Battle of Resaca

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Battle of Resaca

Battle of Resaca, by Kurz and Allison, 1889.

Date	May 13-May 15, 1864
Location	Gordon and Whitfield counties, Georgia
Result	Inconclusive

Combatants

United States of America

Confederate States of America

Commanders

William T. Sherman

Joseph E. Johnston

Strength

Military Division of the Mississippi

Army of Tennessee

Casualties

2,747

2,800

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

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

The battle was fought between the Military Division of the Mississippi (led by William T. Sherman) on the side of the Union and the Army of Tennessee (Joseph E. Johnston) for the Confederates. There were 5,547 casualties: 2,747 for the Union and 2,800 for the Confederacy.

Johnston had withdrawn from Rocky Face Ridge to the hills around Resaca.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 Oostanula River, at Lay’s Ferry, towards Johnston’s railroad supply line. Unable to halt this Union movement, Johnston was forced to retire.