Battle of New Hope Church

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of New Hope Church


caption=
partof=the American Civil War
date=May 25–26, 1864
place=Paulding County, Georgia
result=Confederate victory
combatant1= flagicon|USA|1863 United States (Union)
combatant2= flagicon|CSA|1863 CSA (Confederacy)
commander1=William T. Sherman Joseph Hooker
commander2=Joseph E. Johnston
strength1=Military Division of the Mississippi
strength2=Army of Tennessee
casualties1=1,600
casualties2=?|The Battle of New Hope Church was fought May 25–26, 1864, between the Union force of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. Sherman attempted to outmaneuver Johnston, but failed. He then sent Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's XX Corps to attack Johnston, but failed to realize that Johnston had more than a mere token force. Hooker's forces were defeated, suffering heavy casualties.

After Johnston retreated to Allatoona Pass on May 19-20, Sherman decided that he would most likely pay dearly for attacking Johnston there, so he determined to move around Johnston's left flank and steal a march toward Dallas. Johnston anticipated Sherman's move and met the Union forces at New Hope Church. Sherman mistakenly surmised that Johnston had a token force and ordered Hooker's corps to attack, causing it to suffer severe casualties. On May 26, both sides entrenched, and skirmishing continued throughout the day. At the end of the battle, Confederate Captain Samuel T. Foster reported that 703 Union soldiers had been killed, as well as 350 had been taken prisoner. Actions the next day in this area encompassed the Battle of Pickett's Mill.

References

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/hps/abpp/battles/ga010.htm National Park Service battle description]