I thought this shot was really cool and wanted to share it with all of you. It is straight from the camera. All I did was crop to 8×10 and add the copyright at the bottom. I did not adjust anything.
Both cannons were firing at the same time. These are 12 pounder Howitzers placed at the location of Key’s Battery during the battle.
May 28th, 1864:
After suffering heavy losses and gaining no ground since the Battle of New Hope Church on May 25th, General Sherman decided to begin withdrawing from the Dallas-New Hope line and make his way back to the railroad where the supply trains could reach him. Sherman had ordered General McPherson to begin moving his Army of the Tennessee, who were entrenched in Dallas, back to the east and toward the railroad near Acworth.
Confederate General Johnston was unsure of Sherman’s intentions and his troop movements. He ordered General Hardee to do a reconnaissance by force to try and ascertain the strength of McPherson’s position. General Hardee selected Bate’s Division supported by Jackson’s Cavalry to carry out the mission. General Bate’s was going to have just one brigade attack and if they found the Federal lines to be weak they would signal the remainder of the units to attack. The first brigade in made fairly good headway and then was repulsed by heavy fire. They found the Federals still heavily entrenched and still in place. Even though McPherson had given orders to begin moving out, his units in this section of the line had not started their movement. The signal to attack was not given. In the turmoil and uncertainty of combat, Lewis’ Kentucky Orphan Brigade thought they had missed the signal. He sent an officer down the line to see if the other unit had already attacked, when the officer arrived he found their portion of the line empty and assumed they had moved forward to attack. They had only moved out of their works a short distance in order to be more ready for the attack when the signal came. After hearing the report from the officer, Lewis orders the his Orphan Brigade to attack. Upon seeing this the Florida Brigade began their attack on the left of the line while Lewis was on the right of the line. They were supported by an artillery battery. Both brigades fought hard and made it close to the Federal lines. They were met with heavy fire from fully entrenched Union soldiers. When Bates realized the Federal troops were still in position and still there in full force, he called off the attack. The orders to retreat were late reaching the Orphan Brigade and for a period of time they were fighting their way forward unsupported.
The outcome of this battle is sort of the opposite of what happened at Pickett’s Mill. The Confederate losses were around 1600 and the Federal losses were around 400. Lewis’ Orphan Brigade suffered over 50 losses.
May 27th, 1864,
After suffering heavy losses at New Hope Church and failing to break the Confederate line, General Sherman again tries to out flank General Johnston’s Confederate Army. Sherman orders General Howard to send Wood’s 3rd Division of the IV Corps, Johnson’s 1st Division of the XIV Corps, and McLean’s 3rd Brigade of Schofield’s XXIII Corps, on a flanking march in an easterly direction, to find the right end of the Confederate line. They hope to find the exposed right end of the line and attack.
General Johnston figured out what the Federals were attempting, and began shifting troops from his left to the right. He moved Hindman’s Division from the far left of Hood’s position and placed them on the far right. This began the extension of the Confederate line to the right. Johnston then moved General Cleburne’s Division of Hardee’s Corps to the right of Hindman. This extended the Confederate line even further to the right. Cleburne began to dig in on a ridge line running east toward Pickett’s Mill. This was the end of the line with the exception of Kelly’s Cavalry being used as a screen put in place beyond the end of the line.
Generals Howard and Wood began their march east to find the Confederate right as they were assigned. The terrain was difficult at best. It was described as jungle by some. It is hilly with deep ravines and lots of underbrush. After traveling some distance the made their first attempt to find the Confederate right, but as they approached the lines the realized they were approaching the rear of the Union lines. They needed to push further east before turning again. After moving about a mile east of this point they turned again and found what the thought was the Confederate right. They reached the area of Pickett’s Mill around mid afternoon. Howard began to form Wood’s and Johnson’s Divisions for attack.
Meanwhile, Cleburne’s scouts reported the movement of the Federals toward the end of the Confederate line. He began deploying further to his right and also deployed several artillery batteries. He place Lucius Polk’s Brigade on his left, Govan’s Brigade in the center and Granbury’s Brigade on his right and the Cavalry screen beyond Granbury.
Wood deployed with Hazen’s 2nd Brigade in the front with Gibson’s 1st Brigade following them and Knefler’s 3rd Brigade behind them. Johnson deployed with Scribner’s 3rd Brigade in front and aligned with Gibson’s Brigade. He then placed King’s 2nd Brigade following Scribner and Carlin’s 1st Brigade behind King. The formation they were using is called a “Column of Brigades” and each Brigade should follow the other closely as to over whelm the enemy with their numbers. The order to attack was given around 4:30pm. Hazen moved forward, but the dense undergrowth along, with the terrain, caused the lines to come apart and become spread out. Gibson’s Brigade did not immediately follow Hazen. Hazen’s men drove in the Confederate pickets and started moving up the steep sided ravine. They were attacking the left and center of Granbury’s Brigade. They thought they were attacking the end of the Confederate line, but Cleburne had been fast enough to extend it to his right. Hazen came under heavy fire and point blank artillery fire from Key’s Battery. Hazen began moving left toward an old cornfield. This movement had been anticipated by Cleburne, who had sent several regiments of Govan’s Brigade further to the right and just past Granbury, to block the Federals. After losing over 450 men, Hazen was withdrawn and only then was Gibson put in. He suffered a similar fate and suffered heavier losses, over 650. Kneffler’s Brigade was finally sent in, but with the purpose to only cover Gibson’s as he withdrew and recovered the wounded. Scribner was delayed in his attack by the cavalry pickets, who held high ground across the creek. He sent a couple of regiments to push them back and finally made it to the cornfield where he was hit by a counter attack from a reserve force that had been sent to reinforce Clerburne. Sribner held his own for a short time before falling back as well.
The battle began to subside around 7:00pm, but skirmishing continued into the night. Cleburne directed Granbury to make a night time assault to probe the location of the Federals and clear his front. They captured over 200 Union troops and drove back many more to their original positions. Total Union casualties are reported as being 1732 while the Confederate casualties were reported at 448. It was a rather lopsided victory for the Confederates.
This is my favorite battle of the campaign, I’m not sure why, but maybe because the battlefield is so well preserved and you can walk through it and really see where events took place. I recommend going to visit the battlefield if you get a chance. Here is a link to their website: Pickett’s Mill State Historic Site. They are having a special event this weekend with reenactments. It should be a really great event. Also, if your interested in learning of the details of the battle, check out this book: The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead Line, by Brad Butkovich.
The Campaign For Atlanta, by William R. Scaife
Fourth Edition 1993, ISBN 0-9619508-8-9
Kennesaw Mountain Historical Association, Kennesaw Georgia
This is a very well made and printed book. I suspect it was a short run printing and they did a fine job. This book is great for discussions of the details of specific battles throughout the campaign. It is well researched and full of quotes and maps. I have to say that the maps featured in this book are the best I have come across so far in print. They show troop positions and movements along with the terrain and most modern roads. This was a big help while trying to locate areas in Dalton and Resaca. I am sure it will be a big help as I move forward as well. This is probably my favorite book of all the Civil War Books I have.
Here is a link for the book on Amazon. The Campaign for Atlanta, William R. Scaife
It is a little pricy. I lucked out and found the last copy at Pickett’s Mill State Historic Site and it cost me $50.00. You may also be able to find it at the bookstore at the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. This bookstore operates in conjunction with the Kennesaw Mountain Historical Association.
Fields of Glory, A History and Tour Guide of the War in the West, The Atlanta Campaign, 1864
by Jim Miles. Cumberland House Publishing Nashville Tenn. 2002
This has been my most used and trusted book for finding locations related to the Atlanta Campaign. I love the way the chapters are set up. One Chapter gives you a fairly good history of a section of the campaign and then the next chapter is a guided tour of that section. The directions are good and detailed and I have not found any mistakes in the directions other than the mileage being off by a few 10th here and there, but not enough to matter. I like the appendix as well. They offer a few other tours and anecdotes of interest.
I must give Jim Miles a great deal of thanks, because I am not sure I could have found all the locations that I needed to with out his book. If you are looking at a driving tour in Georgia and want to visit some Civil War sites, then this is about the best book to use. I highly recommend this book.
I spent last Sunday afternoon at New Hope Church Battlefield. I was able to photograph the “Hell Hole” ravine as well as the cemetery and church area. I got lucky and thunderstorm clouds began to build and help add to the drama of the scene. There was really horrible thunderstorm 150 years ago to the day, during the battle. I also was able to photograph the dedication of a monument that was being placed near the earthworks behind the old church. It was very touching and several speeches were made and an honor guard posted colors. There was a 21 gun salute and then a three gun artillery battery gave a salute. I made a few new contacts and saw several people that I knew from previous events. I made around 500 images in about five hours. Hopefully I will not get poison Ivy from trudging through the ravine.
May 25, 1864: General Hood had successfully moved his Corps from Allatoona Pass to the area of the crossroads at New Hope Church. New Hope Church is located several miles Northeast of Dallas. General Hood had his men deploy along a ridge line looking north in the direction of the Union advance. Hood deployed Stevenson’s Division on his right, Hindman’s Division on the left, and Stewart’s Division held the center. When Stewart deployed to the center he placed Stovall’s Georgia Brigade on his left abutting Hindman’s right. Stovall’s Brigade was deployed in the area that is now the cemetery. It was a cemetery then, but has grown in size over the years. My relatives in the 42nd Ga. were positioned some where along Stovall’s line. Stovall’s Brigade decided against entrenching in the cemetery and formed an open line of battle. The remainder of the units on the line entrenched. Multiple artillery units were also deployed along the line.
General Hooker’s XX Corps was moving south from Burnt Hickory where they had stopped for the previous night. Geary’s 2nd Division was leading the Union column as it approached New Hope crossroads. Geary was met with stiff resistance from Stewart’s skirmishers, but was able to drive them back and then came under heavy fire. He realized he had met a large Confederate force and began the process of digging in and sent word for the rest of the Army to move up quickly. Sherman scoffed at the idea of there being a large Confederate force near the area, but he was soon proven wrong. As more Federal troops moved up, Geary formed his Brigades to take the Union Center, Williams’ 1st Division moved to the Union Right and Butterfield’s 3rd Division took up the Union Left. As the Union soldiers advanced toward the Confederate line, the skies opened up and poured down a heavy rain with thunder and lightning. Williams’ 1st Division was the first to reach the Confederate lines and suffered heavy losses. Losing approximately 800 men in the opening few minutes. The remaining Divisions suffered a similar fate with a total loss of approximately 1600. Many were pinned down under such heavy fire that they sought shelter in a deep ravine on the battlefield and were unable to retreat until darkness fell. They later nick named the ravine the “Hell Hole”. That term has also been used to describe the general area and conditions all along the Dallas, New Hope, Pickett’s Mill line. Howard’s IV Corps was called up to support Hooker’s Corp, but arrived to late to be able to have any influence on the battle. The Union Army then began the process of entrenching.
During the battle, Confederate General Johnston sent a courier to Stewart asking if he needed any support. Stewart replied with confidence, “My own men will hold the position”, and they did. He is reported to have been riding back and forth along the line during the heat of the battle, to rally his men. Confederate losses were around 300 to 400. Skirmishing continued throughout the next day.
May 23, 1864: General Sherman had devised a plan to move away from his railroad supply lines and angle southwest in an effort to out flank General Johnston’s Confederate Army, who are held up in the fortified positions of Allatoona Pass. Since they were leaving their main supply line, Sherman striped down his army to the just the essential equipment and rations to last a few days. Extra supplies would have to be brought by wagon train from the railroad and would take a great deal of time. On the 23rd of May the Federal troops begin crossing the Etowah River in multiple locations. They used existing bridges that were not burned by retreating Confederates, shallow fords, and the pontoon bridges that their engineers constructed. After crossing the river, the Union troops began concentrating in the area of Euharlee and Stilesboro. From here they moved away as three separate columns. McPherson was ordered to be the right wing of the advance and was sent to take Dallas. He went in a sweeping arch movement far out to the west through Taylorsville, Aragon, and Van Wert (now Rockmart). Sherman’s left wing was made up General Thomas’s and General Schofield’s Armies. From Stilesboro they moved south from that point, but stayed fairly close to each other, in case one of them needed support upon making contact with the Confederates. They stopped in the area of Burnt Hickory for a day to allow McPherson to complete his movement toward Dallas.
Meanwhile, General Wheeler’s Confederate Cavalry were observing what movements the Union Army was making and sent word back to General Johnston. He immediately issued orders to begin moving elements of his army into blocking positions to prevent or delay the Federal Advance. General Hardee was sent to Dallas to stop McPherson and become the left of the Confederate line. Hood stayed at Allatoona Pass for another day and then moved to New Hope to block the advancing Federals. Polk was sent to Lost Mountain where he could move easily in any direction to offer support if it were needed.
And what a day it was. I made it Adairsville just before 8:00am and began making images just north of town at the site of the Saxon House. From Adiarsville I traveled south on U.S. 41 to Cassville. I made images at numerous places here. I photographed several churches that were used as hospitals or stables by both Armies at different times. I also made images in the Historic Cassville Cemetery. It was a cool old cemetery. From the cemetery I was able to make images of the locations of the ridge lines that held both the Federal lines on the west the Confederate lines on the east.
From Cassville I traveled south on U.S. 41 into Cartersville. Here, I made images of the Train Depot. It was used as cover by elements of the Confederate Army as the fought a rear guard action during their retreat across the Etowah River. They knocked out bricks in the walls to make shooting ports. It was damaged by Federal Artillery and later abandoned when the rear guard retreated across the river.
From Cartersville I moved south west towards Euharlee, where elements of the Union Army crossed Euharlee Creek via a covered bridge. I made images of the bridge, which was built in the late 1800’s, to replace the one burned during the Civil War. I also went through Stilesboro and made images of Stilesboro Academy. I was also able to make images of Plant Bowen, which sits about half way between Euharlee and the Stilesboro Academy and was along the path taken by elements of the Federal Army. The Army passed by the Academy and used some of the benches as feed troughs for their horses.
I left the Stilesboro Academy and made my way back towards Cartersville and took U.S. 41 south to the Etowah River. On the north bank of the river, on the east side of U.S. 41, is an old abandoned plant for mineral production. On the hill behind the plant was a Federal Fort. It overlooked the Western and Atlantic Railroad as it crossed the Etowah River. I was granted permission by the company that owns the property to make images there. I was attempting to recreate a period image made by George Barnard. The climb up the hill was tough. It was covered with poison ivy, briars, and “Devil’s Walking Stick”. Not to mention all the other undergrowth. I made it to the top of the hill and found the remnants of the old Federal Fort. I am 90% sure I found the spot the images was made. The only problem is all the trees and undergrowth obscured the view. I made the image anyway as well as other images of the remains of the fort. I hiked down the back side of the hill that appeared less steep, but it was even more difficult due to being overgrown. It was the most difficult terrain I have ever gone through to make an image. Looking forward to next week. Lots of action at New Hope Church, Pickett’s Mill, and Dallas.
May 20th, 1864: General Johnston and the Confederate Army withdrew from Cassville and on the evening and night of the 20th they crossed the Etowah River and began heading in the direction of Allatoona Pass. General Sherman decided to rest his army and they stayed on the north side of the river for the next three days, where they were resting and restocking supplies.
Having traveled through this area as a young officer, General Sherman knew the dangers of approaching the Confederate Army, at the heavily fortified Allatoona Pass. He formulated a plan to leave his railroad supply line and move southwest toward Dallas and try to out flank Johnston and take Marietta before the Confederate Army could get there.
War Was Here 