The Battle of Allatoona Pass, 5 October 1864

Today is the 140th Anniversary of the Battle of Allatoona Pass, a small but brutal and fascinating action that occurred in the aftermath of Sherman’s Atlanta Campaign. I find the battle fascinating, and have visited the battlefield four or five times. (It’s well preserved: definitely worth a visit, at least if you are something of a nut like me :P)

I wrote an extended thread about the battle on X for those who are interested.

160 years ago today was fought the Battle of Allatoona Pass, GA. A small engagement, but a bloody and vicious one. pic.twitter.com/e93ZxSFL6o

— streetwiseprof (@streetwiseprof) October 5, 2024

If you read through to the end, you’ll see that this obscure engagement left its mark on history through music–gospel and R&B.

A Troiani painting (a print of which hangs over my fireplace) of the fighting at The Star Fort:

A map of the action: