OPPOSING SHERMAN’S ADVANCE TO ATLANTA.

263

100 miles off, with three rivers intervening. General Sherman’s course indicat-es no intention of giving battle east of Rooky-face, we prepared to fight on6l ther side of the ridge. For that object A. P. Stewart’s division was placedla the gap, Cheatham’s on the crest of the hill, extending a mile north ofStewart’s, and Bate’s also on the crest of the hill, and extending a mile®°uth of the gap. Stevenson’s was formed across the valley east of the ridge,jUs left meeting Cheatham’s right; Hindman in line with Stevenson and on|is right; Cleburne behind Mill Creek and in front of Dalton. Walker’s( vision was in reserve.

Oantey with his division arrived at Resaca that evening (7th) and wasbarged with the defense of the place. During the day our cavalry wasr iven from the ground west of Rocky-face through the gap. Grigsby’sri gade was placed near Dug Gap,—the remainder in front of our right.b out 4 o’clock p. M. of the 8th, Geary’s division of Hooker’s corps attacked' v '° regiments of Reynolds’s Arkansas brigade who were guarding Dug Gap,a bd who were soon joined by Grigsby’s brigade on foot. The increased soundbiusketry indicated so sharp a conflict that Lieutenant-General Hardee wasjWuested to send Granbury’s Texan brigade to the help of our people, and0 fake command there himself. These accessions soon decided the contest,a . li( ' the enemy was driven down the hill. A sharp engagement was occur-riJi g at the same time on the crest of the mountain, where our right and^ 6 bter joined, between Pettus’s brigade holding that point and troops of the,°brth Corps attacking it. The assailants were repulsed, however. The§°r of this attack suggested the addition of Brown’s brigade to Pettus’s.

Cii the 9th a much larger force assailed the troops at the angle, and with<ia -t determination, but the Federal troops were defeated with a loss pro-tli l0na ^ e t° Cnur courage. Assaults as vigorous and resolute were made atq Sai oe time on Stewart and on Bate, and were handsomely repulsed. The°bfederates, who fought under cover, had but trifling losses in these com-8 > but the Federal troops, fully exposed, must have lost heavily—thelo ^ ^ ecau ' se American soldiers are not to be driven back without severebell^ S " ^ enera l Wheeler had a very handsome affair of cavalry near Yar-col S Nation, the same day, in which he captured 100 prisoners, including af ll( h three captains, five lieutenants, and a standard. General Sherman® r ded these actions as amounting to a battle,see • 1<>r " l;| tioi 1 had been received of the arrival of the Army of the Tennes-J; . 111 Snake Creek Gap, on the 8th. At night on the 9th General Cantey

(t Ced that he had been engaged with those troops until dark. Lieutenant-’j'! ( era f Hood was dispatched to Resaca with three divisions immediately.0| d(j niorning he reported the enemy retiring, and was recalled, with18 to leave two divisions midway between the two places. Spirited fight-reilewe( t in and near the gap as well as on the northern front. Thet e Pul Vl ^ orous °f them was made late in the day, on Bate’s division, ande hfl S,e ^' ^ information was received from our scouts near the southRocky-face, that the Army of the Tennessee was intrenching in Snakee Cap, and next morning reports were received which indicated a general