Johnston remains in position on March 21…

Johnston remains in position on March 21 while he removes his wounded.

Skirmishing heats up along the entire front.

In the afternoon, Union Major General Joseph A. Mower, commanding the division on the Union right flank, requests permission from his corps commander to launch a "little reconnaissance" to his front, which is granted.

Mower instead launches an attack with two brigades on the Confederate left flank, which is defending Mill Creek Bridge.

Mower's men manage to come within one mile (one point six kilometers) of the crossing before Sherman peremptorily orders them to pull back.

In his memoirs, Sherman will admit that this had been a mistake and that he had missed an opportunity to end the campaign then and there, perhaps capturing Johnston's army entirely.

Among the Confederate casualties is Hardee's sixteen-year-old son, Willie.

Hardee had reluctantly allowed his son to attach himself to the 8th Texas Cavalry just hours before Mower's attack.