Community Corner
Should the Battle of Atlanta Actually Be Called, the Battle of Decatur?
Patch launches its own Civil War page on Facebook
This past April 12, the nation marked the 150th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War.
Patch has launched a Civil War Page to highlight all the events in the different Patch communities where the war played a role — from battle commemorations and reenactments, to book readings, memorials and other events.
Decatur played a critical and strategic role in the Battle of Atlanta. Confederate generals retreated into Decatur as Union General William T. Sherman and his army advanced into the area. Then, unable to hold the DeKalb County seat, Confederate armies retreated into Atlanta.
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From Decatur Metro, here’s a summary of the fighting during the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864 from Franklin Garrett’s “Atlanta and Environs”…
"Upon arrival in Decatur [Confederate General Joseph] Wheeler found Federal troops of Schofield’s 23rd corps in the entrenchments along the south and east of the town, in greater than expected strength. Wheeler immediately ordered his men to dismount, and attacking all along the line, his soldiers drove the Federals from the entrenchments in hand to hand fighting.
Find out what's happening in Decatur-Avondale Estateswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
"Checked momentarily in and around the Court House Square by troops of Colonel John W. Sprague of Fuller’s division of the 16th corps, guarding the wagon trains, they finally swept the enemy before them through the town and beyond the then city limits to the north.
"The Confederates took 225 prisoners, 1 12-pound gun and a number of loaded supply wagons parked in the cemetery.
"As on so many previous occasions, however, the relative size of the opposing side came into play. Late in the afternoon, Hardee found himself in need of help. Calling upon Wheeler for aid, the latter was unable to retain the advantage gained in Decatur and retired from the town. The normally quiet old DeKalb county seat had played its brief part in the drama of war."
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