Category: General Sherman

150 Years Ago Today: Sept. 2nd, 1864 Atlanta Has Fallen

Sept. 2nd, 1864:
     With the Confederate army gone and ensuing occupation of the Federal Army, Mayor Calhoun and a group of prominent citizens rode out of the city under a white flag of truce.  Prior to leaving they debated as to whether or not they should arm themselves, the decide wisely to go unarmed.  They ride out the Mason-Turner Ferry Road, now called Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway, where they pass through the defensive perimeter and go by the Ponder house.  They encounter a mounted patrol of Federals whom they engage in conversation.  Calhoun informs the Colonel that he would like to surrender the city to General Sherman, the Colonel states that Sherman is at Jonesboro and has Calhoun write a note to his commanding officer General Ward, surrendering the city.  Calhoun wrote the note and the Colonel and two other officers sign it affirming its validity.  The not reads as follows:
     Brigadier General Ward,
          Comdg. Third Division, Twentieth Corps

     Sir:  The fortune of war has placed Atlanta in your hands.  As mayor of the city I ask protection to non-combatants and private property.
           
                                                                   James M. Calhoun,
                                                                   Mayor of Atlanta

By noon Federal units have reached City Hall and hoisted their colors over the city.  Around 2:00pm, General Slocum enters the city and establishes his headquarters at the Trout House.  He sends a telegram to the Secretary of War in Washington.  The first line is “General Sherman has taken Atlanta”. 
     Demoralized, Hood’s troops continue their march to Love Joy’s Station to link up with Hardee.  The loss of Atlanta is a crushing blow to the Confederacy.  For Lincoln, it is a great political achievement that helps secure his spot for another term as President. 


    

150 Years Ago Today: August 29th, 1864

August 29th, 1864:
     The Federal Army, having reached the West Point railroad at Red Oak and Fairburn on the previous day, spend the 29th destroying 12.5 miles of track.  They burn the ties and lay the track across them to heat them and then bend them around trees.  They fill the railroad cuts with trees, rocks, dirt, and in some cases they rig up artillery shells in the debris to explode if material is moved.  There is also a great deal of looting and pillaging of the local populace.  Livestock and of food stuffs are taken along with anything the looters deem useful.  Some things are destroyed just for fun.  On the night of the 29th, Sherman issues marching orders for the next day.  In the morning they will begin moving toward Jonesboro.

150 Years Ago Today: August 28th, 1864

 August 28th, 1864:
     Around midday on the 28th, the Federal XV and XVII Corps reach the Westpoint railroad in  Fairburn and the later in the afternoon the Federal IV and XIV Corps reach the Westpoint railroad in Red Oak.  Sherman orders his troops to destroy as much of the railroad as possible so as to make it unusable and to burn the cross ties and bend the tracks so that no piece can be reused.  They are to begin immediately and continue to work all through the next day. 
     Hood is starting to realize the threat is on the Western and Atlantic railroad near Jonesboro.  Hood has sent Reynold’s Brigade to Jonesboro by train and they will be followed by Lewis’s Kentuckians.  Brown moves to Rough and Ready with part of Bate’s Division to protect it from possible raids coming from Red Oak or Fairburn. 

150 Years Ago Today: August 27th, 1864

August 27th, 1864:
     The first of Sherman’s troops reach Camp Creek on the morning of the 27th.  The Federal IV Corps is moving toward Camp Creek from the area around Utoy Creek.  Hood, is increasingly concerned about the possibility of Sherman attempting a flanking movement to attack the railroad at Rough and Read (now called Mountain View, which is directly east of the Atlanta airport between I-75 and I-285) or possibly at Jonesboro.  Hood has received word from some Cavalry scouts that the Federals are massing at Camp Creek.  Hood has dispatched French on a reconnaissance to the north and west of Atlanta and he has found the Federal XX corp entrenched in the are of the railroad bridge across the Chattahoochee River.  Stewart’s and Lee’s Corps move into the empty Federal trenches and begin to reap the rewards of all the items an army leaves behind.  They find everything from food to blankets.  Hood send’s Sthal’s Brigade to reinforce Hardee at East Point and instructs Jackson to have Armstrong’s Brigade of Cavalry to block and delay the Federals if they attempt to cross Camp Creek and move on Rough and Ready.

150 Years Ago Today: August 26th, 1864

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. 

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 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.

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. 

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. 

150 Years Ago Today: August 5, 1864 The Battle of Utoy Creek

August 5th, 1864:
     The conflict between General’s Sherman, Palmer and Schofield continued throughout the day.  Palmer sent multiple letters arguing back and forth with Sherman.  Palmer’s final letter said “I will call upon you tomorrow morning and present a formal application to be relieved.”  While they bickered back and forth, Federal units were still trying to get in line for the move toward East Point.  For the remainder of the day Palmer agrees to relay orders from Schofield to his XIV Corps.  Baird’s Division advances south toward Utoy Creek and encounter the Confederate skirmishers.  They take about 140 prisoners.  They then turn towards the east and encounter an artillery barrage.  They decide not to advance and assault the Confederate works as they assume they will be repulsed.  Davis brings his division up along side Baird’s and comes to halt as well.  Schofield is not happy about the assault coming to a halt.  He orders Johnson’s Division of Palmer’s Corps to swing around the right and attack the Confederate left flank.  Johnson waits until early evening to begin his movement, which he calls a “reconnaissance”.  He move a very little distance and then calls it off since it is too late in the day to do much good.  He falls back to the rear of Davis.  Schofield and Sherman are both displeased with the performance of Palmer’s XIV Corps.  Palmer will resign in the morning and for a time Johnson will command the XIV Corps. 
     During the night of the 5th, Hood orders the defensive lines extended further south and west to protect the railroad in East Point.  The line extended about 1.25 miles from the existing defensive lines, down a ridge line the paralleled the Sandtown Road (Cascade Road), and overlooked the North Fork of Utoy Creek.  The far left of the line ended in the area of the current Cascade Springs Nature Preserve.