Seven days after Allatoona, Gen. Hood with his entire army was at Resaca. It was garrisoned by about five hundred men commanded by Col. Weaver. Hood summoned Weaver to surrender in unmistakable terms, ending as follows:
If the place is carried by assault, no prisoners will be taken.
Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. B. Hood, General.
To this Col. Weaver replied:
In my opinion I can hold this post. If you want it, come and take it.
Clark R. Weaver, Com'd'g Officer.
(See Sherman's "Memoirs," Vol. II., page 155.)
Nevertheless, on page 257, "Advance and Retreat," Hood writes, "Gen. Corse won my admiration by his gallant resistance," etc., and further on—page 326 of his book—he writes, "The information I received that the enemy was moving to cut me off proved to be false," which is refuted by the arrival of reënforcements as I have stated, and Sherman's dispatches that I have given.
It is singular that so many laudatory statements should have been made by Gen. J. M. Corse and admirers about the battle of Allatoona, which were not necessary to sustain his character as a soldier.