Battle of Pickett's Mill

Other Names: New Hope, New Hope Church

Location: Paulding County, Georgia

Campaign: Atlanta Campaign (1864)

Date: May 27, 1864

Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Oliver Otis Howard [US]; Maj. Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne [CS]

Forces Engaged:  IV Corps [US]; Cleburne's Division and Brig. Gen. John H. Kelly's Brigade [CS]

Casualties and losses: 2,100 total (US 1,600; CS 500)

Result(s): Confederate victory

Brief Description:

After the Union defeat at New Hope Church, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman ordered Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard to attack Gen. Joseph E. Johnston' s seemingly exposed right flank. The Confederates were ready for the attack, which did not unfold as planned because supporting troops never appeared. The Rebels repulsed the attack causing high casualties. Normally, the killed-to-wounded ratio in Civil War battles was one-to-five. In this battle, the number of killed in Wood's division was extraordinarily high, probably because many of the dead were shot repeatedly. The Confederates found one corpse with 47 bullet holes. Confederate morale, which sagged after the early May retreats, was improved by Johnston's defensive victories. Since the start of the campaign, Sherman's three armies sustained about 12,000 casualties out of a total of 100,000 men, while Johnston's army lost about 9,000 out of an estimated 65,000–75,000 men.