BACKGROUND
On October 1st 1864 John Bell Hood moved to attack Union General William T. Sherman's tenuous supply link stretching from Atlanta to his bases in the North. To do this he detached several formations which made successful assaults on the Western and Atlantic Railroad, capturing Federal garrisons at Big Shanty and Acworth on the 3rd and 4th October respectively.
It was obvious that the next target would be the Union depot at Allatoona, therefore Sherman order Brigadier General John. M. Corse of the 15th Corps to reinforce Colonel J.E. Tourtellotte the station commander at the Pass. Detaching Rowett's Brigade of his 4th Division Corse entrained for Allatoona, arriving just after midnight on the 4th.
Allatooona consisted of a small cluster of buildings to the south of a deep cut through which ran the Western and Atlantic track, on the ridges either side of the steep channel the garrison had built two redoubts from old railroad ties packed with earth, ftirther lines of earthworks and rifle pits protected the lower slopes. By the morning of the 5th October these outer defenses were manned in preparation for the expected Confederate assault.
The job of taking the depot was given to Major General Samuel G. French's Rebel division consisting of three brigades of infantry and dismounted cavalry backed up by an artillery battalion. The Rebels arrived only hours after Corse and spent the remaining interval between then and daylight investing the Union defenses, Sears to the north, Cockrell and Young to the west, Myrick and two of Young's regiments to the south.
With the coming of day French began to appreciate the challenge in front of him, hoping for an easy victory and not suspecting that the depot had been reinforced he offered Corse terms of surrender and five minutes to make his mind up. Seventeen minutes later at about 9:20 a.m. Cockrell's brigade launched its attack followed by Sears bearing down from the north, Young strengthened Cockrell's offensive and by noon the Federals had been beaten back until only the Star Fort was in Union hands.
Before a last determined effort could be made to storm the ramparts, word arrived that Yankees were making their way in force along the railroad from Big Shanty, not wanting to be caught at a disadvantage and with his ammunition running low, General French decided to withdraw.
Sporadic firing went on until nightfall, but the Rebels had given up, many Confederate officers were not pleased with French's decision and asserted that with a resupply of ammunition the fort could have been taken in 20 minutes.
A relief force did not actually arrive at Allatoona until October 7th, the Federal troops reported as advancing to General French were none other than a body of Union cavalry on a reconnaissance, therefore this bloody little skirmish causing 706 Union casualties and 799 Confederate was entirely for nothing.
NOTES
The scenario should begin at 9: 15 am. and end at 2:15 p.m. (50 fifteen minute turns) by which time the Confederates had given up any serious attempt at carrying the position. all troops should be classed as average apart from the Missouri brigade and the 7th Illinois who are elite.
Apart from the 7th Illinois who are armed with Henry repeaters everyone is armed with rifled muskets. As the overcrowding of the Western Redoubt had an adverse effect on Union returning fire, it may be an idea to downgrade the Federal's firepower once more than three regiments are in the Star Fort and two in the Eastern Redoubt. These forts were quite small in reality but have been made bigger for the scenario in order to fit the model figures inside.
VICTORY CONDITIONS
These are very simple, the Rebels must force the surrender of both redoubts by the end of the time allotted. There is however the possibility that if the Star Fort was quickly overrun and Union casualties were heavy then a second call for the surrender of the Eastern Redoubt may well have been successful, it's certainly worth considering.
TERRAIN
This is very open but covered in scrub except for an area around the buildings, but as this was used for storage purposes all movement should be done at broken terrain rates. The wooded areas are dense forest. The sides of the cut reached 65 ft. in parts and are regarded as impassable, there is a connecting bridge and movement over this should be done at the rough rate. The forts are considered medium works and the outlying defenses as light.
DEPLOYMENT
As per the map, one section of the 12 th Wisconsin battery is the Eastern Redoubt the other in the Star Fort. Cockrell's and Ector's brigades arrive anywhere along entry point 'C', the former on turn I and the latter on turn 3, Sear's brigade arrives along the area marked 'S' on turn 1. Myrick's Artillery Battalion occupies Moore's Hill to the south of Allatoona. General Corse and Colonel Rowett can be placed anywhere on the western ridge, Colonel Tourtellotte supervises the eastern rise, Confederate officers attend their own formations and General French may be deployed with any Rebel command. If the Confederate player wishes regiments can charge onto the table.
UNION ORDER OF BATTLE
Commanding Officer 4th Division, XVth Corps. Brigadier General John Corse.
| Rowett's Brigade (1054 men) | Allatoona Garrison (890 men) |
|---|---|
| Colonel R. Rowett | Colonel J.E. Tourtellotte |
| 39th Iowa | 4th Minnesota |
| 7th Illinois | 93rd Illinois |
| 12th Illinois | 18th Wisconsin |
| 50th Illinois 57th Illinois | 12th
Wisconsin Battery (4 x 3" Rifles) |
CONFEDERATE ORDER OF BATTLE
French's Division, Major General Samuel G. French
Sears' Brigade (1200 men) Brigadier General C. Sears
-
35th Mississippi
36th Mississippi
39th Mississippi
46th Mississippi
7th Mississippi
Cockrell's Brigade (900 men) Brigadier General F. Cockrell
- 1st/4th Missouri
1st/3rd Missouri (Dismounted Cavalry)
3rd/5th Missouri
2nd/6th Missouri
Ector's Brigade (1100 men) Brigadier General W.H. Young
-
9th Texas
10th Texas (Dismounted cavalry)
14th Texas (Dismounted cavalry)
32nd Texas (Dismounted cavalry)
29th North Carolina
39th North Carolina
Artillery Battalion Major J.D. Myrick
- Battery (4 x 121b Napoleon)
Battery (4 x 121b Napoleon)
Battery (4 x 121b Napoleon)
PERSONALITIES
John Corse had a politician's eye for the main chance and made a meal of the publicity resulting from the action, John Tourtelotte started the war as a private and ended a Bvt. Brigadier General, Richard Rowett was born in England, on the Confederate side both French and Sears were born in the North, William Young was unlucky or aggressive enough during his career to suffer six wounds and have had three horses shot from under him. All of these men survived the war.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Blue & Gray Magazine December 1989
Battles and Leaders of the Civil War - Johnson & Buell
Official Military Atlas of the Civil War - Davis, Kirkley &
Perry
Civil War Dictionary - M.M. Boatner
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© Copyright 1992 The American Civil War Society
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