‘General McPherson reached Resaca, but found the place strongly fortified and guarded, and did not break the road. According to his instructions, he drew back to the debouche of the gorge, where he has a strong defensive position, and guards the only pass into the valley of the Oostanaula available to us. Buzzard Roost Gap, through which the railroad passes, is naturally and artificially too strong to be attempted. I must feign on Buzzard Roost, but pass through the Snake Creek Gap and place myself between Johnston and Resaca, where we will have to fight it out. I am making the preliminary move. Certain that Johnston can make no detachments, I will be in no hurry.’So it was not until some days after the attack began that he came to the conclusion, as he tells Halleck, that he ‘must feign on Buzzard Roost,’ but attack through Snake Creek Gap, which statement—as well as several dispatches already Quoted—conflicts pointedly with the assertion that, from the first he ‘had no intention to attack the position seriously in front.’ General Sherman having refrained from hurrying, and Johnston having virtually escaped him, he telegraphed to General Halleck on the 14th: ‘By the flank movement on Resaca we have forced Johnston to evacuate Dalton, and are on his flank and rear; but the parallelism of the valleys and mountains does not give us all the advantages of an open country; but I will press him all that is possible.’ And on the 15th: ‘We intend to fight Joe Johnston until he is satisfied, and I hope he will not attempt to escape; if he does, my ’
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McPherson of his intention to attack in force, through Snake Creek Gap, as follows: ‘The Buzzard Roost Gap is so well defended, and naturally is so strong, that I will undertake to attack Johnston through Snake Creek Gap. * * * * we may not be able to put our project in operation by the day after to-morrow, but we will all get ready. * * * * Do you think Johnston has yet discovered the nature of your forces?’
On the 10th he also telegraphed General Halleck as follows:
Cincinnati: Wilstach, Baldwin & Co. 1875.
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