The Battle of Peachtree Creek July 20, 1864 - The Federal Advance - The Change of Command– Fulton Co., GA
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Lat34North
N 33° 48.630 W 084° 24.194
16S E 740368 N 3744177
Quick Description: The Battle of Peachtree Creek plaques are located t the entrance to Tanyard Creek Park on Collier Rd., Atlanta, GA. There are a total of 6 plaques.
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 11/10/2009 11:34:45 AM
Waymark Code: WM7MRT
Views: 0
Long Description:
"http://lat34north.com/HistoricMarkers/MarkerDetail.cfm?KeyID=060-P3"
target="_blank">The Battle of Peachtree Creek July 20, 1864 -
The Federal Advance
After noon on July 9th, Schofield´s Army of the Ohio (23rd Corps)
had forced Johnston to cross the Chattahoochee River that night by
a surprise crossing up river at Soap Creek. On the 12th, Howard´s
4th Corps of Thomas´ Army of the Cumberland (4th, 14th and 20th
Corps) crossed Power´s Ferry on Schofield´s right. As Johnston had
foreseen, McPherson´s Army of the Tennessee (15th, 16th and 17th
Corps) moved upriver to Roswell and began crossing while Palmer´s
14th Corps and Hooker´s 20th Corps prepared to cross at Pace´s
Ferry. On the 17th, Palmer crossed and moved toward Peachtree Creek
and McPherson moved toward Decatur. On the 18th, Schofield,
accompanied by Sherman, moved toward Decatur to connect with
McPherson; Howard moved to Buckhead; Palmer reached Peachtree
Creek; and Hooker crossed the river and camped along West Pace´s
Ferry Road. By nightfall, Sherman´s unsupported right wing occupied
a line facing Peachtree Creek extending from Buckhead to the river.
So far, the advance had been harassed by Wheeler´s cavalry alone.
It had met no enemy infantry. On the 18th, Wood´s division of
Howard´s corps moved down Peachtree Road to the creek and captured
the bridge. Hooker advanced to the creek, placed his artillery on
the hills, and crossed the infantry of Geary´s division on an
improvised footbridge at Northside Drive. Geary drove back the
enemy´s skirmishers, occupied the hills by the creek and built two
wagon bridges for the artillery and trains. Ward´s division was
sent to Peachtree Road to cross next day and move up on Geary´s
left. On the 20th, Geary moved to Collier Road and took position
with Candy´s brigade on the left, near Tanyard Branch, Jones´ on
his right extending to Northside Drive, and Ireland´s massed behind
Jones´. Candy´s left overlooked this site. Bundy´s and Sloan´s
batteries were placed on Candy´s line to sweep the open ground to
the left front. The 33rd N.J. Infantry was advanced to picket the
ridge between Greystone and Colland Drives. William´s division
crossed the creek and formed on the ridge along Northfleet Road
with a deep ravine covering his front, Knip´s brigade, on the roght
extended to Howell Mill Road, with Ruger´s behind it in reserve and
Roberson´s extending east across Northside Drive, behind Geary´s
right. On Howell Mill Road, Anson G. McCook´s brigade, the left of
Palmer´s corps, entrenched near Ruger. Ward´s division crossed at
Peachtree Road and moved southeast over broken ground, leaving two
batteries at the bridge.
"http://lat34north.com/HistoricMarkers/MarkerDetail.cfm?KeyID=060-P4"
target="_blank">The Federal Advance (Cont.)
It finally reached the golf course area and deployed with Wood´s
brigade on the left, Coburn´s in the center and Harrison´s on the
right. Earlier, Newton´s division of Howard´s corps had crossed the
creek and advanced on Peachtree Road to the high ground north of
Collier Road. Newton deployed Kimball´s brigade west of the road,
extending through the hospital site, and Blake´s extending east
along Brighton Road. Bradley´s remained in reserve on the road near
the railroad bridge. Four guns of Goodspeen´s battery were emplaced
on the road. Although a gap existed between Newton´s right and
Geary´s left, Ward was moving to fill it. Despite Johnston´s
planning, the Federal right wing had crossed Peachtree Creek
without being attacked; but, unsuspected by Sherman, who was near
the Emory campus, the Battle of Peachtree Creek was about to
begin.
The Change of Command
By the 17th, Johnston´s engineers had staked out a strong outer
line, overlooking the valley of Peachtree Creek, from which he
could launch
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his attack on Thomas´ troops while they crossed the creek, unready
to fight. With Thomas shattered, he could attack McPherson with his
whole army. If not successful, his army "had a near and secure
place of refuge in Atlanta, which he could hold forever and so win
the campaign." He announced his intention to the troops and began
moving them into positions on the outer line, which ran east from
Crestlawn Cemetery through the E. P. Howell School site, over
Loring Heights, across Peachtree Street, uphill past the TV
station, and on beyond Sherwood Forest to Highland Avenue, where it
turned south to the GA RR. Hood´s corps was sent to the latter line
to face McPherson. Hardee´s corps was posted with its right
covering Loring Heights, its left connecting with Stewart´s corps.
at Howell Mill Road. Stewart´s left extended to Marietta Road. But
Johnston was not destined to fight his battle. That night, he was
relieved and Gen. John B. Hood replaced him Since the army loved
"Old Joe" Johnston and knew Hood to be rash and to lack experience
in high command, morale suffered severely. At Hood´s request
Johnston continued to give orders until sunset next day when he
departed.
Georgia Historic Commission - Georgia Civil War Centennial
Commission
Placed 1964