Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had entrenched his army
on the long, high mountain of Rocky Face Ridge and eastward across Crow
Valley. As Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman approached, he decided to
demonstrate against the position with two columns while he sent a third
one through Snake Creek Gap, to the right, to hit the Western &
Atlantic Railroad at Resaca. The two columns engaged the enemy at
Buzzard Roost (Mill Creek Gap) and at Dug Gap. In the meantime, the
third column, under Maj. Gen. James Birdseye McPherson, passed through
Snake Creek Gap and on the 9th advanced to the outskirts of Resaca where
it found Confederates entrenched. Fearing defeat, McPherson pulled his
column back to Snake Creek Gap. On the 10th, Sherman decided to take
most of his men and join McPherson to take Resaca. The next morning,
Sherman' s army withdrew from in front of Rocky Face Ridge. Discovering
Sherman's movement, Johnston retired south towards Resaca on the 12th.