Allatoona pass,
A locality in
Bartow county, Ga., about 40 miles northwest of
Atlanta, having large historical interest because of the important military operations in 1864.
The Confederates, retreating from
Resaca, took a position at Allatoona Pass.
Sherman, after resting his army, proceeded to flank them out of their new position.
J. C. Davis's division of
Thomas's army had moved down the
Oostenaula to
Rome, where he destroyed important mills and foundries, and captured nearly a dozen guns.
He left a garrison there.
Meanwhile
Sherman had destroyed the
Georgia State Arsenal near
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Allatoona pass. |
Adairsville.
The
Nationals proceeded to gather in force at and near
Dallas.
Johnston was on the alert, and tried to prevent this formidable flank movement.
Hooker's corps met Confederate cavalry near
Pumpkinvine Creek, whom he pushed across that stream and saved a bridge they had fired.
Following them eastward miles, he (
Hooker) found the
Confederates in strong force and in battle order.
A sharp conflict ensued, and at 4 P. M. he made a bold push, by
Sherman's order, to secure possession of a point near New Hope Church, where roads from
Ackworth.
Marietta, and
Dallas met. A stormy night ensued, and
Hooker could not drive the
Confederates from their position.
On the following morning
Sherman found the
Confederates strongly intrenched, with lines extending from
Dallas to
Marietta.
The approach to their intrenchments must be made over rough, wooded, and broken ground.
For several days, constantly skirmishing,
Sherman tried to break through their lines to the railway east of the
Allatoona Pass.
McPherson's troops moved to
Dallas, and
Thomas's deployed against New Hope Church, in the vicinity of which there were many severe encounters, while
Schofield was directed to turn and strike
Johnston's right.
On May 28 the
Confederates struck
McPherson a severe blow at
Dallas: but the assailants were repulsed with heavy loss.
At the same time.
Howard, nearer the centre, was repulsed.
Sherman, by skilful movements, compelled
Johnston to evacuate his strong position at Allatoona Pass (June 1, 1864). The National cavalry, under
Garrard and
Stoneman, were pushed on to occupy it, and there
Sherman, planting a garrison, made a secondary base of supplies for his army.
Johnston made a stand at the
Kenesaw Mountains, near
Marietta; but
Sherman, who had been reinforced by two divisions under
Gen. Frank P. Blair (June 8), very soon caused him to abandon that position, cross the
Chattahoochee River, and finally to rest at
Atlanta.
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After the evacuation of
Atlanta (Sept. 2, 1864),
Sherman and
Hood reorganized their armies in preparation for a vigorous fall campaign.
Satisfied that
Hood intended to assume the offensive and probably attempt the seizure of
Tennessee,
Sherman sent
Thomas, his second in command, to
Nashville, to organize the new troops expected to gather there, and to make arrangements to meet such an emergency.
Thomas arrived there Oct. 3.
Meanwhile the
Confederates had crossed the
Chattahoochee, and by a rapid movement had struck the railway at Big Shanty, north of
Marietta, and destroyed it for several miles.
A division of infantry pushed northward and appeared before
Allatoona, where
Colonel Tourtellotte was guarding 1,000,000 National rations with only three thin regiments.
Sherman made efforts at once for the defence of these and his communications.
Leaving
Slocum to hold
Atlanta and the railway bridge across the
Chattahoochee, he started on a swift pursuit of
Hood with five army corps and two divisions of cavalry.
He established a signal station on the summit of Great Kenesaw Mountain, and telegraphed to
General Corse, at
Rome, to hasten to the assistance of
Tourtellotte.
Corse instantly obeyed; and when the
Confederates appeared before
Allatoona, at dawn (Oct. 5), he was there with reinforcements, and in command.
The Confederates were vastly superior in numbers, and invested the place.
After cannonading the fort two hours, their leader (
General French) demanded its surrender.
Then he assailed it furiously, but his columns were continually driven back.
The conflict raged with great fierceness; and
Sherman, from the top of
Kenesaw, heard the roar of cannon and saw the smoke of battle, though 18 miles distant. He had pushed forward a corps (23d) to menace the
Confederate rear, and by signal-flags on
Kenesaw he said to
General Corse at
Allatoona.
“Hold the fort, for I am coming.”
And when
Sherman was assured that
Corse was there, he said, “He will hold out; I know the man.”
And so he did. He repulsed the
Confederates several times; and when they heard of the approach of the 23d Corps, they hastily withdrew, leaving behind them 230 dead and 400 prisoners, with about 800 small-arms.
The
Nationals lost 707 men. The famous signal of Generall
Sherman was subsequently made the title of one of
Ira D. Sankey's most thrilling hymns, which has been sung the world over.
