The 2nd Massachusetts Infantry
at Cassville, GA
19-20 May, 1864

After Resaca, Sherman spread out his army on a broader front as the countryside became more open. Johnston saw this as an opportunity to strike a counter-blow against part of his adversary's force.

Johnston's plan called for Hardee and Wheeler's cavalry to check the advance of McPherson and Thomas while Hood attacked Schofield as the latter moved against Polk in the Confederate center. But Hood ruined the plan when he was faked out of his position by the advance of McCook's cavalry on his right which he perceived as threat to his flank and face to meet it. This delay forced Johnston to abandon his plan and withdraw to a strong defensive position south of Cassville, GA.

19 May, 1864

Thomas closed in from the west and Schfield from the north. Skirmishing between the two forces continued until dark. The 2nd MA was not involved in the action save for the company of Capt. Francis Crowninshield which was forward on the skirmish line. At one point, he was advancing through a wood and somehow got separated from and subsequently run over by the line of battle. He managed to rearranged his line of skirmishers and continued the advance. When he was within sight of Cassville he was stopped by firing in his front. "By this time darkness had come on, consequently everything got mixed up, and when I was fired upon by the enemy, the troops in rear and on my flank also fired on me. The only thing to do was to hug the ground, which I did, and in this way escaped without loss."

It was Johnston's desire to defend his position but Hood and Polk convinced him that their part of the line was too vulnerable. The decision was made to continue his retreat down the Western & Atlantic RR to Allatoona Pass, where he took up a defensive position that Sherman judged to strong to assault. He gave his army a 3-day rest before undertaking another turning movement to dislodge Johnston.

The rest was the first for the 2nd MA since leaving Chattanooga and it was a welcomed one. Crowninshield observed, with some regret, that Cassville was "pillaged completely" by Union troops. This was not his idea of warfare.

News of the war back in the east was slow in reaching the men of the 2nd MA. Upon learning of the slaughters at Spotsylvania and Cold Harbor, they had reason to be grateful for their transfer from the Army of the Potomac. "The news from Virgina is grand, but the details terrible," wrote Lt. Col. Charles Morse on the 20th of May. Crowninshield agreed and wondered if the rebels in Georgia would ever make a stand. "If we can gain a victory here it wil have a great effect on the fate of the nation."

Towards Atlanta
BACK
HOME


This page hosted by GeoCities Get your own Free Home Page