Battle of Rocky Face Ridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Rocky Face Ridge |
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
 Plaque memorializing action at Rocky Face Ridge |
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States |
 Confederate States |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| William T. Sherman | Joseph E. Johnston | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Military Division of the Mississippi | Army of Tennessee | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 837 | 600 | ||||||
The Battle of Rocky Face Ridge was a military conflict that took place from May 7 to May 13, 1864. It happened in Whitfield County, Georgia, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. The Union forces were led by William Tecumseh Sherman, and the Confederate army was led by Joseph E. Johnston. Even though the Confederates had a very strong defensive position, the Union army found a way to make them leave by moving around their side. This led to a Union victory.
How the Battle Unfolded
General Johnston had prepared his army by digging trenches and setting up defenses along the long, steep Rocky Face Ridge. They also had defenses extending eastward across Crow Valley. This made their position very strong and hard to attack directly.
When General Sherman's Union army arrived, he didn't attack head-on. Instead, he used a clever plan. He sent two groups of his soldiers to pretend to attack the Confederate defenses at Buzzard Roost (Mill Creek Gap) and Dug Gap. This was meant to keep Johnston's attention on the ridge.
At the same time, Sherman sent a third, larger group of soldiers. This group, led by Major General James B. McPherson, marched south through a hidden path called Snake Creek Gap. Their goal was to get behind the Confederate lines and cut off their supplies by hitting the Western and Atlantic Railroad at Resaca.
On May 9, McPherson's soldiers reached the edge of Resaca. However, they found that the Confederates had already dug trenches there too. McPherson worried that the enemy was too strong, so he decided to pull his soldiers back to Snake Creek Gap.
After hearing about McPherson's findings, Sherman decided to change his plan. On May 10, he chose to move his main army to join McPherson at Snake Creek Gap. His new goal was to attack Resaca with all his forces. The next morning, Sherman's army quietly left their positions in front of Rocky Face Ridge.
When General Johnston realized that Sherman's main army was no longer in front of him, he understood what was happening. He knew Sherman was trying to get behind him. To avoid being trapped, Johnston decided to move his Confederate army south towards Resaca on May 12. This forced the Confederates to leave their strong position at Rocky Face Ridge without a major battle there.
Protecting the Battlefield
Today, efforts are being made to protect the land where the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge took place. In 2016, the Civil War Trust (which is now part of the American Battlefield Trust) worked with partners to buy 301 acres of the battlefield.
This preserved land includes old earthworks, which are defensive walls made of dirt, and parts of a continuous trench system that is over 2,000 feet long. This purchase helped increase the total battlefield area saved by the Trust and its partners to 926 acres. Protecting these sites helps us remember and learn about important moments in history.
Gallery
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Assault on Dug Gap by Alfred Waud, 1864.
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Map of battlefield core and study areas by the ABPP.
