May 9, 1864.
Yesterday we
traveled southeast, crossing six or seven ridges, one or two of which were
quite high. Taylor's was the highest. To-day we have made only about eight
miles all the way through a pass in Rocky Face ridge, which is a high mountain.
There are four divisions ahead of us. A regiment of Kentucky cavalry (Rebel)
slipped in between ours and the division ahead of us, trying to capture a
train. The 9th Illinois Infantry had the advance of our division and killed 30
Rebels and took four prisoners, losing only one man killed and their lieutenant
colonel slightly wounded. Pretty good. Dodge has got the railroad and broken
it, so we hear. The fight seems to be a stand-off until to-morrow. We are in
line of battle for the first time on the trip, and the ordnance train is ahead
of the baggage. Just saw an officer from the front (your letter of the 3d of
April received this minute); he says Dodge is within a mile of Resaca, and
driving the enemy, and will have the town by dark. Has not cut the railroad
yet. This officer saw a train arrive from Dalton, with some 2,500 Rebel troops
aboard. McPherson and Logan are both on the field. Some Rebel prisoners taken
to-day say they intend making this a Chickamauga to us. Have a nice camp. There
is some little forage here, but it is nothing for the number of troops we have.
SOURCE: Charles
Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 237
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