BA003440
Noonday Creek
June 9-July 3, 1864
Event ID # BA003440
Other Names: Pine Hill, Pine Mountain, Gilgal Creek, Marietta, Ruff’s Mill
Location: Cobb County
Campaign: Atlanta Campaign (1864)
Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman [US]; Gen. Joseph E. Johnston [CS]
Forces Engaged: Military Division of the Mississippi [US]; Army of Tennessee [CS]
Estimated Casualties: Unknown
During the Atlanta Campaign, instead of frontally attacking Johnston’s army which would cause too many casualties, Sherman usually attempted to maneuver the enemy out of defensive positions. Thus, when Sherman first found Johnston entrenched in the Marietta area on June 9, he began extending his lines beyond the Confederate lines, causing some Rebel withdrawal to new positions.
In forming his lines about Kennesaw and Lost mountains Gen. Johnston extended his right on the 7th across the Marietta and Acworth road along the south bank of Noonday creek at the base of Brush mountain. Here Hood's corps entrenched itself and from the 7th to the i8th there was almost constant skirmishing, the Union troops advancing under successive lines of entrenchments, until on the night of the 18th Hood was withdrawn.
Gen. Leonidas Polk
The losses during this time were fairly small on both sides. The most notable casualty was the death of General Polk on June 14th.
Polk was scouting enemy positions with his staff when he was killed by a Federal 3-inch (76 mm) shell at Pine Mountain. The artillery fire was initiated when Sherman spotted a cluster of Confederate officers—Polk, Hardee, Johnston, and their staffs—in an exposed area. He pointed them out to Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard, commander of the IV Corps, and ordered him to fire on them. The 5th Indiana Battery, commanded by Capt. Peter Simonson, obeyed the order within minutes. The first round came close and a second even closer, causing the men to disperse. The third shell struck Polk's left arm, went through the chest, and exited hitting his right arm then exploded against a tree; it nearly cut Polk in two.
On June 18-19, Johnston withdrew to an arc-shaped position centered on Kennesaw Mountain. Sherman made some unsuccessful attacks on this position but eventually extended the line on his right and forced Johnston to withdrawal from the Marietta area on July 2-3. General Garrard was ordered by General Sherman to interpose between General Joseph Wheeler's cavalry and detached infantry at Noonday Creek, which was just a few miles from Sherman's headquarters at Big Shanty. When, after a week, Garrard failed to do so, two brigades of infantry and three brigades of cavalry with artillery support were advanced against the Confederate positions on June 9. Two charges failed, and the Union Army retired from the field. However, Wheeler's cavalry was moved to a position between Bell's Ferry and Canton Road.
On June 10, the 15th regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry pushed the enemy across Noonday Creek after heavy fighting.
On June 15, a division of Union Cavalry attacked and was repelled. On June 17, the Federals pushed Wheeler down Bell's Ferry Road, where he retired to Doctor Robert McAffee's house. On June 19, the Union Army attacked but was driven off with heavy losses.
On June 23, Colonel Eli Long, USA, crossed Noonday Creek with his brigade. He was attacked at that time, and repelled the attackers.
The 4th Michigan Cavalry was attacked by 4,500 of Wheeler's cavalry at Latimar's Mill on Noonday Creek.
Sources: Wikipedia