Battle of Allatoona
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| Battle of Allatoona | |||||||
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| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Combatants | |||||||
| United States of America | Confederate States of America | ||||||
| Commanders | |||||||
| John M. Corse | Samuel G. French | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Allatoona Garrison; 4th Division, XV Corps (1,944) |
French's Division (2,000) | ||||||
| Casualties | |||||||
| 706 | 799 | ||||||
| Franklin-Nashville Campaign |
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| Allatoona – Decatur – Johnsonville – Columbia – Spring Hill – 2nd Franklin – 3rd Murfreesboro – Nashville |
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 2–4. 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.
