Battle of Noonday Creek
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Noonday Creek was a series of combat events in the Atlanta Campaign
of the American Civil War
that took place between June 10 and July 3 of 1864.
General Garrard
was ordered by General Sherman
to interpose between General Joseph Wheeler
's cavalry
and detached infantry
at Noonday Creek
, which was just a few miles from Sherman's headquarters
at Big Shanty. When, after a week, Garrard failed to do so, two brigade
s of infantry and three brigades of cavalry
with artillery
support were advanced against the Confederate
positions on June 9. Two charges failed, and the Union Army retired from the field, however, Wheeler's cavalry was moved to a position between Bell's Ferry and Canton Road.
On June 10, the 15th regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry pushed the enemy across Noonday Creek after heavy fighting.
On June 15, a division
of Union Cavalry attacked and was repelled. On June 17, the Federals pushed Wheeler down Bell's Ferry Road, where he retired to Doctor Robert McAffee's house. On June 19, the Union Army attacked but was driven off with heavy losses.
On June 23, Colonel Eli Long, USA
, crossed Noonday Creek with his brigade. He was attacked at that time, and repelled the attackers.
The 4th Michigan Cavalry
was attacked by 4,500 of Wheeler's
cavalry at Latimar's Mill on Noonday Creek.
since the 1980s in the area near Town Center at Cobb, the McAfee house (and a historical marker
at the street) is still located on Bells Ferry Road, on the northwest corner of what is now the intersection
with Barrett Parkway
(west) and Piedmont Road (east). (34.0141°N 84.5488°W)
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta during the summer of 1864. Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman invaded Georgia from the vicinity of Chattanooga, Tennessee, beginning in May...
of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
that took place between June 10 and July 3 of 1864.
General Garrard
Kenner Garrard
Kenner Garrard was a brigadier general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. A member of one of Ohio's most prominent military families, he performed well at the Battle of Gettysburg, and then led a cavalry division in the army of Major General William T. Sherman during the Atlanta...
was ordered by General Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
to interpose between General Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
's cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
and detached infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
at Noonday Creek
Noonday Creek
Noonday Creek is a stream in Cobb and Cherokee counties in the U.S. state of Georgia. The stream begins near Kennesaw Mountain and ends at Lake Allatoona.-Geography:...
, which was just a few miles from Sherman's headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
at Big Shanty. When, after a week, Garrard failed to do so, two brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
s of infantry and three brigades of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
with artillery
Artillery
Originally applied to any group of infantry primarily armed with projectile weapons, artillery has over time become limited in meaning to refer only to those engines of war that operate by projection of munitions far beyond the range of effect of personal weapons...
support were advanced against the Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
positions on June 9. Two charges failed, and the Union Army retired from the field, however, Wheeler's cavalry was moved to a position between Bell's Ferry and Canton Road.
On June 10, the 15th regiment Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry pushed the enemy across Noonday Creek after heavy fighting.
On June 15, a division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
of Union Cavalry attacked and was repelled. On June 17, the Federals pushed Wheeler down Bell's Ferry Road, where he retired to Doctor Robert McAffee's house. On June 19, the Union Army attacked but was driven off with heavy losses.
On June 23, Colonel Eli Long, USA
Eli Long
Eli Long was a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:Long was born on June 16, 1837 in Woodford County, Kentucky, and graduated from the Kentucky Military Institute in 1855. In 1856, he was appointed second lieutenant in the 1st U.S...
, crossed Noonday Creek with his brigade. He was attacked at that time, and repelled the attackers.
The 4th Michigan Cavalry
4th Michigan Cavalry
4th Michigan Cavalry was a regiment of cavalry in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was noted as being the regiment that captured the fleeing President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, as the Confederacy collapsed in the spring of 1865.-Service:The regiment was...
was attacked by 4,500 of Wheeler's
Joseph Wheeler
Joseph Wheeler was an American military commander and politician. He has the rare distinction of serving as a general during war time for two opposing forces: first as a noted cavalry general in the Confederate States Army in the 1860s during the American Civil War, and later as a general in the...
cavalry at Latimar's Mill on Noonday Creek.
Since the Civil War
Despite severe land developmentLand development
Land development refers to altering the landscape in any number of ways such as:* changing landforms from a natural or semi-natural state for a purpose such as agriculture or housing...
since the 1980s in the area near Town Center at Cobb, the McAfee house (and a historical marker
Historical marker
A historical marker or historic marker is an indicator such as a plaque or sign to commemorate an event or person of historic interest and to associate that point of interest with a specific locale one can visit.-Description:...
at the street) is still located on Bells Ferry Road, on the northwest corner of what is now the intersection
Intersection (road)
An intersection is a road junction where two or more roads either meet or cross at grade . An intersection may be 3-way - a T junction or fork, 4-way - a crossroads, or 5-way or more...
with Barrett Parkway
Barrett Parkway
Ernest W. Barrett Parkway is a major thoroughfare in northwest metro Atlanta between western and northern Cobb County, Georgia. It runs from southwest of Marietta, to the north and then northeast near Kennesaw, and continues on in both directions under other names. The portion of Barrett Parkway...
(west) and Piedmont Road (east). (34.0141°N 84.5488°W)
Union Army
- 103rd Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment
- 40th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment40th Illinois Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 40th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 40th Illinois Infantry was organized at Springfield, Illinois and mustered into Federal service on August 10, 1861....
- 6th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment6th Iowa Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 6th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 6th Iowa Infantry was organized at Burlington, Iowa and mustered into Federal forces on July 17, 1861....
- 46th Ohio Infantry46th Ohio InfantryThe 46th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 46th Ohio Infantry was organized in Worthington, Ohio October 16, 1861 through January 28, 1862 and mustered in for three years service under the command of Colonel Thomas...
- 97th Regiment Indiana Infantry97th Regiment Indiana InfantryThe 97th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Organized in southwestern Indiana in 1862, the regiment saw action throughout the South at the siege of Vicksburg, the Battle of Atlanta and Sherman's March to the...
- 4th Michigan Cavalry4th Michigan Cavalry4th Michigan Cavalry was a regiment of cavalry in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was noted as being the regiment that captured the fleeing President of the Confederate States of America, Jefferson Davis, as the Confederacy collapsed in the spring of 1865.-Service:The regiment was...
- 15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment15th Iowa Volunteer Infantry RegimentThe 15th Regiment Iowa Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 15th Iowa Infantry was organized at Keokuk, Iowa and mustered in for three years of Federal service on February 22, 1862.The regiment was mustered out on July...