Battle of Rocky Face Ridge

Battle of Rocky Face Ridge Part of the American Civil War Plaque memorializing action at Rocky Face Ridge Date May 7, 1864–May 13, 1864[1] Location Whitfield County, Georgia 34°44′28″N 85°00′56″W / 34.74105°N 85.01568°WCoordinates: 34°44′28″N 85°00′56″W / 34.74105°N 85.01568°W Result Union victory Belligerents United States Confederate States Commanders and leaders William T. Sherman Joseph E. Johnston Units involved Military Division of the Mississippi Army of Tennessee Casualties and losses 837[2] 600[2]

The Battle of Rocky Face Ridge was fought May 7–13, 1864, in Whitfield County, Georgia, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union army was led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman and the Confederate army by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Confederates were forced to evacuate their strong position due to a Union flanking movement.

General Johnston had entrenched his army on the long, steep Rocky Face Ridge and eastward across Crow Valley. When Sherman approached, he demonstrated against this position with two columns while he sent a third one through Snake Creek Gap, to the south, to hit the Western & Atlantic Railroad at Resaca. The first two columns engaged the enemy at Buzzard Roost (Mill Creek Gap) and at Dug Gap while the third column, under Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, passed through Snake Creek Gap and on the May 9 advanced to the outskirts of Resaca, where it found Confederates entrenched. Fearing the strength of the enemy, McPherson pulled his column back to Snake Creek Gap. On May 10, Sherman decided to join McPherson in an effort 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 May 12.^[1]

See also

• Rocky Face, Georgia
• Drums in the Deep South, a movie loosely based on this battle

Notes

1. National Park Service battle description
2. The American Civil War in Georgia

References

• National Park Service battle description