Other Names: Battle of the Poor House. Sign up to receive emails with our resources for educators to support their work – in the classroom and online. Part of the Atlanta Campaign, the battle featured Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's Union Army of the Tennessee against the Army of Tennessee, commanded by Lt. Gen. John B. [4] To accomplish this goal, Sherman commanded his easternmost army, under Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard, north and west around the rest of the Union lines to the far western side of Atlanta where the railroad entered the city. Fought on July 28, 1864, the Battle of Ezra Church was a dramatic engagement during the Civil War's Atlanta Campaign. Tag Archives: Battle of Ezra Church. And so the slaughter continued as Walthall's brigade advanced shortly after 2:00 p.m. over the same ground covered by Brown. Walthall ordered no more charges. Maj. Gen. John “Black Jack” Logan, who held the extreme right of Howard’s army with the XV Corps, ordered two of his divisions to extend the line to the west parallel to Lick Skillet Road in preparation for a possible attack. Stay up-to-date on the Trust's battlefield preservation efforts, travel tips, upcoming events, history content and more. Instead, his troops ran into Maj. Gen. John Logan'sFederals, who were well-entrenched. Battle of Ezra Church Gen. Stewart Wounded Marker. Exploring a pivotal but often overlooked battle in the Civil War, The Battle of Ezra Church is the first book-length examination of the battle of Ezra Church. Hood's headquarters was warned by Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler that "indications are that the enemy will attack our left. Sherman's army stretched in an inverted U around the northern defenses of Atlanta. Ezra Church was part of the battle for Atlanta and is usually overlooked as an individual battle. Stewart, with Walthall’s and Long’s divisions of his A.C. [CS], reached the field in time to renew the attack. Both official and unofficial reports failed to illuminate the true bloodshed of the conflict: one of every three engaged Confederates was killed or wounded, including four generals. This book is not for those casual readers of Civil war books. Hood planned to intercept them and catch them completely by surprise. Union Gen. W.T. Campaign: Atlanta Campaign (1864) Date (s): July 28, 1864. His citation reads (in part): "At great hazard of his life he saved his commanding officer, then badly wounded, from capture". A sketch of the Battle of Ezra Church, July 28, 1864. The Battle of Ezra Church: Battle of the Poor House. ", Ten minutes after Brown had begun, Clayton's division arrived, which Lee promptly ordered to advance. Principal Commanders: Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard [US]; Gen. John B. The men of Woods' right brigade, Col. Hugo Wangelin's, had gone into Ezra Church and pulled out the pews to reinforce their parapets. Stewart was to lead two divisions via Lick Skillet to the western edge of Atlanta's defenses and wait for Lee to get into position at Ezra Church; then, the next morning, "we were to move out on that road, turn to the right, pass in rear of the enemy, and attack," presumably against the Federals' right rear, after marching beyond Lee's divisions holding the front.Â, There was a hitch, though. A native of Charleston, S.D. Thus, on the afternoon of July 28, the Rebels assaulted Howard at Ezra Church. Hood foresaw such a maneuver and determined to send the two corps of Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee and Lt. Gen. Alexander P. Stewart to intercept and destroy the Union force. If not for the confidence they had gained in a series of victories since the Battle of Chatta- Posted on July 29, 2017 by Dave Powell. The American Battlefield Trust and our members have saved more than 53,000 acres in 24 states! The encounter took place in Fulton County, near Atlanta, Georgia, on July 28, 1864. Hood sent Hardee's corps to meet McPherson and attack on July 22. Collection: Georgia Historical Markers Title: Battle of Ezra Church historical marker Creator: Longcrier, Steve Date of Original: 1996/2014 Subject: Historical markers--Georgia--Fulton County Unfortunately for the Southerners, Lee's battle was becoming one of uncoordinated attacks by troops as they arrived. On July 28, 1864, Union Major General Oliver O. Howard's "Army of the Tennessee" moved south with the goal of cutting the last railroad lines supplying Atlanta. The Yankees were already there. The battle of Ezra Church Earl Hess has written the only detailed history of the Civil War battle of Ezra Church that I know of. On July 28, 1864, the Union Army of the Tennessee reached a point west of Atlanta from where they could threaten the Macon Railroad, which entered Atlanta from the southwest. - Join today! After a brief, bloody fight, Hood withdrew and planned his next move. Confederate forces under John Bell Hood desperately fought to stop William T. Sherman's advancing armies as they tried to cut the last Confederate supply line into the city. Howard hurried assistance to Logan's threatened line. Confederate casualties will never be confirmed, but a reasonable estimate would be more than 2,800 men, possible reaching 3,000.Â. Early in the morning of July 27, Howard's troops set out but Confederate cavalry was alert. To Lt. Gen. Stephen D. Lee, his youngest (30 years old) and newest corps commander, he issued these orders: march west out of the city along Lick Skillet Road, and take position near Ezra Church three miles from town. The Federals were getting ready for a fight.Â, Hood planned to give it to them. The armies met on the afternoon of July 28 at a chapel called Ezra Church. The Battle of Ezra Church, also known as the Battle of Ezra Chapel and the Battle of the Poor House was fought on July 28, 1864, in Fulton County, Georgia, during the American Civil War. Hood, anticipating Sherman's maneuver, moved his troops out to oppose the Union army. The church lay at a key crossroads, for bisecting Lick Skillet was the north-south thoroughfare which the Yankees would be using in their move south. Another notable participant was Ernst R. Torgler, a 24-year-old sergeant in the 37th Ohio Infantry, who was later awarded the Medal of Honor for his action during the battle. Howard's Army of the Tennessee, although failing to reach the railroad, closed the battle with fewer than 650 men lost. The First American President: Setting the Precedent, Help Save 110 Acres at Three Civil War Battlefields, Preserve 108 Acres of the Most Important Unprotected Battlefield Land, Kentuckians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation, Virginians: Support Battlefield Preservation Legislation. The Battle of Ezra Church was one of the deadliest engagements in the Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War and continues to be one of the least understood. Fierce musketry dropped Rebels by the hundreds before they fell back, seeking what shelter they could. At 4:15 a.m., with Howard's march just a few hours in progress, Confederate commander Lt. Gen. John B. Location: Fulton County. Lee was to seize this important crossroads and entrench facing north. Casualties. Your tax-deductible gift will help us to preserve this irreplaceable twice-hallowed ground at Gaines' Mill and Cold Harbor — forever. Prior to moving, Sherman adjusted his armies: Maj. Gen. John Schofield’s Army of the Ohio would hold the east edge of the city, while Maj. Gen. George Thomas’ Army of the Cumberland took up position to the north. Please note that the locations and events listed on our itineraries do not reflect any potential closures due to COVID-19. The young Lee exercised field officer’s discretion and determined to attack the enemy straightaway.Â, Lee formed Brown's division and sent it in around noon. In response, Hood again went on the offensive, ordering an attack on a Federal line surrounding Ezra Church -- near where Martin Luther King Drive intersects I … Hood, which was defending the Confederate stronghold of Atlanta, Georgia. The battle demonstrated Hood's main deficiency as a battlefield commander: his willingness to attack without adequate reconnaissance. The Battle of Ezra Church, also known as the Battle of Ezra Chapel and the Battle of the Poor House was fought on July 28, 1864, in Fulton County, Georgia, during the American Civil War. The 10th Tennessee Infantry (Irish) fights at the Battle of Utoy Creek on August 6, 1864 during the American Civil War. Maj. Gen. Alexander Stewart's corps also had a role. Gens. We suggest checking online or calling ahead as you plan your visits. The third battle within nine days as General Sherman closed in on Atlanta (American Civil War).The previous two battles (Peachtree Creek and Atlanta) had been launched by the Confederate General Hood in an attempt to take advantage of perceived weaknesses in Sherman’s deployment.In contrast, the fighting at Ezra Church was triggered by an attempt by Sherman to cut the last railroad into Atlanta. Battle Summary: Ezra Church, GA. Ezra Church. Logan's Union infantry already held Ezra Church and the vital Lick Skillet junction. Lee’s Corps and A. P. Stewart’s Corps to move out the Lickskillet Road in an effort to check the Federal advance and try to roll up their right flank. The Confederate army also had not done enough reconnaissance, underestimated the number of Union troops already present, and made an uncoordinated attack, falling back before the Union army's improvised breastwork of logs and rails. The Battle of Ezra Church was the third of three desperate Confederate attacks on the forces of Maj. Gen. Wm. The Northerners, fighting on the defensive, suffered fewer casualties at Ezra Church. Gen. A.P. Show your pride in battlefield preservation by shopping in our store. Both official and unofficial reports failed to illuminate the true bloodshed of the conflict: one of every three engaged Confederates was killed or wounded, including four generals. [3], The Battle of Ezra Church was part of a series of battles in the Atlanta campaign, the main goal of which was to destroy the capabilities of the city of Atlanta, an important manufacturing, supply, and medical center for the south during the war. This threw off Hood's whole plan. Welcome to CivilWarTalk, a forum about the American Civil War! Lee distinguished himself early in the war as an artillery commander in the Army of Northern Virginia. General Oliver Howard took over the Army of the Tennessee after McPherson was slain in battle. Battle of Ezra Church | Atlanta Campaign. This was part of Sherman's larger effort to cut and destroy all the railroad lines. Not much remains of the Ezra Church battlefield, the scene of a lopsided, bloody Union victory on July 28, 1864. In an effort to thwart that move, Confederate General John … [4] Howard had predicted such a maneuver based on his knowledge of Hood from their time together at West Point before the war. You can access the specifics of each battle by clicking on the individual areas. On July 28, Hood attempted to strike the Union right flank west of Atlanta. Part of the Atlanta Campaign, the battle featured Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's Union Army of the Tennessee against the Army of Tennessee, commanded by Lt. Gen. John B. A series of historical markers describe the action here at Ezra Church on July 28, 1864. The Battle of Ezra Church, also known as the Battle of Ezra Chapel and the Battle of the Poor House was fought on July 28, 1864, in Fulton County, Georgia, during the American Civil War. With a Yankee counterattack, the division commander sadly watched his men "driven with great slaughter. In most places the Federals were entrenched. Donations to the Trust are tax deductible to the full extent allowable under the law. Sherman's movements were determined by the plan to cut off the railroad supply lines from Macon, Georgia, into Atlanta, thus forcing the defending army to withdraw without a direct assault. MENU SlaveryTalk ★ SecessionTalk ★ CivilWarTalk ★ ReconstructionTalk ★ Monument Discussions. Harpers Pictorial History of the Civil War, Harpers Pictorial History of the Ciivl War. Oliver O. Howard's (above) promotion to command of Army of the Tennessee upset Gen. Logan who believed himself James McPherson's logical successor. Confederate casualties will never be confirmed, but a reasonable estimate would be more than 2,800 men, possible reaching 3,000. Sherman was determined to cut the last railroad supplying Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood's troops located inside Atlanta's fieldworks. Confederate: 3,000. Today, Mozley Park is the site of a few historic markers that explain the battle that raged through the park and the surrounding neighborhood. Lee, believing the enemy had just barely beaten him to the Ezra Church crossroads and therefore had only slight defensive works, determined to continue the attack when Walthall arrived. The Battle of Ezra Church July 28th, 1864: After learning of the flanking movement being conducted by Howard’s Army of the Tennessee, Hood ordered S.D. The American Battlefield Trust is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Hood during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. Clayton had had enough. The Battle of Peachtree Creek had just taken place, forcing General Hood to withdraw in defeat to the final defenses behind Atlanta by July 21, 1864. The Majority of our funds go directly to Preservation and Education. Photo by Janet Greentree. Battle of Ezra Church - Aftermath: In the fighting at Ezra Church, Howard lost 562 killed and wounded while Lee suffered around 3,000. It is book for those serious students of the war. Walthall, on left, fared no better than Brown, in the same area. Confederate forces under John Bell Hood desperately fought to stop William T. Sherman's advancing armies as they tried to cut the last Confederate supply line into the city. He sent troops under Maj. Gen. O.O. On the 28th, soldiers dug in and brought up artillery all along Howard's line. The Battle of Ezra Church was one of the deadliest engagements in the Atlanta Campaign of the Civil War, and continues to be one of the least understood. [2] Among the wounded was general Alexander P. Stewart, who led a corps under Hood. A dozen regiments were ordered from the XVI and XVII corps, and some rushed into the fight in time to help beat back Clayton's assault. Logan's men piled up rails and logs as impromptu breastworks. Media in category "Battle of Ezra Church" The following 7 files are in this category, out of 7 total. The Battle of Ezra Church, also known as the Battle of Ezra Chapel and the Battle of the Poor House was fought on July 28, 1864, in Fulton County, Georgia, during the American Civil War. BATTLE SCENE FROM EZRA CHURCH. His troops were already waiting in their trenches when Hood reached them. July 28, 1864. Date: July 28, 1864 Location of Battle: Fulton County, Georgia Union Casualties: 700 Confederate Casualties: 4,642 Result: Union Victory After the Battle of Atlanta, with the Georgia Railroad cut, Gen. William T. Sherman turned his attention to the Macon & Western Railroad, running southwest out of the city. Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the U.S. Confederate States presidential election of 1861, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Battle_of_Ezra_Church&oldid=999061940, Battles of the Western Theater of the American Civil War, Union victories of the American Civil War, Battles of the American Civil War in Georgia (U.S. state), Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 January 2021, at 08:55. Having marched west on Lick Skillet to the line of the city's defensive fortifications, Stewart learned that Lee had already joined battle, so he hastened forward with Maj. Gen. Edward Walthall's division, then Maj. Gen. William Loring's. Sign up for our quarterly email series highlighting the environmental benefits of battlefield preservation. In all, about 3,642 men were casualties; 3,000 on the Confederate side and 642 on the Union side. Unfortunately for Hood, there was no surprise for Howard, who had already reached the road at Ezra church and dug in by 11 a.m. that day. Battle of Ezra Church Jovaniqiue renteria - Battle of Ezra Chapel and The battle of the Poor House - July 28, 1864 - Major General William T. Sherman-Union Army of the Tennessee - Lieutenant General John B. Hood-Major General Oliver O. Howard. Hood, which was defending the Confederate stronghold of Atlanta, Georgia. The Battle of Ezra Church was a military engagement between Union forces commanded by Major General Oliver O. Howard and Confederate forces commanded by General John B. Though a tactical defeat for the Confederates, the battle prevented Howard from reaching the railroad. Howard's Army of the Tennessee, although failing to reach the railroad, closed the battle with fewer than 650 men lost. [5], Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}33°45′10″N 84°26′21″W / 33.75278°N 84.43917°W / 33.75278; -84.43917, Values given for Union forces are: 13,266 engaged in, United States Army Center of Military History, "Civil War Medal of Honor Recipients - (M-Z)", Georgia Constitutional Convention of 1861, List of Union Civil War monuments and memorials, List of memorials to the Grand Army of the Republic, Confederate artworks in the United States Capitol, List of Confederate monuments and memorials, Removal of Confederate monuments and memorials. Federal Identification Number (EIN): 54-1426643. 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