Union Defense Line

In August 1864, after four weeks of siege operations, Major General W. T. Sherman withdrew his forces to move them secretly around Atlanta on a wide circuit beyond East Point and destroy the railroad at Jonesboro, having found Atlanta's fortifications too strong to assault and knowing that as long as that railroad supplied the Confederate Army of Tennessee they could hold the city. Late on the 25th, before moving the rest of his army, Sherman withdrew the 20th Corps from his siege line to positions near the river to protect his supplies and communication. Williams's division in the center covered the railroad bridge at Bolton, Ward's division covered Turner's Ferry at Bankhead Highway Bridge, and Geary's division covered Pace's Ferry, with his three brigades abreast and his right joined with Williams's left north of Peachtree Creek. Ireland's brigade of New York and Pennsylvania troops and Bundy's 13th New York Battery occupied this line. Believing that Sherman had given up hope of Atlanta and that Ireland was posted here to cover a retreat across the river at Pace's Ferry, Confederate cavalry began attacking here at noon on the 26th. When repeated assaults failed, they withdrew because their force was too small to carry these strong, manned earthworks.

Atlanta, Georgia · United States