Battle of Resaca

Battle of Resaca

While the fighting raged between Lee and Grant in Virginia, the campaign was also progressing in Georgia between William Sherman and Joseph E. Johnston. Johnston had held a strong position on Rocky Face Ridge, but Sherman outflanked him, and Johnston fell back to Resaca, arriving on May 13. The Confederates occupied a four mile long line, with each flank anchored on Camp Creek. The Federals began pressing the Confederate front on the morning of May 14, 150 years ago today. Sherman's plan was for his men to attack across a creek bed. But the attack was not properly supported and became disorganized, and did not make it across the creek. Many years later one Union soldier remembered it as an “insane, useless charge, ordered by an intoxicated officer.” Some hard fighting continued throughout the day. Meanwhile, Sherman had sent a Federal division to cut off Johnston's retreat. After further fighting on May 15, Johnston fell back because of this column's threat to his flank and the railroad. Yet again the Confederates in Georgia were retreating. The casualties from this battle were about 3,500 to 6,500 for the Federals, and 2,500 to 5,000 for the Confederates.  

Confederate entrenchments