The Battle of Ezra Church was one of the deadliest engagements in the Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War and continues to be one of the least understood. Striking on July 22, Hood was defeated at the Battle of Atlanta though McPherson fell in the fighting. Through thick woods Brown's brigades advanced. Confederate forces under John Bell Hood desperately fought to stop William T. Sherman's advancing armies as they tried to cut the last Confederate supply line into the city. Sherman was determined to cut the last railroad supplying Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood's troops located inside Atlanta's fieldworks. By nightfall, Howard had pushed Sherman's right flank almost two miles to the south of Thomas and due west of Atlanta. Rhonda, I can't vouch for this information, but here's an online Order of Battle I found for the Confederates at Ezra Church. Ezra Church lay at a key crossroads Confederate corps commander S.D. Logan's Union infantry already held Ezra Church and the vital Lick Skillet junction. The battle of Ezra Church Earl Hess has written the only detailed history of the Civil War battle of Ezra Church that I know of. Please note that the locations and events listed on our itineraries do not reflect any potential closures due to COVID-19. As orders for Johnston's relief were sent south, Sherman's troops began crossing the Chattahoochee. Ezra Church was part of the battle for Atlanta and is usually overlooked as an individual battle. Fierce musketry dropped Rebels by the hundreds before they fell back, seeking what shelter they could. Moving out on July 27, the Army of the Tennessee began their march west. Walthall ordered no more charges. The solitary grave of Lt. Edward Clingman, killed at Ezra Church, is marked with engravings of a saber, pistol and Confederate flag, and is located along the eastern outer drive. Hickman, Kennedy. Though a tactical defeat for the Confederates, the battle prevented Howard from reaching the railroad. In the fighting, Sherman severed the railroad from Macon and forced Hood to depart Atlanta. By using ThoughtCo, you accept our. The Battle of Adairsville also known as the Battle of Cassville, was a battle of the Atlanta Campaign fought during the American Civil War on May 17, 1864, just northeast of Rome, Georgia.The brief engagement was a Confederate delaying action that allowed General Joseph E. Johnston to bait a trap for the Union army at Cassville Reaching Atlanta on July 13, Bragg commenced sending a number of discouraging reports north to Richmond. Borrowing Major General Edward Walthall's division from Stewart, Lee sent it forward against the angle with similar results. Though Sherman made efforts to conceal Howard's intentions, Hood was able to discern the Union objective. He sent troops under Maj. Gen. O.O. The Battle of Ezra Church, also known as the Battle of Ezra Chapel and the Battle of the Poor House was fought on July 28, 1864, in Fulton County, Georgia, during the American Civil War. Stewart was to lead two divisions via Lick Skillet to the western edge of Atlanta's defenses and wait for Lee to get into position at Ezra Church; then, the next morning, "we were to move out on that road, turn to the right, pass in rear of the enemy, and attack," presumably against the Federals' right rear, after marching beyond Lee's divisions holding the front. Logan's men piled up rails and logs as impromptu breastworks. Hood's Third Attack. Sign up to receive email updates about our Warrior Legacy programming for veterans, active duty military and their families. Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard [US]; Gen. John B. The sketch on page 556 represents a portion of the BATTLE OF EZRA'S CHURCH, fought July 28. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. Help Save 110 Acres at Three Civil War Battlefields, Kentuckians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation, Virginians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation. The men of Woods' right brigade, Col. Hugo Wangelin's, had gone into Ezra Church and pulled out the pews to reinforce their parapets. At the battle of Ezra Church HARRY DAVIS, a soldier belonging to the Forty-sixth Ohio regiment, advanced far to the front under the fire of rebel batteries, and reaching over the breast-works of the enemy, grasped the colors of the Thirtieth Tennessee from the hands of … Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, Preserve 28 Acres at Two Critical Eastern Theater Battlefields. As a result, he directed Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee to take two divisions out the Lick Skillet road to block Howard's advance. Kennedy Hickman is a historian, museum director, and curator who specializes in military and naval history. Skirmishing rattled throughout the rest of the day until the Confederates withdrew under cover of nightfall. To support Lee, Stewart's corps was to swing west to strike Howard from the rear. This threw off Hood's whole plan. There was a hitch, though. ThoughtCo. Harpers Pictorial History of the Civil War, Harpers Pictorial History of the Ciivl War. This would permit Major General James B. McPherson's Army of the Tennessee and Major General John Schofield's Army of the Ohio to shift east to Decatur where they could cut the Georgia Railroad. The Yankees were already there. Howard's Army of the Tennessee, although failing to reach the railroad, closed the battle with fewer than 650 men lost. EXPLORE. A dozen regiments were ordered from the XVI and XVII corps, and some rushed into the fight in time to help beat back Clayton's assault. Clayton had had enough. The Battle of Ezra Church July 28th, 1864: After learning of the flanking movement being conducted by Howard’s Army of the Tennessee, Hood ordered S.D. The Illinoisan also ordered plenty of ammunition brought forward, a hundred rounds per man. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Reviewing the situation, Sherman decided to push Major General George H. Thomas' Army of the Cumberland over the Chattahoochee River with the goal of pinning Johnston in place. Unmolested, Howard’s men filled in on Thomas’ right and extended the Union line toward the railroad during the day. The encounter took place in Fulton County, near Atlanta, Georgia, on July 28, 1864. In the wake of this strategic setback, Sherman commenced a series of raids in an effort cut the Confederate supply lines. The 10th Tennessee Infantry (Irish) fights at the Battle of Utoy Creek on August 6, 1864 during the American Civil War. Having fallen back through much of northern Georgia, Johnston had earned the ire of Confederate President Jefferson Davis. To Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee, his youngest (30 years old) and newest corps commander, he issued these orders: march west out of the city along Lick Skillet Road, and take position near Ezra Church three miles from town. This done, the combined force would advance on Atlanta. (BL) Early on the morning of July 27 Howard and the Army of the Tennessee began the movement that Sherman had planned to make before the July 22 battle—a swing around to the west side of Atlanta for the purpose of cutting … This move infuriated the commander of XX Corps, Major General Joseph Hooker, who blamed Howard for his defeat the previous year at Chancellorsville when the two were with the Army of the Potomac. The Battle of Ezra Church was one of the deadliest engagements in the Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War and continues to be one of the least understood. The Battle of Ezra Church was a military engagement between Union forces commanded by Major General Oliver O. Howard and Confederate forces commanded by General John B. Learning of the command change on the night of July 17, Hood and Johnston telegraphed Davis and asked that it be delayed until after the coming battle. In the fighting, Stewart was wounded. As such, he halted on July 28 and his men quickly erected makeshift breastworks using logs, fence rails, and other available material. [1] Three days later, Davis directed Johnston to send him details regarding his plans for defending the city. General LOGAN , after M'PHERSON'S death, assumed temporary command of the Army of the Tennessee. × Close. (2020, August 26). Skirmishing rattled throughout the rest of the day until the Confederates withdrew under cover of nightfall. After General John Bell Hood took command of the the army defending Atlanta he directed three Confederate failed attacks against Union Major General William T. Sherman's armies. Hood's headquarters was warned by Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler that "indications are that the enemy will attack our left.". Shaped like a reverse "L", the main Union line extended north with a short line running west. Your tax-deductible gift will help us to preserve this irreplaceable twice-hallowed ground at Gaines' Mill and Cold Harbor — forever. Gone was the hope of Lee's corps taking a defensive position at Ezra Church while Stewart set up for a flank attack. After a mile or so, Brown, in the lead, came upon friendly cavalry, who reported the Yankees in their front. Battle of Ezra Church. As a result, Hooker asked to be relieved and returned north. battle scene from ezra church. Hood during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. Taking immense losses, the remnants of Brown's division fell back. T. Sherman, which were closing in on Atlanta. Both official and unofficial reports failed to illuminate the true bloodshed of the conflict: one of every three engaged Confederates was killed or wounded, including four generals. Stay up-to-date on the Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. American Civil War: Battle of Ezra Church. While they would take no other part in the battle, several interesting incidents occurred to them. Moving down the west side of Atlanta, Howard took a cautious approach despite assurances from Sherman that the enemy would not oppose the march (Map). In an effort to compel the Confederates to abandon Atlanta, Sherman devised a plan that called for Howard's Army of the Tennessee to shift west from their position east of the city to cut the railroad from Macon. Worried about his general's willingness to fight, he sent his military advisor, General Braxton Bragg, to Georgia to assess the situation. He posted his reserve brigade against possible Yankee counterattack and awaited orders. He has appeared on The History Channel as a featured expert. This area, along with the angle and part of the line running north, was held by Major General John Logan's veteran XV Corps. Lee, believing the enemy had just barely beaten him to the Ezra Church crossroads and therefore had only slight defensive works, determined to continue the attack when Walthall arrived. Lee was to seize this important crossroads and entrench facing north. Both official and unofficial reports failed to illuminate the true bloodshed of the conflict: one of every three engaged Confederates was killed or wounded, including four generals. As a landmark, its name was given to the battle fought here July 28, 1864. Pushing out from the city, the impulsive Lee decided not to assume a defensive position along the Lick Skillet road and instead elected to assault the new Union position near Ezra Church. Lee distinguished himself early in the war as an artillery commander in the Army of Northern Virginia. A critical supply line for Hood, its loss would force him to abandon the city. A monument for the battle is located within the cemetery. August 6, 2020 by Jim Doyle Leave a comment. The two divisions of Lee's corps were through for the day, but not so for Stewart's corps. Finally, in late August, he began a massive movement around the west side of Atlanta that culminated with a key victory at the Battle of Jonesboro on August 31-September 1. Deploying his men, Lee directed Major General John C. Brown's division to attack north against the east-west portion of the Union line. Undeterred, Lee sent Major General Henry D. Clayton's division forward just north of the angle in the Union line. This request was refused and Hood assumed command. Having marched west on Lick Skillet to the line of the city's defensive fortifications, Stewart learned that Lee had already joined battle, so he hastened forward with Maj. Gen. Edward Walthall's division, then Maj. Gen. William Loring's. The Battle of Ezra Church, also known as the Battle of Ezra Chapel and the Battle of the Poor House was fought on July 28, 1864, in Fulton County, Georgia, during the American Civil War. Spearheading the movement to the southwest toward the Macon & Western would be the Army of the Tennessee, now under Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard. Hood, which was defending the … With a Yankee counterattack, the division commander sadly watched his men "driven with great slaughter.". The Battle of Ezra Church was over. The Battle of Ezra Church, also known as the Battle of Ezra Chapel and the Battle of the Poor House was fought on July 28, 1864, in Fulton County, Georgia, during the American Civil War. Every purchase supports the mission. At 4:15 a.m., with Howard's march just a few hours in progress, Confederate commander Lt. Gen. John B. Hood planned to give it to them. Howard hurried assistance to Logan's threatened line. Ezra Church (July 28, 1864) – Also called the Battle of the Poor House, this large battle took place in Fulton County on July 28, 1864. Lee’s Corps and A. P. Stewart’s Corps to move out the Lickskillet Road in an effort to check the Federal advance and try to roll up their right flank. Oliver O. Howard's (above) promotion to command of Army of the Tennessee upset Gen. Logan who believed himself James McPherson's logical successor. Book Description: Fought on July 28, 1864, the Battle of Ezra Church was a dramatic engagement during the Civil War's Atlanta Campaign. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It is book for those serious students of the war. In the fighting at Ezra Church, Howard lost 562 killed and wounded while Lee suffered around 3,000. Preserve 108 Acres of the Most Important Unprotected Battlefield Land! A series of historical markers describe the action here at Ezra Church on July 28, 1864. Having wrecked his two divisions against the enemy's defenses, Lee soon was reinforced by Stewart. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Collection: Georgia Historical Markers Title: Battle of Ezra Church historical marker Creator: Longcrier, Steve Date of Original: 1996/2014 Subject: Historical markers--Georgia--Fulton County The Fifty-second was stationed in a series of breastworks alongside the redoubt holding Welker's Battery H/1 Missouri Light Artillery, when a heavy bombardment supporting Hood's attacks began. You can access the specifics of each battle by clicking on the individual areas. "Deadbrook at Ezra … Behind the grave is a section of Confederate trenches. Recognizing that success was unobtainable, Lee fell back and ended the battle. Well written and well researched, this book offers invaluable descriptions of troop movements and battle actions, as well as keen analysis of strategy and how individual battles fit into the larger context of the Atlanta Campaign. The Battle of Ezra Church was fought July 28, 1864, during the American Civil War (1861-1865). "American Civil War: Battle of Ezra Church." Encountering heavy resistance from Brigadier General Charles Woods' division, they were forced to fall back. The Battle of Ezra Church was fought July 28, 1864, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War and saw the Confederates repulsed. Sign up to receive emails with our resources for educators to support their work – in the classroom and online. Prior to moving, Sherman adjusted his armies: Maj. Gen. John Schofield’s Army of the Ohio would hold the east edge of the city, while Maj. Gen. George Thomas’ Army of the Cumberland took up position to the north. 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