Union troops in earthworks

[frontrank2]

Federal troops resting in some earthworks southwest of Atlanta. The photographer was George Banard who was the official photographer for General Sherman. You can see his darkroom in the right foreground.

 

[ArcLight]

How important is facing?

If earthworks are captured, how useful to the captor are they if counter attacked?
No head logs, but are there areas open to the rear that would make them less effective to a captor (facing the wrong way)

 

[steamboater]

George N. BARNARD, A NATIVE OF cONNECTICUT.

 

[jepridgen]

How important is facing?

If earthworks are captured, how useful to the captor are they if counter attacked?
No head logs, but are there areas open to the rear that would make them less effective to a captor (facing the wrong way)

Direction isn't that important for hasty use. The assaulting force can easily use the front of the works by lying or kneeling down for cover. Given a limited amount of time, both US and CS soldiers in 1864 could easily "turn" the defenses the other way and have them facing a new direction. I suspect (don't quote me though) that these are the new fortifications under construction that Sherman ordered after the fall of Atlanta when he was considering keeping a permanent garrison there. He later abandoned that plan and did the March.