New Battle of Decatur Plaque on Decatur Square, Decatur GA (pic courtesy of Chris)

Here’s a summary of the fighting during the Battle of Atlanta on July 22, 1864 from Franklin Garrett’s famous and definitive tome, “Atlanta and Environs”…

Upon arrival in Decatur [Confederate General Joseph] Wheeler found Federal troops of Schofield’s 23rd corps in the entrenchments along the south and east of the town, in greater than expected strength.  Wheeler immediately ordered his men to dismount, and attacking all along the line, his soldiers drove the Federals from the entrenchments in hand to hand fighting.  Checked momentarily in and around the Court House Square by troops of Colonel John W. Sprague of Fuller’s division of the 16th corps, guarding the wagon trains, they finally swept the enemy before them through the town and beyond the then city limits to the north.  The Confederates took 225 prisoners, 1 12-pound gun and a number of loaded supply wagons parked in the cemetery.

As on so many previous occasions, however, the relative size of the opposing side came into play.  Late in the afternoon, Hardee found himself in need of help.  Calling upon Wheeler for aid, the latter was unable to retain the advantage gained in Decatur and retired from the town.  The normally quiet old DeKalb county seat had played its brief part in the drama of war.

And a bit more specific, after the jump you will find the synopsis of the battle from Carole McKinney Clarke’s “The Story of Decatur 1823-1899″ and the reason I deemed Decatur’s role as “important” in the post title…

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