Babb's Settlement
Whitfield County, Whitfield County, Georgia
Marker Inscription
Babb's Settlement. Ante-bellum domain of Joel Babb (1809-1882) - on Mill Cr., foot of Rocky Face at Dug Gap. May 8, 1864. 1 A. M.: Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge's 9th Ky., Grigsby's brigade, Wheeler's cav., descended from Dug Gap & patrolled the roads N. & W. to ascertain if any Federals were there. By 1:30 P. M. Breckinridge found Dogwood Valley swarming with Federals, a brigade of which, in support of Kilpatrick's cav., was enroute S. to Villanow. Later, the 9th Ky., confronted by 2 brigades, Geary's div., 20th A. C., moving E., was forced to retreat to Dug Gap. Geary, reaching this vicinity at 3 p. m., deployed his 2 brigades for the storming of Dug Gap. 155-9 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1954
Erected by Georgia Historical Commission
The Story
On the antebellum lands of Joel Babb, at the foot of Rocky Face Ridge near Dug Gap, cavalry probed and skirmished on May 8, 1864, as Sherman opened his drive toward Atlanta. Confederate horsemen under Col. W. C. P. Breckinridge patrolled out from Dug Gap and found Dogwood Valley swarming with Federals, then fell back before advancing Union brigades. By mid-afternoon Geary's division had reached this vicinity and deployed to storm the gap.
Why it matters
These opening moves of the Atlanta Campaign show the relentless flanking pressure that would carry Union armies into the Deep South.
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Related people
- · Joel Babb
- · W. C. P. Breckinridge
- · John W. Geary
Related events
- · Atlanta Campaign
- · Battle of Dug Gap
Themes & tags
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