HistoricSiteMarkers
Civil War

Battlefield of Peachtree Creek

Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia

Marker Inscription

Battlefield of Peachtree Creek. Lt. Gen. John B. Hood, on taking command of the Army of Tennessee [Confederate], July 18, 1864, began aggressive action against the Federal approach to Atlanta from upper Chattahoochee crossings. July 20. Hood's 1st move was to attack Thomas' Army of the Cumberland before it crossed Peachtree Cr., but a delay in Confederate deployment enabled the Federals to gain positions south of the creek. Battle was joined in this area. Beginning in Clear Creek valley on the E., it moved progressively W. to Howell Mill Rd. - the sanguinary fields bisected by Collier Rd. 060-31 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1955

Erected by Georgia Historical Commission

The Story

When Lt. Gen. John B. Hood took command of the Army of Tennessee on July 18, 1864, he moved quickly to strike the Federal armies closing on Atlanta. His first blow fell on July 20 against Thomas's Army of the Cumberland as it crossed Peachtree Creek, but a delay in Confederate deployment let the Federals secure ground south of the stream. The battle spread west across fields bisected by Collier Road, from Clear Creek to Howell Mill Road.

Why it matters

Peachtree Creek opened Hood's bloody offensive defense of Atlanta, a series of battles whose failure hastened the fall of the Confederacy's key rail hub.

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Related people

  • · John B. Hood
  • · George H. Thomas

Related events

  • · Battle of Peachtree Creek

Themes & tags

Civil WarBattlefield

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Bate's Division

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On July 20, 1864, at the Battle of Peachtree Creek, the right of Bate's division of Hardee's corps rested here on Clear Creek before joining the Confederate assault. Moving northwest through wooded ground, Bate led off the attack against Newton's Union division posted on the ridge above Collier Road. The stroke was part of Hood's aggressive first battle after taking command of the Army of Tennessee, an attempt to smash the Federals before they could close on Atlanta.

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