Battle of Resaca

Battle of Resaca Part of the American Civil War Battle of Resaca, by Kurz and Allison, 1889. Date May 13–May 15, 1864 Location Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia Result Inconclusive Belligerents United States (Union) CSA (Confederacy) Commanders William T. Sherman Joseph E. Johnston Strength Military Division of the Mississippi Army of Tennessee Casualties and losses 2,747 2,800

v • d • e Atlanta Campaign Rocky Face Ridge – Resaca – Adairsville – New Hope Church – Pickett's Mill – Dallas – Kolb's Farm – Kennesaw Mountain – Marietta – Noonday Creek – Pace's Ferry – Peachtree Creek – Atlanta – Ezra Church – Brown's Mill – Utoy Creek – 2nd Dalton – Lovejoy's Station – Jonesborough

Confederate earthworks overlooking the battlefield at Resaca, 1864.

The Battle of Resaca was part of the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The battle was waged in both Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia, from May 13–May 15, 1864. It ended inconclusively.

The battle was fought between the Military Division of the Mississippi (led by Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman) on the side of the Union and the Army of Tennessee (Gen. Joseph E. Johnston) for the Confederates. There were 6,100 combined casualties: 3,500 for the Union and 2,600 for the Confederacy.

Johnston had withdrawn his forces from Rocky Face Ridge to the hills around Resaca. On May 13, the Union troops tested the Rebel lines to pinpoint their whereabouts. The next day full scale fighting occurred, and the Union troops were generally repulsed except on the Rebel right flank where Sherman did not fully exploit his advantage. On May 15, the battle continued with no advantage to either side until Sherman sent a force across the Oostanaula River, at Lay’s Ferry, using newly delivered Cumberland pontoon bridges and advanced towards Johnston’s railroad supply line. Unable to halt this Union turning movement, Johnston was forced to retire, and leading to the Battle of Adairsville on May 17.

Battlefield preservation

The battlefield is preserved as the Resaca Battlefield State Historic Site. The visitor center is scheduled to open in 2010.^[1]

References

• National Park Service battle description

"Come on boys!" Benjamin Harrison during in the Battle of Resaca.

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