Description: |
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had entrenched his army on the long, high mountain of Rocky Face Ridge and
eastward across Crow Valley. As Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman approached, he decided to demonstrate against
the position with two columns while he sent a third one through Snake Creek Gap, to the right, to hit the Western &
Atlantic Railroad at Resaca. The two columns engaged the enemy at Buzzard Roost (Mill Creek Gap) and at Dug
Gap. In the meantime, the third column, under Maj. Gen. James Birdseye McPherson, passed through Snake Creek
Gap and on the 9th advanced to the outskirts of Resaca where it found Confederates entrenched. Fearing defeat,
McPherson pulled his column back to Snake Creek Gap. On the 10th, Sherman decided to take most of his men
and join McPherson to take Resaca. The next morning, Sherman’ s army withdrew from in front of Rocky Face
Ridge. Discovering Sherman’s movement, Johnston retired south towards Resaca on the 12th. |