Bald Hill in the Atlanta Campaign

[Alabaman]

Bald Hill...the scene of vicious action on 22 July, 1864 during the Battle of Atlanta.

Has anyone personally visited this site in Georgia? I haven't but was considering the possibility. I have read that part of Bald Hill (Legget's Hill) was disturbed due to a road developement. Anybody have knowledge of how to obtain permission, etc.. to walk over his site and if it has markers? I would greatly appreciate the help.

As you can tell from my "signature", my GGGrandfather was a Pvt. in the 45th Ala. Inf., Lowrey's Brigade of PR. Cleburne's Division on July 22, 1864. The 45th Ala. lost approximately 51% casualties assaulting the Federal breast works at Bald Hill, lost Col. H.D. Lampley, Lt. Col. & their battleflag while inflicting big losses to the 15th Iowa Inf. Both commanders report this as "hand to hand" fighting with great gallantry on both sides. Gen. Cox in his book, Atlanta, dosen't give the men of either side much consideration. Lowrey's battle report is more detailed but basic. Cleburne didn't write a report. Of all the action on 22 July, '64 Bald Hill seems to be the "vortex of hell." Its akin to Gettysburg in that it was the AOT's "high water mark." A breakthrough would have been disatrous for Sherman & did kill Gen. McPherson, highest ranking US Gen. in the war KIA. My direct ancestor was wounded (gun shot wound) on the 22nd July, admitted to Gilmer Hospital on the 25th July and died 2nd August, '64 at Gilmer Hospital in Forsyth, Ga. I assume he underwent surgical treatment in an AtlantaI Field Hospital first and was then sent to Gilmer Hospital (Forsyth, Ga.) via RR car. I'm trying to plan a trip to Atlanta to visit Bald Hill & on to Forsyth.I visited Pvt. Adams burial in Forsyth as well as the original RR Depot (Conley Building on Adams Street) where all wounded were "processed" & admitted to 1 of 7 Hospitals.
I would appreciate any info/help on Bald Hill site or soldiers letters, accounts etc.. that you might know of. I have only read Gen. Cox's (US) & Gen. Lowrey's (CS) reports on the action that day. Info seems scarce about Bald Hill. Than You, Alabaman.

[larry_cockerham]

Rob, I'm not familiar with Bald Hill, but I'm about to start studying this period during July and August because of my interest in the 63rd Virginia. My ancestor was wounded by shrapnel on August 9, 1864 in defense of Atlanta. I would love to know where the 63rd Virginia was located at that time. From my scant reading, seems that Sherman during the time from 9 August (the first day) was essentially bombarding the 'downtown' area. Can you tell me more or less where Bald Hill was located?

[30th_il]

Ahhh, Bald Hill. One of my favorite civil war encounters. The 30th IL Regt was in the thick of it there and I have many accounts of the battle from many sources. The 45th AL was to south and facing north and the left flank of the brigade/division the 30th IL was in.Ahem...Larry, the 30th IL and 63rd VA were pretty much face to face duking it out.
Bald Hill was east of Atlanta and I can get you pretty much the exact location by todays streets if you'd like. I have never been there but I hear that it is not in a very good neighborhood and that there is very little to see because of I-20 that pretty much goes over it.

[30th_il]

By the way. I am really happy somebody has shown an interest in this battle...a very overlooked battle and I will think you will find that this is much like the high water mark at Gettysburg (though personally I think for the Western Theater, Champion Hill is more of a/the high water mark). As far as books are concerned there are quite a few and I need to know what sort on info you are specifically looking for, i.e. campaign books, driving tours, photo books, newspaper/personal (post-war vet accounts) and the such. Anyways, the 63rd at the battle (I will try to see where you ancestor was Aug 9 also) was pretty much at the intersection of Memorial and Moreland. The 45th AL was south of McPherson Ave between Moreland and Monument Ave.
Larry, interesting..just quickly reading some sources it says that a little girl recorded in her diary that Aug 9 was the worst shelling the city had during the seige and that some 3000+ shells were thrown into Atlanta that day....looks like one caught your ancestor....

[scone]

Originally Posted by larry_cockerham

Can you tell me more or less where Bald Hill was located?

Larry Bald hill would be located east - southeast of Atlanta.

Who was the 63rd with at that time? Clayton & Brown (hindman) old Division attacked near the Troup hurt house on the Georgia rail road . Stevenson Division was just south of the rail road on bald hill along with Cleburne's men

regards,
Steven

[30th_il]

63rd VA, 54th VA, 58th and 60th NC in Reynold's brigade, Stevenson's Division.

[larry_cockerham]

You gentlemen continue to amaze me. Yes, I'm most interested in the movements of the 63rd Virginia. I simply haven't studied this particular location (Atlanta) but am about to start. Yep, great great Grandpa Parker caught it in the butt from an exploding shell on the 9th of August. General Sherman talked about the two new 9-pound Parrot guns that had arrived on the 7th in a letter to his wife at that time. Grandpa served to 'end of war' as per his pension application. He was immediately taken to the hospital at Macon for repairs before going back to the Army of Tennessee. Thanks to Hood's order for Forrest to tear up the railroad at Murfreesboro after the battle at Franklin, and to the skills of Nathan Bedford Forrest who had the foresight to take the 63rd Virginia along on the outing, I'm writing this today. Many of the men of the 63rd were disabled to some extent, thanks to their visit to Atlanta. I doubt any of them were in love with the opposition at that point and they expressed their sentiments on the rear guard action into Alabama.

[Alabaman]

Larry: thanks. The Atlanta Campaign Order of Battle (July 10) shows the 63rd Va. under: Carter L. Stevenson's Div., A.W. Reynold's Brigade consisting of the 58th N.C., 60th N.C., 54th Va., 63rd VIRGINIA Infantry Regiments. On the 22nd July (Bald Hill) Stevenson's Div. were to the left of G.W.Smith's Georgia Militia Troops. The attack of the 63rd Va. & your ancestor, appears to have ocurred between the Federal 15th & 17th Corps; the Fed 16th Corps having been moved to its left (Fed Left) & is the Corps that Cleburne's Div. attacked by hitting the Fed left flank. I realize this has been stated & credit is given to those who did.
On 9 July, '64 the 63rd Va. would have been in the outer 'ditches' defenses of Atlanta. The intense shelling, for the most part was cross-haired on the city of Atlanta. But...the shelling was toward the AOT defensive line also. This probably was when your ancestor was wounded by the shell fragment. Take pride that your ancestor was from a Fine & Brave Army, for they were!

30th_IL.: Hello & Thanks for the reply. You are right, this was a very interesting battle! Greatly underlooked as "one of Hood's sorties that failed" by most WBTS writers I've read. Had this battle not been fought successfully by Lowrey's Brigade, Cleburne's Div., the "hole" which opened between Cleburne & Walker, Ezra Church or Jonesboro wouldn't have been fought. Reason: elements of the 16th Fed Corps would have forced their way through this gap & into Atlanta that day. After receiving orders to attack & on their way to do so, orders were changed by one of Cleburne's staff. The officer saw the gap & through Cleburne's relationship with his subordinates, this order could be followed with full knowledge of Cleburnes "approval" although absent to order it himself. Lowrey changed plans through these pre-emptive orders & attacked the Feds who were about to exploit this gap. The courage of Lowrey's Brigade at Bald Hill is written in blood. Over 50% casalties & a very cosiderable death/wound toll on the Iowa Brigades who were behind breastworks! This battle has ambushes, hand-to-hand combat, officers with swords fighting officers with swords & a high courage rate amoung both sides. Smehow I don't see McPherson being killed by Lowrey's van (33rd Ala.) as just pure luck. This was a determined, vicious fight.
Interesting you say that Champion Hill, Mississippi was the "Gettysburg" (high tide) of the West. My maternal GGGrandfather Pvt. W.J. Robinson was in the 37th Ala. Infantry that fought here. I've talked to my grandmother who talked directly to Pvt. Robinson about his CS service & have a few "war stories" he told her. Pvt. Robinson (mis-spelled as "Robison" on the role of the 37th Ala.) was her grandfather (her mothers father.) I've visited his grave in Tallassee, Ala.

30__ILL.: I am very interested in ANY personal accounts that you might have & would kindly share about Bald Hill. My ancestor Pvt. Morgan Adams officially Co. D, but died serving in Co. F, shows on the rolls as being admitted to Gilmer Hospital, Forsyth, Geo. on 25th July, 64 with a gunshot wound. I am trying to find if he was actualy wounded on 22 July at Bald Hill, picked up as wounded during the truce at 12 noon on the 23rd, taken to Atlanta & underwent surgery & THEN arrived at Gilmer H. in Forsyth OR...was there a big skirmish on the 25th July where he was wounded/transported via RR to the Hospital that day. This is my big "IF" in my family history that I'm researching for my writings. Lots of Cleburne's Line Officers were wounded or killed & the battle reports by Regimental Colonels, Brigadiers, etc..were not written. I can't find anything except Lowrey's report & Cox (US) book. ANY Federal or Confederate info you might have would be greatly appreciated.

I would like to visit Bald Hill just for the "experience" if you know what I mean. May look into Georgia's "carry law" & if they recognize Alabama's licensed toters. Meaning if Bald Hill is in a "bad" neighborhood...;-)
So...anybody have ideas that could help me here? websites, memoirs etc.?? Thanks Much!
Yours, Rob Adams (Alabaman)
OH..almost forgot. What do ya'll as Northerners/Southerners think about the State of Iowa holding the 45th Ala. battleflag captured at Bald Hill by the 15th Iowa...to this day? Think its been "long enough" yet or should they give it back to my State in "good faith" or "trade."?? Just wonderin...Rob

[scone]

Alabaman I understand completely .. nothing like been on the very ground ypur relatives fought.. on

Larry I had reltives in Brown Division in Deas and manigaults Brigade at the Troup Hurt house and relatives in Stevenson Division in the 30th Alabama and 40 Georgia. Stoval's Brigade Dont know the brigade of the 30th alabama off the top of my head. but 3rd great grandfather lost the use of a arm in the fight around altanta. As did 3rd great grand uncle Moses Ball in the 22nd Alabama

I never been there my self perhaps this calls for a road trip..

steven

[30th_il]

Heck, I would like to someday go to Atlanta and surronding civil war site. If we all want to go....I'll bring the beer, somebody bring the snacks...etc, ha!
Rob, I will look in my files for any info you may be interested in. I have been most recently studying the Vicksburg campaign lately so I will need a little time to get things in order for the Atlanta campaign. Champion Hill is realyy wonderful however! You will need somebody that knows the area and battle. There is virtually nothing marked and most of the battlefield is on pvt property but with a "local" it is one of the most interesting civil war sites you can imagine...it seems nothing has changed since the battle (except the top 30' of CH has been removed for the local mineral/gravel...argh!) and you feel that it is the way the soldiers saw it 140 yrs ago.
Anyways, back to Atlanta. I think the flag should've returned years ago. In fact, this is my webpage and read about the 30th IL's flag:

http://home.comcast.net/~30il/

I my site I have a pic of the man that died trying to save the flag.

Books. For extremely good maps get Scaife's Campaign for Atlanta. Blue and Gray Magazine has a good History and Tour Guide of the Atlanta Cam. One of my favorite books is Echoes of Battle by Strayer and Baumgartner (Blue Acorn Press) which has incredible first person accounts and pics of the soldiers...a must get! The "bible" of Atlanta Cam. is Decision in the West by Albert Castel....very good read at the regimental level. I have at least another six or seven books I could mention but these are the main ones to get started and with fall/winter not far around the corner...a perfect time to buy these writings.
Rob, FYI I had an ancestor in the 28th AL; captured at Stone's River and spent some time in Camp Douglas (Chicago), paroled and returned to a Mobile water battery brigade the name of which escapes me. He was from Greene/Hale Co AL I believe...town of Eutaw.
Off to start "researchin'
Matt