The Battle of Utoy Creek was fought August 4–7, 1864, during the
Atlanta Campaign of the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...
.
Maj. Gen.
Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...
William T. Sherman
William is a male given name of Germanic origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conquest of Engl ...
's
Union
Union commonly refers to:
* Trade union, an organization of workers
* Union (set theory), in mathematics, a fundamental operation on sets
Union may also refer to:
Arts and entertainment
Music
* Union (band), an American rock group
** ''Un ...
armies had partially encircled the city of
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, which was being held by
Confederate
Confederacy or confederate may refer to:
States or communities
* Confederate state or confederation, a union of sovereign groups or communities
* Confederate States of America, a confederation of secessionist American states that existed between 1 ...
forces under the command of
General
A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry.
In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...
John Bell Hood
John Bell Hood (June 1 or June 29, 1831 – August 30, 1879) was a Confederate general during the American Civil War. Although brave, Hood's impetuosity led to high losses among his troops as he moved up in rank. Bruce Catton wrote that "the dec ...
. Sherman had at this point adopted a strategy of attacking the railroad lines into Atlanta, hoping to cut off his enemies' supplies. This was the third direct attack on Confederate positions during the campaign and the effect of success would have ended the siege and won Atlanta on 6 August 1864.
Battle
After failing to envelop Hood's left flank at the
Battle of Ezra Church, Sherman still wanted to extend his right flank to hit the railroad between East Point and Atlanta. He transferred Maj. Gen.
John M. Schofield's
XXIII Corps of the USA
Army of the Ohio
The Army of the Ohio was the name of two Union armies in the American Civil War. The first army became the Army of the Cumberland and the second army was created in 1863.
History
1st Army of the Ohio
General Orders No. 97 appointed Maj. Gen. Do ...
from his left to his right flank and sent him to the north bank of Utoy Creek. Although Schofield’s troops were at Utoy Creek on August 2, they, along with the
XIV Corps 14 Corps, 14th Corps, Fourteenth Corps, or XIV Corps may refer to:
* XIV Corps (Grande Armée), a unit of the Imperial French Army during the Napoleonic Wars
* XIV Corps (German Empire), a unit of the Imperial German Army prior to and during World ...
,
Army of the Cumberland
The Army of the Cumberland was one of the principal Union armies in the Western Theater during the American Civil War. It was originally known as the Army of the Ohio.
History
The origin of the Army of the Cumberland dates back to the creation ...
, did not cross until August 4. An initial attack by the Regular Brigade against
J. Patton Anderson's Division CSA of
Stephen Dill Lee's Corps was unsuccessful. In addition the Confederates dismounted a brigade of cavalry, Armstrong's, in the front of the federals in a deception plan, a feinted attack that was successful in delaying the combined force of the XXIII and XIV Corps USA. Schofield made an additional movement to exploit this situation on the morning of August 5. Although initially successful, Schofield had to regroup his forces, which took the rest of the day. The delay allowed the Confederates to strengthen their defenses with an
abatis
An abatis, abattis, or abbattis is a field fortification consisting of an obstacle formed (in the modern era) of the branches of trees laid in a row, with the sharpened tops directed outwards, towards the enemy. The trees are usually interlaced ...
, which slowed the Union attack when it restarted on the morning of August 6. The Federals were repulsed with heavy losses by
William B. Bate
William Brimage Bate (October 7, 1826March 9, 1905) was a planter and slaveholder, Confederate officer, and politician in Tennessee. After the Reconstruction era, he served as the 23rd governor of Tennessee from 1883 to 1887. He was elected to th ...
's division and failed in an attempt to break the main defenses to gain the railroad. On August 7, the Union troops moved toward the Confederate main line skirmishing and extending to their right and entrenched. Several attacks were made at Sandtown Road (Campbellton at Adams Park) on 10 August and East Point on 18 August. Here US Forces remained, as far south as the
Atlanta Christian College
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
, until late August 1864 when the failure of Schofield's offensive operations convinced Sherman to move on the Confederate lines of communication and supply.
Aftermath
PVT Samuel Grimshaw of the XIV Army Corps, USA was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions against a Confederate Artillery Battery along the Sandtown (Cascade Road) during the main attack on 6 August 1864.
PVT Benjamin Van Raalte was nominated for the Congressional Medal of Honor for the recovery of the Unit Colors of the 25th Michigan Infantry, Hascall's Division, XXIII Army Corps, USA. The Federal Colors were captured by the Confederates of Armstrong's Brigade of Cavalry dismounted as infantry.
The Confederate Corps Commander, Lt General Steven D. Lee, cited Bate's Division and especially Tyler's and Lewis's Brigades for the repulse of a superior enemy force and the capture of 200 prisoners and three stands of Colors.
See also
*
Atlanta in the Civil War
Atlanta ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Georgia. It is the seat of Fulton County, the most populous county in Georgia, but its territory falls in both Fulton and DeKalb counties. With a population of 498,715 ...
*
Utoy Cemetery
Utoy Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries within the current city limits of Atlanta in the U.S. state of Georgia and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Located near the intersection of Venetian Drive SW and Cahaba Drive SW ...
References
External links
''The Battle of Utoy Creek''by Civil War artist Marc Stewart
*
ttp://georgiainfo.galileo.usg.edu/topics/historical_markers/county/fulton/battle-of-utoy-creek Battle of Utoy Creekhistorical marker
{{authority control
Utoy Creek Utoy Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a tributary to the Chattahoochee River.
Utoy Creek most likely was named for the Utoy Indians. The Battle of Utoy Creek
The Battle of Utoy Creek was fought August 4–7, 1864, du ...
Utoy Creek Utoy Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a tributary to the Chattahoochee River.
Utoy Creek most likely was named for the Utoy Indians. The Battle of Utoy Creek
The Battle of Utoy Creek was fought August 4–7, 1864, du ...
Utoy Creek Utoy Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a tributary to the Chattahoochee River.
Utoy Creek most likely was named for the Utoy Indians. The Battle of Utoy Creek
The Battle of Utoy Creek was fought August 4–7, 1864, du ...
Utoy Creek Utoy Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a tributary to the Chattahoochee River.
Utoy Creek most likely was named for the Utoy Indians. The Battle of Utoy Creek
The Battle of Utoy Creek was fought August 4–7, 1864, du ...
Fulton County, Georgia
Utoy Creek Utoy Creek is a stream in the U.S. state of Georgia. It is a tributary to the Chattahoochee River.
Utoy Creek most likely was named for the Utoy Indians. The Battle of Utoy Creek
The Battle of Utoy Creek was fought August 4–7, 1864, du ...
1864 in Georgia (U.S. state)
August 1864 events