Dalton
May 8 - 10,  1864
Estimated casualties: Unknown

Buzzard's Roost Sherman called these "...the doors of death."

General John Schofield, moving south from Red Clay, had been harassed by Confederate cavalry under the command of General Joseph Wheeler. Schofield dispatched a unit to brush back the bothersome Wheeler on May 9th as Thomas moved his attack further north. The Union cavalry lost contact with the main body of Schofield's Army of the Ohio and Wheeler pounced on the hapless unit at Prater's Mill, a rural complex of buildings. Handing the Union Army its first defeat of campaign, Wheeler's attack cost the Federals 150 men and their commander. Furthermore, the Army of the Cumberland had met with defeat in five full-scale attacks against the rebel defenders of Rocky Face at Mill Creek Gap. Bluecoats had twice made it to the top of the ridge only to be turned back by troops under the command of General Carter Stevenson. Now the evening was approaching and Sherman had nothing except causalities to show for two days of fighting. As he ate dinner that evening at the Clisby-Austin house in Tunnel Hill his despondence turned to feeling of euphoria with the receipt of a message from McPherson who had moved towards Resaca. His men were advancing toward the city and had met no significant opposition. Sherman banged the table, jumped up and exclaimed, "I've got Joe Johnston dead!". Now pacing around the room, Sherman decided to move his troops south in support of McPherson who by now, Sherman reasoned based on the time of the communiqué, must be in Resaca.

Union re-enactors charge during the Battle of Rocky Face Photo courtesy Dalton CVB

Leaving Thomas to demonstrate against the rebel line on the 10th, Sherman moved the rest of his army south. At the same time Leonidas Polk arrived at Dalton with 15,000 men bringing the Confederate Army of Tennessee up to full strength, or at least as large as it would ever be again. The minor demonstrations of May 10th were little more than an inconvenience to the rebels who had resisted numerous frontal assaults the two days prior.

On the morning of May 11, 1864 Carter Stevenson woke and sensed a problem. The gunfire of the past three days had stopped. He immediately communicated his suspicion to Gen. Johnston who ordered Wheeler on a scouting mission west of Rocky Face. Wheeler confirmed that the entire Federal Army had withdrawn and was apparently heading south along the west side of Taylor Ridge to hide the movement.

Faced with an opponent of superior numbers Johnston had no choice but to withdraw south to Resaca. The battle of Rocky Face was over, not with a bang but a whimper.

The Road to Resaca

Today the city of Dalton is a vibrant, growing area, with many local activities and places of interest. The Dalton Convention and Visitor's Bureau offers additional information by mail.