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Altoona Pass
Allatoona Georgia
American Civil War
October 5, 1864
After the fall of Atlanta, Hood moved northward to threaten the Western & Atlantic Railroad, Sherman's supply line. He attacked a number of minor garrisons and damaged track during October 2-4. Sherman sent reinforcementsJohn M. Corse's brigadeto Allatoona just before the Rebels attacked there. Maj. Gen. Samuel G. French's Confederate division arrived near Allatoona at sunrise on the 5th. After demanding a surrender and receiving a negative reply, French attacked. The Union outer line survived a sustained two and a half hour attack, but then fell back and regrouped in an earthen "Star" fort of Allatoona Pass. French repeatedly attacked, but the fort held. The Rebels began to run out of ammunition, and reports of arriving Union reinforcements influenced them to move off and rejoin Hood's force.
Result(s): Union victory
Location: Bartow County
Campaign: Franklin-Nashville Campaign (1864)
Date(s): October 5, 1864
Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. John M. Corse [US]; Maj. Gen. Samuel G. French [CS]
Forces Engaged: One brigade (1,944 men) [US]; one division (approve. 2,000 men) [CS]
Estimated Casualties: 1,505 total (US 706; CS 799)
BRILLIANT DEFENSE OF ALLATOONA General Hood in command of the Confederate army was now moving northward and sent a force of cavalry to cut Sherman's communication near Marietta, while with the main army he crossed the Chattahoochee and marched on Dallas. A large force of the enemy, after destroying the railroad at Big Shanty, moved against Allatoona Pass, where there were immense stores of rations for Sherman's army guarded by the Ninety-third Illinois under Lieutenant-Colonel Tourtelotte. general John M. Corse was at Rome with his division. General Sherman signaled him to reinforce Allatoona Pass and hold it at all hazards.
picture of Allatoona pass ...circa..1865
Early on the morning of October 5th Corse was there with 2,000 men, including the Thirty-ninth Iowa under Lieutenant-Colonel
Redfield. Soon after daylight General French had the works completely invested and sent Corse a summons to surrender, which was promptly declined. An assault was then ordered and the Confederate army rushed upon the outer works with the utmost fury. A deadly fire was opened upon them by the garrison making great gaps in their lines which were promptly filled, and one of the most deadly combats of the war ensued. The enemy charged by regiments and brigades and the struggle over the rifle pits and outer works was of the most desperate character.
After three hours of hard fighting Sherman became anxious as to the result and signaled from mountain top to mountain top "Hold the fort, I will help you."
General William T. Sherman
Corse signaled back his grim reply and the battle increased in fury. Having failed to break our lines by repeated charges of brigades the Confederates now came on in mass. Wrought up to the highest pitch of desperation on both sides the combat became of the most deadly nature. Men bayoneted each other over the rifle pits and officers thrust their swords into the bodies of their foes. Corse received a severe wound in his face and became insensible, when Colonel Rowell of the Seventh Illinois assumed command and directed the battle with skill and courage until he, too, fell severely wounded.
Corse having revived, now resumed command and the garrison was driven into two forts. At two o'clock the crisis of the hard-fought battle came. The garrison was weakened by long hours of the most desperate fighting and the loss of many brave men, but there was no thought of surrender. The Confederates now formed in compact masses for another assault. Our gunners double-shotted their field pieces and waited until the enemy was within a few paces, then opened upon the crowded ranks with grape and canister. Nothing could stand against the deadly missiles; staggered and confused they halted, then broke and finally turned and fled. The great victory was won but at a fearful cost. More than seven hundred of the brave defenders fell in the heroic struggle.
South View
No regiment at Allatoona Pass fought with greater gallantry than the Thirty-ninth Iowa. In the early part of the battle it was posted some
three hundred yards from the principal forts which had been constructed for the defense of the place. Here the enemy made the most determined attacks which were several times repulsed. At length the regiment fell slowly back to cover of the forts, where it fought with courage and obstinacy never surpassed. The losses in killed, wounded and captured were one hundred and sixty-five and among the slain was the heroic commander, Lieutenant-Colonel James Redfield. He was first wounded in the foot but retained his command; a second shot shattered his leg but he still refused to leave his post, and directed the fight encouraging his men by example and words to hold their ground.
A third ball pierced his heart and Iowa lost one of its noblest and bravest officers. Lieutenants O. a. Ayers, A. T. Blodgett, N. P. Wright and J. P. Jones were also killed and O. D. Russell was severely wounded. The Thirty-ninth was in the division with Corse in Sherman's march to Savannah and participated in that wonderful campaign to the end. It was in the grand review at Washington at the close of the war and was mustered out of the service in that city on the 5th of June, 1865.
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