The
Battle of Inman ParkThe
Battle of Inman ParkNear the intersection of Waverly Way and Edgewood Avenue is a densely wooded ravine referred to by Inman Park residents as Springvale Park - South. While the northern sector of the park has been renovated a number of times over the years, the southern parcel seems to have been left more or less to grow on its own.
At the southwest corner of the park are ten cement steps leading into the ravine, at the base of the steps are two historic markers. The older marker resembles a tombstone in size and shape and even sits in an enclosed area as if it were a cemetery plot. This marker was placed here in 1934 by the Old Guard of Atlanta and dedicated by the Camp Gordon SCV. The taller marker, a large bronze plaque mounted on a pole was presented by the Georgia Historical Commission in 1956. Both markers commemorate a single date in history, July 22, 1864. On that date, some of the bloodiest fighting in the Atlanta Campaign would be in this neighborhood; the events of that day would come to be known as the Battle of Atlanta.
In 1864 the boundaries of the city of Atlanta were much closer to the city center than they are today. Fortifications bounded the city on the north by present day Ponce de Leon Avenue, on the east by Boulevard, on the south by Atlanta Avenue and on the west by Ashby Street. Because these fortifications were so well designed and executed, the Battles for Atlanta took place outside the city limits. For July 22 General Sherman would choose Augustus Hurt's home on Copenhill (now the Carter Center) as the site of his headquarters, while General Hood would work from a tent located two miles east of present day Oakland Cemetery.
On July 20th Capt. Francis DeGress, Battery H, 1st Illinois Artillery, had reached a point two and a half miles east of Atlanta present day DeGress Avenue). From this location shots fired from his 20 pounder Parrott rifles would reach the city.
On July 22, Confederate Troops marched east out of Atlanta along the Georgia Railroad to meet the Federal troops already in position. Brig. General Arthur H. Manigault’s Brigade, formed by regiments from Alabama and South Carolina halted in the Springvale Park South ravine to reform their lines after an encounter with Battery A, 1st Illinois Artillery.
Late in the afternoon of July 22, 1864, Manigault’s men would ascend the slopes of the ravine and charge against the Federal line. They would capture the two story brick Troup Hurt House and the four 20 pounder Parrott rifles of the DeGress Battery posted to the north of the house.
In response to Manigault’s success, Federal brigades in the area were marched forward to restore the line. But the restoration proved to be easy in light of the fact that the Confederates had already been ordered to resume their original position. From Manigault’s memoirs we learn that he never saw men obey an order so unwillingly. They were fully conscious of having distinguished themselves and wanted to bring off the artillery they had so gallantly captured.
The losses that day were staggering, seven thousand for Hood and two thousand for Sherman. It's unknown how many men Manigault and DeGress lost; however, both men survived the day and went on to fight other battles in the Atlanta campaign.
Today we live on what was once a Civil War battlefield, only occasionally thinking to remember the men who fought and died here.
Battle of Atlanta Map, Courtesy William R. Scaife