Battle of Peachtree Creek

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The Battle of Peachtree Creek was a battle of the American Civil War, fought in Georgia on July 20, 1864. It was the first major attack by William T. Sherman's Union army on the defences of Atlanta. The main armies in the conflict were the Union Army of the Cumberland commanded by Maj. Gen. George Henry Thomas and the Confederate Army of Tennessee commanded by Gen. John B. Hood on the Confederate side. Peachtree Creek was the first battle fought by Hood as commander of the Army of Tennessee.

Retreating from Sherman's advancing armies, Gen Joseph E. Johnston had withdrawn across the Peachtree Creek, just north of Atlanta. Johnston had drawn up plans for an attack on part of Thomas's army as it crossed the creek. On July 17, he received a letter from Confederate President Jefferson Davis informing Johnston that he was relieved from command. The political leadership of the Confederacy was unhappy with Johnston's lack of aggressiveness against the larger Union army and so they replaced him with Hood, who had a reputation for bravery. Hood took command and carried out the battle. The Union troops, after crossing the creek, were assaulted by the Confederate army. The Union center was driven back, but ultimately held and the Confederate troops were forced to call off the attack at sunset. Estimated casualties were 6,506 in total: 1,710 on the Union side and 4,796 on the Confederate.

See also Battle of Atlanta