Allatoona Pass Battlefield

[Roy Queen]

I thought that I would inform everybody that the Allatoona Pass Battlefield is now under the direction of Georgia State Parks.
Although most of the battlefield is owned by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the USCOE agreed to lease the battlefield to Georgia State Parks. Prior to the dedication ceromony this past October, staff members from Red Top Mountain SP, and members of the Etowah Valley Historical Society had replaced the older interpretive signs with more sturdy signs.

In the last four or five years, monuments were dedicated to Confederate troops from Missouri, and Texas. The most recent monument erected and dedicated on site was for troops from Mississippi. In addition to participation by EVHS members, USCOE and GA State Parks staff, members of the Georgia Division of Reenactors assisted greatly with the dedication of the battlefield.

Attached below are pictures of some of the markers, and new signs.

Roy Queen
Park Ranger
Red Top Mountain State Park

3rd Confederate Engineer Regiment

[trippcor]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

Roy,
That is great to here. We, the Armory Guards, were just talking about how we would like to hold some event or drill there but did not know who to contact. I guess we know now. Thanks for posting this.

[boozie]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

That is very good to see. Are any federal markers being planned for placement at the site,say the 39th Iowa Regiment?

[Roy Queen]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

There are plans to place Union markers there as well. It is possible that the first two Union markers may be placed there next year, but I cannot remember the states represented.

The longterm goal is to have all states represented with a monument that had troops represented during the battle.

Roy Queen

3rd Confederate Engineer Regiment

[Johan Steele]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

Iowa is raising the money for an Iowa marker.

If anyone has detailed photos of the site or know where I might find them online I would be greatly appreciative. It is a battle I have read much about and the 4th MN VI is a unit I am studying that spent a considerable amount of time there.

The MN state historical society has the original paperwork filled out by the Col of the 4th while stationed there.

THank You

[Gary of CA]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

Just another reason to go back to Jawja. :)

[Johan Steele]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

IOwa and Illinois Monumnets are expected to be placed this October. I am beginning the movement to have a Minnesota monument placed and would like to see if anyone is interested in taking up the torch for Wisconsin.

On October 5th 1864 more than five thousand American soldiers fought a brutal three and a half hour battle that would claim a third of them as casualties. Men from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa fought men from Texas, Missouri, Mississippi and North Carolina over an obscure mountain pass in North Georgia called Allatoona.

Minnesota, in the form of the 4th Minnesota Infantry Regiment, gave stellar service in the defense of the post losing 19 men killed and mortally wounded and considerably more wounded.

The battle of Allatoona is a testament to the tenacity, courage and perseverance of the American fighting man. The men who fought and died there deserve a monument.

Today the Etowah Valley Historical Society is instrumental in the preservation of this hallowed ground. The organization is making efforts to place a monument to the men of each state engaged in battle there. They have already placed monuments from Texas, Missouri and Mississippi and monuments for Iowa and Illinois are in the process of being procured. Conspicuously absent are monuments from Minnesota and Wisconsin.
The Etowah Valley Historical Society expects the cost per monument to be approximately $10,000 with any excess to be applied to the upkeep of the “Monument Park.” Each monument is a large stone slab cut into the shape of the state with a simple inscription memorializing the men who fought and died there.

Any donations are tax deductible as the Etowah Valley Historical Society is a not for profit organization.

It is hoped to raise these monies so that those Minnesota men will never be forgotten.

Any donations will be forwarded to the Etowah Valley Historical Society.

Etowah Valley Historical Society
c/o Ed Hill, President
36 Ben Ham Circle
Cartersville, GA 30120

POC: Shane Christen
SUVCW Camp 48
3rd MN VI

651-388-5256
Chain86@hotmail.com

[Roy Queen]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to Mr. Christen for leading the charge to honor the men of Minnesota who served their country at Allatoona Pass.

I'm pleased to report that there has been an increase of visitation to the battlefield, and more visitors have been visiting the battlefield with a view of learning about the battle rather than to fish Lake Allatoona. Just a few weeks ago, while making my rounds picking up ground litter on site, I was surprised to see where someone had left small Iowa and Louisiana state flags next to one of the interpretive markers. I had placed each flag by it's respective state marker in the monument memorial section.

On the downside, one of our markers has been stolen. Hopefully we can replace it in the future.

Roy Queen

[Roy Queen]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

This weekend, members of the Georgia Division of Reenactors held an encampment at the battlefield, and dedicated the Illinois and Iowa monuments. The event was well attended, and site visitors appeared to have had a good time. Attached are photos of the new monuments.

Roy Queen

[Hairy Nation Boys]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

Always good to see the Hawkeye state being remembered.

Wish I could have been there for the dedication...

ON IOWA!

[Johan Steele]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

Roy thank you for the superb pictures, I will be showing them to my SUVCW this coming weekend.

The more I study Allatoona the more impressed I am with the men that fought there. I can only imagine the appreciation of those men gained by walking the terrain. I have hiked the area to the east of the battlefield... they made an attack up the North face of the hill towards Rowetts Redoubt. They did so under enfilade fire from the eastern redoubt and the rifle pits on the east side of the RR cut.

There are few battles that have had such intense fighting and 30% casualties in such a short time. Approx 600,000 rounds of small arms expended in 8 hours by about 8000 men. The Wisconsin battery was reduced to firing brass buttons instead of standard canister. And after the battle the Napolean that had been at Rowetts Redoubt and the Star fort need both wheels, and axle and cheek piece replaced... damage caused by a combination of recoil and small arms fire.

These were men truly on the sharp end; I am proud to a be part of honoring them.

[Roy Queen]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Steele. I did not realize that the Wisconsin Battery fired brass buttons, I'll be sure to mention that on my next tours. I forgot to mention the kindness of the Mooney family. They had their home open for tours during the weekend as well. For those that may not be familiar with the Mooney House, It (aka as the Clayton House) was used as a hospital after the battle. There are 20 Confederate soldiers buried in the back yard. If I am not mistaken, I believe the home was also the headquarters of the 93rd Illinois before and during the battle.

Roy Queen

[DougCooper]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

Roy this is outstanding. As a new devotee of the 93rd Illinois (our company at Bummers 2009) I would appreciate any info on the Mooney House and the Sucker's role in the battle.

My absolute favorite quote from this battle has to be: "Corse, they almost missed you!" Uttered by William T. Sherman after first seeing Col Corse after the battle. Corse had sent the famous wire "I am missing a cheek and an ear but can whip all hell yet." Sherman of course replied "Hold the fort, we are coming (SP?)" which is now part of the American lexicon. Apparently the damage was not as severe as Corse reported ;)

[Johan Steele]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

Roy; that is what stopped the Napolean in the Star Fort firing. At some point the acceidently loaded the bag o buttons in front of the powder fouling the gun. How many shots they got off that way I don't know.

Here is the back of the fund raising flyer:

The Battle of Allatoona Pass on October 5th 1864 is often referred to as the bloodiest battle of the Civil War with 30% casualties in less than four hours... a little less than five casualties per minute.

No less than three women in the uniform of a soldier were found among the Confederate casualties. One was identified as a member of the 29th NC, another of the Missouri Brigade and the third woman was never identified in any way being buried beside her comrades.

Lt Colonel James Redfield was killed while fighting from a chair... he had been wounded twice in the leg before propping himself on a chair so he could continue the battle beside his men. The third wound was fatal.

Ten Confederate 12 Pound Napoleons & two 3" Ordnance Rifles expended their complete ordnance load (minus canister) which was approx one Cannon Ball, Bolt or shell impacting on the US position every minute for eight hours. At a range of approx 1500 yards they managed to do no appreciable damage to the largest US entrenchment, the Star Fort, and had little if any real effect upon the battle.

In contrast the six guns of the 12th Wisconsin Battery expended all of their ammunition and resorted to firing bags of brass buttons packed in sawdust at the enemy infantry. One Napoleon of the battery was double shotted with canister at every discharge, the repeated heavy recoil required the replacement of both wheels, the axle and severely damaged the stock rail. This particular gun was pulled from Rowetts Redoubt, the scene of the heaviest fighting, when it expended its initial ammunition load. It was manhandled a distance of approx 250 yards, uphill, under fire into the Star Fort where it would be resupplied and continue its deadly work in earnest until it fully expended its ammunition.

It has been estimated that roughly 600,000 rounds were fired. A rate of fire that equaled a little more than a thousand rounds per minute for the duration of the battle.

At one point a force of approx one hundred men made a charge, with the intent of setting fire to some warehouses. They suffered a casualty rate of approx 60% from a single volley delivered from a range of greater than three hundred yards. They made no further attempt. Such accurate shooting was not well known in the Civil War and it was delivered by Union troops.

With tidbits like these is it any wonder that the men involved thought it the hardest fight of the war... and men who had been at places like Shiloh, Iuka, Corinth, Vicksburg campaign, Mission Ridge and the Atlanta campaign had something to measure it against.


The information came from a variety of period letters by the men involved, Scaife's excellent work and 4th MN history.

[Johan Steele]

Re: Allatoona Pass Battlefield

The first 4th MN men engaged started skirmishing at about 0400 and were members of E Company who were driven from their rifle pits near the wagon road to the north. From what I can tell they still had ammo in their boxes when they made it into the trenches after 0900 meaning less than 80 rounds fired per man from 0400-0930. K Co came to their rescue about 0900 but was in turn pushed back into the works. The entire Regt was heavily engaged until about 1600. Elements of the 35th & 39th Mississippi got into a gully in front of A Company. As the battle was drawing to a close H & C Co moved out onto the hillside to the west of the gully and took them in the flank forcing them to surrender. Both flags and about 100 men surrendered to the 4th MN.

K Co, 4th MN VI detail of the early part of the battle.

"I posted my men on the east side of the railroad cut; had been there about thirty minutes when I discovered in front, about a thousand yards away, a brigade of rebels coming down the mountain. Between them and myself there was a ridge that ran off to point so far to my right that I could not see any person passing up the track. Shortly after the rebels came down off the mountain into the valley I saw an officer (Major Durr, 39th Mississippi) directly in front of me with a handkerchief tied to his sword and advancing toward me saying, at the same time, "Do you not know that there has been a flag of truce sent to your commanding officer demanding your surrender?" I repplied very emphatically, "No. What do you want? Do you want to surrender?" He replied, "I do not." I then said to him that he had better drop down out of sight, as my bots were not feeling very friendly just then toward them. While engaged with him in this conversation, the rebels were moving around both to right and left of us. In the meantime I had sent out a man in both directions, and they came back quickly, reporting to me that we were being surrounded by the enemy. Losing no time, I rallied my men saying, "Boys, follow me!" My weight being much less at that time than now and not caring for grass to get much of a start under our feet, i think we made the home stretch in pretty fair time. We were pressed by the 35th & 39th Mississippi regiments. I found Major Durr a fine, pleasant,gentlemanly kind of man. He wrote his name in my diary-all the token I have in remembrance of him."

It was this incident which primarily gave fly the rumor that CS forces unfairly made advances under a flag of truce.