Whitfield County is the home of many Civil War sites and events, from the General Sherman's Atlanta Campaign to the "Great Locomotive Chase" (through the tunnel at Tunnel Hill, Ga).  Rocky Face Ridge Mill Creek, Dug Gap May 7-13, 1864 Principal Commanders : Confederate - Gen. Joseph E. Johnston,  Army of Tennessee Union - Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman,  Military Division of the Mississippi Outcome: Union victory Atlanta Campaign (1864) Estimated Casualties: Unknown On May 7th Major General William T. Sherman (US), commander of the US Military Division of the Mississippi, had just moved south through Ringgold Gap and established headquarters in the Clisby Austin House in Tunnel Hill, Georgia. Gen. Joseph E. Johnston had entrenched his army of 54,500 men on the long, high mountain of Rocky Face Ridge and eastward across Crow Valley. As Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman approached, he decided to demonstrate against the position with two columns while he sent a third one through Snake Creek Gap, to the right, to hit the Western & Atlantic Railroad at Resaca. The two columns engaged the enemy at Buzzard Roost (Mill Creek Gap) and at Dug Gap. In the meantime, the third column, under Maj. Gen. James Birdseye McPherson, passed through Snake Creek Gap and on the 9th advanced to the outskirts of Resaca where it found Confederates entrenched. Fearing defeat, McPherson pulled his column back to Snake Creek Gap. On the 10th, Sherman decided to take most of his men and join McPherson to take Resaca. The next morning, Sherman' s army withdrew from in front of Rocky Face Ridge. Discovering Sherman's movement, Johnston retired south towards Resaca on the 12th. Return to History Page Return to Civil War Page Learn more about Whitfield County at ngeorgia.com You are Visitor free hit counters WWW www.whitfieldcountyga.com