Logan's XV Corps to the South

Logan's XV Corps to the South. . The battle of Resaca began near the southern portion of the battlefield on 7 May. The previous day, Col. J.W. Sprague's Brigade (Brig. Gen. Dodge's XVI Corps) secured Shipp's Gap in Taylor's Ridge allowing the Army of the Tennessee to enter Snake Creek Gap. On the 9th, Major Gen. McPherson ordered Dodge to advance at 6:00 a.m. toward Resaca, still about 8 miles to the east. Reinforced by the 66th Illinois , Birge's Western Sharpshooters , the Federal line drove the Rebels back toward the town some 7 miles, With the lightly defended railroad in sight, Dodge was ordered back by McPherson to the gap, the same 7 miles he just covered. Resaca would have easily fallen to Federal forces had they proceeded as it was defended by only 4,000 inexperienced Rebel troops., The next few rainy days were filled with marching and skirmishes all along Rocky Face Ridge, while Johnston moved troops to Resaca to take up and reinforce positions along that ridge., Lafayette-Resaca Road ran through a short gap of hills, west of Camp Creek, about a mile from Resaca. It was here that Dodge and Logan's XV Corps (McPherson's Army of the Tennessee) established their line on 13 May. Their sight rested on the Oostanaula River. The rest of Sherman's forces still formed to the north. Across Camp Creek, about halfway to Resaca, lay Leonidas Polk's Corps of Confederates with Scott's Brigade of Loring's Division. Supported by a two-gun battery, Scott's Brigade lay forward establishing an advanced skirmish line. At about 1:00 p.m., supported by artillery, Wood's Brigade countered the attack. Again, the 66th Illinois armed with Henry 16-shot repeating rifles participated in this easement. Following several hours of heavy fighting, Scott's Brigade retired across Camp Creek, rejoining Polk's line., Following a day of skirmishes at this point in the line, heavy fighting occurred again at about 5:00 p.m. on 14 May. Encouraged by thousands of "hurrahs" from Logan's XV Corps stationed along the hills to their rear, Wood's and Smith's brigades took the lead and pushed Rebel forces back, overtaking their fortified position. Passing over the creek and low-lying areas on a small bridge and fallen logs, the Yankees advanced. Capt. Charles Miller (76th Ohio) wrote, "dead trees were cut off by cannon balls and came crashing down about our heads." The storming columns took the entrenchments forcing the Confederates back toward Resaca. Polk reformed just west of the railroad along the outskirts of Resaca., Johnston ordered Polk to retake the hills. Yet, three spirited Confederate assaults that continued in the failing light of dusk until about 10.00 p.m. failed. Logan's losses numbered more than 600 men killed, wounded, or missing., Major Gen. Grenville M. Dodge's advance on 7 May reached the "bald hill" directly in front of this position after meeting and advancing on Confederate cavalry in Snake Creek Gap. The 66th Illinois , Birge's Western Sharpshooters with 16-shot Henry repeating rifles , drove "the enemy like sheep before them" over the seven-mile advance to the vicinity of Resaca., Major Gen. Logan wrote: ,

Our artillery opened with vigor and precision, and the consternation in the doomed town became apparent. The greatest commotion existed among the troops, and numerous railroad trains were seen to move southward over the bridge and trestle-work across the Oostanaula River. Of course this became the objective point of fire of our long-range guns, and the Fourth Ohio Battery succeeded in landing several shots on the trains.

, BG Morgan L. Smith reported: ,

My division reached a high wooded hill about 400 yards on the rear of Camp Creek, overlooking Resaca and the railroad bridge, about 4:30 p.m. [13 May]. We found the ground along Camp Creek partially cleared, with all the dead trees, which were standing quite thick, on fire, to prevent their being used as cover for our skirmishers. I got my division in position on this hill under heavy fire, and not without considerable loss.

Captions: , Top right (clockwise from left): , . Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson , . Position of Brig. Gen. Osterhaus' Division on Bald Hill on 14 May while shelling the railroad , . Major Gen. Grenville M. Dodge , Center: Charge of Logan's Corps on 14 May , Bottom left: General Logan's skirmishers advancing toward the railroad at Resaca