An Unexpected Clash
![July 22, 1864. The attack by Walker´s & Bate´s divs. (Hardee´s A.C.) [CSA] struck the two brigades, Mersy´s & Rice´s, of Sweeny´s 16th A.C. div. [USA] enroute to support the 17th in E. Atlanta....](http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/DkfUTVqP8bEPHhjCPhrW4vVaRX7tZ5iHygKiKGpxc9cU6eZsh7pNRtep0V8orX1sf5pMrhP_UZ-hJEZ16_8POSHsXUY)
July 22, 1864. The attack by Walker´s & Bate´s divs. (Hardee´s A.C.) [CSA] struck the two brigades, Mersy´s & Rice´s, of Sweeny´s 16th A.C. div. [USA] enroute to support the 17th in E. Atlanta.
Walker´s troops came up Sugar Cr., valley from the S.; Bate´s from the high ground eastward.
Sweeny´s men hastily formed defensively -- Rice racing E., Mersy S., the apex of the lines atop the hill where Laird´s 14th Ohio Battery was posted & where Murphy High School stands. Blodgett´s Missouri Battery H was at Rice´s center, facing E. Though greatly outnumbered, Sweeny managed to hold the position, thereby foiling Hardee´s thrust at the Federal rear.
044-49 GEORGIA HISTORIC MARKER 1988
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Byron Hooks of Lat34North.com.