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For the benefit of those croakers who are never satisfied with the results of our movements upon the enemy, I will briefly state wherein our victory consists.
We have driven the enemy over forty miles, compelled him to evacuate a position at Buzzard Roost that may be justly styled the stronghold of the Confederacy, recovered a large amount of territory, repulsed Johnston in every attack upon our lines, taken four thousand prisoners, compelled him to abandon his fortifications near Resacca, and destroy his whole ammunition and supply trains, inflicted heavy losses upon him, and demoralized his army to a great extent.
As an offset, the enemy has taken but one hundred or one hundred and fifty prisoners, inflicted a loss upon us equal to their own, and by their precipitate retreat stimulated our troops to greater efforts when they again meet Johnston and his followers upon the field of battle.
To show that Sherman, on his advance into the heart of Georgia, is strongly in earnest and determined to conquer, I may state that he keeps the railroad communication with his army complete.
Three hours after the evacuation of Dalton, heavy trains loaded with supplies arrived from Ringgold, and before night the town presented quite a business aspect.
The rear-guard of the enemy had not vacated Resacca two hours, ere the familiar whistle of Sherman's train was heard by the retreating army.
The telegraph line was kept up well by Captain Van Duzen, who followed in the rear of our advancing columns, and repaired it thoroughly.
Resacca is now the advanced depot for supplying the army, which is well provisioned with bacon, hard-tack, coffee, and all the et ceteras of the Commissary department.
The strength of the enemy is variously estimated at from fifty-five thousand to seventy thousand by prisoners and deserters.
The better informed, however, place their numbers at fifty-five to sixty thousand, which corresponds with estimates furnished by our scouts.
We have in front Hood's and Hardee's corps, with about twenty thousand of Polk's army commanded by the Parson in person.
Among the General officers holding commands, are Johnston, Hardee, Hood, Stevenson, Pat Cleburne and Gibson, Bates and Polk.
Major Landgraeber's report.
Report of the battalion of artillery of the First division, Fifteenth army corps, under command of Major C. Landgraeber, Second Missouri artillery and Chief of Artillery, of the part taken in the battle of Resacca, Georgia:
The First division of the Fifteenth army corps marched on the morning of the thirteenth of May, 1864, from Snake Creek Gap, with a line of skirmishers in front, in the direction of Resacca.
Battery F, Second regiment artillery, Missouri volunteers, the two twelve-pound field howitzers leading, marched behind the First brigade, and the Fourth Independent Ohio battery, the four Napoleon guns leading, behind the Second brigade.
After a lively skirmish the enemy made a stand about one mile from Resacca, Georgia, having posted his artillery on a hill.
I brought the howitzer section of battery F forward, and it took position on the left side of the main road, next to a plantation, having for support a company of sharpshooters of the First division.
The enemy was deploying his cavalry about seven hundred yards in front, but after a few rounds he was compelled to give way. The enemy was firing shells and spherical case shot at our infantry and artillery, and after being hardly pressed by our skirmishers, had to withdraw their pieces.
Our forces then took possession of the hills, and I posted three-inch Rodman guns of battery F, Second Missouri artillery, on a steep hill, about four hundred yards on the left of the main road, and opened fire with shells on the enemy's works, where he was busily engaged with working parties to finish his breastworks.
The two twenty-pound Parrott guns of the Fourth Independent Ohio battery I brought into position on the right of the road on a hill and opened fire with them, first on the enemy's works, and then at the railroad, where troops and trains of the enemy were passing.
At dark the firing ceased, and during the night I brought the section of howitzers of battery F, forward to a position on the left of the road, in advance of the Rodman guns, and posted also the four twelve-pound Napoleon guns of the Fourth Ohio battery in a position on the hill on the left of the road, some distance to the right and rear of the howitzer section.
On the morning of the fourteenth of May, the howitzers of battery F, Second Missouri artillery, fired on a line of rifle-pits in front with shells, nearly enfilading them, and the twelve-pound Napoleon guns of the Fourth Ohio opened on a piece of timber which was occupied by the enemy in force.
Our skirmishers advanced then, and the Napoleons were obliged to cease firing, the left wing of our infantry having advanced in front of these pieces.
The three-inch Rodman guns of battery F held their old position of the day before, and maintained a very annoying fire on the enemy.
The twenty-pound Parrott guns of the Fourth Ohio battery did also very good execution during the day. In the afternoon all the artillery was ordered to open a severe fire on all points occupied by the enemy, after which the infantry of the First division made a brilliant bayonet charge, crossing a deep ravine and a creek, taking possession of the hills in front of them.
After sundown the firing ceased.
During the night I built a breastwork in the ravine on the right of the main road, for the two twelve-pounder howitzers which were brought to this point at five o'clock A. M. on the fifteenth of May.
The twelve-pound Napoleon guns were also brought forward to the position held the day previous by the howitzers of battery F, Second Missouri artillery.
The two twenty-pound Parrott guns, of the Fourth Ohio
