May 11th. Still in the same position, hourly expecting orders to move; quartermasters remove all extra baggage to the rear; all men unable for active service sent to hospital, and everything possible put into perfect fighting order, and by the way it’s ever so much nicer penning these lines here in our cosy room in the far away Western Reserve of the Buckeye State than was the actual experience in Secessia during those early May days of 1864.
On the 12th instant we moved forward to Snake Creek Gap, forming a junction with the Fifteenth and Sixteenth corps (McPherson’s), where we remained during the night. At 2 o’clock P. M. on the following day we advanced toward Resaca, fully occupying Snake Creek Gap. Our cavalry are sharply engaged with the enemy. Here brave General Kilpatrick is wounded. At 4 o’clock P. M. the battle is still raging fiercely, and the enemy are being slowly driven back. At last a hill is captured which covers the entire rebel line. Here we fortify and rest for the night.
May 14th a severe engagement opens near Resaca; we advance by a circuitous route to the left; the Fourteenth corps is engaged; during the afternoon we joined our Twentieth corps and moving rapidly to the left; succeeded in rescuing a portion of the Fourth corps from disaster and defeat, and one of its batteries from certain capture, the infantry support having been driven back, leaving the battery at the mercy of the rebels. Robinson’s brigade, of Williams’ division, Twentieth corps, who were in the advance, fortunately reached the scene of action in time to prevent the capture of another battery by making a counter-charge on the advancing rebel legions. We came up soon after this support, which soon ended in the complete repulse of the rebels, driving them beyond their fortifications. The Twentieth army corps received the compliments of the commanding general, Hooker, for their gallant work, which resulted in a loss to the enemy of some four hundred men killed and wounded.
CHAPTER XIV.
Battle of Resaca, Georgia—In Pursuit of the Fleeing Chivalry (?)
At an early hour on the morning of May 15th sharp skirmishing opened along our entire front. General Geary’s Second division moved a short distance to the left and halted for orders. About 11 o’clock Generals Sherman, Hooker, and Thomas, with their respective staffs, reached the battlefield and immediately held a council of war. General Hooker is requested to assume command of selected troops to take the offensive, and is asked how large a force he required to capture a certain fort directly in our front, known to be the enemy’s stronghold and the key to his position. Hooker astonished his superiors by replying: “Geary’s division can, I think, carry that position if it can be done by anyone.” As this conversation was heard by our men we were prepared for what was to follow.
As soon as General Geary had received his instructions, the Second division moved to the attack in the following orders: Second and Third brigades in the advance, with the First brigade closely massed in their rear, the latter advancing closely in support of the attacking column. Our advance was met with obstinate resistance, yet we steadily pushed forward, driving the enemy back and gaining possession of three lines of hills in rapid succession, the last of which was in close proximity to the rebel fort, only a narrow ravine intervening. The enemy are strongly entrenched in earthworks extending in the rear of the fort. The First brigade commenced a rapid firing at short range to cover the sortie being made by regiments of the Second and Third brigades. These regiments rush gallantly forward to the assault. They are repulsed but quickly reform, and, with other regiments sent to their support, they again pass forward. The fort was captured and lost three times in succession, but at last the rebels are forced to flee before our furious charge. Leaving the guns they join the main line.
The Union forces prevented the rebels from again occupying the fort until dark, when detachments from the Twenty-ninth and other Ohio regiments of the First brigade were sent to open a trench through the earthworks of the fort through which to move the guns into the ravine below. The rebels discovering this charged down upon us to recapture the guns. Expecting such an attack the First brigade had moved forward into the ravine, and now waited the coming of the rebels. When close upon them a signal was given, which was followed by a sheet of flame along our whole line, dealing terrible destruction into the rebel ranks, immediately followed by a determined bayonet charge, which threw their lines into disorder and they fled panic-stricken over their fortifications, closely pursued by our command, whose loud huzzas sent Johnston’s army in rapid retreat, abandoned all its cannon, hospital, and commissary stores, and with their usual savagery leaving their own dead and wounded upon the field. We also captured many prisoners.
This success was a grand victory for the “white star” division of the Twentieth corps, yet not unattended with losses, which were, however, light in comparison with those of the enemy. In fact, in the night attack we had so thoroughly surprised the enemy that but feeble resistance was made.
At an early hour on the morning of May 16th we pushed rapidly forward in pursuit of the retreating rebels. At 9 o’clock A. M. we came into line on the bank of the Coosa river, near the railroad bridge, which our cavalry had prevented the rebels from burning, though they had made repeated efforts to do so. The enemy’s flight was so rapid that he had not even time to seriously impair the railroad track. Our locomotives, with trains of supplies, soon came in sight. We now advanced across the river and encamped for the night.