150 Years Ago Today: July 5th, 1864

July 5th, 1864
     In the early morning hours, General Johnston and the Army of Tennessee, retreat from the Smyrna Line and fall back to the last line of previously prepared fortifications before the Chattahoochee River.  Known as the River Line, it was conceived and constructed by Brigadier General Francis Asbury Shoup, Chief of Artillery for the Army of Tennessee.  The River Line had a new style of fortification in the line, they were called a Shoupade.  They were diamond shaped forts built with two of the angles sticking out ahead of the line.  The Shoupades were placed anywhere from 60 to 175 yards apart depending on the terrain and were connected by earthworks that intersected the Shoupade roughly in the center.  The angled section in front of the line from two adjoining Shoupades, allowed for a crossfire on an advancing enemy.  Each Shoupade could hold 80 soldiers shoulder to shoulder.  They were also constructed to withstand an extended artillery barrage.  The Confederates occupied this line until the night of July the 9th, when the retreated across the river. 

Author: Clint Brownlee

My name is Clint Brownlee and I am a Photographer in Woodstock, Georgia with over 20 years of photographic experience in many different aspects of photography. I have photographed everything from weddings, special events and portraits to published materials, but my passion has always been Fine Art and Nature Photography. I have had a several shows at the Mason Murer Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia and The Roswell Visual Arts Center in Roswell, Georgia. I now sell through my website: www.clintbrownleephotography.com

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