Civil War Georgia – Atlanta and Area Battlefields

Following the battle at Kennesaw Mountain and Sherman’s continuing effort to turn his flank, Johnston withdrew to fortifications just northwest of the Chattohoochee River, the last major natural barrier in front of Atlanta.

Again Sherman was able to get around this position, crossing the river and directly threatening the city. Johnston was forced to abandon the Chattohoochee line July 9, falling back to within a few miles of Atlanta.

That was enough for Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Frustrated by what he perceived as Johnston’s unwillingness to fight an offensive battle and with Atlanta in mortal danger, Davis fired Johnston July 17 and installed Gen. John B. Hood in his place.

Hood wasted little time. The new Confederate commander struck the Union army at Peachtree Creek (July 20), Bald Hill (Battle of Atlanta July 22) and Ezra Church (July 28). All offered opportunities for the Confederates, but all resulted in bloody defeats for Hood. The new Confederate commander had lost nearly 11,000 men in the first 10 days of his command.

Following the battles, Sherman spent much of the next month tightening his grip on and bombarding the city.

By the end of the month, Sherman wanted and needed to finish the game. He ordered most of his army to march south of the city to cut the last remaining Confederate lifeline, the Macon and Western Railroad.

Hood’s reaction at Jonesboro (Aug. 31–Sept. 1) was too little and too late. Following the battle there, the Federals held a complete stranglehold on the city. On Sept. 1, Hood withdrew his army from Atlanta. The Union army entered the city the next day.

Visiting the Atlanta battlefields

Source: nps.gov

Sadly, the bloody and significant Atlanta battlefields have been overrun by the city’s rapid development after the war. Only glimpes of those once-rural places remain, almost lost among residential development and busy streets. Most of the time, roadside markers are the visitor’s only guide.

However, there is some help for those willing to investigate the dramatic events at Atlanta during the summer of 1864.

Peachtree Creek Battlefield (July 20, 1864)

  • Tanyard Creek Park

The park is located just south of the Bobby Jones Golf Course and a short distance north of I-75 Northside Drive exit near the intersection of Collier Road and Overbrook Road NW.

Markers there near the center of the battle describe the Confederate attack.

Battle of Atlanta (July 22, 1864)

A good place to begin is the Cyclorama of Battle of Atlanta located in Grant Park. The July 22 battle is the subject of the painting and displays help describe the battle.

Oakland Cemetery

  • 40 Oakland Ave SE, Atlanta GA 30312
  • 404-658-6019

Hood established his headquarters here during the battle near this small (at the time) city cemetery. A historical marker notes where the Confederate commander watched the battle.

Tour brochure at the cemetery office identifies significant history of the cemetery and gravesites including Gen. John B. Gordon, Gov. Joseph Brown and Gone with the Wind author Margaret Mitchel.

More Battle of Atlanta

Roadside memorials mark the locations where Union Gen. James MacPherson and Confederate Gen. W.H.T. Walker fell during the battle. Other historical markers include site of the Hurt House (on the grounds of the Carter Presidential Center).

Battle of Ezra Church (July 28, 1864)

A lopsided Union victory here — one of the most one-sided of the war — resulted from a disjointed series of Confederate attacks against strong Union positions. This battle was the last of Hood’s grand offensives during which he lost nearly a third of his infantry in 10 days.

Mozley Park

  • 1565 Mozley Place SW, Atlanta GA 30314

Historical markers help explain the action here at the site of Ezra Church.

Westview Cemetery

  • 1680 Westview Drive SW, Atlanta GA 30310

Remains of Confederate trenches can be found behind the grave of Lt. Edward Clingman (located in eastern outer drive), who was killed in the battle. Confederate marker located nearby.

Battle of Brown’s Mill

Brown’s Mill Battlefield Historic Site

  • 155 Millard Farmer Road, Newnan GA 30263
  • 770-254-2627

Walking trails and interpretive signs mark the historic site of this July 30, 1864, cavalry battle. Confederates under Gen. Joseph Wheeler whipped their Union counterparts under Gen. Edward McCook, ending Sherman’s attempt to cut off Atlanta supply lines with cavalry alone. Open daylight hours.

Battle of Utoy Creek (Aug. 5–7, 1864)

Fighting here was a bright spot for the Confederates as they were able to decisively repulse Union efforts to destroy the critical Macon and Western Railroad.

Cascade Springs Nature Preserve

Source: twitter.com
  • 2852 Cascade Road SW, Atlanta GA 30311

Historical markers related to the battle on Cascade Road across from the park.

Battle of Jonesboro (Aug. 30–Sept. 1)

Sherman, tired of the stalemate around the city that developed after the ferocious July battles, sent most of his army south and west to this point to cut the last railroad into Atlanta. A Union victory here did just that, but Hood’s army managed to escape the city and assemble south of Jonesboro at Lovejoy.

As usual with the Atlanta-area sites, the battlefield no longer exists. A series of historical markers and several antebellum buildings in Jonesboro’s historic district help some.

Tour material is available at the Clayton County Visitors Center.

Clayton County Visitors Center

  • 8712 Tara Blvd, Jonesboro GA 30236
  • www.visitscarlett.com, 800-662-7829

Patrick Cleburne Confederate Cemetery

  • North McDonough Street at Johnson Street, Jonesboro GA 30236The remains of 600–1,000 unidentified Confederate soldiers killed in the battle of Jonesboro are here. The cemetery is named for the famed Confederate general who led troops near here during the battle.