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.
At 12 M. on May 17th, the general forward movement of our army was
resumed. The Twenty-ninth regiment was the advance guard of its
division, and assisted in driving the rebels from the little village
of Calhoun, where we halt for the night. At 5 o’clock on the following
morning we again moved forward in the direction of Rome, Georgia. At
Rome cross-roads the rebels were met and promptly engaged by the Fourth
corps; a lively fight ensued, resulting in slight losses on both sides.
The enemy retreated, and we continued the pursuit until 9 o’clock P. M.,
when we encamped for the night.
On the next morning at early dawn we pushed forward, continuing until
3 o’clock P. M., when we halt and form line near Kingston, Georgia.
The whole force of the enemy are immediately on our front, and the
Fourth corps promptly open fire upon them, which resulted in a further
movement of the chivalry to the rear.
We remain here until the morning of May 23d when we move about daylight
via Cassville and Cass station to the Etowah river, which is crossed on
pontoons, and a halt for the night made on its opposite bank. The next
morning we resume the weary march, coming into line of battle at about
9 A. M. We advanced in this order up the Raccoon hills, or Allatoona
range, until night, when we encamp at Burnt Hickory. The First brigade,
as advance guard, moved ahead at daybreak, via the Burnt Hickory road.