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Late in the afternoon, the Federals,
under McPherson, however, drove
Polk’s advanced lines from the hill in
front of his left, which commanded the
Western & Atlantic railroad bridge
over the Oostanaula.
During the night, the Confederates,
under the direction of General Prest
man, the chief engineer, made a road,
and placed a pontoon bridge across the
river, about a mile above that com
manded bv the Federal artillery.
On the 15th, sharp skirmishing com
menced early, along the whole line,
and continued throughout the day.
Several determined attacks were made
upon Hindman’s position; in the last,
especially, the assailants exhibited the
utmost bravery, many of them reach
ing the Confederate entrenchments.
she Federals here charged across a
broad meadow, from the cover of a
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wooded ridge, and assaulted the Con
federates on the opposite ridge; but.
after a bloody struggle, were repulsed.
Seeing that they would be subjected
to a destructive fire, in crossing the
valley again, a large portion of them
took refuge behind the steep sides of a
sort cf spur ridge in front of the main
one, and there remained until after
dark, before venturing back to their
former positions.
About nocn, a strong force of Fed
eral cavalry captured the hospitals of
Hoods corps, which were located east
of the Connasauga river. Major-
General Wheeler, with Allen’s and
Hume’s brigades, madeagallant attack,
and drove off the Federals, however.
and pursued them two miles, capturing
two standards and some prisoners.
During the forenoon, Major-General
Stevenson was directed by Lieutenant-
General Hood to advance arid mask a
four-gun battery some eight yards in
front of his line of infantry, which was
near the Western and Atlantic railroad,
north of Resaca. Before Stevenson had
arranged properly to support it, Gen
eral Hood ordered him to open its fire.
This was done, and a furious attack
was immediately made upon it by
Hooker’s corps, which was facing
Hood’s at this point. The guns were
abandoned by the Confederates, and a
very spirited fight for their possession
! ensued, which resulted in the Federals
being driven back from them by the
fire of the Confederates; but they found
| shelter in the neighoring ravine. From
i this position, their musketry cors-
BATTLE of RESACA, GA, AZEsiy IBtll, 1864,
On the line of the Western and Atlantic Railroad.
The attempt against Gen. Hindman’s position by a portion of the Army of the Cumberland.
manded the location of the battery
equally as well as did that of the Con
federates. A very hot fire was kept up
by both sides, which prevented either
from removing the guns, and they
were consequently left between the two
armies until dark, and afterwards
seized by the Federals.
These were the only field trophies
they captured during the entire cam
paign to the Chattahoochee river.
At about four p. m., General Stew
art, whose division was on the Con
federate right, was ordered to attack
the Federals, and endeavor to force
their line back. General Stevenson
was to support him with his division.
Hearing of the Lay’s Ferry movement,
THE GREAT KENNESAW ROUTE GAZETTE.
bv Sherman, however, General John
ston revoked the order for this assault.
I I'he last order did not reach Stewart
in time. His troops left their en
trenchments and dashed forward in
the face of a terrible fire. Not being
supported by Stevenson, who had re
ceived General Johnston’s order, Stew
art’s men were repulsed with loss.
During the afternoon, General
Johnston received notice that the Fed
erals had secured possession of Lay’s
I (or Tanner’s) Ferry, nearly three miles
west of Calhoun, and were crossing
the Oostanaula river in force.
His communication with Atlanta,
i therefore, being rendered too hazard
ous Johnston evacuated Resaca during
, the night.
The Confederate army, in withdraw-
I ing, crossed the river on the railroad
i bridge and on the pontoon bridge one
mile above it. General Stewart’s
division covered the retreat, remaining
in position after the retiring of the
other troops on their left had opened
I to the Federals the way to Resaca and
their rear. General Stewart himself
was the last man to cross the pontoon
bridge, which was then destroyed.
The movement which forced this
action on Johnston’s part, resulted in
a fight at Lay’s (or Tanner’s) Ferry,
on May 14th, whereby the Fed
erals secured a crossing; but took no
further forward step.
The course of the river almost paral
lel to the Western and Atlantic rail
road, protected this advance from
Johnston’s power of discovery or su«-
cessful resistance.*
* There was a vigorous fight at Resaca
between the Confederate calvary and the
Federal garrison, October 12th, 1864. The
Confederates were repulsed. The next day
General Ilbod appeared with his army be
: fore the town and demanded its surren
! der. The demand was refused, and, finding
I an assault hazardous, Hood moved north
i ward against Dalton.
RESACA, GA.
This is a flourishing little village*
situated eighty-four miles from Atlanta
on the Western and Atlantic railroad.
At Resaca the Western and Atlantic
railroad crosses the Oostanaula river.
Only a few miles east of Resaca is the
confluence of the Connassanga and the
; Coosawattee rivers, which two fonu
I the Oostanaula river. The Coosawat-
tee is navigable for some forty miW
east of this point to the foot of the Blue
Ridge mountains, and the entire val
ley of this river abounds in magnificent
farms.
The head of navigation is Carter’s
landing, right at the foot of the Blue
Ridge, and at the mouth of Talking
Rock creek.
A good story is told of the govern
ment officers who made the preliminary
survey to examine as to the feasability
of opening up the river for naviga
tion.
Coming up from Rome gradually te
Carter s landing, they were entertained
for dinner by Colonel Sam Cartex.
lhe colonel was asking them what sue—
