August 26th, 1864:
Sherman’s siege guns around Atlanta have fallen silent. On the North and East side of the city, the Southern Soldiers find the Federal siege line empty of troops, but full of various items and food left behind by the Federals. Even though he has no hard proof, Hood suspects that Wheeler’s Cavalry raid against Sherman’s supply line in northern Georgia, may have been successful and that Sherman is starting to pull back from Atlanta. Hood also is weary of another flanking attempt by Sherman, and with the bulk of his cavalry in northern Georgia and Tennessee, he lacks critical intelligence on what is actually happening. Hood orders his units on the south west side of the city to be prepared to move quickly if Sherman is attempting to extend his lines south.
During the night of the 26th, Sherman begins moving the remainder of his army. The XIV Corps and the Army of the Tennessee begin moving south of Utoy Creek towards Camp Creek. The XXIII Corps remains in place at East Point opposing Hardee’s Corps. The XXIII staying in place, helps screen the movement of the other Federal Corps.
Category: Civil War Georgia
150 Years Ago Today: August 25th, 1864
August 25th, 1864:
General Sherman has grown impatient and restless with the siege of Atlanta and the failure of his Cavalry to destroy the Confederate supply line south of Atlanta. He has devised a plan to sweep his entire army with the exception of one Corps, to the south west then move back east towards the railroad. This movement will carry them though Red Oak, Fairburn, and Palmetto. From there they will move on Jonesboro.
On the 25th, Sherman gives the order to begin the movement and late in the evening the XX Corps begins pulling back from the siege lines and moves across the Chattahoochee river. The IV Corps moves as well. They move to the are that is now I-285 and Cascade Road. They form a line of battle facing toward the north in the direction of the Confederate stronghold of Atlanta. They will act as a rear guard to protect the remainder of the Union army as they begin their march on Jonesboro. The IV Corps will remain in the Atlanta area during the assault on Jonesboro. Sherman has also ordered all the surplus wagons and supplies to be moved from the siege lines and taken across the Chattahoochee where they will be guarded.
150 Years Ago Today: August 20th, 1864
August 20th, 1864:
After leaving from Fairburn on the 19th, Kilpatrick moved his column towards Jonesboro. He once again met resistance from Ross’s Texas Brigade, first to his rear and then after Ross moved south below Kilpatrick and made it across the Flint River before Kilpatrick, he was then in Kilpatrick’s front. Ross’s Brigade removed the planks on the bridge over the Flint River and formed a line of battle on the high ground on the east side of the river. Kilpatrick had his artillery open open up on the Confederates and then had his Cavalry dismount and cross the bridge on its stringers. They were able to force Ross’s Brigade, which was a smaller force, back towards Jonesboro. kilpatrick reached Jonesboro around 5:00pm on the 19th and began to destroy the tracks and was able to burn the Railroad Station and some other structures. Heavy rain prevented the Federals from making fires to heat the railroad tracks for bending so they removed it from the railroad bed and tossed it to the side.
On the 20th, after learning that a Confederate force of unknown strength was approaching, Kilpatrick decided to abandon his efforts in Jonesboro and move towards Love Joy’s Station. As he approached Love Joy’s Station he did not know realize the strength of the Confederate forces there. They Rebels had hidden themselves in a railroad cut and waited. When the Federal Cavalry dismounted and approached the railroad, the Confederates waited until they were within about 50 yards before making themselves known and opening fire on the Federals. The Federals were quickly repulsed soon they were attacked in the rear by Ross’s Texans. Kilpatrick had limited options. He quickly decided to fight his way out and formed his units into a tight and compact column and made a counter attack on the Confederate forces in his rear. Minty’s Brigade lead Kilpatricks column and as they approached the Rebels across an open field, they drew their sabers and charged. They were able to cut their way through and Kilpatrick’s column was able to escape and make for the Federal lines east of Atlanta. They moved north east from Love Joy’s Station toward McDonough and from there they made for the South River, which they crossed and the went to Lithonia and form there to Decatur.
150 Years Ago Today: August 18th, 1864
August 18th, 1864: Several days earlier, General Hood dispatched General Wheeler and his Confederate Cavalry to the north in an effort to disrupt Sherman’s supply lines coming from Chattanooga. Sherman, who has quickly become restless during the siege, has started planning a movement of his entire army to the the south of Atlanta to disrupt the Confederate supply line coming up from Macon.
Sherman has sen Kilpatrick’s Cavalry to the south of Atlanta on a reconnaissance mission. On the morning of the 16th, Kilpatrick reaches Fairburn, where he destroys three miles of railroad track and the depot. He has been operating without any real opposition from Jackson’s Cavalry. Sherman begins to think that Kilpatrick, along with a couple Brigades of Garrad’s Cavalry, could swing far south of Atlanta and destroy the railroad without needing to move the entire army. Sherman ask Kilpatrick if he thinks it is possible, to which he replies that it would be possible to damage the tracks bad enough to be out of service and not put his command in any danger.
Sherman has also learned the Wheelers Cavalry has made it to Tennessee and is therefore to far to offer any support to Hood or oppose Kilpatrick. Sherman decides to delay is movement of his army around Atlanta and instead he orders Kilpatrick to move on the railroad in Jonesboro with his three Brigades and two more attached to him from Garrard’s Cavalry.
On the night of the 18th, Kilpatrick and five Brigades of Federal Cavalry, begin their move towards Jonesboro. They leave from Sandtown and head towards Fairburn. They are opposed by only one Confederate Brigade. Ross’s Texas Brigade spends the night of the 18th harassing and slowing down the Federal Cavalry. These actions slow down the Federal Cavalry considerably and delay the raids time table.
Photography Day 35 is done!
Yesterday I set out early in the morning around 6am to go photograph all the former locations of the “Forts” that were part of the defensive perimeter around the city of Atlanta. There are over 20 locations and an additional 15 locations that were artillery batteries inside the perimeter. I was able to photograph all the forts and 10 of the batteries as well as the site of the Dexter Niles House, where Johnston was informed of his replacement by Hood, the Grant Mansion, former home of the engineer that designed the defensive perimeter and namesake of Grant Park, and the surrender site where Mayor Calhoun surrendered the city in Sept. of 1864. Sunday morning was a perfect time to go out in the city. It was fairly quite with very little traffic.
This is also a milestone post for me. It is number 100. I have also amassed .5 terabytes worth of images for the project, for a total of 38,060 image files. But, I shoot in the Raw + Jpeg mode on my camera, so that is really 19,030 images. I had no idea that I had shot that many images. I am just now at the halfway point. Looks Like I need to get another hard drive.
150 Years Ago Today: Siege of Atlanta
August 1st – August 27th, 1864:
After the Battle of Atlanta on July 22nd, the Federal Artillery began to shell the city of Atlanta, sometimes it was light and random and at other times there were “duels” with the Confederate Artillery in the inner defensive perimeter.
On the first of August, Sherman learned of the failure of the Cavalry raid to destroy the railroads south of the city. He then sent the following order to General Schofield “You may fire ten to fifteen shots from every gun you have in position into Atlanta that will reach any of its houses. Fire slowly and with deliberation between 4:00pm and dark. Thomas and Howard will do the same.” (O.R. 38, V, 324, Sherman to Schofield).
On the 7th of August, after the failure of the Federal forces to take the railroad junction at East Point. Sherman request two more large siege guns to be sent from Chattanooga by rail. These guns shoot a 4.5 inch diameter round weighing 30 pounds.
As the shelling of the city became more intense, more and more damage was done. The Federal artillery was using the church spires of town as land marks for sighting their guns. Homes and businesses alike were damaged or destroyed. Sherman was targeting the city itself and wanting nothing more than to break Hood’s resolve and force the Confederate army from their stronghold. At one point, Hood sent a message to Sherman requesting that he stop shelling the noncombatants in the city and pointed out that the cities defensive line was a full mile outside the city. Sherman replied that Atlanta was a military target and an arsenal. Sherman continued the siege unchanged. The first civilian casualty of the siege was small girl in the area of Peachtree St. and Ellis Street. Solomon Luckie, a free black man who owned a barber shop in town, was killed by a shell near what is now the Five Points Marta Station. There is an original gas lamp on the corner at the marta station and local legend says that the hole in the base was caused by the same shell that killed Solomon Luckie.
Author Jim Miles
On Sunday I took the boys over to the Cobb Civic Center to walk around the Civil War Relic show. While we were there we stopped at a table that held lots of books. As I looked at them all, I realized they were all by Jim Miles, then I looked up and saw Mr. Miles staffing the table. He was incredibly nice and a pleasure to talk to. I wish I had know he was going to be there, I would have brought several of his books to have him sign them. Below is a review of one of his books that I posted earlier this year.
Photography days 31, 32, 33, and 34 are done!
Last Tuesday, I photographed multiple locations in south west Atlanta near Cascade Heights and Westend. They were all associated with the Battle of Utoy Creek. I was also able to photograph to antebellum structures in the area and both were used by soldiers during the war.
Last Wednesday, I met with the Walker family at the McDaniel Farm Park in Gwinnette County. They are reenactors and living historians. There were multiple outfits used for different impressions. I made some fantastic images and hope to share some of them soon. Just need to find time to edit.
Last Thursday, I returned to south west Atlanta to photograph some Federal earthworks off of the Lionel Hampton Bike Path. Yes, I did ride my bike to the location. First time I have ever traveled to a location for photography on a bike. After the bike path, I began the process of photographing the locations of the Forts that were part of Atlanta’s inner defensive perimeter. I photographed Forts “A” through “K”. “K” was located where the Fox Theater is now. From here I traveled up Peachtree Road to Piedmont Hospital to photograph the monument in front of the hospital and then made some follow up images in the area of the Battle of Peachtree Creek.
On Saturday, I got an early start and was in downtown before 7am. I made a few shots of the city sky line and then followed the route of Hardee’s Night March south from the capitol and past the Federal Prison. This is also part of the route that S.D. Lee’s Corps used to march to Jonesboro and part of the route used when the Confederates evacuated Atlanta. I made some follow up shots of this route and some shots of the South River at Moreland Ave. From here I went to the old site known as Rough and Ready. Now it is called Mountain View is on 41 in the little triangle created by 41, I-75, and I-285. From here I followed the route of Hardee’s March to Jonesboro. When I got to Jonesboro I photographed multiple location associated with the Battle of Jonesboro and then I photographed multiple period homes that were used for various reasons by the armies in the area. I also was able to photograph Stately Oaks Plantation. It was decorated in period mourning decor. The tour with a discussion of mourning customs of the period was really good. From Jonesboro I went to Lovejoy an photographed the Nash Farm Battlefield as well as some other areas around town.
150 Years Ago Today: August 7, 1864
August 7th, 1864:
On the morning of the seventh, the Federals again began to advance on the entrenched Confederates south of Utoy Creek. They encountered no resistance and found the Confederate works empty. Bate’s Division was withdrawn from the lines overnight and took their place in the line of defensive works, that stretched from the defensive perimeter around Atlanta, to the southwest in order to protect the railroads in East Point. Bate’s takes his place between Clayton’s Division on his right (north) and Clerburne’s Division to his left (south).
Sherman, who is displeased with the failure of the movement toward East Point, decides to lay siege to Atlanta and will do his best to run the Confederates out of the city. He begins to shell the city and considers the city itself as a military target even though there are still civilians within the city. Many have evacuated, but several thousand have no where to go or have decided to wait it out.
150 Years Ago Today: August 6th, 1864 The Battle of Utoy Creek
August 6th, 1864: The Battle of Utoy Creek
This morning, Sherman has accepted the resignation of Palmer, who will be on a train back to Chattanooga by the afternoon, and the Federals had formed up their lines and everyone was in place to attempt an advance across Utoy Creek towards the railroad in East Point. With Palmer’s resignation, Robert W. Johnson, a division commander within the XIV Corps, was appointed Commander of the XIV Corps and placed under the command of Schofield. Displeased with the performance of the XIV Corps on the previous day, Schofield had moved his XXIII Corps to the right of the XIV Corps. The XXIII Corps is now the Federal right flank and the XIV Corps is the left flank with Logan’s XV Corps in support to their left. Palmer’s Corp was fanned out in an arch following the current Beecher Road south to Benjamin E. Mays and making a slight turn to the west, just north of Cascade Road. Palmer’s right ended near Willis Mill Road. Schofield’s left was adjacent to Palmer’s right with Cox’s Division along Cascade Road and stretching out west. Hascall’s Division of Schofield’s Corps turn south making a 90 degree turn to the south and was facing the end of the Confederate line at the Confederate left flank.
The battle began when Cox’s Division moved south and Hascall’s Division moved east to press the Confederate flank. The 11th Kentucky Regiment (Federal) of Cox’s Division was at the front of the advancing line and made first contact with the 4th Kentucky (CSA), who were posted as skirmishers in front the famed Kentucky Orphan Brigade. This action happened in the area of the waterfall in what is now Cascade Springs Nature Preserve. Cox’s attack was repulsed and a severe loss. He reformed for another attempt, but was repulsed a second time after which he withdrew from the assault. Hascall was hindered by the South Fork of Utoy Creek and made minimal gains in his assault. He did reach the rear of an artillery battery, which withdrew to the east to another position on high ground from which they still had a commanding view.
Palmer’s Corps, now commanded by Johnson, has sat idle most of the day and did not make an attempt to attack until late afternoon and he only attacked with one division. He gained no headway and retired before anything larger than a skirmish developed.
The Confederate left flank was manned by Bate’s Division along a ridge line just south of Sandtown Road (Cascade Road). S. D. Lee’s Division connected to Bate’s right at the Sandtown Road east of what is now Beecher road. Bate’s left flank was open and vulnerable to attack and on the night of the 6th, Hood ordered Bate’s Division to withdraw from the area back to the Confederate main defensive line.
War Was Here 