Battle of Adairsville Facts

Date

• The battle occurred on May 17, 1864

Location

• Bartow County, Georgia, near the town of Adairsville

Campaign

• Atlanta Campaign

Principal Union Commanders

• Major General William T. Sherman
• Major General James B. McPherson
• Major General John M. Schofield
• Major General George H. Thomas

Principal Confederate Commanders

• General Joseph E. Johnston.

Union Forces Engaged

• Army of the Tennessee
• Army of the Ohio
• Army of the Cumberland

Confederate Forces Engaged

• Army of Tennessee

Number of Union Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 4,000

Number of Confederate Soldiers Engaged

• Roughly 4,500

Union Casualties

• Estimated 200 (killed, wounded, captured/missing)

Confederate Casualties

• Unknown

Result

• Successful Confederate delaying action

Significance

• The Battle of Adairsville was perhaps more significant for what did not happen than what did. Union forces were spared the possibility of a costly defeat when Confederate leaders failed to spring a well-laid trap after Sherman had divided his armies.

Timeline of the Battle of Adairsville

These are the main battles and events that led to and followed the battle, in chronological order.

• May 7–13, 1864 — Battle of Rocky Face Ridge
• May 9, 1864 – Battle of Buzzard’s Roost
• May 13–15, 1864 — Battle of Resaca
• May 17, 1864 — Battle of Adairsville
• May 25–26, 1864 — Battle of New Hope Church
• May 26–June 1, 1864 — Battle of Dallas
• May 27, 1864 — Battle of Pickett’s Mill
• June 9–July 3, 1864 — Operations around Marietta
• June 14, 1864 — Battle of Pine Mountain
• June 15, 1864 — Battle of Gilgal Church
• June 22, 1864 — Battle of Kolb’s Farm
• June 27, 1864 — Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
• July 20, 1864 — Battle of Peachtree Creek
• July 22, 1864 — Battle of Atlanta
• July 28, 1864 — Battle of Ezra Church
• August 5–7, 1864 — Battle of Utoy Creek
• August 14–15, 1864 — Second Battle of Dalton
• August 20, 1864 — Battle of Lovejoy’s Station
• August 31–September 1, 1864 — Battle of Jonesborough