A Union assault at Gilgal Church during the Atlanta Campaign was repulsed, costing approximately 700 casualties before Johnston withdrew to a new defensive line.
Key Facts
- Date
- June 15, 1864
- Union casualties (repulsed attack)
- ~700 men
- Confederate prisoners captured
- ~300 men
- Union corps involved
- XX Corps (Hooker)
- Confederate corps engaged
- Hardee's Corps
- Campaign context
- Part of broader Atlanta Campaign, June 1864
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Following the Battle of Dallas on May 28, Sherman maneuvered northeast toward the Western and Atlantic Railroad. On June 10, reinforced by Blair's XVII Corps, he resumed his offensive. Confederate general Leonidas Polk was killed at Pine Mountain on June 14, and Johnston withdrew from that position the same evening, prompting Sherman's forces to follow toward Gilgal Church.
On June 15, 1864, divisions under John W. Geary and Daniel Butterfield of Hooker's XX Corps launched attacks against Confederate positions at Gilgal Church. These assaults were repulsed by Hardee's Confederate corps with approximately 700 Union casualties. Simultaneously, separate Union forces overran a Confederate skirmish line and captured about 300 prisoners.
Shortly after repulsing the Union attacks, Johnston pulled Hardee's corps back to a new defensive line behind Mud Creek. Related actions continued at Latimer's Farm on June 17–18, where Howard's IV Corps gained a foothold in the Confederate line. By June 19, Johnston's Army of Tennessee had fallen back to stronger defenses anchored on Kennesaw Mountain.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
William Tecumseh Sherman, Joseph Hooker, John W. Geary, Daniel Butterfield.
Side B
1 belligerent
Joseph E. Johnston, William J. Hardee.