THE GRAND ARMY.

167

35,000, and that of the Ohio 15,000. These figures were approximated, but never reached, the Army of the Tennessee failing to receive certain divisions that were still kept on the Mississippi, resulting from the unfavorable issues of the Red River expedition. But on the 1st of May the effective strength of the several armies, for offensive purposes, was about as follows:

"Army of the Cumberland, Major-General Thomas commanding:

Infantry..

Artillery.

Cavalry..

Total....

Guns.

"Army of the Tennessee, Major-General McPherson commanding :

"Army of the Ohio, Major-General Schofield commanding:

Infantry.....

Artillery..

Cavalry.

Total..

Guns...

54,568

2,377

3,828

60,773

130

22,437

1,404

624

24,465

96

11,183

679

1,697

13,559

28

98,739

254

"About these figures have been maintained during the campaign, the number of men joining from furlough and hospitals about compensating for the loss in battle and from sickness. These armies were grouped on the morning of May 6th as follows: That of the Cumberland at and near Ringgold; that of the Tennessee at Gordon's Mill, on the Chickamauga; and that of the Ohio near Red Clay, on the Georgia line, north of Dalton."

It was one of the grandest armies ever led by gallant chieftain.

In the army of the Cumberland were the 4th, 14th and 20th Army Corps. The 4th Corps, commanded by Major-General Howard, comprised the divisions of Brigadier-Generals Stanley, Newton and Thomas J. Wood; the 14th, under Major-General Palmer, those of Jeff. C. Davis, R. W. Johnson and Absalom Baird; the 20th, under Major-General Hooker, the hero of "Lookout," those of A. S. Williams, John W. Geary and David Butterfield.

The army of the Tennessee comprised the 15th with portions of the 16th and 17th Army Corps, under Major-Generals John A. Logan, George M. Dodge and Frank P. Blair. The remaining divisions of the 16th and 17th were with Hurlbut and Slocum at Memphis and Vicksburg, or with the Red River expedition. The 15th Corps included the divisions of Osterhaus, Morgan L. Smith, John E. Smith and Harrow; the 16th, those of Ransom, Corse and Sweeney, and the 17th, those of C. R. Woods and Leggett.

In the cavalry array were McCook's division of the army of the Ohio, Kilpatrick's and Garrard's divisions of the army of the Cumberland, and Edward McCook's brigade of the army of the Tennessee. General Sherman says:

"Should Johnston fall behind Chattahoochee, I would feign to the right, but pass on to the left, and act on Atlanta or its eastern communications, according to developed facts. This is about as far ahead as I am disposed to look; but I would ever bear in mind that Johnston is at all times to be kept so busy that he cannot, in any event, send any part of his command against you or Banks. If Banks can at the same time carry Mobile and open up the Alabama River, he will in a measure solve a most difficult part of my problem-provisions. But in that I must venture. Georgia has a million of inhabitants. If they can live, we should not starve. If the enemy interrupt my communications, I will be absolved from all obligations to subsist on my own resources, but feel perfectly justified in taking whatever and wherever I can find. I will inspire my command, if successful, with my feelings, and that beef and salt are all that are absolutely necessary to life; and parched corn fed General Jackson's army once on that very ground."

The enemy was before our force in numbers, strong in determination, commanded by brave and skillful Generals, and able to choose their position at least so they supposed. Between the armies was a rugged and apparently inaccessible out-lyer of the Alleghanies, "Rocky-Face Ridge," through which was the defile called "Buzzard's Roost Gap," which was cut by Mill Creek, on the bank of which was the railroad connecting Chattanooga and Dalton. This pass was strongly defended, flooded by water, and commanded by batteries, and then the rebel force expected to sweep our men with destruction, but to give them that opportunity was no part of Sherman's plan, yet Dalton must be reached. Southward was Snake Creek Gap, opening the way to Resaca, where he could strike the rebel railway communication, eighteen miles below Dalton. Thomas made a feint, as though he meant to assail the defenses of Buzzard's Roost moving from Ringgold on the 7th of May, facing the Gap, meet

ing but little opposition, carrying the Ridge, "but turning south found the crest too narrow and well protected by rock epaulements to enable him to reach the gorge." McPherson reached Snake Creek Gap on the 8th, surprised a rebel brigade sent to hold it, and, on the 9th, came within a mile of Resaca, but found it too strongly defended to be carried by his force and retired on the Gap. At all points the enemy was pressed, but all points seemed to have been made wellnigh impregnable. On the 14th the rebel army was confronted in force in a strong position behind Camp Creek, occupying the forts at Resaca. A pontoon bridge was thrown by Sherman over the Oostanaula at Lay's Ferry toward Calhoun, over which was sent Sweeney's Division of the 16th Army Corps, with orders to threaten Calhoun; Garrard's Division of cavalry moved from Villanow, and crossed, to break the railway below Calhoun and above Kinston, while the main army pressed Resaca on all sides. McPherson got across Camp Creek near the mouth, and secured a position near the rebel works, on hills commanding, with short range artillery, the railway and its trestle bridges, while Thomas pressed close along Camp Creek Valley, and enabled Hooker to place his corps across the head of the Creek, up to the main Dalton road, and down it close upon Resaca.

Schofield came up in the afternoon amid the thunder of battle, close upon Hooker's left. The latter drove the enemy from several strong points on hill-crests, captured a four-gun battery and many prisoners. That night Johnston retreated south across the Oostanaula, and the next morning our forces entered the town, saving the highway bridge, but not that of the railroad, which was in flames. Here another four-gun battery and valuable stores were found. Pursuit was the order. Thomas pressed on the heels of Hardee, Gen. McPherson marched by Lay's Ferry, while to the left Schofield advanced by as many blind roads as were practicable. So Sherman had won the first stage of his arduous journey, and had rendered vain almost impregnable defenses, yet not without loss. Nearly 5,000 Union soldiers paid for the victory, killed and wounded, in the various struggles closing with the battle of Resaca.

Illinois troops were under fire in nearly all of these engagements. Logan and Palmer, and their associates of the 14th and 15th Army Corps would never shrink from peril, and their men would follow

where they would lead. A squad of the 9th Illinois Volunteers remained after McPherson fell back from Resaca, and coolly amused themselves in cutting the telegraph and destroying the railway until the next day when they came safely into camp. A correspondent of a daily paper narrates the following incident: "As we were falling back, the rebels thinking we were repulsed cheered lustily. This stung the gallant color-bearer of the 127th Illinois, named Hess. Springing back to the embrasure he flaunted the colors defiantly at the enemy. Brave fellow! his death atoned for his rashness. A rebel shot him through the heart. Other hands took up the flag with a similar fate."

Our pursuing columns pressed forward with the prestige of victory, receiving Resaca as an omen of resistless victory.

Near Adairsville the rebel force was again encountered, but it was gone at morning. Near Cassville the rebel army was formed in battle array on the 19th, strongly entrenched, but as our troops converged it again retreated at night, crossing the Etowah and burning road and railway bridges near Cartersville. Jeff. C. Davis' Division went off to Rome, and seized its forts, guns, mills and founderies, and secured two good bridges over the Etowah.

A few days' rest were given while supplies were brought forward. In these skirmishes many thrilling incidents occurred. General Sweeney made a gallant demonstration at Lay's Ferry. He was confronted by a strongly posted rebel brigade, and a fire was opened across the stream upon Sweeney's men, who had to charge across an open field to the shelter of some rail fences, from whence they returned the fire. Meantime, pontoon boats were launched in Snake Creek, a tributary of the Oostanaula, and six companies of the 66th Illinois and 81st Ohio were ordered to cross in them. The boats, with about 300 soldiers, pushed down the stream, when a regular storm of rebel bullets whistled around them, toppling some into the water and more into the boats. On they push, blazing away at the enemy in return. The rebel batteries now open, throwing round shot and shell among them, plowing up the water around, and in some cases, tearing through their crowded masses.

"At length they gained the land, and with a shout of triumph and derision, the brave fellows rushed up the banks, firing as they

advanced, then charging right on the enemy breaking and routing them. Thus did these gallant Western men open a passage across the river for Dodge's command."

General Sherman was well satisfied that the enemy would confront him at Allatoona Pass, and that an attempt to carry it would be desperate, and determined to turn it by a circuit to the right, and leaving a garrison at Rome and Kingston, and taking twenty days' provisions on the 23d, the army was headed for Dallas. General Thomas captured a rebel courier and learned that Johnston was apprised of their movements and would be prepared to receive them in the vicinity of Dallas.

May 25th Thomas was advancing from Burnt Hickory on Dallas, in three columns, Hooker in advance. He found himself before Jackson's Division of rebel cavalry at a creek, which he crossed, barely saving the bridge already fired. Marching eastward, he drove the infantry some distance, when his advance, under General Geary, came in contact with Hood's Corps in line of battle. Three of Hooker's divisions were on the other roads and it was sometime before he could mass his corps, when under Sherman's orders he deployed and drove to secure New Hope Church at the junction of three roads, from Marietta, Dallas and Ackworth. He met Stewart's division of Hood's corps and a desperate battle followed, lasting two hours. Stewart's men were covered by rude earthworks, and Hooker failed to drive them from the three roads. Morning came. McPherson moved up to Dallas, Thomas toward New Hope, while Schofield swung toward the left to shatter and turn the rebel right. The cavalry under Stoneman supported Schofield, Garrard struck with McPherson, while McCook protected the rear. Thus several days went on, Sherman designing to work toward the left, and as soon as possible push for the railway east of Allatoona. Several short, sharp rencounters occurred. As McPherson was preparing on the 28th to close his left up on General Thomas, in front of New Hope Church, that the rest of the army might sweep more leftward and envelop the rebel right, he was suddenly and ferociously assailed by the rebels in force at Dallas.

Our men were not unprepared. Strong earthworks had been thrown up, and the enemy was repulsed. The first attack burst upon Logan's pickets, and "Black Jack," after a stubborn resistance,