Battle of Atlanta Stats

From Wikipedia.

Took place July 22, 1864, southeast of Atlanta.

Main Union commanders:  William T. Sherman and John B. McPherson
Main Confederate commanders:  John Bell Hoof and William J. Hardee.

Union Army:  Army of the Tennessee
Confederate Army:  Army of Tennessee

Strength  Union 34,863
Strength:  Confederate 40,438

Union Losses:  3,641  and Gen. James B. McPherson and Colonel Lucien Greathouse killed.
Confederate Losses:  5,500 and at least 1,000 killed

--Old Secesh

Truman Murray, 48th Illinois Infantry, Enlisted At Age 56

From Find-A-Grave.

I happened to come across this man while looking for information on Lucien Greathouse.  He was very old to be enlisting when he did.

TRUMAN MURRAY

Born 5 August 1805 in Fairfield, NY.
Died 22 October 1879 in Santa Barbara, California, age 74
Buried Santa Barbara Cemetery

According to the 1860 Federal Census, he was 54 and living in Galesburg, Illinois. with his wife Cordelia, 40, and children Emily, 17) and William, 16.

He Sure Did Some Traveling In His Life, From East Coast to West Coast.  --Old Secesh

Battle of Atlanta, Troup Hurt House-- Part 4: Confederate Loss Led to Siege of Atlanta

There is a tour you can take of the key points of the Battle of Atlanta, July 22, 1864.  (I wonder if it has where Col. Greathouse was killed?)

The fighting that day was one of the biggest battles in the final ten months of the war, and the Union victory east of the city was followed by the daily bombardment of Atlanta and the eventual Union capture of the "Gate City of the South" on September 2, 1864.

I always thought the Battle of Atlanta took place on the west side of Atlanta since Sherman's Army was coming southward from that direction.  But it didn't.

I also wonder if they have the spot where Col. Greathouse was killed marked?

--Old Secesh

Battle of Atlanta, the Troup Hurt House-- Part 3: Success Eluded the Confederates

A historic marker at the north end of De Gress Avenue before it turns sharply east, indicates the location of the De Gress Battery.  Together the combined action of Manigault's brigade and other elements of Brown's and Clayton's Confederate Divisions opened a half-mile gap in the Union line that could further be exploited and this could have turned the tide of battle.

However, the Confederate success was short-lived and they were soon driven back by a ferocious Union counter attack.  General Sherman, observing the action from a position three-fourths of a mile north of the Troup Hurt House, directed cannon fire against the Confederate front and behind it, thwarting further gains and preventing reinforcement.

Union Major General John A. Logan, who had earlier in the afternoon replaced the fallen Major General James B. McPherson as commander of the Army of the Tennessee gathered reinforcements and led the successful infantry counteroffensive.

The federal troops did not pursue the retreating Confederates, and the fighting in the vicinity of the Troup House came to a close.  Combat continued until dark at Leggett's Hill.

--Old secesh

Battle of Atlanta: The Troup Hurt House-- Part 1: Where Col. Greathouse was killed.

From the Battle of Atlanta Digital Scholarship.

On Digress Avenue:  Site of two famous moments in the Battle of Atlanta: The Confederate capture of the Troup Hurt House and the De Gress Battery and the successful Union counterattack.

Evidently, this is the where Lucien Greathouse was killed in the counterattack.  I was a bit confused by my readings on this battle as apparently the 48th Illinois had retreated and then counter attacked..

The Troup Hurt House is no longer standing but is featured prominently in the Battle of Atlanta Cyclorama painting on high ground north of the Georgia Railroad (now the right of way for MARTA commuter line and the CSX Railroad).

The site is now a privately-owned  home which was a church at one time.  The church was built in 1907.

--Old Secesh

Death of Col. Lucien Greathouse: A First-Hand Account

Letter from William H. Odell who served in Co. B of the 48th Illinois.  Letter in the Illinois State Historical Society.

"on the 22nd the enemy charged our works and tried to swing both our right and left flanks but we gave them a good and genteel whipping taking as estimated by General Logan 12 Thousan & 50 prisoners.  besides killing greate numbers, in this Battal our Colonel [Lucien Greathouse] was killed, poor fellow he was so good a Man as ever drew lifes breth.

"I loved him as a brother for he always treated me as such.  he fell amid the hotest of the contest with his sword in one hand & his hat in the other, cheering his never failing men to victory.

"fighting hard until night our Boys was very tired of over heat, for it was a vary hot day.  one Rebel Colonel Rode up to our works & demanded a surrender, but he soon fell to the ground, a victim to death & notorious trator to his country."

Spelling left as it was but paragraphs inserted.

Wonder What Happened to Lucien's Sword?  --Old Secesh

Col. Lucien Greathouse-- Part 6: Monument Inscription

Continuing with the inscriptions on his grave monument at Old City/State Cemetery in Vandalia, Illinois.:

"He led the command in forty hard pitched battles and was killed with the flag of his country in his hands standing upon the breast works of the enemy before the city of Atlanta, GA in the memorable fight of July 22, 1864.  May God and his country deal justly."

"Born Carlinville, Illinois 7th Day of June 1842 A.D. and was killed at the head of his regiment aged 22 years one month and fifteen days."

"WE CAN NOT WIN HIM BACK    You shall not mourn, oh daughters and sons, for the noble cause of liberty comes with a price of the supreme sacrifice of the gallant, the brave, and the best that one day all men may be free."

--Old Secesh

Col. Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 5: Buried at Old City Cemetery in Vandalia.

It was reported that he had  been promoted to brigadier general  two days before his death.  The promotion was in the mail.

His body was returned to Vandalia and buried at Old City Cemetery (also called Old State Cemetery as Vandalia at one time was the capital of Illinois).  A sixteen-foot monument was erected at his grave with the 40 battles he fought in inscribed on one side.

Other inscriptions on it read "His example was worth a thousand men," General J.A. Logan.  "The bravest man in the army of the Tennessee,"  Gen. W.T. Sherman.

--Old Secesh

Col. Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 4: Killed Leading Charge At Age 22 Years At the Battle of Atlanta

At the Troup Hurt House, the 48th Illinois led the charge.  Riding a large horse, Col. Lucien Greathouse led the way.  Forced to retreat, though, a Confederate yelled "Surrender, can't you see you are beaten?"  Lucien replied, "Beat hell, we've just come into the fight."

Riding forward with saber in hand he was struck in the chest by an enemy round and instantly killed.

Though he died, that charge turned the tide of the battle.

He was killed July 22, 1864, at the age of 22 years, one month and 15 days."

--Old Secesh

Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 3: Company C, 48th Illinois

He taught school after graduation from Indiana University and studied law under his brother, Tevis Greathouse, in Vandalia, Illinois.

Greathouse enlisted and helped recruit Company C of the 48th Illinois and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually joining the regimental staff.  When he left Company C, he was given a jewel inlaid sword.

The 48th Illinois was at Vicksburg with General Grant and fought in 40 battles before going with General Sherman on his March to the Sea.

At the Battle of Atlanta there was a large brick house owned by Troupe Hurtt (or Troup Hurt House) that the Confederates were using as a stronghold.

--Old  Secesh

Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 2: Graduated Indiana University at Age 16

Born June 7, 1842. Died July 22, 1864.  U.S. Army colonel.

He led his regiment in 40 battles and was killed at the age of 22 with the flag of his regiment and country in his hands at Atlanta on July 22, 1864.

KIA.

He first commanded Company C of the 48th Illinois Infantry before rising to command the regiment.

Lucien Greathouse was born in Carlinville, Illinois where his father was states attorney.  In 1856, he enrolled at McKendree College in Lebanon, Illinois, and then entered Indiana University where he graduated in 1858, just after his 16th birthday.

Quite a Young Man.  --Old Secesh

Lucien P. Greathouse-- Part 1: Youngest Union Colonel?

While researching William McHenry for my Not So Forgotten War of 1812 blog, I found than he was buried in Old State Cemetery in Vandalia, Illinois.  Another person buried there is one Col. Lucien Greathouse who was killed at the Battle of Atlanta while leading his troops.

I'd never heard of him.

There wasn't even an article about him in Wikipedia or even a stub, even though one source I found said he was the youngest Union colonel in the war.  He was just 22 when he was killed.

He commanded the 48th Illinois Infantry Regiment.

Looks like I will have to do some research on him.

I have been writing a lot about the Star-Spangled Banner and Fort McHenry in my War of 1812 blog.  I thought that McHenry County, Illinois, where we live, was named after Fort McHenry, but it was named after William McHenry.

--Old Secesh