Casualties during the Month of May, 1864 (Major-General Sherman commanding)

Killed and Missing. Wounded. Total.

1,863 7,436 9,299

General Joseph E. Johnston, in his "Narrative of his Military Operations," just published (March 27, 1874), gives the effective strength of his army at and about Dalton on the 1st of May, 1864 (page 302), as follows:

Infantry 37,652

Artillery 2,812

Cavalry 2,392

Total 42,856

During May, and prior to reaching Cassville, he was further reenforced.

Polk's corps of three divisions 12,000

Martin's division of cavalry 3,500

Jackson's division of cavalry 3,900

And at New Hope Church, May 26th

Brigade of Quarles 2,200

Grand-total 64,456

His losses during the month of May are stated by him, as taken from the report of Surgeon Foard.

Killed Wounded Total

721 4,672 5,393

These figures include only the killed and wounded, whereas my statement of losses embraces the "missing," which are usually "prisoners," and of these we captured, during the whole campaign of four and a half months, exactly 12,983, whose names, rank, and regiments, were officially reported to the Commissary-General of Prisoners; and assuming a due proportion for the month of May, viz., one-fourth, makes 3,245 to be added to the killed and wounded given above, making an aggregate loss in Johnston's army, from Dalton to New Hope, inclusive, of 8,638, against ours of 9,299.

Therefore General Johnston is greatly in error, in his estimates on page 357, in stating our loss, as compared with his, at six or ten to one.

I always estimated my force at about double his, and could afford to lose two to one without disturbing our relative proportion; but I also reckoned that, in the natural strength of the country, in the abundance of mountains, streams, and forests, he had a fair offset to our numerical superiority, and therefore endeavored to act with reasonable caution while moving on the vigorous "offensive."

With the drawn battle of New Hope Church, and our occupation of the natural fortress of Allatoona, terminated the month of May, and the first stage of the campaign.