Manigault's Brigade

Marker Text:
July 22, 1864. Manigault’s brigade, Brown’s div., Cheatham’s A.C. (CS) attacked this sector where Martin’s & Lightburn’s brigades were posted astride the Decatur rd. & the Ga. R.R. cut. Manigault’s troops broke the Federal line at the cut, thereby forcing the withdrawal of Lightburn & Martin from this sector of the entrenched line of Logan’s 15th corps.
A counter assault by Lightburn & Martin, together with Manny’s 16th A.C. brigade (brought up from the battlefield area S. of the R.R.), recovered the Federal line & the DeGress battery which Manigault’s men had seized but had not be able to remove

Location: DeKalb Avenue at DeGress Avenue
GPS
Date Visited: July 01, 2008

The attackers, Manigault's brigade; the defenders, Logan's 15th Corps; and the saviors, Lightburn, Martin, and Manny's 16th Corps.
I guess the Confederates did not have enough men to reinforce the sucessful initial attack. Or Hood saw that the rest of the battle was not going well enough to strike a death knell on McPherson's line. I wonder if Hood yet knew that McPherson was dead already?

The 15th Corps Sector

Marker Text
July 20, 1864. Posted on this ridge, astride the Georgia R.R. was the right flank of Hood's old corps, (CS) Gen. B.F. Cheatham commanding. July 22. These troops were withdrawn, before daylight, to the city fortifications. The vacated line was occupied by Logan's corps, (US) which was reversed to face westward.
Gen. Morgan L. Smith's div. centered at the R.R., Lightburn's brigade posted (between DeGress Ave. & Battery Place) west of the Hurt house; Martin's, S. of it - the R.R. cut separating them. The Confederate assault, afternoon July 22d, broke the lines of Lightburn & Martin's brigades at the Decatur Rd. & the railroad cut.

Location: DeKalb Avenue near DeGress Avenue

GPS

Date Visited: July 01, 2008


Here is the defending Federal forces that bore, at least partially, the brunt of the westward attack on July 22, 1864. After moving west into abandoned lines and reversing them, however that happens, the attack would come that afternoon.
It makes me wonder what would have happened if the attack had come sooner, as Hood intended. Then the 15th Corps would not have had time to reverse the line, as I assume, by shifting tempers and redigging trenches etc. Although apparently this sector of the line was swept by the attackers until reinforcements arrived for the Federals. Currently nothing that I could recognize as a railroad cut is left. The MARTA line and railroad on on the otherside of DeKalb Avenue and almost level with the street. Prior to the bridge at Moreland, I wonder what the rail road did. Now the rail road and Marta are kept level up to the bridge. The surrounding ground, however, slopes downward towards the Moreland Avenue road bed and then back up as it continues on towards Decatur.

The Troup Hurt House

Marker Text:

The plantation house of George M.T. Hurt, begun the Summer of 1962, never completed and never occupied as a residence, stood on the site of the stone church. It faced the Decatur road.
July 18, 1864. A sector of the outer line of Atlanta’s defense works was located just east of the house, which was used as headquarters by the 10th South Carolina regiment (CS) of Manigault’s Brigade.
July 22. The same troops, having withdrawn to the city the night before, returned late afternoon and attacked the Federal forces occupying the position, capturing and holding it until driven out. This is the moment shown in the Cyclorama of the Battle of Atlanta.

060-97 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956

Location: DeGress Avenue between DeKalb Avenue and the sharp turn in the road

GPS

Date Visited: July 01, 2008


This marker is in the thick of the entrenched lines fighting on the afternoon July 22, 1864. Again it describes how several brigades were withdrawn one night only to be moved back the next afternoon to attack the lines that they previously occupied.
Another scenario or rational for this feign has come to mind however. Since a full three divisions make a fifteen mile night march to attack the rear of McPherson's lines, I am sure that some troops would be needed to occupy the primary lines in place of those missing. This makes somewhat more sense to me than the other cases.

I do admit that I did look up both "troop" and "troup" out of curiosity and ignorance. Pronounced the same, do they have the same or similar meanings? No, they don't. "Troop" is a group or band assembled for a purpose such as war while "troup" is a proper now associated with people of places.

The other thing that amazes me from this marker is that the plantation house was started in 1862. That is smack-dab in the middle of this Civil War. I was always under the assumption that financial times were hard for everyone, especially in the south and especially to anyone involved in agriculture. Maybe they had to have projects like this in order to keep their slaves busy and therefore preoccupied.

Also, why do so many people in this time period have four names, including their surnames? I mean that is a mouthful...George H.T. Hurt. I am presuming that the "T" stands for Troup. It is called the Troup Hurt house.

Here is a picture of the stone church mentioned in the marker. It is now a private residence. It was up for sale a couple of years ago and my wife and I got to walk through it. Can't say that I remember much except for the stained glass and thinking that it would be like living in a church.

Historic Ground -- 1964

Marker Text:

In an area bound by Memorial Drive, Clifton Road, Glenwood Avenue, and Moreland Avenue, was were the major part of the Battle of Atlanta was fought. July 22nd.

In terms of present day landmarks, the battle began at present day Clifton road and Memorial drive where Hardee's right wind (CS) was repulsed in an unexpected clash with Sweeny's 16th Army Corps division (US). This was followed by an assault of Hardee's left wing which crushed the left wing of the 17th Army Corps at Flat Shoals road and Glenwood Avenue and dislodged the right of the 16th Army Corps, forcing them north to a second line at and east of Leggett's Hill - eight hours of battle in which two major Generals, Walker and McPherson, were killed.

044-68 Georgia Historical Marker erected 1956

Location: McPherson Avenue and Monument Avenue

GPS

Date Visited: July 01, 2008

Re-iteration of the ferocity of the battle and the surprise of the attack and the surprise of Sweeny's division. If McPherson hadn't have brought down Sweeny's division, then the full brunt of the attack would have fell directly on the line at Memorial Drive near Leggett's Hill. The 17th Army Corps of the Federals would have had no were to retreat towards. McPherson apparently had pretty good instincts tactically. I believe that he knew Hood well from his time at West Point and possibly the Mexican War. The point that McPherson had been worried about was indeed the area that gave him the greatest test. His armies passed the test ultimately, but he did not. Further research into this moment has determined that Sherman grieved at his loss. Not only did he grieve for his friend, but he also would sorely miss his most trusted "right hand" commander.

Death of McPherson

Marker Text:

The monument in the enclosure was erected by U.S. Army Engineers to mark the site where Major General James B. McPherson was killed during the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864.
McPherson rode south from the Georgia railroad when he heard firing in Sugar Creek valley, where the rear attack by Walker's and Bate's divisions (CS) fell upon Dodge's 16th Army Corps. After pausing to observe this part of the battle, he galloped towards the left of the 17th Army Corps (Flat Shoals road and Glenwood Avenue) on a road through the pines.
At this point he was assailed by skirmishers of Cleburne's division (CS), refusing to surrender he was shot while attempting to escape.

044-45 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956

Location: McPherson Avenue at Monument Avenue
GPS:

Date visited: July 01, 2008

Well, here it is, the death of McPherson in battle. The second Major General to die in the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864. To tell you the truth, after all of the events and markers leading up to this, it is rather anti-climatic. The monument and the marker are located on a small triangle of land at the intersection of two residential streets. Not a block away north is Interstate 20 and, let me tell you, it is loud, even with the sound barriers up. I believe that this section of the interstate wasn't completed until the late 1950s. So when this marker went up, East Side Avenue may have been a complete road and not cut in two by I-20 like it is today.

Here is the front view of the monument:

The 15th Corps Sector

Marker Text:

July 20, 1864. Posted on this ridge, astride the Georgia Rail Road was the right flank of Hood's old Corps, (CS) General B.F. Cheatham commanding.
July 22. These troops were withdrawn, before daylight, to the city fortifications. The vacated line was occupied by Logan's corps, (US) which was reversed to face westward.
General Morgan L. Smith's division centered at the railroad; Lightburn's brigade posted (between DeGress Avenue and Battery Place) west of the Hurt House; Martin's, S. of it- the Railroad cut separating them.
The Confederate assault, afternoon July 22nd, between the lines of Lightburn's and Martin's brigades at the Decatur Road and the Railroad cut.

060-95 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956

Located on DeKalb Avenue near DeGress Avenue
GPS
Visited: July 1, 2008

These are the troops that move forward one morning to fill the vacated Confederate defense lines and are subsequently attacked that afternoon by the same Confederates, albeit in the culvert of the railroad line, not towards the entrenchments.
Something still doesn't make much sense about this movement by the Confederates. The only thing that sticks is that possibly the Confederates were trying to get the Federals into new lines that they were not yet comfortable with, a feigning move if you will.

The Railroad Cut

Marker Text:
In 1864 the single track of the Georgia railroad was through a deep cut opposite this point. Crossing it and the Decatur road was the intrenched line of the Federal 15th Army Corps as of July 22. This was a sector of McPherson's Army of the Tennessee which occupied trenches vacated by General Cheatham's Army Corps (CS) the previous night.
Cheatham's troops temporarily recovered the line here - late afternoon of the 22nd - mostly by frontal assault, partly by penetrating it in the unguarded cut - an episode portrayed in the Cylcorama at Grant Park. The ground was greatly altered after the war; the railroad cut was still visible as late as 1903.

060-94 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956

Located: DeKalb Avenue near DeGress Avenue
GPS:
Visited: July 01, 2008

I am really confused now. Why would you abandon defensive lines, albeit outer ones, one night only to attack them the next day? What kind of feigning and boxing is this? Did Hood determine to tighten up his defensive line once McPherson started around to the east of Atlanta? Only he decided that he didn't want to give it up yet and attacked the next day. Now consider Hardee's march around to the rear near, but a little south of, this sector in regards to this attack. Was it meant to be a two pincer attack on the Federals as they moved into position? If this was so, why move out of such a defensive line only to attack your own defensive bulwarks? Granted I am sure that McPherson's troops beefed up and turned the bulwarks around to protect themselves, but it seems like a lot of effort on the Confederate's part. Plus, if it is a true two pincer attack, wouldn't the rear attack match closely with the front attack?
Again, I am not a military strategist or historian, but something doesn't add up.
At least it is beginning to make some sense though. When I was first in this area at the Pope house, I believed that somehow the Confederates pushed up from Leggitt's Hill area, which is quite a long way to walk, much less fight. Now it makes sense that Cheatham's troops withdrew and drew in the Federals from this line. When Hardee's men made the attack at Memorial Drive and Clay Street and up towards Leggitt's Hill, Cheatham's troops went back over and attacked their former abode, although through the unguarded railroad cut. These would be the troops that were talked about moving up and getting discombobulated by the widow Pope's house.

The Steatite Boulder

Marker Text:
This steatite boulder was found on the site of a prehistoric quarry along Soapstone Ridge 8 miles south of Decatur. It shows the methods of Indians in making stone bowls, with the first girdling of the stone to remove workable cores. It is estimated to be at least 3000 years old by archaeologists studying such remains in central and north Georgia.
The soapstone quarry on River Road, DeKalb County is the largest found by archaeologists in Georgia.

044-1 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1953

Location: Decatur Square at Old Courthouse
GPS:
Visited: June 30, 2008

This is a bit odd. A marker about a boulder that isn't from the courthouse area but from the Soapy Creek area miles away. Yes, it tells of pre-European North American history. Yes, it is an interesting piece of information about a culture that is no longer in existence and will never return. Why is the boulder out in the elements eroding? That is of special concern given the nature of our smoggy city in the summer. I am sure that the acid rain is having a good time with this stone.
Maybe I should document this stone with a photograph yearly. Now that is a thought.
But this is the first, numerically, of the Dekalb County markers (044) and it was erected in 1953. The Georgia Historical Commission was begun, I believe, in 1951 by the legislature to mark points of interest around the state. According to wikipedia, they had no budget for a year. Each county in Georgia, from what I see so far, had a unique code, 1 through 159 (or 158 at the time?). DeKalb is 044 and Fulton is 060. The commission was dissolved in 1973 under the then Governor of Georgia, Jimmy Carter. Now the Georgia Historic Society has taken over most of the functionality of this commission for new markers. The maintenance and upkeep of the markers installed prior to mid-1998 are the responsibility of department of the interior (of the state of Georgia).
So this marker is one of the first markers placed under the new commission with their new budget. And they chose a rock. Of all the things that have happened in the state, and they choose a rock to be the first for Dekalb County. It must have been some low hanging fruit. Or ignorance. But no matter, the commission did push to get the civil war markers out prior to the 100th anniversary.

Battle of Decatur

Marker Text:
During the
Battle of Decatur
July 22, 1864
There was hot fighting in and
around the Old Courthouse which stood
on this square
Wheeler's Cavalry made a
gallant charge here and captured
a battery of Federal artillery
with officers and men

Erected by Agnes Lee Chapter Daughters of the Confederacy
1922


Located on Decatur Square by the Old Courthouse
GPS:
Visited: June 30, 2008

This marker tells the other side of Wheeler's attack. Although it is scant on information, it indicates that Wheeler's men captured the artillery, something that was missing from the Georgia Historical Commission marker. It does not state that it didn't happen, but it does not indicate that it did either. So are we seeing a bias here between the two markers. I mean one of them was installed by the Daughters of the Confederacy group and may be a bit biased. But the other group is representing Georgia history as well and may have the same sort of bias, but maybe tempered a little bit.
I wonder how much money this little piece of brass or cast iron marker with it's granite post would have cost to make and to install in 1922, almost eighty years after the battle. It kind of sheds light into the social makeup in 1922. A ladies group honoring a battle to relieve Decatur seventy eight years before. Maybe one of the only bright spots, to their eyes, in the Battle of Atlanta.

Wheeler's Cavalry at Decatur

Marker Text:

July 22, 1864. Coincident with Hardee's night march to attack Federal forces in east Atlanta, Wheeler's cavalry (CS) was sent to seize McPherson's wagon trains parked north of the Decatur public square, guarded by Sprague's 16th Army Corps brigade and three pieces of field artillery.
Wheeler's men, dismounted, were deployed south of the railroad and drove Sprague's troops, together with the Chicago Board of Trade and Michigan batteries (US), to the public square where, outflanked, they withdrew with the wagon trains to the North Decatur road.
Wheeler made no pursuit because of peremptory orders to rejoin Hardee in east Atlanta.

044-31 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956

Located Decatur Square at the Old Courthouse
GPS:
Visited: June 30, 2008

Remember when I spoke of the area in flux being Leggitt's Hill area? Well, if Wheeler initially delayed Blair while on their way towards Leggitt's Hill and then Wheeler was pushed towards Leggitt's Hill until overtaken July 20th or so by McPherson's men, I guess they would be available for some guerrilla warfare of their own, seeing how Garrard's cavalry wasn't here to help protect it. This little action of Hood's could have worked and caused McPherson and Sherman some pain and embarrassment at least. I don't think that they could have changed the overall outcome, only delayed the timeline. I believe that this was one of their intents, to delay the fall of Atlanta until after the Federal presidential elections in order to sway public opinion.
Now some question on what action happened here. According to this marker, Wheeler dismounted south of the railroad line while the wagons were north of the public square. Unless the public square at the time of the civil war was further south than it is today, the following action makes no sense ....oh..re-reading it, the troops were pushed north to the square where they took the artillery and the wagons towards North Decatur road. I initially read and typed the marker text in a different light. The marker still is pretty sketchy about how Wheeler flanked the Federal troops. That would be interesting to know.

Garrard's Cavalry Raid

Marker Text:
On July 20, 1864, Union forces under Major General William T. Sherman, USA, were closing in on Atlanta Headquarters, 2nd Cavalry Division (US) Brigader General Kenner Garrard was in Decatur. His three brigades were scattered from Decatur to Roswell, guarding bridges over the Chatahoochee River and picketing the left flank. That night, Garrard was ordered to assemble his command and march to Covington (30 miles southeast) to burn bridges over the Yellow and Ulcofucheche (Alcovy) rivers and to destroy the railroad between Lithonia and the Alcovy.
Garrard marched late on the 21st. He returned to Decatur on the 24th, after marching almost 90 miles. He destroyed 4 wagon bridges, 2 railroad bridges, and more than 6 miles of track. At Covington, he burned the depot, a newly built army hospital center, 2,000 bales of cotton, and large quantities of quartermaster and commissionary supplies. Three trains were captured and destroyed.
Garrard's raid cut off all communication between Atlanta and Augusta and destroyed any hope that the Army of the Tennessee (CS)--the hard pressed defenders of Atlanta--might receive supplies or reinforcements for the Eastern Confederacy; but this success was not without its price. Because of Garrard's absence from the Union left, Hardee's Corps (CS) was able to approach undetected and to launch a smashing blow at that unguarded flank which has passed into history as the Battle of Atlanta.

044-82 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1957

Location: Decatur Square by the Old Courthouse
GPS :
Visited: June 30, 2008

So here we have confirmation of my suspicions that this little push by Bate's and Walker's division onto McPherson's line is the Battle of Atlanta. Prior to this battle was Kennessaw Mountain and Peachtree Creek. What I have been wondering through is the battle. The rest must be the siege and aftermath.
It seems as though Sherman or McPherson was relatively confident in their battle plan to send away a whole division, cavalry or not, on a guerrilla war task - cutting supply lines and communication routes. This ties into the text from one of the markers where McPherson was worried about his left flank. And from what we have seen in east Atlanta, his left side at Glenwood Avenue and Flat Shoals road was weak.
How would have Garrard's presence affected the outcome? Would Hardee have been unable to attempt this move due to the physical impossibilities of walking that far overnight and then fighting? Even now, with the length of Hardee's march as long as it was, the attack occurred later than desired. They mis-estimated the length of time for the march around the left end. I don't think that they would have been able to walk that far and then back in. Of course Garrard could have covered the line from Decatur over to Leggett's Hill and this would make this flank rather impregnable.
Also...90 miles in three days? And able to destroy so much? That seems a bit much. I know that they are mounted soldiers, but still. Even destroying six miles of railroad line seems like an arduous task that would at least be time consuming. Maybe they used explosives or just removed a couple of ties in order to bend the rails.
A couple more markers and monuments are contained here on the Decatur square, two civil war related, and one geographic.

The Stoneman Raid

Marker Text:



Located in Decatur Square by the Old Courthouse
GPS:
Visited: June 30, 2008

Apparently there are several of these markers at various points in the raid. I think I read that there are six of these markers.
A bold move to send away a large force of Cavalry in this type of engagement. Cavalry could be a balancing, or unbalancing, force in the civil war battles. But that same strength and speed could be an excellent weapon for guerrilla warfare. I can imagine the terror of the confederate citizens to realize that a Cavalry force was on the loose and targeting pseudo-military installations and operations, especially after Sherman had the Roswell clothing mill workers (mostly women) and their children arrested, rounded up, and sent north as prisoners of war. So it would be one thing to be disheartened with the invasion of the northern troops with the possibility of the destruction of towns or property, the freeing of slaves, the disruption of food supply, but now to have the question of your own person brought to bear.... It must have caused mass panic. I am sure that Hood had to react and strongly. A chasing cavalry force doesn't seem to be a huge response, but, given the circumstances, it may have been all that he could have afforded to lose.
Know, what interests me is how Stoneman was convinced that he was confronted by a much numerically superior force and decided to surrender.
I will have to track down the other markers and post them in time as well.
Until I have another Stoneman raid marker, I will leave the post titled as such. As soon as I have another marker to post, I will change this one to "The Stoneman Raid" Decatur.

DeKalb County

Marker Text:
DeKalb County, created by an Act of General Assembly, December 9, 1822, was named for Baron Johann DeKalb, a native German who fought gallantly for the American freedom. Wounded and captured at the Battle of Camden, South Carolina, August 9, 1780, he died a British prisoner. Most of the early settlers of DeKalb county came from Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.
First Officers, commissioned March 18, 1822, in Fayette County were: John S. Welch, sheriff; Thomas A. Dobbs, Clerk Superior Court; Johnathan Dobbs, Clerk Inferior Court; John Calhoun, Coroner; James Adams, Surveyor.

044-29.5 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956

Location: Square at Old Courthouse in Decatur, Georgia
GPS:
Visited: June 30, 2008

A relatively benign marker denoting the county origins and immortalizing not only the namesake of the county, but some of the first officers of the county.
Three things stand out...1- Are the Dobbs clerks related? What a big coincidence!....2 - Inferior Court? Do we still have an inferior court? I guess that is the current civil court as opposed to the criminal or superior court. What an ego blow to one of the Dobbs clerks though...one is superior and the other deemed inferior. Can you imagine the sibling rivalry going on there? ....and 3- What did the coroner do?

General Walker Monument

Monument Text:
In memory of General William H.T Walker C.S.A.


Location: Glenwood Avenue at Wilkinson Drive, near the Interstate 20 intersection
GPS:
Visited: June 26, 2008

Here, in this little triangle of land off of a busy avenue in East Atlanta, a memorial and cannon monument to General Walker, killed in the battle of Atlanta July 22, 1864.
As stated in my last post on "Terry's Mill Pond," I have known about this cannon for many years, probably a good 30 or more. I may have had an inkling of an idea of what it was for, but not a clue as to who it was for. I think that I believed it was for the dead (all of them) in the Battle of Atlanta, but I did not quite know why it was here on the east side of Atlanta. A General lost in battle on the first major engagement in the siege of Atlanta (other than Peachtree Creek battle). This would make the second general killed in this same engagement. And there deaths occur not more than a mile or two away from each other.
At this point I was wondering why there was no historical marker for General Walker's death. I have since learned that there was one that was placed behind the cannon monument, but it is currently missing. I will post the text of that marker under a different post as well as another photo of the site that was taken on July 22, 2008.

Terry's Mill Pond

Marker Text:
The flat area south was the bed of Terry's mill pond- the impounded waters of Sugar Creek. Tom Terry (1823-1861) operated the grist mill that stood 800 yards downstream. It was burned by Federal troops on July 29, 1864 and was rebuilt and operated some years after the war.
The considerable area of the pond made it a landmark in the 1850-1860s, and further prominence attached to it because it is cited in military annuals recording the movement of Walker's & Bate's divisions, Hardee Army Corps (CS), to the battlefield of July 22, 1864, which indicate that General Walker was killed near the upper end of the mill pond.

044-52 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956

Location: Glennwood Avenue at Interstate 20 interchange
GPS:
Visited: June 26, 2008

On my route towards McPherson's Avenue to see if there was a monument or marker to his death at what I assumed was his point of death, I see come across this marker as well at the General Walker monument. I presumed initially that this was the General Walker Death marker, but was mistaken. I now believe that the marker for General Walker's death is missing. More on that later.
This marker denotes the location of a large pond that, at one time, had a grist mill. It was located in the route of Walker's and Bate's men as they came up Sugar Creek towards what they thought was the rear of McPherson's line.
A couple of questions pop up immediately here for me, some of them for the Civil War and some of them for current day.
Where is Terry's Mill Pond? There is no pond here at the intersection of Glennwood Avenue and Interstate 20. For that matter, where is Sugar Creek? I am not familiar with either one of these bodies of water. This exit is familiar to me since my father used it for many years as he went to work. I remember passing the cannon as we cut down Wilkinson road towards his office. That was in the mid to late 70s. I have no recollection of a creek or pond. I can barely make out any flat area around since the interstate has obviously been constructed since the sign was installed and has destroyed the flat ex-pond area. This is one of those things that you can only say...hummm okay, there used to be a pond here, but there isn't know and hasn't been one for some time. I would have never known if the marker hadn't been here.
As for the Civil War question: General Walker was killed near the north end of the pond on July 22, 1864, which happens to coincide with the date of the skirmish that was a little north of here. If the battle started half a mile north of here at Memorial Drive and Clay Streets, how did he die here? Where there skirmishers positioned this far south? If there were skirmishers and there was gunfire, don't you think that the divisions north of here would have heard and not been surprised?
I will post the General Walker monument next, but I wanted to relay something that happened after that here were it is relevant.

Unfortunately my quest for McPherson's monument had run out of time for the day, I had to make my way back home before the full onset of Atlanta's afternoon rush hour traffic. Plus I had plenty of questions to digest for one day. As I made my way down Wilkinson Drive, I passed a low flat area that I found out was a DeKalb County park, Memorial Park. This park apparently encompasses some of the former Terry's Mill pond and butts up to the interstate boundary as well. So some of my question was answered. Now I know that there was a Terry's Mill pond and I can see some of the remnants of it.

Bate's Battle Line

Marker Text:
July 22, 1864. General Bate's division, Hardee's Army Corps (CS) was deployed on the right of Walker's division when they advanced north from Terry's Mill Pond. Being on the extreme right of the corps, Bate's troops moved up the east side of Sugar Creek Valley and swung westward to face Rice's 16th Army Corps brigade (US) posted on the hill (Murphy's High School) and northward along the old Clay Road (Clay street).
This attack failed to dislodge Rice's brigade. Bate's command composed of Georgia, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky troops - the 5 regiment of the latter being the celebrated "Orphan Brigade" commanded by Brigadier General Joseph H. Lewis.

044-47 Georgia Historic Marker erected 1985

Location: Memorial Drive in parking lot near Wilkinson Drive
GPS:
Visited: June 26, 2008

Now the story from the attacker's side, well the attackers in this scenario anyway. The defenders offense's side of the story, not the offensive defender's side. The confederates on the move to attack the back side of the federal line met the reserve troops moved forward to prevent just such a move. This sounds like a big game of chess but with live troops made of flesh and, some of them at least, about to die far from home.
So the attack met resistance and, most likely, not exactly where they expected to meet it.
The attackers did not have much success it seems, even with the celebrated "Orphan Brigade." After some research, this statement makes sense now. It is just there to show that some Kentucky soldiers, who could not return home during the war, were present. Kentucky was not part of the Confederate States of America, but was a border state. Recruitment efforts were made to draw on the support for the secession effort and the war. Several brigades were raised and sent south for the war effort. But, since Kentucky was never captured nor occupied by the Confederate States of America, these soldiers could never go home for fear of punishment; therefore they were orphaned from their state. Now that would have been a lot of information to place on a small marker. So they made me work for that little tid-bit.
Other than that information, the marker only determines a little of what we already have determined, that Sweeny's men moved south and met the unexpected north to west thrust of Hardee's men. What is surprising here is that this thrust, in this area, has no real effect. They cannot dislodge Rice's men.
All of this leading up to the Battle of Atlanta and it all comes to naught...so far.

Mersy's Brigade

Marker Text:
July 22, 1864. Colonel August Mersy's brigade of Sweeny's division, 16th Army Corps (US), was aligned on the right of the division when it went into action to meet the assault of Walker's division (CS) advancing up Sugar Creek valley (from Glenwood Avenue).
The left of Mersy's line rested on the hill were Murphy's High School stands. The right of the line extended southwest to join Fuller's 4th division, 16th Army Corps, on the high ground beyond the valley (near McPherson's monument).
General McPherson saw this part of the battlefield from the hill 3/8 mile due west of this marker (near Memorial drive and East Side avenue) enroute to his rendezvous with death.

044-50 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956

Location: Memorial Drive at Dixie Avenue, Atlanta Georgia
GPS:
Visited: June 26, 2008

I left the last two markers and was driving east on Memorial drive towards Maynard Terrace in order to cross the Interstate, go to McPherson's Avenue and see if I could find his destination for the final ride. But I had to stop and turn around in order to go back to a small car wash where I passed a historical marker. Sensing it was of the first encounter of the Battle of Atlanta, I stopped.
This is part of Sweeny's men that had marched south. This would be part of the extension of the federal line near Glenwood avenue and Flat Shoals road. According to the marker, this line met with the men of Fuller's division, apparently near the Glenwood avenue and Flat Shoals road intersection, so McPherson's movement to protect his left flank had been completed or nearly completed when the battle began. But, to me, this line of protection accentuates the bulge in the federal line by flipping it back and around in a very narrow band. I could understand if Sweeny's men were to continue their southward movement to extend the line and had not yet arrived. I could also see the issue with determining the best defensive position to take in unfamiliar territory. Walker's men came up through a creek valley to the high point to the left of this marker so there must have been some consideration from Sweeny about how to get his men further south without breaking the brigades and therefore weakening his line further.
Note that the Murphy High School referenced on the marker is named as such, it is now Alfonso Crim High School. But it occupies the same ridge line apparent to the left, or east, of this marker. To the right, or west of this marker, about half a mile (3/8 a mile according to the marker), is "McPherson's Last Ride" marker (and "Gresham's Division" marker as well). After pausing to observe the encounter of Mersy's brigade here, McPherson rode off over the hill and down a rode through the pine trees to his death. This marker states what has been insinuated by the other markers.

McPherson's Last Ride

Marker Text:

July 22, 1864. When General McPherson heard the firing to the southeast while at luncheon (Whitefoord Avenue and the railroad), he mounted his horse and, sending away most of his staff on various missions, galloped south to this hill.
Here, he observed Dodge's 16th Army Corps in desperate combat with Bate's and Walker's divisions (CS) in Sugar Creek valley. Anxious about the left of the 17th Army Corps (at Glenwood and Flat Shoals Roads), he proceeded on a road through the pines in that direction, accompanied by an orderly and Signal Officer William Sherfy, who reluctantly followed after vainly warning the general that Confederate troops had seized the road.

044-44 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956
Location: Memorial Drive near East Side Avenue
GPS:
Visited: June 26, 2008

Two days after Gresham's (and Leggett's) division pushed Wheeler toward Leggett's Hill, now the federals must defend the hill from a similar direction. This flanking attack should pin them against the defense line of Atlanta. There must have been a concerted effort to attack eastward from the siege lines, possibly at the railroad cut. But what could they really expect to achieve against an army that is basically surrounding them, cutting off their supplies, may be larger than there force, and does not have to worry about protecting the civilians or their long term welfare? It would be like taking little jabs at the heavy weight fighter all the while waiting for him to hit you with a left hook, a knock out blow. I mean I understand the will to fight for your home and country. I am not sure what was expected of General Hood at this time though. What did Jefferson Davis charge him with, the defeat of General Sherman's invasion?
This area was within a state of flux, changing hands just two days ago. Now from the marker, the left edge of McPherson's line was at Glenwood and Flat Shoals road not a mile from this marker and even closer to the intersection of Interstate 20 and Moreland Avenue, the sight of Leggett's Hill. That is not much of a buffer zone and quite a bulge that he should have expected to be vulnerable. Therefore the reason for shifting of Sweeny's division south to extend the line. Ah..the markers are starting to connect now and tell the story. A puzzle piece begins to show the picture now when connected to several other pieces, even if they are not located adjacent. I can fill in some pieces when there are blank spaces.
Now, the marker lets you know McPherson's fate. It was his last ride. I knew that McPherson died here in the Battle of Atlanta. The fort in East Point is named for him, Fort McPherson. There is a McPherson Avenue in East Atlanta. Now I am assumming that is where he died. I never knew the location of his death, only that it was in the battle for the city. I will quest for this marker as well.
But on my way towards McPherson's avenue, I was delayed by other markers, all along Memorial Drive and inter-related to this fateful day almost 144 years ago.

Gresham's Division

Marker Text

July 20, 1864. Brigadier General Walter Q. Gresham's 4th division, leading the advance of the 17th Army Corps (US) against Wheeler's Cavalry (CS) and forcing it west to Leggett's Hill, halted here at sundown.
Leggett's 3rd division was brought forward and would have moved against Wheeler's position on half mile west, but for failure to get orders.
While making a personal reconnaissance of Wheeler's position in his front, Gresham received a wound that ended his military service.
In 1893-1895, he was Secretary of State in President Groover Cleveland's Cabinet

044-43 Georgia Historical Commission erected 1956
Location: Memorial Drive near East Side Drive
GPS:
Visited: June 26, 2008

Well, this is disheartening. In the last post, I indicated that I thought I knew where Leggett's Hill was located in the present day. Apparently I was wrong. I went over to a hill that is just off of Moreland Avenue near the intersection of Hosea Williams Avenue. There were no markers present and I know that there is a Leggett's Hill historical marker. I have seen a picture of it on one website, the Carl Vinson Institute of Government, and read about someone else reaching it as they walked the route of Hardee's Army Corps. I will have to find the link to that site and post it here. The Carl Vinson website indicates that Leggett's Hill is near the intersection of Interstate 20 and Moreland Avenue, which was another reason that I thought that I was correct with my hill. There are no other significant hills around and Leggett's Hill was supposed to offer a view into the defenses of Atlanta. I guess it was called "Bald Hill" as well since there were little to no trees on it(?).
Anyway, during my search for the hill, I ran across this marker, as well as the "McPherson's Lat Ride" marker.

This marker is July 20th and we pick up from the "Wheeler Delays Blair" action. Wheeler, in a delaying action engaged Blair but retreated back towards Leggett's Hill. Now Gresham's division is pushing him west ward. From the marker position that would be towards the Interstate 20 and Moreland Avenue interchange.
From our last marker, we know that there was a general push towards the west from Decatur and that Sweeny first moved west and then south, which would put those troops a little east of here, possibly a mile or so. That is where the "Battle of Atlanta Began Here" marker is as well.
This marker is on Memorial Drive as well, but down by East Side Avenue.
Re-reading the marker text, something does not quite make sense. Gresham's 4th division was pushing Wheeler towards Leggett's Hill, but Leggett's division was brought forward. Why was Gresham doing reconnaissance? Is Gresham just doing his duty to give Leggett an accurate view while in the process of turning things over? Was it to be a cooperative attack with both Gresham and Leggett's division against a cavalry?
And is the hill named after the Leggett's division commander or it this just an extreme coincidence? I am thinking the former, not the later. I mean how common a name is Leggett?

Other questions that come to mind from this marker...
The push from the confederates comes on July 22nd, when the federals occupy Leggett's Hill. The action from this marker is on July 20th, only two days prior. And the federals apparently don't take the hill on the 20th, when Gresham is wounded, because Leggett's division doesn't have any orders at that time. So that means that this whole area is in a state of flux. The confederates see that the federals are enveloping them and half-heatedly fight it off but are unsuccessful. This whole state of flux makes the idea that the Generals were lunching and lounging leisurely on July 22nd just one mile or so north from here under the trees. And this is the big generals, not just the division commander level. The Army of the Tennessee general and Sherman himself. Definitely a different time in warfare. I would think that Sherman's army is like modern day or World War Two paratroopers. A whole self sufficient (mostly anyway) fighting force that mixes the traditional chain of command mode with a more close contact type of command structure, thereby putting all of the army corps at risk. This has its advantages, but some distinct disadvantages....like the wounding of a Brigadier General in battle...or worse. This marker is a two for one. There is one directly next to it as well that occurs two days later.

Sweeny Div. Encamped

Marker Text:
July 21, 1864. Sweeny's division, Dodge's 16th Army Corps (US) was held in reserve some twenty four hours in a line that crossed the southwest area of Candler Park.
These troops, of McPherson's Army of the Tennessee, had moved from Decatur toward Atlanta the day before and being crowded out of line, were halted here in rear of the 15th Army Corps (astride the railroad at Whitefoord Avenue). The right of Sweeny's line connected with the left of the 23rd Army Corps (Moreland and Ponce DeLeon).
July 22. Sweeny's troops where shifted south of the Georgia railroad to prolong McPherson's left in East Atlanta- a move that blocked Hardee's (CS) rear attack on Blair's 17th corps.

044-37 Georgia Historic Marker erected 1985
Location: McClendon Avenue at Candler Park
GPS:
Visited: June 26, 2008

Here we are in Candler Park on McClendon Avenue. Now it is a day prior to the start of the Battle of Atlanta and Sweeny's men are camped here before they march south to the "Sweeny Marches South" and "The Battle of Atlanta Began Here" markers. This move would have been a relatively directly southward march that takes them through the "Noon Under the Trees" area at Whitefoord Avenue.
Sweeny had apparently been brought up through Decatur and may have been involved in the capture of Decatur.
So, again, although nothing of the battle itself took place here in Candler Park, the prologue is becoming clearer. Now we know some about where Sweeny's men came from.
The area from Candler Park to the intersection of Moreland and Ponce is close to 3/4 a mile. That is a pretty large area so I would have to say that this was quite a few men in his Division.
Once I posted this marker to the historical marker database, the editor requested pictures of the Moreland and Ponce intersection. Apparently he does not realize how bad of an intersection that is, especially if you are trying to get a photograph. I will have to work on that one.
Next up I will take a ride down Moreland in search of Leggett's Hill, I believe that I may know the knoll or hill of which they speak.

Site: The Pope House

Marker Text: Verbatim but translated to remove abbreviations and to make more readable
Opposite to and north of here was a two story white house (said to have been the residence of the Widow Pope) which figured prominently in this sector of the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864.
As Manigault's brigade (CS) moved to the assault on the Federal line at the Hurt House, its alignment was broken by the Pope house and out-buildings. While reforming, some of the 19th S.C. ascended to the second floor and fired into the Federal batteries at the railroad cut.
Pressing forward, the 10th and 19th S.C., aided by the 28th Ala., penetrated the Federal line at the railroad cut, seizing the batteries there and in a leftward drive, the DeGress battery

060-92 Georgia Historic Commission erected 1956
Location: DeKalb Avenue at Inman Park MARTA station
GPS:
Visited: June 28, 2008

So, the battle has begun. This house broke the rank and file of the confederate brigade as they marched toward the cut in the rail line. Some of the South Carolina soldiers used it as a sniper den. The outcome was that the confederates overran both the rail road cut and two separate artillery batteries. I guess the question would be "Did they have enough time to turn the batteries for their own use, or bring them back into the inner defense of Atlanta for continued use?" And what good, really, does capturing the rail road cut do for you? The federal army is still to the east of the city and could just re-cut the line further down. The "Noon Under the Trees" marker is about a mile east of this marker. Actually it is just one MARTA stop east of here. I guess this action was to take advantage of apparent weakness in the Federals offense.
How does this action fit in with the marker for the start of the Battle of Atlanta? These markers are separated by two to three miles of what, at the time, would have been forests and farms. Did this Manigualt brigade come from the same area as Bates and Walker, or from the city defenses themselves?
Currently this marker is on DeKalb Avenue at the Inman Park MARTA station. The Pope house is no more. Both the MARTA line and the railroad are on the South side of DeKalb Avenue. Reading the marker again, I believe that the marker was originally installed on the other side of DeKalb Avenue, since it states "opposite to and north of here." But it could be that the house was further north and on the other side of Battery Place, the road next to the MARTA station parking lot. I know that DeGress street is not too far away, and on the opposite side of Battery Place from here, and slightly north of here.
It is of no matter, this marker places us in the middle of the attack on the federal lines. We just don't yet know all of the players or where they were located.

Noon Under The Trees

Text of the Marker - verbetim, but translated by me
July 22, 1864. General McPherson and staff spent their afternoon in conference at Sherman's headquarters and inspecting Army of the Tennessee lines. Noon found them in an oak grove just South of the railroad where they were joined at luncheon by Logan and Blair, each with his staff. While here, McPherson wrote and dispatched an order to Dodge regarding the destruction of the Georgia railroad. This pleasant respite of discussion and cigars was broken by volley firing to the southeast. The Battle of Atlanta had begun.
All mounted and rode away. McPherson, sending most of his staff on various missions, galloped towards the sound of the guns.

Georgia Historical Commission Marker Number 044-39 Date Erected 1956

Location: DeKalb Avenue at Whitfoord Avenue at Candler-Edgewood MARTA station
GPS:
Date Visited: June 19, 2008



Well, at least this marker falls within the same timeline as the Battle of Atlanta Began Here marker. The sound of guns was from the encounter of Bate's and Walker's divisions with Sweeny's men over on Memorial Drive. This marker is located at the MARTA station on DeKalb Avenue at Oakdale/Whitefoord road (Oakdale on the sorthside of DeKalb avenue and Whitefoord on the south), which is a good mile and a half to two miles away. Now Sweeny's men were spread out in a long line, so some of the fighting may have been closer, but it was a good distance to ride out to as well as keep control over. Hence McPherson's ride towards the gunfire to check his flank position, the one that he had just shored up with Sweeny's division. Leggett's Hill, which is also in the direction of the gunfire, was an artillery placement as well, I believe. Therefore, it would have been of strategic importance.
It still seems like an odd fragment of history to record and to memorialize. The quiet before the storm, perphaps.
From what I understand, the current railroad line mimics the 1864 railroad line. Whitefoord road would be the road that McPherson took to arrive at the scene of the battle. The actual oak grove would have been south of the railroad, therefore on the other side of the rail line from the marker.
To me, this marker is just that, a place marker for a chance meeting that occurs just prior to more important and dangerous events.

Battle of Atlanta Began Here

Well the title of the marker says it all. Imagine my surprise.





Text of the Marker - Verbatim, but translated by me without all the abbreviations.


July 22, 1864. Sweeny's 2nd division, Dodge's 16th Army Corp (US), having been held in reserve north of the Georgia railroad (Candler Park), was ordered to support the left of Blair's 17th Corps in East Atlanta.


Marching via Clay Road, Sweeny's column halted here at noon to await further orders. Mersy's brigade led the advance, followed by Rice's.


Thus, by mere accident, the two brigades were posted where they intercepted the surprise attack by Walker's and Bate's divisions (Hardee's Army Corps) (CS), aimed at the rear of Blair's 17th Army Corps intrenched (sic) along Flat Shoals road, 1 mile west of this point, thereby precipitating the battle.

Georgia Historic Marker Number 044-46 Erected 1983

Location: Clay Street at Memorial Drive
GPS:
Visited June 19, 2008

Alright before we get to the content of the marker and the significance of it, there are a couple of things that don't make sense to me from the information in this marker.
I presume that Mersy's and Rice's brigades were Union under Sweeny's command, but according to the marker they "led the advance." That wording makes it seem as though they charged the Confederate lines. The reality is probably more along the lines that they led the movement southward down along Clay road. In reality, this movement was spread out along front close to a mile or so long and was not only down Clay road. I will have to measure the distance to the Mersy's Brigade marker further west down Memorial Drive.
The second thing that doesn't make so much sense to me is the location of Blair's 17th Army Corps. The marker says that they were entrenched at Flat Shoals road, 1 mile west of this marker. The only way that Walker and Bate would be able to reach that area is if they were making a swinging loop around. The present day Flat Shoals road does not cross Memorial Drive and is close to a mile and a half away at this point. What were they doing all the way over here? They may have been trying to push up the Memorial Drive road towards Leggett's Hill, which was, from what I have gathered, near the intersection of Flat Shoals road and Moreland avenue in East Atlanta. That makes a little more sense because it would bring in the Confederates push directly into the rear of the Union lines. But it leaves the attacking force's right flank wide open for a counter attack. It would be a risky move. Especially given the fact that once the orders were written and dispatched, adjusting them was a difficult and uncertain task in the days of runners.
Okay, so here my perception changed again. What is defined as The Battle of Atlanta begins here, on the east side of Atlanta away from present day (and, I am sure 1864 day) downtown Atlanta.
Currently this is the in-town suburbs of Atlanta. This section is either in Kirkwood area, or directly south of the Kirkwood area. I wouldn't classify it as ghettos or slums, but it is economically depressed. The housing market here is sketchy. From the mid 1990s or so and on, several houses and areas near here have been renovated and updated in an effort to ride the wave of renovation that has struck several near by areas. But this area, like East Atlanta and Grant Park, are still hit and miss. But that has nothing to do with the battle or the markers.
Here is verification that my initial perception of the southeast attack from Chattanooga to Savannah is entirely incorrect. The encounter at Peachtree Creek, which precedes these events, is not included in the Battle of Atlanta, as per this marker. So now we have the Union, coming from the east and pushing south to cover a flank, being attacked by the Confederates who are marching north to attack to the west. Apparently everyone was in a state of confusion. I certainly am. These events warrant more investigation and information on troop movements prior to July 22, 1864 at noon.
Nevertheless, the two sides clashed here, along Memorial Drive, and the Battle of Atlanta had begun. Now I have used Memorial Drive as long as I can remember. It took me a long while to connect the end that crosses Interstate 285 and continues on towards Stone Mountain (I think that part is Cynthia McKinney Parkway now) to the end that passes the State Capitol. But it is a great thoroughfare. Never did I connect it with the battle though. I see it in different light now. I wonder if all of the people who live next to this marker (and the others as you will see) understand what happened here and how it has affected their black american community. Somehow I doubt that they know. I cannot guess if they would care.

Sweeny's March South

The second of the two markers that triggered this interest in the local historical markers.

Text of the Marker - Verbatim, but translated by me without all the abbreviations.
July 22, 1864. Sweeny's 16th Army Corps division, ordered to support the left of the Federal line in East Atlanta, was shifted from its camp of the previous night, north of the Georgia railroad. It marched south on the Clay road (now Clay street).
These troops had been ordered to destroy the railroad back to Decatur but McPherson requested them as reinforcement to his left, since his cavalry (Garrard's) had been sent eastward.
Passing the Jesse Clay plantation, near this point, Sweeny's troops moved south to the present intersection of Memorial drive, where they halted for further instructions - at the fateful moment of Hardee's surprise attack.

Georgia Historic Marker Number 044-31 Erected 1956

Location: Clay Street at Hosea Williams Drive
GPS:
Visited: June 28, 2008

The second marker is occurs three days after the first marker. And the movement is south, not west. Decatur is still occupied by the Union troops and Atlanta is still under siege. This marker is on Clay street instead of Hosea Williams street (used to be Boulevard?) and therefore, I could not read the title when I passed it twice a day. I could see the Wheeler Delays Blair title of the first marker. Once I took a picture of this marker, I connected the name Sweeny with another marker that I had forgotten. It was over in Candler Park and was Sweeny Div. Encamped.
I also realized that Memorial drive was the next major road south and that there must be a marker there as well since some sort of battle occurred between Sweeny's and Hardee's men. Therefore, first I would go to Clay street and Memorial drive, then I would go over to Candler park for that marker, and then maybe I would scout out some markers on DeKalb avenue near the railroad, specifically Noon Under The Trees.

So this marker has the Union shifting troops south to cover their left flank. Obviously the entire city was not encircled. Some supply lines must have remained open for the Confederates in the city. The Decatur line was straddled by Union troops who were laboring to destroy the railroad tracks. The northern line was controlled by Union troops and, I would think, used for their own supply line. The outcome of the Battle of Atlanta was not a given at this point. It doesn't seem that the Union forces were large enough to conclude that the city should be surrendered. From Chattanooga up to this point, it seems that the Confederates were fighting a delaying tactic. In reality, the Union was using flanking maneuvers in order to avoid a direct fight. Other than the battle at Kennesaw Mountain, which ended by the Union using a flanking maneuver, this flanking and delaying seems to have seen its end here at the siege of Atlanta. From the time that Blair moved westward it seems that the Confederates have come to the battle at last.

Wheeler Delays Blair

One of the two markers that triggered this interest in the local historical markers.

Text of the Marker - Verbatim, but translated by me without all the abbreviations.
McPherson's Army of the Tennessee (US) seized Decatur July 19, 1864 and on July 20th moved towards Atlanta in two columns - the 15th and 16th Army Corps via the Georgia railroad, the 17th by roads south of it where Wheeler's Cavalry (CS), guarding the right of Atlanta's outer defense line, was posted.
Wheeler encountered Blair's 17th Army Corps at Clay Street and, in a contest lasting all afternoon, endeavored to halt it - both forces using artillery. Toward evening, Wheeler withdrew west to Leggett Hill, where he was relieved at Midnight by Cleburne's division (of Hardee's corp) (CS), which had been withdrawn from the engagement at Peachtree Creek for this purpose.

Georgia Historical Commission Marker Number 044-42 Erected 1956

Location: Hosea Williams Drive at Clay Street
GPS:
Visited: June 19, 2008

So here we are, at the first marker, but smack in the middle of the preliminary movements prior to the Battle of Atlanta. The Battle of Kennesaw Mountain was over, the encounter at Peachtree Creek was over, and Decatur was occupied by solders of the Union.
Now, at this point and time, I had always believed that the Battle of Atlanta happened in a rather linear fashion beginning at Kennesaw Mountain and continuing with the March to the Sea, southeast towards Savannah. So now, with the information on this marker, a flanking action to cut off the supply line and a push from the east towards a fortified city is described. This changes my perception and triggers some understanding of other markers that I had read along Dekalb Avenue where there were battles over the railroad line.
If, as I believed at the time, the battle followed a southeastern course, then those markers on Dekalb Avenue would have occurred after Atlanta had fallen. I had never been quite comfortable with the idea that the Union forces and the Confederate forces were still fighting over the railroad after the city had fallen. And I had never been comfortable with the idea that the Union commander did not sidestep the fortifications, attack at weak points, or siege the city.

So, from this marker, Union forces, after capturing Decatur on the east side of Atlanta, move towards the eastern defenses of the city and, along the way, encounter some of the defenders. The defenders delay the Union forces for an entire afternoon until they withdrawn to Leggett's Hill, where ever that is. The Confederate forces are relieved by another division that has come from the Peachtree Creek encounter.
Now when talking of the Battle of Atlanta, the encounter at Peachtree Creek is what comes to my mind, right after the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. The area a little east of the actual battle area is currently called Peachtree Battle. So for the Confederates to remove a portion of the defenders there and shift them to the south east, the threat must have been significant, and possibly expected.







An assumption of mine from the text of the marker: A.C. equals Army Corps. While reading this, and some others, I originally mistook the A.C. for Armored Cavalry since the markers that I read dealt with cavalry corps. After some research, I latched onto the Army Corps translation.

Purpose, Scope, and Background

I am over forty years old. I was born about a mile from where I currently reside. I was raised east of Atlanta barely in Rockdale county in an area that my wife likes to call McConBridge, since it lies between, and almost equidistance from, Conyers, McDonough, and Stockbridge. Although they were from small towns in Georgia (McDonough and Albany), my parents graduated from two Atlanta universities. Both were a little blinded by the city lights. But neither could entirely leave their rural upbringings, so I was raised in the countryside. But, ever since I went to college in the big city of Atlanta, I have not been back to stay in the wilderness, except briefly.

As a student and as a recent graduate, I did a lot of exploring on foot. Riding my bike for transportation and skateboarding for entertainment also afforded me lots of exploration time. During these times, I was aware of historical monuments, parks, and markers. Some of these I even read and pondered. But I don't think that I ever connected to them.

Recently I began travelling between East Point and Decatur everyday, twice a day. Along that route I always passed two historic markers, "Wheeler Delays Blair" and "Sweeny Marches South." I often wondered how many of these markers are in Atlanta, or even Georgia. I knew of other markers from the other places that I had lived or worked around Atlanta..near Little Five Points, Roswell, Virgina Highlands, Smyrna, Poncey Highlands, Marietta, Inman Park, Decatur, the By-way, Candler Park....and I even remembered the gist of some of them.

Somewhere along the way, I decided to document the markers that I saw, starting with the two that I passed so often. I was planning to start a group on Flikr and invite others to join in with pictures of their markers, in Atlanta, in Georgia, in other states, countries, etc. So I decided to investigate to see if there were groups on Flikr or websites or blogs etc. that had a similar purpose. The short answer is yes. Yes there are. And there are people doing the very things, or similar things, that I plan to do here on this blog.

But this is my path. And I plan to document it here. The journey has already begun.

My goal here is do document the historical markers that I discover, either by chance or by design. I plan on starting with the ones that are closest to me currently. The focus of most of the ones near me are of the US Civil War, specifically, the Battle of Atlanta. But there are other ones as well that I shall include as I encounter them. I would like to post the location and background, as known or understood, as well as any supporting information. I will include, where possible, a photograph of the marker and a photograph or two of the surrounding area. The markers and their photographs will be on a Google map of mine also.

I must acknowledge some of the sources for inspiration of this as well as websites that have provided a concise location of information.

My family, although rooted in McConBridge, has always travelled. Summer trips, spring break trips, christmas breaks, or anytime that we could squeeze it in. And we drove on our trips. So we saw lots of the local sites, and we stopped at most of them also. So I was aware, as I said before, of the historical markers and monuments, and parks from an early age. But the start of this current "bug" would have to be my repeated interaction with those two Georgia Historical Commission Markers mentioned above and my introduction to historicalmarkerdatabase.org and my interaction with one of the editors there. There is also an online data base of what appears to be a catalog of all the historical markers, with pictures and locations, in Georgia that will be immensely helpful. Already I have identified markers that I have overlooked, some of them only feet from were I was with another marker. There is another site that I recently found of one person's tracing of the Battle of Atlanta in modern times using the markers as reference.

I have no timeline for completing this quest. I have no boundaries either. Where ever I go and find a historical marker, there I will begin the documentation of it. I am sure that the scope or focus of this quest shall change with time. I have already changed my ideas for the set up of the blog and shall try to follow through, if feasible. I am no computer expert or web designer. I do no write nor understand code. I am using only the tools that I know are available in the manner that I understand their capabilities.