First Battle of Dalton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Battle of Dalton
Part of the American Civil War
Date February 22, 1864 (1864-02-22)–February 27, 1864 (1864-02-27) Location Whitfield County, Georgia Result Confederate victory
Belligerents
United States of America (Union)	Confederate States of America
Commanders and leaders
George H. Thomas	Joseph E. Johnston
Units involved
Army of the Cumberland	Army of Tennessee
Strength
25,000	40,000
Casualties and losses
300	140

The First Battle of Dalton was a series of small fights during the American Civil War. It happened in Whitfield County, Georgia, from February 22 to February 27, 1864. This battle was a test by the Union army to see how strong the Confederate forces were in the area.

What Happened at Dalton?

Map of Dalton I Battlefield core and study areas by the American Battlefield Protection Program.

The Union army wanted to know if the Confederate army was weaker. This idea came from Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant. He suggested that Major General George Henry Thomas should check.

The Confederates had sent two groups of soldiers to help in other battles. So, General Thomas wanted to find out if their main army, the Army of Tennessee, was now easy to attack.

The Union's Plan

On February 22, General Thomas started his plan. He sent three groups of Union soldiers to scout the area. This kind of mission is called a reconnaissance movement. Its goal was to gather information, not to start a full-scale battle.

The Union troops faced General Joseph E. Johnston's Confederate forces. For several days, there were many small fights, known as skirmishes. These were intense but not huge battles.

The Outcome

After these fights, it became clear that General Johnston's army was still very strong. They could easily stop a big Union attack. Because of this, General Thomas decided to pull his troops back.

The Union army lost about 300 soldiers, who were either killed or wounded. The Confederate army had fewer losses, with about 140 soldiers killed or wounded. This showed that the Confederates had successfully defended their position.

Battlefield Today

Much of the land where the battle happened has changed a lot. New roads like Interstate 75 and US Route 41 have been built. The city of Dalton has also grown. This means that parts of the original battlefield, like Crow Valley and Tunnel Hill, now have many buildings and homes.