Headed to Atlanta this weekend

[KLSDAD]

Leaving cold West Michigan ..... will probably spend Thursday night in Oak Ridge, TN.....then toward Atlanta. I've seen most of Chattanooga/Chickamauga and the areas south of there related to that campaign before.

This time I'm going to focus on the Atlanta Campaign but don't expect to get too far south of there. I may get over to Rome and West Point is on my radar but probably too far out of the way.

At this point I'm looking at a return trip from Knoxville to Saltville to Princeton WV to Middle Creek/Ivy Mountan and then home depending on the weather.

All thoughts welcome......companions or couches too for that matter .......

 

[Chattahooch33]

When you get to Chickamauga go to Ringgold. From there follow Hwy 41 south. Hwy 41 is an original road that roughly follows the wartime path. It will go through all the sites until you get to Paulding County where you would have to go west to see Pickett's Mill, New Hope, etc. Then when you get to town go to the Atlanta History Center.

 

[Chattahooch33]

Do you have any particular interests? Ancestors in certain regiments, etc?

 

[DR_Hanna]

Allatoona, if you haven't been that far south - right off 75 and a short walk from the parking lot gets you to some of the best preserved remnants of two forts and numerous trenches - split by a railroad cut through a ridge - and it is an interesting battle as such things go.
Agree with Pickett's mill which can also be taken in in a short walk , tho a little more off the beaten path, and the Atlanta History Center is excellent and always worth a visit. If you have never seen the Cyclorama it is also worth a view (if it is open - they are moving it from Grant Park to Atlanta History Center, but I don't know the schedule.)

 

[KLSDAD]

Do you have any particular interests? Ancestors in certain regiments, etc?

Nope....just touring battlefields (no action too small or obscure) and routes.

My buddy and I were in the area 3-4 years ago. We spent all of 45 minutes in Resaca, spent a night in Cartersville, spent half an hour in Allatoona because it was raining, did see Kennasaw Mt and Picketts Mill thorougly although I do intend to go back this time.

After that we zoomed straight thru Atlanta to Jonesboro and then on to Savannah so there is much that I didn't see at all.

 

[donna]

Sounds like a great trip. Are you going thru Kentucky on way down or back? There are some great sites in Kentucky if you haven't seen them.

 

[Chattahooch33]

As I have time today I will post some locations\addresses off the beaten path that you would probably miss unless you really knew what you were looking for.

First, the River Line was occupied for a few days and was the last obstacle for the Feds before they crossed the river. The line was 8 miles long and consisted of infantry forts on prominent spots. These fort were called Shoupades after their designer Francis A. Shoup. Some are preserved and here is a small roadside park with some excellent preserved works:

This is about 4769 Oakdale Rd. Smyrna, Ga.

 

[Chattahooch33]

How long will you be around ATL?

 

[KLSDAD]

How long will you be around ATL?

Just need to be back in Ann Arbor on 1/14...... apart from that I'm flexible.

 

[KLSDAD]

Sounds like a great trip. Are you going thru Kentucky on way down or back? There are some great sites in Kentucky if you haven't seen them.

Yep... not much time on the way down. May stop at the Richmond VC but can't stray too far from I75.

I've been all over KY west of I75. On my way home/north I plan to wander east of there as noted above.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Enjoy and be safe, Chuck!

Sorry about my busy schedule.....

Next time!

Hopefully you can stop by the Camp Creek Valley battlefield in Resaca, Georgia.

My son and I stopped by this venue in April but it wasn't completed.

If you stop by this battlefield, can you please snap some photos and upload them to this board?

Thanks,
Bill

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Yep... not much time on the way down. May stop at the Richmond VC but can't stray too far from I75.

I've been all over KY west of I75. On my way home/north I plan to wander east of there as noted above.

Make sure you visit Phillip Seyfrit at the Rogers House (Richmond VC).

 

[Chattahooch33]

If you are up for a tough hike then going to the top of Rocky Face Ridge is a enjoyable stop also. It is a tough hike though. If you are interested I'll post how to get to the trail.

 

[donna]

When you mention Ivy Mountain and Middle Creek, I presume you mean the battles in Ky. My great great grandfather participated in both of these. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Middle Creek on Jan. 10. 1862. He died at a nearby farm and was buried in the family cemetery of the farm's owner. There is memorial to him there. I have posted on him in this forum. His name was Nathaniel Cook, Company A, 1st Battalion Ky. Cavalry, C.S.A. It is through him I was able to join the Daughters of the Confederacy.

I have never been to these sites but do hope to go soon. I really want to visit them before I can't.

 

[KLSDAD]

If you are up for a tough hike then going to the top of Rocky Face Ridge is a enjoyable stop also. It is a tough hike though. If you are interested I'll post how to get to the trail.

Please do !

 

[KLSDAD]

Make sure you visit Phillip Seyfrit at the Rogers House (Richmond VC).

I assume he is afilliated with the VC. They don't seem to have hours from Nov-Feb so I'm going to call and see if they are open on Thursday....can I drop your name?

 

[Chattahooch33]

The name of the Trail is the Disney Trail names after a soldier in the 4th Ky Infantry of Bate's brigade. They were positioned on this spot of the ridge. According to a memoir I read it was seen that he was on picket duty. He was apparently lying down, he then sat up and yawned, and appeared to have laid back down. When he never came back it was discovered that a ball had passed through his mouth and out the back of his head. He was buried where he died.

To get to the trail you pull off of 41 into a Church and go up a long drive. Drive around the church to a gym-type building and in the left front corner of the parking lot you will see two small signs indicating the trail head. Park here and begin the hike. As I said it is a very difficult climb but the views from the top are top notch.

The approximate address for the entrance is 2379 Ga-41.

Of interesting note is where you pull off of 41 was flooded during the battle by damming mill creek.

Here I am from the top of the trail.

 

[Buckeye Bill]

I assume he is afilliated with the VC. They don't seem to have hours from Nov-Feb so I'm going to call and see if they are open on Thursday....can I drop your name?

Yes....

Just remind Phil I am the Civil War buff from Cincinnati that constructs YouTube videos.

If you arrive there early, Phil will meet you and escort you around the visitor center.

Try to call him today and make arrangements.

Bill

 

[KLSDAD]

Make sure you visit Phillip Seyfrit at the Rogers House (Richmond VC).

Phil says "Hello" !

 

[Buckeye Bill]

Phil says "Hello" !

Great!

He really is a wonderful human being.

He has worked his fanny off developing that battlefield.

What was your impression of the VC?