Either was as well prepared for the defeat of his plans as for their success, nor did victory unduly elate him.
Each had an eye to his surroundings and was continually calling into acquisition the advantage offered by the surface of the country.
The march to Reseca was performed with the ease and rapidity that marked the Confederate commander’s entire campaign.
Cavalry Curt, we remember, had actually entered the rebel ranks, and leaving Mara Morland in her grief and hopeless condition we must, in order to keep along with the occurrence of events, turn to narrate the scout’s checkered fortunes.
Warned of Sherman’s premeditated attack by McPherson upon Reseca under cover of an assault in Buzzard Roost led by Thomas, and Schofield’s march toward Dalton, Johnston had on the fifteenth of May ordered Canty’s cavalry to that place.
Soon after its arrival this skirmishing brigade had become engaged with the advance columns of the Northern troops to be driven back.
McPherson thus unexpectedly met by the foe, whom he had hoped to find asleep, halted.
Thus the two forces were looking and waiting for each other to move, neither knowing the other’s strength, when on the evening of the ninth three divisions of Johnston’s infantry marched to the succor of the threatened town.
The arrival of the re-inforcements was the signal for rejoicing, and plans were quickly laid for more hostile movements.
That the enemy’s position and actual resources as to numbers, armament, etc., might be more definitely known a squad of six under one Lieutenant Boggs was detailed to reconnoiter the field.