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Civil War

Battle of Ezra Church: Brown's Division

Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia

Marker Inscription

Battle of Ezra Ch. Gen. J.C. Brown's Div. July 28, 1864. The 4 brigades of Brown's Div., S. D. Lee's A. C. [CSA], deployed in this area, made the initial assaults on the Federal right flank posted on the ridge just N. E. Their combined attacks struck Lightburn's & Martin's brigades of Morgan L. Smith's Div. of Logan's 15th A. C. Brown's brigades, L. to R., were Brantly's, Sharp's & Johnston's, Manigault's in reserve. Brantly's Mississippians carried the log barricades of the 83d Indiana (Lightburn's brigade) but were swept back by a counter-assault. A 2d attempt was made on the same ground by Walthall's Div. (Stewart's Corps), but with like results. 060-149B GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1958

Erected by Georgia Historical Commission

The Story

On July 28, 1864, during the struggle for Atlanta, the divisions of Gen. J.C. Brown of S.D. Lee's Confederate corps launched the opening assaults of the Battle of Ezra Church against the Union right flank. Brantly's Mississippians briefly carried the Federal log barricades before being thrown back by a counterattack, and a renewed effort by Walthall's division met the same fate.

Why it matters

Ezra Church was the third failed sortie in a week by John Bell Hood's army to break the Union grip on Atlanta, hastening the exhaustion of Confederate strength before the city's fall.

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Related people

  • · J.C. Brown
  • · S.D. Lee
  • · Edward Walthall

Related events

  • · Battle of Ezra Church
  • · Atlanta Campaign

Themes & tags

Civil WarBattlefield

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Battle of Ezra Church: Right of 15th Corps

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This spot marked the extreme right of Gen. O.O. Howard's Army of the Tennessee during the Battle of Ezra Church on July 28, 1864. Lightburn's brigade of Logan's corps held the line here as Brown's four Confederate brigades tried to roll up the Federal flank, and again when Walthall's division attempted the same ground—both attacks failing to dislodge the Union defenders.

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At the Battle of Ezra Church on July 28, 1864, Confederate Gen. A.P. Stewart brought Walthall's and Loring's divisions forward to renew the assault on the Union lines west of Atlanta. Riding to this hill to assess Walthall's failed attack, Stewart was struck by a spent bullet; command passed to Walthall, who withdrew and called off further attacks. That night Hood pulled his battered troops back into Atlanta.

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