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ROCKY FACE HISTORIC TREASURES
After the defeat of the Army of Tennessee and retreat from Chattanooga, Confederate forces took up defensive positions on Rocky Face Ridge at Rocky Face, Georgia, 2 miles north of Dalton. It was at this strategic point that the Atlantic and Western Railroad passed through Mill Creek Gap in route to Atlanta. Here, the Army of Tennessee spent the winter of 1863/1864 fortifying for the imminent advance of Sherman's Federal forces from Ringgold, fifteen miles northward. The ensuing clash at this location would be Sherman's first encounter with Confederate forces after leaving Ringgold.
History did not reward the Army of Tennessee for all the marvelous engineering of fortifications found at this battle site. When Sherman came upon these strong positions in May 1864, he immediately knew that the positions were impregnable. The mountain pass was bristling with cannon and rifle pits and Mill Creek on the valley floor was flooded to block any passage. Knowing that any attack would fail, he feinted battle to occupy Confederate forces. Under the command of James McPherson, he sent Logan's XV Corp and two divisions of Dodge's XV1 Corp (23,000 men) on a flanking move shielded from view on the west side of Rocky Face Ridge. These forces emerged through Snake Creek Gap (present day Hwy 136) at Resaca, Georgia, fifteen miles south of Rocky Face.
Resaca was a small community on the Atlantic and Western Railroad and the supply base for Joseph Johnston's Army of Tennessee. When Johnston heard that his line of retreat and supply was compromised, he abandoned Rocky Face and moved quickly to Resaca to face the new Federal threat. The ensuing battle is recorded in history as the Battle of Resaca. It was the first major engagement of the Atlanta Campaign.
Today, many of the Rocky Face fortifications are still intact, hidden in full view of unsuspecting travelers moving north and south along Interstate 75. Many of the gun placements and rifle pits remain in pristine condition. All are inspiring as their historic perspective becomes clear. Viewing any of these positions is like peering into our heritage, realizing that the soldier in any position may have been our great, great grandfather. It is with pride, therefore, that N. B. Forrest 3 brings you these glimpses of Southern history.
The pictures below are but a glimpse of the numerous fortifications present at his location. It is our intention to post many more in the future.
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