An Article from the "Southern Banner" Newspaper of Athens GA
May 18, 1864
“From Northern Georgia”
Our Front
Taylor’s Ridge is a continuation of White Oak Mountain in Tennessee, and runs North by East and South by West. One mile this side of Ringgold, a depression, or gap is formed by this ridge by Chickamauga, running through it, and through which also passes the Chattanooga Railroad. From Ringgold to Tunnel Hill, distance seven miles, the country is tough and rugged, with occasional plains and farms along the road.
Tunnel Hill is seven miles northwest from Dalton. The railroad tunnel runs through a chain of hills at this point, which is the extremity of the slopes of Alleghany Mountains, and which is the dividing line between the valley of the Mississippi and the Atlantic. It is somewhat remarkable that at this range of hills, the streams and rivers on either side run in opposite directions. From Tunnel Hill towards Dalton the country continues very rugged and broken with a high range of hills on the left, a continuation of Taylor’s Ridge, which is faced with perpendicular rocks forming palisades, and much resembling those on the Hudson.
On either hand the road winds through ridges and step isolated hills. Three miles and a half NW from Daltons runs Chatooga Ridge or “Rocky Face”, a depression of which is called Mill Creek Gap, which opens with a narrow fertile valleys where the enemy attempted to flank us on the 25 of February last and was so severely repulsed by the Alabamians. This position in our front is impregnable.
Our Right
From Cleveland on our right, a dirt road runs from that town within two miles of Varnall’s Station on the East Tennessee and Georgia Road, the enemy is also in force and said to be gradually advancing. This dirt road from Cleveland, at three miles from Dalton is intersected by a road leading to Spring Place (which is ten miles east of Dalton) and crosses the Coahulla and Connassauga rivers. This point is on our extreme right and just six miles east of the Coahuttee, or Frog mountains which shut up in Dalton on the east side.
Our Left
On our left Cha-too-gasta mountain or Rocky Falls, runs north and south enclosing Dalton two miles distant, on the east side. There are several gaps in this ridge. The first is a narrow steep path, called Trail Gap, two miles west of the town. The next, Dug or Villanow Gap, four miles southwest from Dalton, leads to the village of Villanow, thirteen miles southwest of Dalton.
The Federals, Their Probable Movements
Hooker’s corps are said to be on our left between Red Clay and Lee and Gordon’s Mills. Red Clay a station on the East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad, 22 miles east of Chattanooga. Lee and Gordon’s Mills are on the west Chickamauga, on the road to Layfayette, add thirteen miles from Chattanooga. As already explained, the enemy, by moving from Lee and Gordon’s Mills could make a flank movement on Resaca, 16 miles south of Dalton, by a good dirt road a distance being 32 miles from Resaca.
To flank us by Rome , the enemy would have to come up the Lafayette Road by Summerville, 18 miles southwest of Lafayette, which town is 36 miles North of Rome. This route was the old march attempted by the enemy from Chickamauga which resulted in the Battle of Chickamauga. God grant that enemy may find another “River of Death” in his advance on Dalton.
Special to the Chronicle and Sentinel, Dalton May 12, via Atlanta, 13th
Baker’s and Clayton’s Brigades repulsed the enemy’s assault on Rocky Face Ridge on Wednesday four times with heavy slaughter.
Our casualties are a few wounded. At two pm on Thursday the enemy renewed the assault in front of Mill Creek Gap.
They were twice repulsed by Bate’s and Stovall’s Brigades with severe loss.
The enemy is massing his forces in Sugar Valley towards Snake Creek Gap, five miles west of Resaca.
A slight skirmish with our cavalry ensued on Thursday morning, four miles from Resaca.
The enemy was reported crossing the Oostanaula River yesterday, going in the direction of Calhoun, six miles south of Resaca, to cut off our trains. We are prepared at all points to meet the enemy.
Our forces in front of Dalton are intact. The rumors of our falling back are false. The probabilities are that a battle will take place in a few days on our left flank near Resaca. Our Army is confident, hopeful and buoyant.
Special to the Confederacy - Evacuation of Dalton
Calhoun - May 13
Dalton was evacuated by out forces last night and occupied this morning by the enemy. Our forces fell back to Resaca this evening. Considerable artillery and musketry firing was going on when the train left this evening at 5 o’clock. Catoosa.
Special to the Chronicle and Sentinel. Calhoun, May 14. Yesterday Kilpatrick’s Cavalry were gallantly repulsed by Griggsby’s Kentucky cavalry near Resaca. Kilpatrick is reported mortally wounded. Loring and Cheatham’s division them became severally engaged, ---- repulsing the enemy. Col Stanton of the 28th Tenn was killed. Gen Hardee had two horses shot under him. Our loss slight. A heavy engagement commenced this morning near Tilton. This morning on our right at 10, Stewart’s and Stevenson’s divisions repulsed the enemy four times with great slaughter, we capturing a large number of prisoners – our loss is severe. The fight is still progressing. The enemy resisting stubbornly. There has been shelling and slight skirmishing near Calhoun all day. The enemy are now crossing four miles from Calhoun, and are held in check by Maston’s Cavalry. A general engagement is expected tomorrow. All confident and hopeful.
From the Dalton Front
One of our special reporters returned from Resaca last evening which place he left at five pm. The enemy are massing a large force (the newspaper has a chuck out of it here)
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