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Battle Of Allatoona




  partof the American Civil War
  date October 5 , 1864
  place Bartow County, Georgia
  result Union victory
  combatant1 United States Of America
  combatant2 Confederate States Of America
  commander1 John M Corse
  commander2 Samuel G French
  strength1 Allatoona Garrison<br>4th Division, XV Corps (1,944)
  strength2 French's Division (2,000)
  casualties1 706
  casualties2 799


The Battle of Allatoona, also known as '''Allatoona Pass''', was fought October 5 , 1864 , as part of the Franklin-Nashville Campaign of the American Civil War .

After the fall of Atlanta , John Bell Hood moved the Confederate Army Of Tennessee northward to threaten the Western And Atlantic Railroad , William T. Sherman 's supply line. Along the way he attacked a number of minor garrisons and damaged track during October 24 . Sherman sent a reinforcement brigade to Allatoona commanded by General John M. Corse before the southern army arrived. The saying ''"hold the fort"'' originated from Sherman's instructions to General Corse prior to the battle.

Major General Samuel G. French 's Confederate division arrived near Allatoona at sunrise on October 5 . After demanding a surrender and receiving a negative reply, French attacked. The Union line survived a sustained two and a half hour attack, but then fell back and regrouped in an earthen star fort on top of Allatoona Pass. General French repeatedly attacked the position, but the fort held. The Rebels began to run low on ammunition, and reports of arriving Union reinforcements influenced them to move off and rejoin Hood’s force.


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