Battle of Allatoon Pass

October 5th, 1864: The Battle of Allatoona Pass

Late on the evening of the 4th, along the way from Acworth to Allatoona, French’s Division crossed Allatoona Creek. The railroad crossed the same creek and near the bridge was a Blockhouse occupied by a small garrison of Federals. French assigned the 4th Mississippi of Sear’s Brigade, along with one artillery piece, to stay behind and capture the blockhouse.

French’s Division continued on with the assistance of a local guide and around 3:00am on the 5th they reached point about 1200 yards from the pass called Moore’s Hill (Allatoona Landing Marina and Campground). On this hill he place 11 cannons and ordered two infantry regiments to stay and support them. Not wanting to attack directly across open ground through the village and along the railroad tracks, French made a flanking movement to the west allowing him to be in a better position for the attack. The terrain was very difficult to traverse, with dense woods and steep sided ravines. At one point French stopped to rest his men who had been in constant motion for two days. French’s Division did not gain their position on the ridge west of the Federals until after day break. Throughout the night the Confederates could hear train cars arriving in the pass. General Corse had arrived with reinforcements.

After the Confederates abandoned Allatoona Pass in the spring, Sherman had made it his “second Chattanooga”, meaning that it was his second most important supply depot. A warehouse was built to store supplies for the Federal Army and to protect it, Sherman ordered his Chief Engineer, Orlando Poe, to construct fortifications at the pass. Poe constructed several earth forts. The Eastern Redoubt was on a knoll on the eastern side of the pass and to the east of the Tennessee Road. There were several cannons in the redoubt along with infantry. There was a line of infantry trenches that faced north and moved west from the redoubt to the Tennessee Road. They crossed the road on high ground and went all the way to the edge of the pass. West of the pass and situated on the high ground, was the Star Fort. It also contained artillery and infantry. The fort gets its name from its shape. There are infantry trenches around the fort and moving west from the pass on the north side of the fort. The hillside is also covered with rifle pits. West of the Star Fort, spanning the Cartersville Road, was Rowett’s Redoubt. There were several cannons as well as infantry positioned here. Rowett’s Redoubt was facing west and would take the initial brunt of the attack.

After being reinforced, the Federals were able to man their position with just under 2000 soldiers. The Confederates had arrived with around 3200 soldiers, but had been on the move for two days. The Federals may have been outnumbered, but they held a strong position on the high ground and a large number of the infantry were armed with the new Henry Repeating Rifle, giving them the advantage in firepower.

French sent Sear’s Brigade to the North, where they were to attack the pass from the north west. Cockrell’s Brigade was west of Rowett’s Redoubt, they were spread across the ridge from north to south. Ector’s Brigade was supporting Cockrell’s on the left, stretching north. Ector’s Brigade was being commanded by General William Young.

After the deployment of his troops, French, sent a message to the General Corse stating that he was out numbered and asking the Federals to surrender. Corse declined to surrender. Upon the refusal to surrender, the order to attack was given. Cockrell’s Brigade advanced from the west and quickly took the first line of Federal works. They were stalled at the second line until Ector’s Brigade moved up in support and they were able to carry the second line. They fought their way to the third line of works and engaged the Federals in hand to hand combat with muskets as clubs, bayonets striking and stabbing and even rocks were used. Amidst the heavy fire coming from the Star Fort, the Confederates were able to make it within several yards of the prize.

Sear’s Brigade attacked from the north and moved south astride the railroad and up the steep hill towards the Star Fort on the western side and the toward the trench lines on the eastern side. For a short time, Sear’s Brigade, was slowed down by enfilading fire from the Eastern Redoubt, but were able to rally and press forward.

Ammunition was starting to run low for both sides. During the hot conflict at the Star Fort, they started to run out of ammunition for the artillery. Volunteers, ran under intense fire, across a small foot bridge that crossed the pass some 90′ in the air and ran to the Eastern Redoubt to retrieve ammunition and carry it by hand back to the Star Fort. Several were shot off of the bridge. The Federals were on the verge of collapsing under the pressure of French’s assault.

Around noon, French received word that Federal Cavalry was approaching and were currently in Big Shanty some eight miles away. With his supply wagons nearly a mile from the front, French felt he could not resupply his assault force in time to capture the forts and then be able to withstand an attack from Cavalry. French called off his assault and began to withdraw from the field. The fight was over and the Federals were relieved as they were on the verge of breaking and being overrun. French’s forces withdrew and marched back towards New Hope Church to link up with the remainder of the Confederate Army.

They Battle of Allatoona Pass is often over looked and glossed over, but it was one of the most fierce engagements of the war with casualty rate of 33% in only a few short hours. The casualty rate at Gettysburg was 32.5% over a three day period. Chickamauga had a casualty rate of 27.5% over two days. The Clayton House, which still stands today, is visible in the period image by George Barnard. It sits just south of the Star Fort and across from the rail road. It was used as a headquarters for the garrison and during the battle the house was used for a hospital. I was able to tour the home and witness the scars of battle that still exist. There are multiple bullet holes in the walls and in the room used for amputations, there is a fairly large blood stain still on the floor where it soaked in to the wood.

If you would like a more detailed description of the battle along with information and stories from personal accounts, I highly suggest reading The Battle of Allatoon Pass by Brad Butkovich. It is a very well written book on the battle.

_dsc0323-bw — The railroad originally crossed Allatoona Creek here where Old U.S. 41 and I-75 cross Allatoona Lake. On the hill to the left, being the north side of the creek, stood the Block House where the 4th Miss. was to attack and capture the position.

_dsc0360-bw — A small section of the remaining earthworks that surrounded the Block House.

georgia_allatoona_pass_looking_north_-_nara_-_533402 — A period image of Allatoona Pass by George Barnard. Note the house on the left side of the frame as well as the Star Fort on the hill to the left of the railroad cut.

_dsc0002-bw — Allatoona Pass 150 years to the day after the battle. Note the Clayton House still standing on the left of the frame. The hill side to the right of the frame is a levy for Lake Allatoona.

_dsc0224-bw — The railroad cut at Allatoona Pass. Nearly 90 feet deep from the top of the cut and was spanned by a small footbridge during the battle. Soldiers would run from the Star Fort on the western side of the cut, across the bridge, to get ammunition from the Eastern Redoubt.

_dsc0129-bw — Looking into the Eastern Redoubt. While the Star Fort bore the brunt of the assault, the Eastern Redoubt was engaged as well and at one point they were able to suppress the Confederate assault to their west with enfilading fire, but the Confederates pushed forward under the fire to cover.

_dsc0093-bw — Gun port in the wall of the Eastern Redoubt.

_dsc0291-bw — Looking east along a section of earthworks that stretches from the Tennessee Road along the northern side of the high ground and extending to the Eastern Redoubt.

_dsc0393-bw — This images is looking south along the Tennessee Road. A period wagon road that now serves as part of the hiking trail in the park.

_DSC0057.bw.jpg — The end of the earthworks that extended from the Eastern Redoubt to the Tennessee Road.

_dsc0464-bw — Remains of earthworks at the top of the cut on the eastern side. These works sit between the Tennessee Road and the cut.

_dsc0548-bw — Looking out the “Sally Port” of the Star Fort. The Star Fort sits on the high ground to the west of the railroad cut and saw the heaviest fighting of the battle. The Confederates nearly made it to the fort and were stopped short several yard away.

_dsc0555 — A period images that shows the “Sally Port” to the Star Fort. The landscape has changed a great deal in 150 years.

_dsc0568-bw — Remnants of the Star Forts walls.

_dsc0293-bw — The Clayton House was used as the Headquarters for the Federals that occupied Allatoona Pass and during the battle it was pressed into service as a hospital.

_dsc0189 — Each of these flags in the wall marks a bullet hole from the Battle of Allatoona Pass.

_dsc0192-bw — On the second floor of the Clayton House and hidden under a rug, are blood stains left over from the rooms use as a surgery suite.

October 4th, 1864:

On the 3rd, Stewart’s Corps marched on and took Big Shanty and the garrison there, they began destroying the railroad. Loring’s Division was sent to Acworth and Walthall’s Division went to Moon Station about two miles north of Big Shanty. Upon arriving at Acworth, Loring’s Division camped just outside of town.

On the morning of the 4th, the acting commander of the Federals in Acworth, attacked Loring. The Federals had been up all night and were preparing for the Rebels to attack at first light, when they did not attack, the Federals did. The attack was a surprise to many of the men, but once the Confederates reorganized after the initial assault, they were able to surround the town and force the Federals to surrender. The Federal prisoners were rounded up and sent on their way, meanwhile the Confederates began to destroy the railroad. In all they were able to destroy about eight miles of track running north from Big Shanty.

Around noon on the 3rd Stewart received an order from Hood, directing him to send two of his Divisions back toward the main Confederate Army and send French’s further north to Allatoona Pass to destroy the tacks and fill in the railroad cut. After that they were to march to New Hope Church and link up with the other Divisions of the Corps. If French was able to determine if the garrison at the bridge over the Etowah was small, he was to attack and destroy the bridge if possible.

Having marched all the previous day and having spent all night and the morning destroying the railroad, French’s Division began marching north toward Allatoona. They were the furthest Division of their Corps, but were ordered their straight away. They had 8 miles to march, Loring’s Division, also the largest of the Corps, was only 4 miles away, but had been ordered to return back to the Confederate Army.

Sherman’s forces were also on the move. They were making their way toward Marietta and had already crossed the Chattahoochee by the the end of the day. Sherman also sent word to General Corse, who was in garrison at Rome, to move his division to Cartersville and to be ready to offer support when needed. Late in the afternoon, Sherman changed his orders to Corse and ordered him to Allatoona.

French’s Divison was on the move to Allatoona by foot and Corse was moving a greater distance, but had the advantage of using the railroad. It was essentially a race, yet the racers did not know they were racing.