History of Allatoona, (Bartow County) Georgia United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Allatoona, (Bartow County) Georgia, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

Allatoona, GA., Oct. 5, 1864. 3d and 4th Divisions, 15th Army Corps. This was one of the most sanguinary battles of the War. Gen. Sherman had about 1,000,000 rations stored at Allatoona, guarded by a garrison of 890 infantry and a battery of 6 guns, under the command of Lieut.-Col. John F. Tourtelotte, of the 4th Minn. The fortifications, located on a ridge, consisted of three redoubts West of a deep railroad cut and a star fort on the east, with outer works, abatis, stockades, etc. The stores were collected on a tract of flat land south of the Hill. On the 4th Hood sent Gen. French's division, about 3,000 strong, to reduce the garrison and capture the Stores. French made a night march and about 3 o'clock on the morning of the 5th encountered the Federal pickets. In the meantime Sherman had sent Gen. Corse, with Rowett's brigade, to the relief of the garrison. Corse arrived from Rome about two hours in advance of French, who knew nothing of the reinforcements. As soon as it was light Corse disposed his forces to resist the attack. The 7th Ill. and 38th IA. were placed in line of battle facing West, on a spur that covered the redoubt on the Hill immediately over the railroad cut, one battery of the 93d Ill. was held in reserve, the other being placed in the line of skirmishers moving westwardly along the ridge; the 4th Minn., 12th and 50th Ill. in the works on the Hill East of the cut, and the rest of the command out on skirmish and picket duty. A little before 8 o'clock the Head of French's column occupied the ridge overlooking the Federal works. Corse refused to surrender and the fight commenced. French disposed his forces to attack from three directions. Under a brisk artillery fire he pushed Sears, brigade of infantry around to the north of the works, and destroyed the railroad and telegraphic communication with Rome and Cartersville. Young's Texas brigade, 1,900 strong, reached the West End of the ridge and moved along the crest until checked by the 7th Ill. and 39th IA. Under Rowett. They rallied again and again, attacking each time with apparently greater determination making it necessary to send the 93d Ill. to Rowett's assistance. Meantime Sears had moved up from the north, his left extending across the railroad, where two companies of the 93d Ill. were stationed on the brink of the cut, on a spur running north from the redoubt. These companies were reinforced by pickets that had been driven in and, urged by Corse, tried vainly to hold on to the spur. The Confederate line of battle swept the Federals before it as wind sweeps chaff, until Tourtelotte's Fire Caught Sears on the flank, breaking his line so badly that Corse was able to send a staff officer over the cut with orders to the 50th Ill. to reinforce Rowett. Before the movement could be executed Sears and Young rallied in force and made such a desperate assault in front and on the flank that Rowett's line was broken. For two hours and a half he had held the greater part of the Confederate force in check, though attacked on three sides. As he fell back to the fort a detachment of the 38th IA. commanded by Maj. Redfield, Fought with such stubbornness that the main body was enabled to reach the redoubt. Had it not been for this determined stand it is probable that few, if any, would ever have gained the shelter of the fort. But by a hand-to-hand struggle, with forces that outnumbered them more than ten to one, they compelled the enemy to halt and reform before assaulting the fort, thus giving Corse time to readjust his forces to meet the attack when it came. This feature of the fight saved Allatoona, though it was not realized at the time. The Gallant Redfield Fell, Shot in four places. It was now 11 o'clock Sherman had reached Kennesaw mountain about an hour before and had signaled to Corse to hold the fort, as reinforcements were on the way. This news was communicated to the men and gave them courage to continue the fight. With alacrity they obeyed the orders of their commander, and by the time the enemy was ready to attack the fort the ditches were filled and the parapets lined with men, giving the Federals a firing line that would make the fort impregnable as Long as the ammunition lasted. For some time the Confederates kept up an incessant fire from low places in the ground, from behind logs, trees and stumps, picking off nearly every man that showed his Head. Finding this method of warfare useless they determined to carry the works by assault. They advanced in a solid phalanx, with a steadiness that made even the bravest in the trenches wonder as to the result. But the 12th Wis. Battery Began to pour a merciless fire into the advancing lines at short range. Human nature could not stand the test, and when within 300 feet of the works the lines broke, all efforts of the officers to rally the men proving in vain. The Confederates were becoming discouraged. About 15O yards from the fort was a ridge, on the top of which was a small house. Finding it impossible to charge and carry the works the Confederates massed a force here and began a destructive fire on the fort. The Federals cleared an embrasure commanding the ridge, dragged a piece of artillery to it and fired a few shots that scattered the enemy in all directions. About the time the charge was made Corse was severely wounded in the face and was unconscious for nearly an hour. The other officer, having faith in Sherman's signals, encouraged the men to hold out, as reinforcements were on the way. They were right, for Gen. J. D. Cox's Corps was then hurrying westward to gain French's rear and either capture or destroy his entire division. About 4 o'clock French Got Wind of this movement and hurriedly withdrew from the field to save his command. Before beginning his retreat he captured the Blockhouse at Allatoona creek and burned the bridge. Allatoona was saved, but at a fearful cost. The Federal loss was 142 killed, 352 wounded and 212 missing; that of the enemy was 134 killed, 499 wounded and 300 missing.

SOURCE: The Union Army A History of Military Affairs in the Loyal States 1861-65 -- Records of the Regiments in the Union Army -- Cyclopedia of Battles -- Memoirs of Commanders and Soldiers. 8 vols. Madison: Federal Publishing, 1908.

History of Allatoona, (Bartow County) Georgia

Local History Notes: