Battle of Peachtree Creek
Conflict	American Civil War
Date	July 20, 1864
Place	Fulton County, Georgia
Result	Union victory
Combatants United States of America Confederate States of America Commanders George H. Thomas John B. Hood Strength Army of the Cumberland Army of Tennessee Casualties 1,710 4,796
Atlanta Campaign Rocky Face Ridge – Resaca – Adairsville – New Hope Church – Dallas – Pickett's Mill – Marietta – Kolb's Farm – Kennesaw Mountain – Peachtree Creek – Atlanta – Ezra Church – Utoy Creek – Dalton II – Lovejoy's Station – Jonesborough

The Battle of Peachtree Creek was a battle of the American Civil War, fought in Georgia on July 20, 1864. It was the first major attack by William T. Sherman's Union army on the defences of Atlanta. The main armies in the conflict were the Union Army of the Cumberland commanded by Maj. Gen. George Henry Thomas and the Confederate Army of Tennessee commanded by Gen. John B. Hood on the Confederate side. Peachtree Creek was the first battle fought by Hood as commander of the Army of Tennessee.

Retreating from Sherman's advancing armies, Gen Joseph E. Johnston had withdrawn across the Peachtree Creek, just north of Atlanta. Johnston had drawn up plans for an attack on part of Thomas's army as it crossed the creek. On July 17, he received a letter from Confederate President Jefferson Davis informing Johnston that he was relieved from command. The political leadership of the Confederacy was unhappy with Johnston's lack of aggressiveness against the larger Union army and so they replaced him with Hood. In contrast to Johnston's conservative tactics and conservation of manpower, Hood had a reputation for aggresive tactics and personal bravery on the battlefield (he had already been maimed in battle several times). Hood took command and launched the attempted counter-offensive. The Confederates were late to their starting positions but nonetheless unleashed a harsh assault on Union troops that had crossed the creek. The Union center was driven back, but ultimately held and the Confederate troops were forced to call off the attack at sunset. Estimated casualties were 6,506 in total: 1,710 on the Union side and 4,796 on the Confederate.

See also Battle of Atlanta