Battle of Rocky Face Ridge

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Rocky Face Ridge


caption=
partof=the American Civil War
date=May 7–13, 1864
place=Whitfield County, Georgia
result=Union victory
combatant1= flagicon|USA|1863 United States (Union)
combatant2= flagicon|CSA|1863 CSA (Confederacy)
commander1=William T. Sherman
commander2=Joseph E. Johnston
strength1=Military Division of the Mississippi
strength2=Army of Tennessee
casualties1=?
casualties2=?|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 while the Confederate army was led by Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. The Union victory resulted in the Confederates being forced off of the ridge.

General Johnston had entrenched his army on the long, high mountain of Rocky Face Ridge and eastward across Crow Valley. As Sherman approached, he decided to demonstrate against the position with two columns while he sent a third one through Snake Creek Gap, to the right, to hit the Western & Atlantic Railroad at Resaca. The two columns engaged the enemy at Buzzard Roost (Mill Creek Gap) and at Dug Gap. In the meantime, 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 defeat, McPherson pulled his column back to Snake Creek Gap. On May 10, Sherman decided to take most of his men and join McPherson 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.

References

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/ga007.htm National Park Service CWSAC website for Rocky Face Ridge]