Crow Valley

Crow Valley (HM1M30)

Location: Dalton, GA 30720 Whitfield County
Buy Georgia State flags at Flagstore.com!
Country: United States of America
Buy United States of America flags at Flagstore.com!

N 34° 50.101', W 84° 59.233'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 930 views
Inscription

"...too strong to be carried without great slaughter."

— Atlanta Campaign Heritage Trail / Historic Driving Route —

The opening actions of the Atlanta Campaign occurred around Dalton during early May 1864. Union Major General William T. Sherman's strategy, as two of his three armies approached from the north and northwest, involved a series of demonstrations by his main force against Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston's "Army of Tennessee" at Dalton. Simultaneously, over 23,000 troops of Union Major General James B. McPherson's "Army of Tennessee" made a flanking movement to the west through Snake Creek Gap in an attempt to break Johnston's railroad supply line fifteen miles south at Resaca and trap the Confederates in Dalton.

Federal movements against Johnston's heavily fortified defenses around Dalton began on May 8 with assaults against the western slope of Rocky Face Ridge around Mill Creek Gap and Dug Gap areas. In addition, Brigadier General John Newton's division of the th Corps attacked the northern edge of the ridge.

Union Major General John Scholfield's "Army of the Ohio," also known as the 23rd Corps, roughly 13,500 strong, received Sherman's orders to "feel the enemy's position" north of Dalton in Crow Valley. Scholfield's three infantry divisions were aligned across the valley, which stretches about one mile between Rocky face and Hamilton Mountain. Two of these divisions, under Brigadier Generals Henry Judah and Jacob Cox, formed for the advance while Brigadier General Alvin Hovey's inexperienced division was in reserve. Brigadier General Edward McCook's cavalry division covered Schofield's left flank. Opposing Schofield's demonstration were two Confederate divisions, under Major Generals Carter Stevenson and Thomas Hindman, numbering 12,400 effectives in strongly entrenched positions.

Early on May 9, Judah's and Cox's divisions moved toward the Confederate lines. Supported by Newton's division atop Rocky Face Ridge, their advance pushed back the gray skirmishers and, in Schofield's words, "finally drove the enemy into their main works, pressed them closely, and occupied their attention until dark." The Federals were impeded by several lines of barricades and artillery batteries, most notably from Potato Hill (aka Picket Top). Brigadier General Milo Hascall, commanding the 2nd brigade of Judah's division, reported the Confederate position was "too strong to be carried without great slaughter."

Also that morning, McCook's cavalry encountered Confederate cavalry and infantry at Poplar Springs and was severely repulsed, threatening to expose Schofield's left flank. Schofield sent one brigade of Hovey's infantry division plus additional cavalry to strengthen his left flank.

About 15,000 soldiers from both sides were engaged in Crow Valley. Schofield's infantry losses were approximately 60 total casualties (killed, wounded, missing). McCook reported his losses at about 140. Partial Confederate reports indicate total casualties of about 130 on Rocky Face Ridge and in Crow Valley.

Sporadic skirmishing continued in Crow Valley over the next three days until the Federal and Confederate armies marched south toward Resaca. Schofield shifted his army north of Rocky Face Ridge on May 10, before following McPherson's army south through Snake Creek Gap on May 12. Johnston abandoned Dalton during the night of May 12 and the Battle of Resaca erupted on the 14th.
Details
HM NumberHM1M30
Tags
Placed ByGeorgia Civil War Heritage Trails
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Wednesday, July 22nd, 2015 at 6:01am PDT -07:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16S E 684050 N 3856594
Decimal Degrees34.83501667, -84.98721667
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 34° 50.101', W 84° 59.233'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds34° 50' 6.06" N, 84° 59' 13.98" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)706
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling East
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 763-819 Poplar Springs Rd NW, Dalton GA 30720, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Nearby Markersshow on map
Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. Is this marker part of a series?
  2. What historical period does the marker represent?
  3. What historical place does the marker represent?
  4. What type of marker is it?
  5. What class is the marker?
  6. What style is the marker?
  7. Does the marker have a number?
  8. What year was the marker erected?
  9. This marker needs at least one picture.
  10. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  11. Is the marker in the median?