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.