Resaca | May 15, 1864

Despite his failure to break Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s line, May 14 had been a productive day for Gen William T. Sherman. Gen. Thomas W. Sweeny’s division of the XVI Corps had moved to Lay’s Ferry on the Oostanaula River south of Johnston’s army (not shown on this map). While Sweeny built pontoon bridges for the crossing, Sherman ordered Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas to assault the section of the Confederate line held by Gen. John Bell Hood.

At 11:30 a.m., Gen. Joseph Hooker’s corps advanced astride the Dalton Road, where they encountered the “Cherokee Battery” under Capt. Maximilian Van Den Corput. Hooker’s men drove off the gunners but were unable to take possession of the battery until later that evening. By then, Sweeny had successfully crossed the Oostanaula River. Realizing he had been flanked, Johnston began to withdraw his troops.