Overview
The Battle of New Hope Church took place during the Atlanta Campaign in Northern Georgia. After Union forces broke out from Chattanooga in late November 1863, President Abraham Lincoln promoted General Ulysses S. Grant and placed him in command of all Union armies. Grant moved to Washington, leaving General William T. Sherman in command of Union operations in the Western Theater.
Grant planned a coordinated effort against the Confederacy’s two main armies. He moved against Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia in the east, while Sherman pursued Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston and the Army of Tennessee in the west. On May 5, 1864, Grant launched the Overland Campaign in Virginia. Two days later, Sherman led three armies out of Tennessee into Northern Georgia, starting his Atlanta Campaign.
During the Atlanta Campaign, both armies fought near the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which linked Chattanooga and Atlanta. Sherman repeatedly used flanking movements to threaten Johnston’s supply lines and force Confederate retreats. By May 20, Johnston had formed new defensive lines at Allatoona Pass. Sherman tried to move around Johnston’s left flank toward Dallas, Georgia, but Johnston shifted his army into the Union path at New Hope Church. On May 25, Sherman ordered General Joseph Hooker to attack, but Hooker was met by the Army of Tennessee and suffered heavy casualties.
Essential Facts
- Date: May 25–26, 1864.
- Location: New Hope Church, near Dallas, Georgia.
- Participants: United States of America (USA), Confederate States of America (CSA).
- USA Commanders: William T. Sherman and Joseph Hooker.
- CSA Commanders: Joseph E. Johnston.
- Who Won: The Confederate States won the Battle of New Hope Church.
- Campaign: Atlanta Campaign (1864).
- Era: Civil War, 1864, May–August, Civil War.
Statistics
United States of America
- Casualties: 1,665 casualties, including more than 700 killed.
- Forces Engaged: Three divisions commanded by Major General Joseph Hooker.
- Troop Strength: Unknown.
Confederate States of America
- Casualties: 350 casualties.
- Forces Engaged: Army of Tennessee.
- Troop Strength: Unknown.
Significance
The Battle of New Hope Church is important to American History because it briefly delayed the Union advance during the Atlanta Campaign. William T. Sherman tried to avoid a costly direct attack by moving around Joseph E. Johnston’s left flank toward Dallas, Georgia. However, Johnston correctly guessed Sherman’s plan and placed the Army of Tennessee in his path. Joseph Hooker’s attack on May 25 led to heavy Union losses. After the battle, both armies entrenched, and Sherman continued searching for a way around Johnston’s army.
History
Federal Breakout from Chattanooga
In late November 1863, Union forces commanded by Major General Ulysses S. Grant successfully lifted Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Union victories at the Battle of Lookout Mountain (November 24) and the Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 25) forced Johnston to withdraw thirty miles south near Dalton, Georgia.
Grant Promoted to Lieutenant General
After the Federal breakout from Chattanooga, President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to the special rank of Lieutenant General and placed him in command of all Union armies. Grant moved his headquarters to Washington, leaving his trusted subordinate, Major General William T. Sherman, in command of federal operations in the western theater.
Grant’s Umbrella Strategy
Grant’s primary military strategy was a coordinated effort to attack and defeat the two main Confederate armies in the field, Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia in the east, and Joseph E. Johnston and the Army of Tennessee in the west. On May 5, 1864, Grant launched his Overland Campaign against Lee in Virginia. Two days later, Sherman led three armies, the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by Major General James B. McPherson; the Army of the Ohio, commanded by Major General John M. Schofield; and the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Major General George H. Thomas, out of Tennessee in pursuit of Johnston’s army in northern Georgia.
Fighting Along the Western and Atlantic Railroad
Throughout the summer of 1864, the Confederate and Union armies engaged in a series of battles between Dalton and Atlanta in northern Georgia. Most of the fighting occurred at places on or near the Western and Atlantic Railroad, which connected Chattanooga and Atlanta. Both sides depended on the railway for supplies throughout the campaign. In a pattern that he often repeated, Sherman used flanking movements that threatened the railway to Johnston’s rear, forcing the Confederate commander to retreat south to protect his supply lines.
Clash at New Hope Church
By May 20, Johnston had established new defensive lines at Allatoona Pass about thirty miles north of Atlanta. Wishing to avoid a costly frontal attack, Sherman marched his forces around the Confederate left flank to Dallas, Georgia, at Johnston’s rear. Guessing Sherman’s intentions, Johnston shifted his army into the federal path at New Hope Church.
Unaware of Johnston’s movement, Sherman ordered three divisions commanded by Major General Joseph Hooker to attack what he believed to be a token Confederate force on May 25. Instead of the small Confederate force he expected, Hooker found himself engaged with the Army of Tennessee. In the ensuing battle, Hooker suffered 1,665 casualties, including over 700 killed, compared to 350 Confederate casualties.
Aftermath of the Battle
On May 26, both armies entrenched, and Sherman continued to search for a way around the Confederate army.
Timeline
- 1863, November — Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant lifted the Confederate Siege of Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- Union forces won the Battle of Lookout Mountain (November 24)
- Union forces won the Battle of Missionary Ridge (November 25).
- Confederate forces marched southward to Dalton, Georgia.
- 1864, February 22–27 — Confederate forces won the First Battle of Dalton.
- 1864, February 25 — Union and Confederate forces engaged in the inconclusive Battle of Crow Valley, near Dalton.
- 1864, February 29 — President Abraham Lincoln promoted Grant to the special rank of Lieutenant General and placed him in command of all Union armies.
- 1864, May 5 — Grant launched the Overland Campaign against Robert E. Lee in Virginia.
- 1864, May 7 — William T. Sherman led three Union armies out of Tennessee in pursuit of Joseph E. Johnston’s army in northern Georgia, starting the Atlanta Campaign.
- 1864, May 7–13 — Union forces won the Battle of Buzzard’s Roost and the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge.
- 1864, May 13–15 — Sherman’s forces engaged the Army of Tennessee at the Battle of Resaca near Resaca, Georgia, and won.
- 1864, May 17 — Union forces won the Battle of Adairsville.
- 1864, May 20 — Johnston established new defensive lines at Allatoona Pass, about 30 miles north of Atlanta.
- 1864, May 25
- Sherman ordered Joseph Hooker to attack what he believed was a small Confederate force near New Hope Church.
- Hooker fought the Army of Tennessee and suffered 1,665 casualties.
- Both armies entrenched after the Confederate victory.
AP US History
Definition
Battle of New Hope Church (1864) — The Battle of New Hope Church was fought on May 25, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign in Northern Georgia. General William T. Sherman tried to move around Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston’s left flank and reach Dallas, Georgia. Johnston guessed Sherman’s plan and moved the Army of Tennessee into the Union path. Sherman ordered General Joseph Hooker to attack what he thought was a small Confederate force, but Hooker instead faced Johnston’s army and suffered heavy casualties.
Alignment
The Battle of New Hope Church is part of the following AP US History sections:
