First Battle of Dalton

The First Battle of Dalton was a series of American Civil War skirmishes that took place between February 22 and February 27, 1864, in Whitfield County, Georgia. At the suggestion of Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant, Major General George H. Thomas, decided to probe General Joseph E. Johnston's strength, to determine if the loss of two divisions to reinforce Confederate forces elsewhere had made the Confederate Army of Tennessee vulnerable to attack. On February 22, Thomas began the reconnaissance movement, which included three columns of Union troops. After several days of intense skirmishing, Thomas's army withdrew upon realizing Johnston could repel any assault.