Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston had entrenched his army on the long, high mountain of Rocky Face Ridge and eastward across Crow Valley. As Major General William T. Sherman approached, he decided to demonstrate force against the position with two columns. His two columns engaged the enemy at Buzzard Roost (Mill Creek Gap) and at Dug Gap. In the meantime, a third column, under Major General James Birdseye McPherson, passed through Snake Creek Gap and on May 9, advanced to the outskirts of Resaca where it found Confederates entrenched. Fearing defeat, McPherson pulled his column back to Snake Creek Gap. The next morning, Sherman' s army withdrew from in front of Rocky Face Ridge. Discovering Sherman's movement, Johnston retired south towards Resaca on May 12. The result wa a Union victory (Union casualties were high, but they did force the Confederates off Rocky Face Ridge.) About the Artist: John Francis Edward Hillen was born in Brussels, Belgium in 1819. Having immigrated to the United States, he enlisted in the Union army in 1861, was wounded in 1862, and subsequently discharges. During the war, he drew scenes from the conflict that were later published in Harper's Weekly, garnering him a role as 'special artist' for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper until 1865.
