Category: Georgia Battlefields

150 Years Ago Today, The Battle of Dug Gap

On May 8th, 1864 General Sherman sent General Geary’s 2nd Division of General Hookers XXth Corps. to Dug Gap.  His intent was to have Geary’s 2nd Division create a diversion and prevent Confederate Scouts from descending the wagon road through Dug Gap and scouting westward for the movements of the Union Army.  General Sherman did this to screen the movement of General McPherson’s Army of the Tennessee as they moved south on the western side of Rocky Face Ridge toward Snake Creek Gap.  McPherson’s task was to attack the Confederate rear and block their retreat from Dalton.  The battle at Dug Gap was a successful diversion and McPherson made it to Snake Creek Gap unseen by the Confederate Army.

During the battle of Dug Gap the Confederates were outnumbered 10 to 1, but they held the high ground and used the natural rock formations of the ridge for cover and concealment.  Southern soldiers also constructed a stacked stone wall to use as cove in addition to the natural rock formations being used.  About 1200′ of this wall still exist today.  During the battle it was reported that the Southern soldiers were rolling large boulders down on the advancing Federal troops.  The Federal troops were upset by this and called it a cowardly act and not “Fair Play”.  The Confederate soldiers here were from the 1st and 2nd Arkansas and Breckenridge’s dismounted Cavalry.  Geary’s 2nd Division suffered roughly 357 casualties to the Confederate’s 50. 

Palmer’s XIV Corps of the Army of the Cumberland was also heavily engaged at Mill Creek Gap.  This is where I-75, US 41 and the Rail Road move through Rocky Face Ridge.  The Western and Atlantic Railroad went through here as well.  Confederate engineers had previously flooded a portion of this area to prevent and slow the Federal advance.  The attack here was also a diversionary tactic to draw attention away from General McPherson’s movement towards Resaca via Snake Creek Gap.

Day Two is Done!

On this day 150 years ago, the Atlanta Campaign began with its first battle at Tunnel Hill.  Elements of General Sherman’s massive Army of the Cumberland were pushing through the area toward Mill Creek Gap.  Along the way they were taking control of key railroad points and the railroad tunnel at Tunnel Hill was a key strategic point.  The Federals easily routed the small contingent of Wheeler’s Cavalry that was stationed at Tunnel Hill.  When Sherman arrived on scene, he took over the Clisby-Austin house as his Headquarters for several day’s.  He began the early planning of the March to the Sea here. 

Earlier today I was able to photograph the Clisby-Austin House inside and out.  It was really cool to walk where General Sherman walked 150 years ago to the day.  I was there so early that I was the only person there and had the whole place to my self.  Here is a list of all the locations that I made images at today.

1.  Tunnel Hill Heritage Center:  Here I made images at Key’s Battery, The Clisby-Austin House, the railroad tunnel and the battlefield.
2.  Dug Gap:  I made images here yesterday as well, but today I made images from Mill Creek Valley, below the gap, near the Federal position during the battle.  This was called the Babb’s community.
3.  The bronze statue of General Johnston in downtown Dalton.
4.  Mill Creek Gap:  Today I made images of I-75, US 41, and the Railroad as they pass through the gap. 
5.  Ringold:  I made images of the train Depot and the railroad tracks.
6.  Atlanta Campaign Pavilion number 1 at Ringold Gap.
7.  The Old Stone Church:  About three miles south of Ringold Gap.  It was used as a hospital by both side at different times throughout the war.
8.  Atlanta Campaign pavilion number 2.
9.  Tilton:  I made a few images of the railroad here and of some of the terrain.  As the Confederate Army retreated from Dalton, a rearguard action was fought here to slow down the Federal advance and protect the Confederate supply train. 
10.  Atlanta Campaign pavilion number 3.
11.  Resaca:  I did not make any images here today, but I did scout a few more locations, including Fort Wayne, that I plan on photographing next week.  I also drove by the area where the reenactment will be during the weekend of the 17th.  Looks like they have already started making preparations for the event.  It should be the largest they have ever had at Resaca and probably the largest in the state this year.  I am looking forward to attending.  It is really cool to have the reenactment on part of the actual battlefield.  For more information checkout their website here:  Resaca Reenactment

My first day of Principle Photography

Well, it’s done, I made it through my first day of photography for the “War Was Here” project.  I was up at 4:30am this morning and was in the Dalton area before 6:30am.  I was so focused on making images that I didn’t make any video.  I will try to make a video tomorrow.  I learned that with the proper planning and location scouting, things go really fast.  I finished at each of the locations much more quickly than I thought I would.  Below you will find list of the locations I made it to today.

1.  Crow Creek Valley, where General Stevenson’s line crossed Crow Valley Road
2.  Potato Hill, where an artillery battery helped push back the Union Army
3.  Poplar Springs Church, a battery was on the hill behind the cemetery and also offered a good view of potato hill just to the east.
4.  Fort Fisk, located on the side of Rocky Face Ridge, this was another artillery battery protecting Mill Creek Gap
5.  Mill Creek Gap, where the railroad goes through the gap in Rocky Face Ridge
6.  Dug Gap, where the Confederate soldiers used the rock formations and boulders on the ridge as cover during a battle.  They also built a stacked stone wall after the lines stabilized the evening of the battle.  It is still there and made for some great images
7.  The Huff House, where General Johnston had his headquarters during the winter of 1863 and into the spring of 1864.
8.  The Blunt House, where the first Mayor of Dalton lived.  It was used as a hospital after the family evacuated during the Federal advance.
9.  The Hamilton House, General Joseph M. Lewis, commander of the famed Kentucky Orphan Brigade, made his headquarters here during the winter of 1863 and spring of 1864.

Not a bad days work.  Hope I made some really good images.  I will find out later this week when I start editing and organizing the images.  I filled a memory card today so I will have a lot of work to do.  Tomorrow is the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Tunnel Hill.  I plan on being there to photograph the battlefield, train tunnel and the Clisby -Austin house.  I will try to get to the “Old Stone Church” in Ringold if I have time. 

Book review: Atlanta, A Portrait of the Civil War

Atlanta, A Portrait of the Civil War
by Michael Rose
Atlanta History Center
Arcadia Publishing 1999

If you love period images and local Atlanta history, then this book is for you.  It is full of period images from the Civil War.  The images are of prominent citizens, soldiers, officers, political figures, children, and of course the City of Atlanta.  Most of the images are identified and have very descriptive captions.  If you want to know what Atlanta looked like 150 years ago, this is the book to look at. 

Book Review: Crossroads of Conflict, A Guide to Civil War Sites in Georgia

Crossroads of Conflict, A Guide to Civil War Sites in Georgia
By Barry L. Brown and Gordon R. Elwell
A publication of the Georgia Civil War Commission
University of Georgia Press 2010

This is a well written guide set up by regions of the state.  It contains a brief history and location directions or an address for each site.  While they did not cover every single historical marker in the state, they sure did come close.  They did an outstanding job of documenting the most significant and important sites to the state.  There are lots of good images and maps.  I really like how they included contact information for site and locations where applicable as well as information for local historical societies.  This has been a very helpful book for me as I have been researching locations for upcoming book. 

My Ancestors in the Civil War

My Dad has been working on our family genealogy for many years.  Last week while the boys and I were visiting my parents for spring break, I talked with Dad about our ancestors that fought in the Civil War.  Turns out, we have quite a few that participated in the war.  My 3rd Great Grandfather, Captain Andrew Kroeg, was the Captain of a Schooner called the “Santee”.  He was a blockade runner for the Confederacy.  He and his ship were captured near Charleston attempting to bring rice into the city.  I also had four 3rd Great Grand Uncles that were in the 42nd Regiment Georgia Volunteers.  They were Milton S. Brownlee, who was wounded in the right arm and wrist at the Battle of Resaca, Thomas Brownlee, who died of disease in Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Warren Brownlee and John C. Brownlee who fought throughout the war with the 42nd Georgia Volunteers.  They were assigned to the Army of Tennessee and fought throughout the Atlanta Campaign.  They were involved in some pretty heated battles.  I will do another post about the 42nd at a later date.  I will also be highlighting some of their battle locations in my book.  There was also Robert Mooney, who is a first cousin six times removed, he was in the 43rd Regiment Georgia Volunteers and fought in many of the same battles as the 42nd.  He was captured during the fighting around East Atlanta and Decatur on July 21, 1864.  He was sent to Camp Chase in Ohio where he died some time later.  Another relative was James W. Rutledge, he was in the 155th Georgia Infantry and was captured at Cumberland Gap.

Book Review: The Battle of Resaca

The Battle of Resaca
By Philip L. Secrist
Published by Mercer University Press

This is one of the few, if not the only, book dedicated just to the Battle of Resaca along General Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign.  It is a fairly short book and a fast read with around 100 pages.  The maps in the book are very good and show troop locations with modern roads, which really helps you understand the battlefield when you see it.  I also like the inclusion of period images.  The book is in two parts.  The first part is about the battle itself and the second part is about the rediscovery of the battlefield during the construction of I-75.  A very interesting book as a whole and I was really interested in the second part and how they were able to identify locations and units on the battlefield based on artifacts uncovered.  If you are a Civil War buff and have an interest in the Atlanta Campaign, then this would be a good fast read for you.

Book Review: The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead-Line

The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead-Line
By Brad Butkovich
Published by The History Press

I purchased this book at Pickett’s Mill State Historic Site during a Civil War History talk by the Author Brad Butkovich.  After the talk, he took us on a walk through part of the battlefield and described the events that took place there.

I have finally had a chance to finish the book and I have to say that it is very well written and an exciting read.  He covers all the action of the engagement and the events in the area leading up to the battle in great detail.  I really enjoyed the personal accounts from soldiers and officers that were in the battle.  That really shows the great amount of research that went into this book.  Not just regimental histories, etc, but reading personal diaries and letters of those that were there.  There is nothing like the first hand account of those engaged. 

One of the best parts of the book is the introduction.  It is short, but the information that it includes about how the Union Army and the Confederate Army named and numbered units is very valuable.  It has confused many people over the years and now, to have it written and explained so well, is an invaluable addition to the book.  I also like the inclusion of the complete Order of Battle.  The book is annotated and has a fantastic bibliography for those that would like further reading. 

Brad has just finished his new book on the Battle of Alatoona Pass and it should be available by June.  I am really looking forward to it as I enjoy his writing style and the amount of detail he includes.

If your interested in a copy of The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead-Line, it can be purchased at the Pickett’s Mill State Historic Site or through Amazon.The Battle of Pickett’s Mill, Along the Dead-Line. 

Whirlwind Tour

For Spring Break, I decided to take the boys to see the Grandparents, and along the way we scouted out a bunch of locations for the book.  We were able to see the following locations:  Sunshine Church (Where Stoneman was captured), Griswaldville Battlefield, Balls Ferry (where Sherman’s right wing crossed the Oconee River), Buckhead Creek and Buckhead Church, Camp Lawton (prison camp like Andersonville), Ebenezer Creek, Shaw’s Bridge, and Fort McAllister.  We camped at Magnolia Springs State Park (where Camp Lawton is).  On our way home we will stop in Milledgeville to check out the old Governor’s Mansion (where Sherman spent the night) and the old state house.

15 Days to go with Kickstarter

Well, I have 15 days left to raise my funds for producing my War Was Here book.  If you have not looked at my kickstarter page please take time to check it out here:  War Was Here Kickstarter page

I would like to thank all of my supporters thus far and I appreciate your support.

Thanks
Clint