Second Battle of Dalton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Dalton |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| James B. Steedman Bernard Laiboldt |
Joseph Wheeler | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| District of Etowah | Wheeler's Cavalry Corps | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 800 | 5,000 | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 40 killed 55 wounded |
150 | ||||||
The Second Battle of Dalton was a fight during the American Civil War. It happened on August 14 and 15, 1864. This battle took place in Whitfield County, Georgia, in the northern part of the state. It was a clash between soldiers from the Union (the North) and the Confederacy (the South). The Union army won this battle.
Contents
Why the Battle Happened
During the Civil War, a Confederate cavalry (horseback soldiers) unit was led by Major General Joseph Wheeler. His mission was to ride into northern Georgia. He wanted to cause problems for Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's army. Sherman's army was getting its supplies by train. Wheeler hoped to destroy the railroad tracks. This would cut off Sherman's supplies. If Sherman couldn't get supplies, he might have to leave Georgia.
The Fight Begins
On August 14, General Wheeler's troops reached Dalton, Georgia. He demanded that the Union soldiers there surrender. The Union soldiers were protecting the town. Their leader was Colonel Bernard Laiboldt. Colonel Laiboldt bravely refused to give up. His soldiers stayed inside their strong defenses. Fighting went on for many hours, even into the night.
Union Reinforcements Arrive
The next morning, General Wheeler decided to stop his attack. He started to get his troops ready to leave. But then, more Union soldiers arrived. These new troops came from Chattanooga, Tennessee. They were led by Major General James B. Steedman. General Steedman's soldiers quickly started fighting Wheeler's cavalry. The two sides skirmished, which means they fought in small, scattered groups. This fighting lasted for about four hours. In the end, the Confederate soldiers left the area.
What Happened After
General Wheeler's main goal was to damage the railroad. It's not clear how much damage he actually caused. However, General George Henry Thomas, a Union leader, reported good news. He said that the railroad tracks south of Dalton were fixed very quickly. Trains were able to run again within just two days. This meant General Sherman's supply lines were not cut off for long.
Battlefield Today
Over time, the city of Dalton has grown a lot. Because of this growth, the original battlefield area has changed. It no longer looks like it did during the Civil War.
