The New York Herald Newspaper, May 25, 1864, Page 1

SS WHOLE NO. 10,113. SHERMAN! His Glorious Victory at Ressacca. Complete Rout of the Rebel Army. ‘Magnificent Fighting of Gen. Hooker’s Corps. ‘Details of the Battles of the 14th and 15th Instant. THE REBEL RETREAT TO ETOWAU. INCIDENTS OF THE CAMPAIGN, ae a, a Mr. Thomas M. Cook’s Despatch. Kingston, Ga., May 17, 1864. ‘The earlier features of the exciting campaign which ‘Bas brought the victorious army of General Sherman to this advanced point have been detailed to you in the | voluininous despatches of Mr, Shanks, which were trans- | mitted several days since. The movements from that | Mme to the present have been a rapid succession of glo- stous results, in which the boastful rebel chieftain of the ‘West nas been detented at every point, and his dispirited | @rmy vanquished, broken and routed, Let it not be in- | ferred from this that the campaign io Georgia is ended; by no means. What I would say is this: thus far we Bave defeated the rebels at every point, twice having Pat them to an inglorious retreat. They have not yet reached their last ditch, but have a Single step remaining between them and it. In the Mountains at Etowah, which lie justin frent of us, they wih make another desperate stand, as at Dalton and | ‘Resancca; but,being driven fr m that position as they have | een driven from equaily strong positions above, Atlanta Decomes their last resort, and in the interminable fort. ications strotching along the sortes of lofty elevations | (at surround that place the final struggle will be fought. SHRRMAN’S PLAN OF CAMPAIGN, i , Sherman's plan for the present campaign was a most | ‘admirable one, aud that any portion of tno revel army | Waccedded in escaping its meshes is attributable not to My de‘ect in the plan nor any lack of enterprise or SDility on the part of the subordinate generals of his @rmy, but solely to the sagacity and military skill of bis twtagonist—tho wily Jobuston—who, by avoiding goneral Wattles, succecded in withdrawing his forces before the Boion troops could completely envelop them, FORMER ACCOUNTS. ‘The accounts of cperations in this quarter which have een sent you bring the details of movements down f@ the evacuation by the rebels of Daiton—an event Which ocourred on tho 12th inat., ard was compolied by @enera! Sherman's tactics in macsing the buik of his ermy against Rossacca. fea stationon the Western and Atlantic Railroad, seven- Ween miles south of Dalton. It ts located om the nerth . fmank of the Oostenaula jriver, at the point where the Vailroad crosses that stream. As a town, or even a elation, it 1s unimportant, the only interest attaching to 8 being tho railroad bridge, the timely destruction of which would bave severéd Johnston's communication with bie base, cut bim off from all supplies, and driven Taim to the alternative of a battle at all hazards, and eA any disadvantages, or au inglorious and precipitate retreat. As if foreseeing this, tbe rebel general bad (taken advantage of the natural position of the place, lo- @ated in the miist of an endless succession of hills, with the most commanding elevations immediately surround. tag the town, and had strongly fortified aM the ap- proaches, and kopt 8 respectable garrisou on duty in these fortiticatious. WHY DALTON WAS EVACUATED, General Sherman's first demonstration against Ressacca Raving failed, bocause of the iveignuificance of the force gent out, and considering the importance, strategically onsideres, of this pusition, General Sherman had masecd Bis entire army in Suake Creck Gap, with the exooption of General Howard's corps, with a view of making a de- ” {prmived descent upon Ressacca, occupying it at al be @ards, and then fighting the onemy from bis rear. Soknston quickly discovered this intention, and, as it bad progressed so far, he had ao other means of preventing it man by abandoning Dalton and concentrating his entire feree in front of Ressacca, which was done on the night “ qf the 12th, and on the morning of Friday, the 18th, @enera) Howard, with bis corps, occupied Dalton without resistance. BATTLES OF SATURDAY, HAY 14. (OSTILITIES COMMENCTRO, At an early bour on the morning of Saturday, the 14th, the bulk of bis army, as mentioned above, being massed tm Snake Creee Gap, Gon. Sherman ordered an adyance. Gen. Kilpatrick was ordered forward, with instructions te clear all the roads leading towards Ressacca of rebel cav- ‘airy and conceal the advance of our infantry, which was erdered to follow @t a convenient distance in his rear. Kilpatrick met with but little difficulty im steadily ad. ‘vancing until be reache! the range of hills bordering on ‘Camp creek. At the western base of these hills the rebels had constructed @ very One military read, which, as it ran parallel with their position, became desirable for the formation of our lino, and from ft it became neces. ary to dislodge the rebels, On approaching it Kilpatrick met a boly of Polk's infantry moving to oppose bim, ‘With the same snconquernple spirit that has ever an! mated this dashing ofloer, be tmmodiately pat in position she fow cavalry who were at the moment at hand, do- termined, by ® bold charge, to surprise and rout the enemy. The charge was made with ‘latte: ing success. The oncmy fled in torror before the impotuous borsemen, Geoing his advantage, Kilpatrick threw himself at tho ent of his mon to inspire them with renowod courage A @ad enihusiagm, and ted the running Sight that followed. . AILPATRION WOUNDED, ‘While pursuing the enemy, having driven them to the speint whore Geveral Dodge bad batted on the previous slay, the woods and hills were found Med with robot mbarpshooters, who kept ap a murderous fre upon the ivanoing squadron. Still the brave Kilpatrick pressed until well up im the gorgo of the hills, when a Minto veil struck him in the Sosh of his thigh, narrow)y oscaping tWhe Done, and, passing through, wounded bis horse, Tho animal reared and plunged with the.pein of the wound, peooming almost unmanageable, condering it ex. tremely difficult for the wounded rider to retain bis scat, But, conscious that the eyos of his mea wore upon bim, Ard 'that, Wie. Muocens of the entire movemont ‘would Os impo Hed should it become known that he w: nd (he intrepid commander retained his position at tins becd of bie men aati! the profuse hemorrh: ie wound boy 0 warn hita of the danger be by defer. ring tho services of @ surgeon, when he sent for bis olor olfcer, ahd, leaving the command with Jactamuy retired to the rear. Tred &y Wits saree oaptu y Kilpatrick's advance whe above Driliit ‘thir, 8 well a8 from the reports’ of nig own scouts, (everal Shormd@n received the first intl Ligoneo that the enomy were eet enk: La and fal- (ug back on Rosaxcca, with @ view of making that tho bat- tale grovod. This information came to him tn the idat of bis advance, apd admitted of ne doubt, t rathor necessitated the expeditious formation of bis jines about Rersaoce, wii Might expect to post. “S Mons with the joast opposition, aud orders wore “" esued to corps commanders to press heir cola ward with the utmost baste. &/PHRABON IN POSITION, ‘With MePhorson the orders were unnecessary. Logan's the Fifteenth—ia ai clome at band fol ta hag sdattagaa snland Wy SUnatehau: rina ine rom prisoners fore for * NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 18¢4.—-WITH SUPPLEMEN THE CAMPAIGN IN GEORGIA. Scene of Sherman’s Brilliant Battles at Ressacca on the 14th and L5th Instant. FORTIFICATIO THROWN UP R GEN MS PHERSON 7) Mil =~ MNO ds MIL f} lia ay f My Ry i) } YN ~~! covering them. ing Oceurred io Scouring this covering, but nothing of consequence. And 80, amid the thunder of the rebel artillery, cur men moved forward down the valley of Camp creek until their right rested on Oostonaula river. DIGGING, Immediately a halt was ordered, and in an incredibly short space of time tne men were intrenched in their gee! Umber, with a light covering of earth, ing an admirable ‘efonce. McPherson's whole com: mand—the Filteenth and two dtvisions of the Sinteenth_- was formed in line of battle in this valley before night, securely posted behind breastworka. FORMATION OF THM LINE. Palmer's corps was north of the gap, through which MePherson had enterss dircetion of line Beha! and Hooker lying in reserve to McPherson. A considerable hiatus existed between the lef: of Mo- Pheraon’s and the right of Palmer's iine, into which Butterfisld’s division, of Hooker's corps, was thrown, and @o the jotogrity of the line was compieted. oo: ura rio LTON, Doring the night General Howard advanced his 5 with @ smal) body of cavalry, the enemy baving - drawn from hig front, and ata very early hour on Satur. day morning occupied Malton, without slightost re sistance. The enemy had withdrawn with their entire supp! ies and equipage, leaving ue ® barren victory. the most singular fact was that they had dest nothing. | Ni witch on the railrond was 5 turbed. The y buildings were ali intact. Every. thing about the place waa found ta @ conditil if the contempiated (i mediately it, * Were thus enabled, without an for repairs to the track, to move trains of oars directly to aud through Dalton, and aa far down the road as it was saff to vonture without risking a capture by the rebels, ‘ ‘ HOWARD PRERRES FORWARD. General Howard makes no bait in Datton, but. acquaint. ‘mg Genera! Sherman by courter of hie movement, presses ‘on down the railroad to Tilvon, where he halts, and, for the first time, communicates with General Sherman on the east aide of the Chattoogata Mountains. \ MARLINS STORE} THE NEW YORK HERALD. PRICE THREE CENTs, the ‘western base of ¢ bin row valley intervening tv anc commanding elevation ihat bad been posse a by us on day, aud on why vied batter: extended in a circatious cluster of hills directly back of those partioularly noted above, the i nIDE space between their lines and ours being cleared of ite timber. imme diately back of their line, on the right of the road, were two biiis—the first wooded and concealing a vattery, ihe socoud more remote and cleared at its suimit, and hav. ing @ carefully built redoubt, mounting four guns, whien swept the Dalton road with terrible precision, ‘On the eaten k ff L FILLED WITH CZ | IRESACCA " opposi. tion, aad had been um to reach the positious assigoed them. ACHOMIELD'S COLUMN ENGAGED. General Schofield, 1a moving out on the extreme ieft, encountered the enemy at about noon, nearly midway between Sugar Valley Post (fice and Martin's store. At first tbe encounter was a mere skirmish, the rebels giviog way before us with bu! it resistance. But after fali- ing back a couple of miles they sudaenly rallied in iarre foree, and fell with great fury upon our extreme left flank The roar of musketry in tina engagement was perfect!y deafening, but the character of the country was such, being densely wooded, that but little artillery could be what was broughs into play was of but triding ty. for two the contending to and fro, the tide of battle fowing le and then the other Hi the heroes of Lookout Mountain, Williams’ men, could not have been better pleased than when this opportunity was given them to fight. With @ shout of deflance and satisfaction they threw themselves in front of the ad- yancing columns of the enemy, and speedily put an end the day's work, triumphant Deating the enomy back with heavy slaughter, and reclaiming a batter; Of Stanley’s division had let in the virtual possession of the exemy. GLO OF THE ACTION. This gallant affair closed tho battle on the left for the day. It bad been a disastrous day’s work for the enemy, Along the whole left of our line they had been driven back, step by step, their line roating at night on the hills im mediately bordering on Camp creek, while we had gained our position, the military road above referred to, and bad sacceeded in swinging our left dank around, crossing Camp creek at the of the hills si | tho —_ and resting our extreme flank on the Oo: ! river, thus surely preventing any furtber attempt flanks in that direction, ond completely hemming the eno- my in on the very short line to which he had been*oom peiled to retire. BUSINRRB ON TAR RIGHT. While the above operations were in progress on the loft, MoPherson had not been idie on the right. Keaping constantly i viow the importance of tho dastrnction of the railroad bridge across the Oostenan a, below Ressacca, ral McPherson, under cover of (General Schofield’s J¢ on the left, had thrown Logan's corps across Camp the ewst bank of | movement bad The i = i 2 103 Dy his own florce cannonading to which they were gompelied to respond ia the hopes of silencing Our guns, which were raining a terrible storm | of tron upon them. And #0, while the artillery duel pro grossed, Logan made @ gallant charge acrows the little thoentire rebel position. tmeriately 1 Rasnance aed the en! at ca, thus virtually turning their left dank. 7 RIOTS, The results of the day’s work’ may be briofly summed np ae foliows:—The oe attempted to turn our left fank, but instead their own left turned. The Important positions on their left they had lost, while on iholr extreme, right they bed been ‘crowded baok fully four mies. ime ki apd wounded would vory nearly iy isoners captured oy us. Filed od ‘wounded’ wated osetiene Tonnes thas Tee onsuaithes fe ober very light, Dag, a BATTLES OF SUNDAY, MAY 15. ‘The morping of Sunday, the ‘opened with very im- portant changes in the extent, ‘snd formation of the contending lines, @ succinot ides of which will be gathered from the sccompanying wap, which will also show very oleariy the progress made by Sherman's army on the previous day, RAMETORCEMENTS FOR THE BNEMY. It ts more than probable that early on Saturday morn- jaa p porilop of Polk's trom. fram Mobile, arrived ot the HARP. SHOOTERS [Hooker was directed to storm and carry those Opposite side of (he road from these heights was another elevation that had been overlooked at first. It was vovered with thick woods in front, but cleared on its rear slope, and was commanded by the rebel masked buttery as well as by their redoubt, On this bill a large body of suarpehouters we.e coucesled by the enemy. ess DIaPORITION®, | While we have been mak oy this hasty and imperfect survey of the (eld, Hooker bes beem employed in mass- ing bis troops under cover of the bill I have mentioned as th Our posse=nion ions of Williame and Geary are ready; but Butterield bas not yet arrived. Everybady is impatient and woudering at the delay, Bab The diy presently the suspense ts ended as the loked for division emerges from the wo ds and moves atea ‘ily down, the Yoad It 49 now noon, and no more time is w be Iosk, we Bitterfield, being already in live, is directed to coutinue his march wut within range, and then deploy his divi- 8) n in Columns, by brigades, and make the charge at the @xemy’s position, Geary’s und Williams’ divisions to apport if nee 4 gn ete RECONNOTERING, On Teoolving his instructions G was ridivg at the bh column with his stad, dashed abead to survey the ground upoa which he wae fo fight, As he ceeded be found the country @overed so densely with tmber and go rolling that be Was puzzled to determine which were the bills upon which the onemy were posted. Halting bis command, be alloped back toGenoral iloker to sek his wid in’ex- trieating bim from his cmbarras-meut, The latter officer @xpressed somo impationce at the delay, and started down the road to point out the objective point, but on Bearing the ground was a3 much embarrassed a8 his aub ordinal, the face of 1 ountry was so singularly decep- tive. The two with their staifs rode on, however, until they were assiiled by rebel bull from the left of the road, whem tho bill in that divection was (iret dis- ce vered, At the same time the sharpshooters on the hill on the right disclosed tho object search by «@ brisk fire from that Tous having discovered all that was desired, the two officers started back, when they were met by General Sherman bimself, coming up to ascertain the cause of the tlelay. ‘THE ADVANCE, Having now a clear understanding of the work he had to perform, Gen. Butterficld was not slow in entering upon its performance, Kutrusting to the brigade com- miuanded by C Vood the work of taking the bili on the neral Butterfield, whe left of the road, Gen. Ward, with bis brigade, was ordered to charge that upon the right, Col, Coburo’s brigado to aot as a reserve to Gen, dispositions Drought on two soparate battlos almost simultaneously both of them raging throughout nearly the reimainder of the day with great flercenoss. We character! that in which General Ward led off as Wood's at right, and Col. THE FIGHT ON HOOKER'S RIGHT. General Ward soon put his brigade in order of battle under cover of the advanced bill occupied by the rebel sharpshooters, and then ordered an advance, Up the bill wont the column steadily aud bravely, while the rebel sharpshooters went down the opposite side less steadily and back to their works. Crossing the summit oi the bill, Ward led his brigade op a double quick down the Tear slope, acror# the vailoy intervening to tho hase of theopposite hill. ‘his valley was swopt by the guns of the rebel redoubi on the remoter height; but so quickly was it crossed by these eager Western troops that the grape of the enemy had but little effect. Yet their gans ‘were played vigorously and earnestly, and continued rolling their iron charges through the valley after the whole column had passed. On gaining base of the opposite hill the charging column w feel the rebel bullets flying about them, as volley after volley was poured down upon them from the rifle pits above. But, nothing daunted, the brave fellows piunged into the woods that covered the face o! the hill, and began the toilsome ascent. The reserve brigade, under Co). Coburn, had in the meantime crossed the first hill, and were wait: ing in line of battle on the inner slope for the moment when they should be needed, Presently the time esemed to have come. Ward’s brigade, having app: oached within easy musket range of the enemy, began returning the compliments they had so modestly received. The roar of this musketry, echoing from hill to bill, and reverberat- ing through the woods, was in magnified. lt seemed as though Ward bad encount the eotire rebel army. To add to the effect, the rebels at this juncture unmasked a battery of four pieces, planted behind ap earthwork on the summit of the bill, and began burling cavister at their assailants. But, nothing daunt- ed, the columa moved on, fring rapidly as it advanced. A MrsttaP. Both the brigades of General rd and Colonel Co- burn, though old troops, were now in thotr first action. Their duty had hitherto been to garrison posts or protect lines of railroad, apd, although two years in the service, to most of them this was tho first time they had been under fire, It is proper to mention this fact in extenua- tion of a mishap that occurred at the critical moment which I have Brovant ibe weerebnanie. oe came near provi i reserve brigade, s apt. about their ears, and Lo suading thom to desist trom firing Avother would “probably have Onished tho work for the day. As it was, thoir fre had been nearly as destructive as of the enemy. TES FIGHT GORB ON, General Ward had not been seriously disturbed by thia mishap. Apprehending the cause, and confident it ‘would be quickly stopped, he had succeeded, with great exertion, in holding his men up to their work, and now moved them directly up to the rebel breastworks, Here, olubbiwg their bayoncts, they fought band to hand with the desperate foe, utterly fearless themselves, es riving to mount the works before his conrade, The rebels resiated nobly; but they were overmatched and forced to give way, retiring finally in a rout, leaving ‘their batvery of four guns in our possession. GENERAL WARD WOUNDED. In leading the final charge General Ward wae severe! in t £3 wounded in the arm, and was carried from the Jeaving bis brigade io command of Colonel Harrison, the senior feld officer. RETURN OF THE REBELS, The rebels retired but a short from thetr ‘ray ater} were now too bers the of the 7 beak wisely from the mais jalon of thas the guns we scene of action, and that during that day and Saturday al — night these veteran rebels were arriving, to strengthen Johnston, as rapidly as tho means of railroad tramsporta- ton at the disposal of the rebels would admit of, over their trophies * Tam REREL romrion ON SUNDAY MORNING. Re of The position occupied by the rebel ermy on Sunday morning was, notwithstanding Sherman’s successes on trothfoinese of Saturday, altogether more advantageous than that of the Acro Previous day. His troops were concentrated on a short } noon the rebels, thinking we had been repulsed, cheered Ine, strongly iatrenched throughout ite length, with « | lustily. This sung tue gallant color bearer Hees, of the & ga One Hundred and Twenty-nint back to the embrasure, he again colors defiantly at the enemy. Brat atoned his rashness, A SS ate him through the heart. There were hands to e § i H z broad stream with marshy banks covering nis centre, which was posted on commanding heights beyond this stream, while his je(t Sank was covered by the strong works that bad been constructed with great care and time at Ressacos, and hie right resting against tne river, aftor crossing @ range of Dilla fuily fortified with redoubts, masked batteries and rifle pits, The river in the vicinity of Roasacca makes a deep bend to the south, forming a perfect cul de rac, agross (he mouth of which the rebel Hi © The ai jon of this little fight ie attested by fact that General Ward's brigade lost nearly four bund: men in killed and wounded in the action. THE FIGHT ON BOOKER’S LEFT. 25 lime extended, Yhe position wae such Wat Johneton’s wl eee aging ote army of eighty thousand mem, at an estimate, was raging on the left of the same road. zh woof Ook {i f bered, bi ford popped: into a live of battle but little more braver two miles fhetdunes oe tat site —* ge freon nee length. Of course, in ® line so compactly formed,» } itn put iitte reaistance 1p clearing the hill of rebels; woak spot would bé dificult to find. but on gaioing possession be found tho timber on the SIERMAN'S Live. back of the bill cut away, thus leaving Die position to the gaze of rebdela. The redoubt so onen The operations of the previous day, in which Goneral mentioned above also swept this bill with its Hooker had borne a conspicuous part with portions of bis J guns, so that {it was not a very safe loca tion, and as ben <i = rebels left ther artillery commenced its work. no reply paving ‘no guns in position; Dut Colonel Wood , placing his men under such cover as he gould find, db rected thom to lay down, and the rebels were permitted to fire away ae emptied thoir magasines of ox- thelr ce. Season Nel PieyaLy MOVING 10 THM LET during the ‘one sided Oghi From his elevated oy b. one bens corps, had convinced that oMlcer that the key to this strong position was'in the heights on the righi of the rebel line, on whioh thoy had rested on the previous day. On comfnunioating this impression to General Shermas, heights. As one of his divisions, that of General Butterfield, was dotached at this time, General ffeoker asked to have that Aivision returned to him as pralimaicary Yo this assault, a | te rebele Kept wpm Bo request that was promptly granted the gap formed and raik eorpa as a support, The rest of the line remained sub- vba, otantialty unc! boas , The position that Hooker was to,carry will bo readily geen on the map, It was not a range of bills, but rather a coMection of detached emiaences of considerable aitt- tude, the intervening hollows being ‘Alled with a dense growth of timber and underbrush almost impassable for horsemen, and traversable with great difficulty by in- fantry, The turnpike road leading from Dalton to Res. acca passed through these bills, a portion of them ly ing on the right and others om the left of that road. On both skies of the road in front of the bills the country was rolling and densely wooded. In frons of the rebel jHion wan a lofty elevation, covered with heavy tim filled their Our tine of battle, te at 0 hagely toughed envtgaching from