The Atlanta Campaign of William Tecumseh Sherman has long fascinated historians and Civil War buffs alike. Many people consider that it was the first example of "modern" warfare. Sherman had some interesting and unorthodox (for the time) strategies and tactics:

§ Sherman focused on winning his objective (Atlanta), rather than focusing on winning individual battles. Whether he won or lost an individual battle, he always continued on towards his objective (usually through a flanking movement).

§ Sherman made every effort to keep his supply lines open, through the captured Western & Atlantic Railroad, but in times when his troops needed to veer away from the railroad, they lived off the land.

§ While the Atlanta Campaign was not as destructive as the ensuing March to the Sea, Sherman still wasn't shy about destroying as much of the Confederate infrastructure between Ringgold and Atlanta as he deemed necessary.

§ When confronted by guerrilla activity at Cassville, Georgia, Sherman ordered the town burned to the ground in retaliation!

§ One could also postulate that Sherman was an early advocate of using overwhelming force to accomplish a well-defined objective - no "contained warfare" for William Tecumseh Sherman!

Statistics
	North	South
Strength	100,000+	74,000
Artillery	254.00	124.00
Horses/mules	60,900
Wagons	5,180
Ambulances	860.00
Casualties	31,000+	40,000(?)

So why was Atlanta such an important objective for Sherman and the Union? Atlanta was both the supply and transportation hub of the whole deep South. In fact, Sherman based much of his strategy in the Atlanta campaign on the capture and/or destruction of 4 key Confederate Railroads, which spread at in spoke-like fashion from the Atlanta hub.

§ Western & Atlantic (Chattanooga)

§ Georgia Railroad (Augusta, Charleston, Richmond)

§ Macon & Western (Macon, Savannah)

§ Atlantic & West Point (Mobile)

If Atlanta fell, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the Deep South fell with it.

The Atlanta Campaign started on May 6, 1864, when Sherman's vast army pulled out of its forward base in Ringgold, GA. The Campaign ended on September 2, 1864, when the heart of the deep South fell - Atlanta, GA. Sherman faced two Confederate commanders in the course of the campaign - Joseph E. Johnston, and John Bell Hood, who took command on July 18, 1864.

This booklet is primary focused on what exists today at various sites associated with Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. In my previous Retracing the Route of the General, I provided detailed maps to the site. In this day of GPS navigation systems, MapQuest, etc., I decided to go with brief descriptions of locations that could easily be found on an electronic mapping system or a detailed map.

Note that throughout, casualty figures are denoted by (Union: xxx; Confederate: xxx).

Library of Congress (g3921s cws00028)

SITE #1 - Ringgold, Georgia

Date: May 6, 1864

Significance: Ringgold was the embarkation point for Sherman’s Army

What is left to see:

§ 1849 Depot

§ WPA pavilion (1930s)

Location: The depot is located at the intersection of Highway 41 and SR 151 Spur. The WPA pavilion is located just south of the Depot on Highway 41 (look to the right if you are traveling south from Ringgold)

1849 Ringgold Railroad Depot

SITE #2 - Tunnel Hill, Georgia

Date: May 6-7, 1864

Significance: The Confederates briefly defended Chetooga Ridge, but did not destroy the Western & Atlantic RR tunnel, leaving it available for Sherman to use for supplies. Sherman briefly used the Clisby-Austin house as a headquarters.

What's Left:

§ 1850 W&A railroad tunnel

§ Tunnel Hill Depot

§ Sherman's headquarters – the Clisby Austin House (private)

§ Tunnel Hill Visitor’s Center/Museum

Location: From the intersection of Highway 41 and SR 201, head east on SR 201 for a couple of hundred yards. Turn right on Varnell St., and head across the railroad tracks. You’ll see the Visitor’s Center/Museum on the left.

1850 W&A Railroad Tunnel

SITE #3 - Rocky Face Ridge

Date: May 7-12, 1864

Significance: Rocky Face Ridge was the first major natural obstruction in Sherman's path. He made a feint at Rocky Face, but his real strategy was to flank the Ridge to the West, and attempt to take Resaca.

What's Left: A WPA marker (at State Patrol Post)

Location: From Exit 336 on I-75, head north on Highway 41. Look for the State Patrol Post on your left (if you cross Mill Creek, you’ve gone too far). The WPA pavilion is in the part of the parking lot closest to the highway.

WPA marker commemorating the battle of Rocky Face Ridge

SITE #4 - Dug Gap

Library of Congress (LC-USZC4-1042)

Date: May 8, 1864

Significance: Dug Gap was a small but fierce battle in which Sherman’s forces attacked uphill against a well-entrenched Confederate position. Sherman probably didn’t really want to attack here, but he did it to conceal McPherson’s troop movements to the West. (Union: 350; Confederate: 150)

What's Left: Dug Gap Battlefield Park, a locally maintained park, with 1200 feet of restored Confederate breastworks

Location: From Exit 333 on I-75, head west on SR 71 (Walnut Ave.) This road quickly turns into Dug Gap Battle Road. After you go around a big curve, look for the small parking area to the right for the battlefield.

SITE #5 – Resaca

Library of Congress (LC-USZ62-104544)

Date: May 14-15, 1896

Significance: Reseca was the biggest battle fought in North Georgia during Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign, with all six Corps involved. As with many of the early battles, the Union suffered larger casualties (Union: 6,800, Confederate: 5,200), but Sherman eventually outflanked Resaca and continued towards Atlanta.

Resaca probably should have been designated the National Park for Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign, but Kennesaw Mountain was closer to the major population center of Atlanta. However, the State of Georgia is in the process of turning 508 acres of the Resaca battlefield into a State park.

What's Left:

§ WPA pavilion

§ Large portions of battlefield

§ The Resaca Confederate Cemetery was established after the Civil War by Miss Mary J. Green and associates. It contains 421 graves, mostly unidentified, laid out in a circular pattern.

Location: From Exit 320 on I-75, head east briefly on SR 136, and then turn left on Highway 41. Travel about 1.8 miles on 41, and look for the WPA pavilion on your right. Just past the pavilion is Confederate Cemetery Road, which dead ends at the Confederate Cemetery. There are some trenches and small fortifications still extant in the area north of the cemetery. Yearly reenactments are held in this area.

Portion of Resaca battlefield west of I-75

IM000568 (Large)

Participants in a 2007 bus tour of Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign examine a named tombstone

Library of Congress

SITE #6 – Cassville

Date: May 18-19, 1864

Significance: Cassville is sometimes referred to as the "Battle that never was", as Johnston had hoped to isolate and destroy part of Sherman’s army here. However, the trap was not sprung after John Bell Hood hesitated in the face of what he believed was a much larger Union force.

Cassville was destroyed by Sherman (11/5/64) in retaliation for Southern guerrilla activity in the area. It was not rebuilt until the 20th century

What's Left:

§ WPA marker

§ Presbyterian & Methodist Churches (spared by Sherman)

§ Cassville Confederate Cemetery – contains 300 unknown Confederate dead

Location: From I-75 Exit 296, head west on Cassville-White road. At about 2.65 miles, you’ll get your first glimpse of the Confederate Cemetery on your left. Continue on Cassville-White Road until it dead ends into Cassville Road. Turn left. The downtown marker will be on your left. The Methodist Church is on Church Street, just south on Cassville Road, to the left. The Presbyterian Church is further down Cassville Road on the left. The WPA pavilion is on the right at the intersection of Cassville Road and Highway 41.

1833 Cassville Presbyterian Church

Downtown marker, Cassville, Georgia

Obelisk in the Confederate Cemetery

SITE #7 - Etowah River Railroad Bridge

Significance: The old W&A bridge across the Etowah River was destroyed by Johnston during his retreat, rebuilt, and destroyed again by Sherman (November 1864).

What's Left: 5 huge stone piers

Location: The location is obscure enough that I’ve included the map above. The bridge remains are between Acworth and Cartersville on Hwy 41, as it crosses the Etowah River.

SITE #8 - New Hope Church

Date: May 25, 1864

Significance: New Hope Church was one of a series of battles that Sherman fought when he tried to avoid Allatoona Pass by leaving his W&A supply line, and heading to the West. As with the other battles in this area (Dallas, Pickett’s Mill), the results were disastrous for the Union army. (Union: 1,900; Confederate: 500)

During the desperate fighting, troops used the tombstones in the nearby cemetery for cover.

What's Left:

§ WPA (1936) & Georgia markers

§ Trench works

§ 17 Confederates buried in cemetery

Location: From the intersection of Highway 41 and SR 92/381 in Acworth, head SW on SR 92/381 for about 8 miles (go straight when 381/92 splits off in Crossroads). The markers are in the parking lot of the Baptist church. There are trench remains across the street (E. Paulding Drive).

SITE #9 - Pickett's Mill

Date: May 27, 1864

Casualties: Like Dug Gap, and later, the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, this battle featured an attack uphill by Union forces against heavily entrenched Confederates, with not-so-surprising results (Union: 1,600; Confederate: 400). While Sherman didn’t personally lead this attack, he was so mortified by its results that he failed to mention the battle in his memoirs or his official report.

Pickett’s Mill also included a rare night attack.

What's Left:

§ Pickett's Mill Battlefield (State of Georgia)

§ Some preserved earthworks

§ 765 acres

SITE #10 - Leonidas Polk Marker

Date: June 14, 1864

Significance: Lt. General Leonidas Polk, one of Johnston’s Corps commanders, was an Episcopal Bishop. Throughout the early part of the Atlanta Campaign, he regularly conducted Sunday services. He also baptized Confederate General J.B. Hood.

During the Battle of Pine Mountain, Sherman observed several Confederate officers near the mountaintop through his looking glass. Annoyed at their seeming brazenness, he ordered artillery fire on their position. The corpulent Bishop Polk was not able to scurry to safety as his comrades Johnston and Hardee did.

What's Left: 20-ft. 1902 monument (private land)

Location: On private land at the end of Beaumont Dr., off of Stilesboro Dr. (SW of Kennesaw)


Polk Marker on Pine Mountain	Library of Congress (LC-DIG-ppmsca-17648)

SITE #11 – The Lemon House (1856)

Date: June 1864

Significance: The Acworth house of Confederate Captain James Lemon briefly served as Sherman’s headquarters (or, perhaps, the headquarters of his staff), and was spared from destruction in November 1864 by a Union Major that had stayed there.

What's Left: A well-preserved privately owned house

Location: From the intersection of SR 293 and Lemon Street in Acworth (downtown traffic light), head SW on Lemon Street until it dead ends into Willis St.

SITE #12 - Battle of Gilgal Church

Date: June 15, 1864

Significance: The Battle of Gilgal Church was one of a series of battles leading up to the battle at Kennesaw Mountain, which included Pine Mountain, Acworth, Kennesaw and Noonday Creek. The battle was so-named because of the presence of the Primitive Baptist Gilgal Church on the battlefield.

What's Left:

§ Small public park dedicated on June 15, 1989

§ Reconstructed breastworks

§ An old school house (Gilgal Church, a log-built Primitive Baptist church, was destroyed during the battle)

Location: In Due West, where Acworth Due West and Kennesaw Due West Roads intersect. The small park is just to the east of the intersection, on Kennesaw Due West Rd. (north side of road).

Library of Congress

SITE #13 - Kennesaw Mountain

Library of Congress (LC-USZ62-104545)

Date: June 27, 1864

Significance: Kennesaw Mountain was the last major Confederate defense before the Battle of Atlanta. Once again, Sherman decided to attack uphill against entrenched Confederate positions, and was soundly defeated (Union: 3000; Confederate: 750/1000). However, as always, Sherman figured out how to outflank Johnston, and Johnston was eventually forced to retreat.

The battle was actually in at least three parts, including the battle at Kolb’s Farm (a disaster for Confederate Corps commander John Bell Hood), Cheatham Hill, and the battle for Pigeon Hill/Little Kennesaw. Big Kennesaw wasn’t really involved in the battle, other than as an observation post.

What's Left: Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park was authorized by Congress in 1917. It features 2,882 acres, with 16 miles of hiking trails. The Peter Kolb farm is still standing, as are many earthworks and a small fort (Cheatham Hill). The massive

Illinois Monument was dedicated on June 27, 1914. It is 25 ft. tall and 34 ft. square. It honors 480 men from Illinois who died during the fierce fighting on Cheatham Hill.

Location: The Visitor’s Center is located at the intersection of Old Highway 41 (SR 293) and Stilesboro Road, SE of Kennesaw. GA.

Silent guns at Kennesaw Mountain

Illinois Monument

SITE #14 - Marietta

Library of Congress (LC-USZ62-104545)

Dates: June 9-July 3, 1864

Significance: Marietta was occupied by Johnston’s troops for almost a month during the summer of 1864. There was fighting all around Marietta, but not in the City itself.

After the War, both a National Cemetery and a Confederate Cemetery were located here.

§ National Cemetery – The Marietta National Cemetery was established in 1866. 10,132 Civil War soldiers are interred there (3,093 unknown).

§ Marietta Confederate Cemetery – The Cemetery was established in 1863, and has 3,000 soldiers from 14 states (116 from GA) interred there. It includes dead from Chickamauga and the Atlanta Campaign.

Location: Marietta is the county seat of Cobb County, and can easily be found on any map of Georgia. The National Cemetery is on Roswell Street, just east of the Square. The Confederate Cemetery is located SW of the Square, and is bounded on three sides by S. Marietta Parkway/Powder Springs Road, the South 120 Loop, and Atlanta Street.

What’s left: In addition to the cemeteries, there are many antebellum homes in Marietta, as well as the wonderful Square (see the Harper’s Weekly drawing above). The 1850 Kennesaw House, of Great Locomotive Chase fame, is located near the depot.


Marietta National Cemetery	Marietta Confederate Cemetery - Monument dedicated in 1908 by Kennesaw UDC

Marietta Confederate Cemetery

Marietta Confederate Cemetery - Cannon used by Georgia Military Institute cadets opposing Sherman's March to the Sea

SITE #15 - Sope Creek

Dates: July 1864

Significance: On July 5, 1864, Marietta Paper Mill was burned to the ground by Sherman's cavalry. In time, Sherman would also burn other Atlanta-area Mills, including Roswell Mills and New Manchester Mills. On July 8, 1864, the first Federal troops crossed the Chattahoochee at the mouth of Sope Creek

What's Left: There are extensive mill ruins on both sides of the Creek. On the east side of Sope Creek, you’ll need to hike about 200 yards to the ruins (easy path). On the western side, you can see the ruins from Paper Mill Road.

Location: On Paper Mill Road where it crosses Sope Creek (southern Cobb County, near I-75/I-285). There is a parking area about 200 yards west of Sope Creek on Paper Mill Road (south side).

Mill ruins on the east side of Sope Creek

SITE #16 - Battle of Peachtree Creek

Date: July 20, 1864

Significance: This was the first battle of the Atlanta Campaign with John Bell Hood as Confederate Commander, replacing Joe Johnston. At this point, the tide in the Atlanta Campaign started to turn in terms of casualties (Union: 1,800; Confederate: 2,500)

What's Left:

Tanyard Creek Park (maintained by City of Atlanta), was created during the Battle of Atlanta centennial celebration in 1964. There are 9 plaques in the park, plus Collier's (Grist) Mill display.

Location: City of Atlanta. Take Exit 252 from I-75, and head north on Highway 41. Turn right on Collier Road NW.

Collier's (Grist) Mill display

SITE #17 - Battle of Atlanta

Library of Congress (LC-DIG-pga-01842)

Date: July 21/22, 1864

Significance: The battle of Atlanta was another disaster for the Confederates under John Bell Hood. Fighting centered east of Atlanta, near modern day Grant Park, and the I-20/Glenwood Ave. interchange. (Union: 3,700; Confederate: 7,000)

What's Left: Essentially, the Battle of Atlanta has vanished. All that is left is some monuments, the remains of a fort, and two prominent graves.

SITE #17a - Battle of Atlanta - Fort Walker

Significance: This is the last remaining fort from the Battle of Atlanta. It was originally part of the 12 miles of fortifications that encircled Atlanta. It was designed by Col. Lemuel P. Grant (Grant Park). The fort was named after Gen. William H. T. Walker, who died during the Battle of Atlanta.

Location: The SE corner of Grant Park in Atlanta, GA (Exit 59 from I-20)

While visiting Fort Walker, you might also want to visit the Atlanta Cyclorama & Civil War Museum, also located in Grant Park. The Cyclorama houses the huge painting "Battle of Atlanta", and also the Civil War locomotive Texas.

SITE #17b - Battle of Atlanta - Oakland Cemetery

Significance: Over 2,400 Confederate soldiers are interred here. Most of them died during the defense of Atlanta. There are also 20 Union soldiers who died in local hospitals buried here.

What's Left: The 65-foot, 1873 obelisk that commemorates "Our Confederate Dead"; the Lion of the South monument.

Location: Near the intersection of Oakland Ave. and Memorial Drive, just north of Exits 58 or 59 on I-20.

1873 obelisk

Hood watched the Battle of Atlanta from the second story of a house belonging to Atlanta Mayor James E. Williams. The site is now in Oakland Cemetery

The Lion of the South Monument contains 30,000 lbs. of Georgia marble. It was dedicated on April 26, 1894 to unknown Confederate Dead. It is patterned after "Lion of Lucerne", dedicated to 16 Swiss Guards who died protecting Marie Antoinette.

SITE #17c - Battle of Atlanta - Death of Walker

Date: July 21, 1864

Significance: Confederate General Gen. William H. T. Walker was shot and killed here during the Battle of Atlanta. Walker had also been wounded in prior battles with Mexicans, Indians, & Federals!

What's Left: A monument located near I-20/Glenwood

Location: The intersection of I-20 and Glenwood Ave. (Exit 61B). The monument is on the east side of the exit on Glenwood.

SITE #17d - Battle of Atlanta - Death of McPherson

Date: July 21, 1864

Significance: Union Corps Commander General James B. McPherson (Commander, Army of the Tennessee) was shot out of the saddle and killed on this spot. Sherman later commented on McPherson's death, "...while life lasts I will delight in the memory of that bright particular star which has gone before to prepare the way for us more hardened sinners who must struggle to the end."

What's Left: Monument and marker

Location: From I-20 Exit 61B, head west on Glenwood, and turn right on Monument. Continue past Metropolitan.

SITE #18 - Battle of Ezra Church

Date: July 28, 1864

Notes: Fighting centered west of Atlanta, near the log Ezra Methodist Church. Another catastrophe for John Bell Hood (Union: 600; Confederate: 3,000)

What's Left:

§ Markers along Martin Luther King Blvd. (Mozley Park)

§ Westview Cemetery

§ Location of the center of the Union line during the battle

§ Private cemetery with 100 Confederate graves

§ Monument dedicated by Fulton County veterans to "our dead comrades"

Location: Mozley Park is on Martin Luther King Blvd. just NE of Exit 53, I-20. The Westview Cemetery is on Martin Luther King Blvd. just SW of Exit 53, I-20.

WPA marker in Westview Cemetery

Westview Cemetery

SITE #19 - Battle of Utoy Creek

Date: August 5/7, 1864

Significance: Fighting was centered near Utoy Creek, SW of Atlanta. Sherman was attempting to cut off the Macon & Western RR. (Union: 300; Confederate: 25)

What's Left: The 1828 Utoy Primitive Baptist Church, which is located 2 miles E. of the (inaccessible) battlefield. Utoy Church was used as a Confederate Hospital during battle. There are 18 Confederates buried in the small church cemetery. A small section of Confederate earthworks remain.

Location: Utoy Church is located on Cahaba Dr., just off of Venetian Dr. in Atlanta, Ga (30311).

1828 Utoy Church is now the Temple of Christ Pentecostal Church

Confederate graves in Utoy Church Cemetery

SITE #20 - Battle of Jonesboro

Library of Congress (LC-USZC2-1957)

Date: Aug. 31 - Sept. 1, 1864

Significance: Sherman moved almost his whole Army southwest of Atlanta to destroy the last remaining railroad servicing Atlanta. When Hood heard about the troop movements, he initially thought that it meant that Sherman was retreating! (Union: 1,450; Confederate: 3,100)

What's Left:

§ Markers, historic buildings

§ Patrick Cleburne Confederate Cemetery (1872)

§ Contains 600/1,000 unmarked grave markers

§ Soldiers are actually buried in two mass graves

Location: The Warren house is located on Mimosa Dr., just west of SR 154 in Jonesboro. The Patrick Cleburne Cemetery is located near the intersection of N. McDonough and Johnson streets, just east of SR 54 in Jonesboro.

1860 Warren House, used as a headquarters & hospital by Union & Confederate forces

Patrick Cleburne Confederate Cemetery (1872)

The last two sites require some walking, and are thus listed out of chronological sequence.

SITE #21 - New Manchester Mills

Date: Destroyed July 9, 1864 by Union troops

Significance: New Manchester Mills (1849) was a textile mill built on the banks of Sweetwater Creek. The little town that once stood there had 500 inhabitants. The mill itself had 5 stories and a 50,000-pound water wheel.

What's Left: There are significant mill ruins still extant, as well as the mill race. The town of New Manchester has essentially vanished.

Location: The mill ruins are located in Sweetwater Creek State Park. Head to the new Visitor’s Center on Factory Shoals Road. The mill ruins are about a 1-mile hike from the Visitor Center parking lot.

Mill ruins in Sweetwater Creek State Park

SITE #22 - Roswell Manufacturing Co. Mills

Date: Destroyed July 26, 1864 by Union forces

Significance: Like New Manchester Mills, Roswell Manufacturing Co. Mills (1839) manufactured textiles (cotten/woolen). After the Atlanta Campaign, 500 women from Roswell & New Manchester Mills were resettled in Indiana by Sherman.

What's Left: The Roswell Mill Machine Shop is still standing on the banks of Big Creek. Close by is the dam used to channel water power to Roswell Mills.

Location: The machine shop and dam are in the Vickery Creek portion if the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area. A short hike is required from the parking area (see http://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/upload/Vickery%20Creek.pdf).

Mill ruins dot the banks of Big Creek just north of the Chattahoochee River in Roswell

Sources

§ "Battles for Atlanta: Sherman Moves East", by Ronald H. Bailey (Time-Life Books, 1985)

§ "The Civil War in Georgia", by Richard J. Lenz (Infinity Press, 1995)

§ "Fields of Glory: A History and Tour Guide of the Atlanta Campaign", by Jim Miles (Rutledge Hill Press, 1989)

§ "Kennesaw Mountain and the Atlanta Campaign", by Dennis Kelly (Kennesaw Mountain Historical Society, 1990)

§ Library of Congress

§ National Park Service Web site (www.nps.gov)

§ Photos by Robert Jones

Appendix: The commanders


Joe Johnston	John Bell Hood (July 18, 1864)	William Tecumseh Sherman


Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson *	Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas	Maj. Gen. John M. Schofield	Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard **

Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk +	Lieutenant General William J. Hardee	Lieutenant General John Bell Hood

* Killed during Battle of Atlanta

+ Killed at the Battle of Pine Mountain

** Replaced McPherson after the Battle of Atlanta