Battle of Resaca

Battle of Resaca, by Kurz and Allison, 1889.

Date	May 13, 1864 (1864-05-13)–May 15, 1864 (1864-05-15)
Location	Gordon County and Whitfield County, Georgia 34°34′53″N 84°56′19″W / 34.5815°N 84.9385°W / 34.5815; -84.9385Coordinates: 34°34′53″N 84°56′19″W / 34.5815°N 84.9385°W / 34.5815; -84.9385
Result	Inconclusive

Belligerents

United States (Union)

CSA (Confederacy)

Commanders and leaders

William T. Sherman

Joseph E. Johnston

Units involved

Military Division of the Mississippi

Army of Tennessee

Strength

98,787

60,000

Casualties and losses

~4,000-5,000

2,800

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, May 13–15, 1864. It ended inconclusively with the Confederate Army retreating. The engagement 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.

In early May 1864, the Confederate government granted Johnston's request for reinforcements to his camps around Dalton, Georgia. As the brigade of Brig. Gen. James Cantey started to move through the city on May 7, 1864, cavalry scouts alerted Johnston that a large number of Union troops were moving towards Rome, Georgia, on roads that led through Resaca. During the remainder of May 7 and the day of May 8 Cantey's brigade had time to entrench and set up defenses.

On May 9, the Army of the Tennessee under the command of James B. McPherson moved out of Snake Creek Gap and immediately ran into a Confederate cavalry brigade ordered to scout the area the day before under the command of Colonel Warren Grigsby. After a fierce battle, Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Sweeny formed a defensive line and drove the Confederates back to Resaca, several miles to the east.

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