HistoricSiteMarkers
Civil War

Attack from the West

Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia

Marker Inscription

Attack from the West. July 22, 1864. Gen. George Maney's div. (Hardee's A.C.) [Confed.] attacked the front of Giles Smith's div., 17th A.C. [Union] posted on Flat Shoals Road (Leggett's Hill to Glenwood), while Cleburne's div. attacked it from the rear. This forced the withdrawal of Smith to the s. slope of Leggett's Hill where he occupied a 2nd line extending eastward from Leggett's position. Cleburne & Maney, following up their advantage, were aided by Stevenson's div. (Cheatham's A.C.) [Confed.] from the city fortifications. Repeated attacks, front, flank & rear, by the three Confederate divisions failed to dislodge the 2 divs. of the 17th A.C. - Leggett's & Smith's. 060-104 GEORGIA HISTORIC MARKER 1984

Erected by Georgia Historical Commission

The Story

During the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864, Confederate divisions under Gen. George Maney and Gen. Patrick Cleburne struck the front and rear of Giles Smith's Union division on the Flat Shoals Road, forcing it back to Leggett's Hill. Aided by Stevenson's division from the city fortifications, the Confederates hammered the 17th Corps from front, flank, and rear. Despite repeated assaults, they failed to dislodge the entrenched Union defenders.

Why it matters

The struggle for Leggett's Hill was among the fiercest of the Battle of Atlanta, a savage day of fighting that marked the Confederacy's last major bid to save the city.

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Related people

  • · George Maney
  • · Patrick Cleburne
  • · Giles A. Smith

Related events

  • · Battle of Atlanta
  • · Atlanta Campaign
  • · American Civil War

Themes & tags

Civil WarBattlefield

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