, yet
recoiled before the terrible volleys Of
bullets poured into it by the Confeder-
ates Of Stevenson's division. Steven
son was finally forced to retreat, and
the mute cannon lay between the ar
mics till nightfall, when they were
brought Off by a detachment Of the
Fifth Ohio led by Colonel Fitzpatrick.
In. the fight around that battery Colo
mel Benjamin Harrison's regiment,
the Seventeen Indiana, bore the brunt
Of the carnage and lost over $50 of it's
number by wounds and death. In the
presence OF horrible carnage individ-
ual courage ran high. While retiring
for better shelter the Indianians heard
the enemy s exultant yells behind them,
and the color bearer of the regiment,
mere boy named Hess, wheeled about
and swung his flag defantly in full
view of the Confederates. A well
aimed bullet cut short the daring deed,
but comrade rushed forward and,
selling the staff, waved the flag over
the body Of the dead hero. The lofty
courage of the second bearer in risking
his own life to vindicate a fallen COM
rade touched the manhood of the Con-
federates, and they allowed him to
finish the salute unframed.
The Confederate position at Resaca,
although naturally strong by nature,
had the fatal weakness of river at
the backs OF the army defending it.
Once the Federals should put across
the river a force strong enough to hold
the ground Resaca would be complete
ly invested. This feat was actually ac-
complished by division led by the one
armed Irish soldier, General Thomas
w. Sweeny.
General Sweeny first crossed the
Oostenaula the afternoon of the 18th
and with 4 small force covered the
work of bc,ding a pontoon bridge at
Lays Ferry, point below Resaca.
Some distance back from the ferry
Martins Confederate cavalry was in
hiding to defend the crossings against
Federal advance. While Sweeny
| was contending with Martins troopers
the Confederate division of General
w. H T. Walker crossed the river at
Resaca and marched down the east
bank. Learning of Walkers move
ment, Sweeny retired, and Walker
faced about, reporting the river clear