Battle of Resaca will be fought again this weekend
Re-enactment Saturday and Sunday in Georgia
A Civil War re-enactment marking the 153rd anniversary of the Battle of Resaca will take place Saturday-Sunday, May 20-21, in Resaca, Ga. The re-enactment will be held on the historic Chitwood Farm, a 650-acre section of the original battlefield.
Tickets are $5 adults, $2 children ages 6 to 12.
The first major battle of the Atlanta campaign was fought around tiny Resaca, Ga., over May 14-15, 1864.
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston’s Confederate army of 55,000 soldiers had fallen back from Dalton to occupy the strong defensive fortifications around the town. In hot pursuit and now directly facing them across the breastworks, was the 110,000-strong Federal army under the command of Gen. William T. Sherman. For two days, attacks and counterattacks took place along the length of the lines, with neither side gaining an advantage.
Sherman sent part of his army south around the flank of the Confederate line in an attempt to cut the Confederates off from their railroad supply line. Gen. Johnston, seeing the
Federal army outflanking him, was forced to abandon his stronghold and the Confederates slipped away during the night across the Oostanaula River.
When the Federal forces advanced the following morning, they found the earthworks empty. The Battle of Resaca had ended.
Battle re-enactments will take place Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. Before or
after, visitors can take camp tours and talk with living historians who play sutlers and soldiers. Encampments are located near the Union and Confederate 1864 lines of battle.
The weekend includes a cavalry competition, memorial service at the Resaca Confederate cemetery, continuous living history activities and demonstrations, including
how medicine was practiced during the Civil War. There’s even a re-enactor used-clothing yard sale on Saturday from 9 to 11 a.m.
Military and civilian camps open to the public at 9 a.m. both days, followed by artillery inspections at 10 a.m. and weapons inspections at 1 p.m.
The event will be held rain or shine. Members of the Gordon County Antique Tractor Club will provide free transportation from the spectator parking area to the battle site each day.
Resaca is approximately 40 miles south of Chattanooga. Take exit 320 off I-75, go east to Highway 41. Turn left and travel north about 3 miles, then turn right onto Chitwood Road. Event signs will be placed along the route.