The Washington herald., 1914-05-14

In person with re-enforcements. Geary
was repulsed.
Meanwhile Gen. McPherson was lead
ing his army through villanow toward
Snake Greek Gap. On the night Of the
Sth he was in front of II, and the fol-
lowing morning. leaving his trains in the
rear, pushed on to Resaca. The gap
was undefended when McPherson's troops
moved through. and the Federals ar
rived within a mile of ResacA without
even a serious brush with the enemy.
Falls hack to Resaca,
This movement placed the entire Army
of the Tennessee. 1900 strong, directly
in Johnston's rear. II Resaca could be
captured and held. the Confederates
would have to fight for their communica-
tions Of retreat by a difncult easteriy
route. through Spring Place, an opera
ton that might entail q loss Of many
men and wagons.
was revealed in the defenses. Though
not elaborate. they were Of immense
strength At the time Gen. McPherson
appeared in front of the works. on May
g, the garrison consisted of only two
brigades, 1000 strong, under Gen. James
Cantey, which had been rushed forward
from Folks Army Of Mississippi. already
en- route to re-enforce Johnston.
When MCPHERSON saw the extent Of
the defenses. he concluded that he would
not be able to carry them. After un-
productive cavalry recennoissances, he
retired at night to the debouche OF
Snake Creek Gap. and entrenched in
front of it
The next day, May 10. Gen. Sherman
decided to throw the bulk Of his army
through Snake Creek Gap. and on the
nth. while keeping Johnston on the alert
by frequent demonstrations. made ready
for the movement. Howard's Corps. the
Fourth. WAS to remain In front of Rocky
FACE Ridge, and Gen. George Stoneman's
Cavalry was to take the place Of the
entire Army Of the Ohio. All other troops
were to move against Resaca
At daybreak on May Il ''Old Pap"
Thomas men were in motion through
the deep woods which screened every
movement OF the Federals in the vicin-
ity OF Villanow. Schoheld's army fol-
lowed Thomas; and that night Sher-
mans army lay in front of Resaca- The
garrison Of that place had been re-en-
forced by the timely arrival Of Gen. Polk
with a division.
As soon as 1t became evident that
the Federals were massed In his rear.
Johnston fell back from. Rocky Face
Rluke ana DditOn, tne movement De8ln-
ming at / a. m. May Il.
All that day the rival armies skir-
mished heavily as they came up into po-
sition before Resaca- In this fighting
Gen Judson Fitzpatrick, who had been
sent to Sherman from the Army OF the
Potomac, was severely wounded.
Gen. Folks army. which. having In part
come up to Resaca, was In front Of the
town. facing west, with its left on the
Oostanaula River; Hardee's Corps con-
tinued Polk's line to the north; and then
came John B. Hoods Corps, swung back
at an angle, its line crossing the railroad
and Its right resting on the Conesauga
River.
The Federals were IN the usual order,
Mcpherson at the right. facing Polk;
Thomas at the center. facing Hardee.
and Schofield, at the left. facing Hood.
In addition. the Fourth Corps and Wheel
er's cavalry. which had followed John
ston in his retreat, was supporting Scho-
field.
Outhanked, Johnston Retreats.
Gen. Sherman now frightened his lines
around Resaca- Here and there the Fed
erals pushed the Confederates back and
advanced their own lines to ridges nearer
the town. On May IA, the Army Of the
Tennessee carried a commanding eleva-
tion on the extreme right, which COM
manded the Confederate pontoon bridge
over the Oostanaula River. Johnston
ordered another bridge thrown across a
mile upstream.
At the other end of the line the Con-
federate Gen. Hood projected heavy
attack against the Federals at dusk, and
gained considerable ground. Johnston.
by this success. ordered Hood
to continue the contest In that quarter
the next morning, and sent him re-en-
forcements. Here events may be antici-
pated.
On the 18th Gen. Alexander Stewards
division was sent forward by Hood to
open the attack. One OF the Confederate
batteries-four guns-was pushed eighty
yards ahead Of the line. and soon be-
came the center Of a bloody struggle.
In the end the Confederates were forced
to retire, leaving the guns between the
lines. Neither side cared to try to with
draw them during the day. for the
ground on which they stood was swept
by a fearful rain of shot and shell.
At nightfall a detachment Of the Fifth
Ohio Regiment. under Lieut.. Col Rob-
ert L. Fitzpatrick, brought the cannon
inside the Federal lines.
In the afternoon Gen. Johnston received
word that the Federals had crossed q
division to the south side Of Oostanaula,
at Lays Ferry, five miles downstream,
and were threatening his communica-
lions. He realized that Sherman might
easily push his entire army over the
river and gain his rear, so orders were
issued to evacuate Resaca-
Before midnight the movement to the