Battle of Buzzard's Roost Facts

Date

• May 9, 1864

Location

• Whitfield County, Georgia, near the town of Dalton

Campaign

• Atlanta Campaign

Principal Union Commander

• Major General George Thomas

Principal Confederate Commander

• General Joseph E. Johnston

Union Forces Engaged

• Army of the Cumberland

Confederate Forces Engaged

• Army of Tennessee

Number of Soldiers Engaged

• Undetermined

Estimated Casualties

• Unknown

Result

• Union victory.

Significance

• Although Rebel defenders were able to hold back the Army of the Cumberland, the engagement accomplished Major General William T. Sherman’s objective of holding the Confederates in check as he successfully outflanked General Joseph Johnston’s Army of Tennessee.
• The Battle of Buzzard’s Roost was part of a larger engagement known as the Battle of Rocky Face Ridge, which was the first encounter between Union forces during the Atlanta Campaign.

Timeline of the Atlanta Campaign

These are the main battles and events of the Atlanta Campaign in 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