The Battle of Allatoona

THE BATTLE OF ALLATOONA Fred E. Brown after retreating southward across the Etowah River on May 20, 1864, General Joseph E. Johnston halted the Army of Tennessee near Allatoona Pass, where the Western & Atlantic Railroad ran through a deep narrow cut.1 Here, in this natural stronghold of the rugged Allatoona hills, was an ideal position in which to await attack by the pursuing Union forces of Major General William T. Sherman. But Sherman knew that the pass at Allatoona was strong and would be hard to force. He resolved not to attempt it. As a young lieutenant some twenty years before, he had ridden horseback through this section of North Georgia and his keen eyes and retentive memory had noted well the topography of the country. Therefore, instead of attacking, he decided to turn the Confederate position by moving from Kingston to Marietta via Dallas, which would force Johnston to give up Allatoona.2 Johnston countered this move with an advance in force toward New Hope Church, which gave its name to the battle fought there on May 25. Then followed a series of maneuvers by both armies in which the Federal entrenchments were rapidly extended eastward toward the railroad, in the direction of Allatoona, while the Confederates endeavored to keep in front of them.3 Envelopment of the Allatoona area by Sherman's army compelled Johnston to evacuate his position at the Mb. Bhown is a native of Allatoona and holds degrees from Mercer and Hardin-Simmons Universities. An officer of the Chevron Oil Company of Houston, Texas, he is also an active member of the Houston Civil War Round Table. This is his first article on the Civil War. IS. G. French, Two Wars: An Autobiography (Nashville, 1901), p. 198. The Western & Atlantic Railroad spanned the 130 miles between Atlanta and Chattanooga. A spur line connected Rome with the main line at Kingston. 2 U.S. War Dept., comp., The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (Washington, 18801901 ), Series I, XXXVIII, pt. 1, 22, 60. Hereafter cited as OR., with all references being to Series I. See also W. T. Sherman, Memoirs of Gen. W. T. Sherman (New York, 1891), ?, 42-43. 'Joseph E. Johnston, Narrative of Military Operations (New York, 1874), p. 334. 277 278FRED E.BROWN Pass, and on June 1 it was occupied by Federal cavalry.4 A garrison was placed at Allatoona, and on June 6 Sherman rode in on an inspection trip, "found it all that was expected, and gave orders for its fortification and preparation as a 'secondary base.' " The next day he wired Major General Henry W. Halleck at Washington: 1 have been to Allatoona Pass, and I find it admirable for our purposes. ... It now becomes as useful to us as it was to the enemy, being easily defended from either direction."5 Thus the real object of Sherman's move to Dallas was accomplished. He now controlled the railroad all the way to Big Shanty, in sight of Kennesaw Mountain. In summarizing these events in his memoirs, Sherman wrote that "with the drawn battle of New Hope Church, and our occupation of the natural fortress of Allatoona , terminated the month of May, and the first stage of the [Atlanta ] campaign."8 Sherman's orders for the fortification of Allatoona were explicit. In a special field order dated June 6, he instructed that two or more good, strong, earth redoubts be located at the eastern extremity of the pass. "AU soldiers loafing about pretending to seek their regiments and all skulkers or men sent by corps commanders or provost-marshals to work as a penalty" were ordered to Allatoona for the purpose of working on the fortifications.7 On June 27 Colonel George C. Rogers, overseeing the defense of Allatoona, reported "that the works at this place are, as far as I have received instructions from corps engineers, nearly completed. We are felling timber and making some rifle-pits that I deem very necessary for our protection . . . "8 Sherman's report to Halleck on July 14 expressed his satisfaction with the progress made up to that time, and in...