Catoosa County Civil War Driving Tour

Catoosa
County
Civil War
Driving
Tour
Sponsored by Catoosa
County, Georgia
Chamber of Commerce
1960’s Tour Updated June 2011 by:
Patricia A. Silcox, president, United
Daughters of the Confederacy, Catoosa
Chapter 1987
William H.H. Clark, Catoosa County
Historian
DOWNTOWN RINGGOLD
5. NORTHWEST GEORGIA BANK (No Marker)
(Previously located at 896 Lafayette Street) Two story
1. RINGGOLD DEPOT (Marker)
with columns all around. Owned by the Inman
Family. Printed their own pre-Civil War paper
money. Served as the Bragg Hospital.
6. PRE-CIVIL WAR CHURCHES (No Marker)
Methodist Church was located next to the cemetery
on Lafayette Street. Baptist Church located just west
of present structure. (Marker) Presbyterian (Old
Stone Church) still standing and located on Hwy 41.
7. ANDERSON CEMETERY (Marker)
(Located on Lafayette Street) Anderson family cemetery
and later used by the community. Resting place of
many Civil War Veterans. Burial site of 137
Confederate Soldiers who died in the Ringgold
hospitals and later were moved to the Confederate
Cemetery in Marietta. Marker inside Cemetery.
8. EVANS HOME (Marker located on Tennessee St.)
Built about 1850. Gen. Hooker’s Union Headquarters
during the “Battle of Ringgold Gap.” South end
possibly destroyed by Confederate cannons during
the battle. Roof was blown off in an attempt to
destroy the building after the battle. Across the
street (now Benton Supply) was the Whitsett House, an
early two story inn for people arriving via the trains
2. WHITMAN HOUSE ( Marker)
(On Tennessee Street across from City Hall) Built by
Whitman in late 1850’s. Family watched “Battle of
nd
Ringgold Gap” from the 2 floor. Only house in
Georgia in which General Grant of the Union Army
spent the night.
3. WHITMAN’S STORES (No Marker)
(Corner of Nashville and Tennessee Streets) Two brick
stores built by Whitman and Whitsett in 1850.
Second store had a hand operated grain elevator.
Stores were looted and the interiors burned by
Wilder’s Cavalry in September 1863. Nearby buildings
with a high roof line are pre-Civil War. Hitching posts
and the town pump were located in the park across
the street.
4. CATOOSA COUNTY COURTHOUSE (Marker)
Originally built on this spot in 1854, it was spared by
Sherman because
of the Masonic Hall
rd
on the 3 floor.
Served as the
Buckner Hospital.
Ringgold hospitals
received patients
from as far away as
Kentucky. Present
structure constructed in 1939.
(Destroyed by Tornadoes April 2011; previously on SW
corner of Nashville and Guyler Streets) A dog-trot log
cabin, served as a boarding house for two
Confederate Nurses, Kate Cummings and Fannie
Beers. Both left vivid descriptions of their
experiences in the Ringgold hospitals.
9. NEW YORK MONUMENT (Monument - Located
at the south end of Depot Street near Chickamauga Creek)
Commemorates five New York Regiments engaged in
the “Battle of Ringgold Gap.”
41 HWY/KEITH &
CHEROKEE VALLEY
RD. AREA
10. RINGGOLD GAP
ROADSIDE PARK (Marker On Hwy. 41, ½ mi. south of
Ringgold)
Civil War map and
statue of Gen. Patrick
Cleburne, Commander of the
Confederate forces during the
“Battle of Ringgold Gap.” Here
4,000 Confederates held the
Union Army long enough for
the Confederate Army
to get reorganized at Tunnel Hill.
(Photo by Graphic
Advertising)
11. CHEROKEE SPRINGS (Marker - Off Hwy 41 and ½
mile north on Cherokee Valley Rd.) Summer resort and
site of 500 bed Confederate convalescent hospital.
Patients included Gen. Bragg and his wife. Present
houses were part of the resort. Hospital moved to
Newnan, GA prior to the “Battle of Chickamauga.”
12. CATOOSA STATION (No Marker -Located off
Hwy 41 on right just past Cherokee Valley Rd) A platform
half covered with a shed used as a train stop for
tourist visiting the summer resorts of Cherokee and
Catoosa Springs. Longstreet’s Corps of 12,000
disembarked here prior to the “Battle of
Chickamauga”, because the railroad bridges to
Ringgold had been burned.
13. OLD
STONE
CHURCH
(Marker - Located
on Hwy 41 at
Catoosa Parkway)
Presbyterian
Church built in
1850. Used as a Confederate
(Photo by Patricia Silcox)
surgical hospital and as a stable by the Union.
Blood stains still on the floor. It is now the Catoosa
County Old Stone Church Museum open from 1 to 5
Thursday through Sunday.
14. OLD FEDERAL ROAD (Marker near entrance
to Tiger Creek School, a few yards on the right past Old
Stone Church on Catoosa Parkway) Road was built
through the Cherokee Territory sometime after 1805.
It went from Athens, GA to Nashville, TN. It was the
Interstate of its day and is still visible in several places
in the county. It was used as a major transportation
route by both armies during the Civil War.
15. CATOOSA SPRINGS (Marker - Turn off Hwy 41
onto Catoosa Pkwy, go 1.2 mi. turn left on Keith, go 0.7
mi.; turn onto circle driving lane - Glenn Hefner Lane to
view marker)
Was a large summer resort known as the “Sarasota of
the South.” A three story hotel and cottages that
could accommodate over 3,000 guests each summer.
Used as a 500-bed Confederate convalescent hospital
and Headquarters for Union Gen. Oliver O. Howard’s
4th Corps. According to the historical marker,
drinking or bathing in the mineral waters of the
151 from the cemetery was an Indian community
center and tribal dancing grounds
springs enabled many soldiers to return to duty.
16. LEE’S CHAPEL (Marker - Turn off Hwy 41 onto GA
Methodist
2/ Catoosa Pkwy - 3253 Catoosa Pkwy)
Church built in 1860 on land donated by Dr. James
Lee. Assembly point for the Army of the Cumberland
and Army of the Ohio and starting point for
Sherman’s advance on Atlanta.
Fort Oglethorpe, Old Lafayette
Rd/Hwy. 27
GA. HWY 151 (Alabama Hwy) AREA
(Photo by Patricia Silcox)
17. YATES SPRINGS (No Marker)
House built in the late 1830’s and is one of the oldest
in the county. Built by Presley Yates who was an
early settler and owned several thousand acres of
local land. The first house on the property was
burned by the Indians the day before he was to move
in. Yates was one of the two delegates from Catoosa
to the secession convention in Milledgeville. Today
the spring is a major supply of water for the county.
18. NICK-A-JACK TRAIL (Marker - Hwy 151 to Mt.
Pisgah) Indian trail linking the Cherokee Capital of
New Echota with Leet’s Springs (Beaumont), Crawfish
Springs (Chickamauga), and Nick-A-Jack Cave on the
Tennessee River.
19. LEET’S SPRINGS & TANYARD (Marker – Hwy
151, turn on Mt. Pisgah, 0.1 mi past Nick-A-Jack Rd, just
before Beaumont Rd)
Rev. A.I. Leet was a farmer,
tanner and Methodist minister. Col. Wilder’s Cavalry
was surrounded here but, after dark, managed to slip
through the lines, leaving his dead on the front porch
of the house. Bragg’s orders for the “Battle of
Chickamauga” were issued here. During the winter
of 1864, the Union lines extended from Catoosa
Springs, to Ringgold to Leets’ Springs.
20. WOOD STATION (No Marker – Hwy. 151)
John Wood built a station on the stage line from
Knoxville to Birmingham located just south of
Temperance Hall Road. Served as the first post office
on the Ringgold-Trion route. Across Hwy.
21. Over 14 Historical Markers, Interpretative
Tablets and Monuments located on Old Lafayette
Road) in Fort Oglethorpe. (turn off Lafayette Rd at White
Street)
The town of Ft. Oglethorpe did not exist during
the Battle of Chickamauga; however, many
families’ homes were scattered on Lafayette Road
and throughout the county and on the fringes of the
historic Chickamauga Battlefield. Discover the
historic markers inside the City of Ft. Oglethorpe.
•
1st SHOT OF CHICKAMAUGA BATTLE ON SEPT.
11TH
At 1 A.M. on September 11, Gen. Crittenden left
Chattanooga enroute to Ringgold via Lafayette Rd.
Capt. McCook being informed of the route, became
concerned for his commander’s safety and at 2 a.m.
hurried to overtake him. In the darkness and mist two
of McCook’s escorts were fired upon by Forrest’s
Cavalry and captured on Lafayette Road.
•
UNION FIELD HOSPITAL AT CLOUD SPRINGS
Union Army Hosptial, Left Wing located in this vicinity
because of a good spring, a church and several houses.
•
NATHAN BEDFORD FORREST, PEGRAM &
ARMSTRONG BATTLES/SKIRMISHES IN AREA
OF OLD LAFAYETTE RD. (Several interpretative
markers)
•
CLOUD’S HOME AND CHURCH & FARM USED
AS HOSPITALS
Col. Cloud listed in the Catoosa County 1860 Census as
a planter, from Savannah, had served as an officer in
the Georgia Militia. In 1854 Cloud began purchasing
land in the area now known as Ft. Oglethorpe and at
one time held nearly 1700 acres of land. Many of the
Civil War era maps display the Cloud farm on Lafayette
Road. Today Cloud’s name remains prominent in our
area – Hwy. 146 Cloud Springs Road, Cloud Springs
and Cloudland Canyon are named for him.
•
23. ALEXANDER BRIDGE (Marker – Hwy 27, past
Chickamauga Park Museum, turn left on Alexander Bridge
Rd, Bridge at end of road – currently the bridge is under
repairs, not open to through traffic) Wilder’s Union
Army met the Confederates here.
Tennessee and Georgia Monuments (Several
on Old Lafayette Road located in Fort
Oglethorpe)
22. CHICKAMAUGA -CHATTANOOGA
NATIONAL MILITARY PARK
(Entrance on Lafayette Road/Hwy 27
Fort Oglethorpe)
“In north Georgia and south Tennessee, Union and
Confederate armies clashed during the fall of 1863 in
some of the hardest fighting of the Civil War. The
prize was Chattanooga, a key rail center and the
gateway to the heart of the Confederacy.
“Fighting began shortly after dawn on September 19.
The armies fought desperately all day, but the
Confederates eventually pushed the Federals back to
the LaFayette Road. On September 20, Bragg again
tried to drive between the Union force and
Chattanooga, but failed to dislodge Rosecrans' line.
Suddenly, a gap opened in the Federal ranks and
Confederates smashed through, routing Rosecrans and
half his army. General George H. Thomas took
command of the remaining Federals and formed a
new battleline on Snodgrass Hill. Here his men held
their ground against repeated assaults. After dark,
Thomas' forces withdrew from the field to the
defenses of Chattanooga. The Confederates pursued
and besieged the city. By placing artillery on the
heights overlooking the river and blocking the roads
and rail lines, the Southerners prevented Federal
supplies from entering the city.” (excerpts from:
REED’S BRIDGE RD./ BOYNTON
(Old Highway 2)
24. REED’S BRIDGE (Marker)
Union Col. Minty’s men had just crossed this bridge
before Confederates came within firing range and did
not have time to destroy the bridge. Historically, this
exchange of fire was the beginning of the Battle of
Chickamauga, although firing had been exchanged at
Ellis’ Springs and Peeler’s Mill.
25. NAPIER HOUSE (Marker - Located on Burning
Bush Road) Built by Thomas T. Napier in 1836 of
heavy timber brought by ox-wagon from Augusta,
GA. In earlier years, Indians built a mile long race
track here and had horse races. House served as
hospital during Battle of Chickamauga.
26. PEELER’S MILL (Marker at Boynton & 3 Notch
Rd.)
Located on Boynton Road in the vicinity of Carlock’s
Store. 976 of Col. Minty’s Union soldiers met Gens.
Johnson and Forresters’ Confederate men here and
retreated after 3 Federals were killed. Years later the
mill was dismantled and moved to Flintstone, GA.
John Gray and his brother were railroad builders.
The Plantation site of late 1840’s had 4000 acres.
Gray had grist mill, furniture shop, blacksmith shop,
horse track, lime kiln and a two story flour & grist
mill built of heavy stone on the creek. The Mill was
burned and rebuilt and is now a private residence.
The original John Gray home was spared by Gen.
Sherman because both Sherman and Gray were
masons. Union troops were stationed here after the
Battle of Ringgold.
28. THE “GENERAL” MONUMENT ( Monument)
(Photo by Patricia Silcox)
(Turn off Hwy 41 to Tennessee St., left on Ooltewah
Ringgold Road; monument near Rail line) - It was here
that the railroad engine “Texas”, running backwards,
caught the engine “General.” The General had been
stolen by Ohio soldiers, dressed in civilian clothes,
hoping to burn the railroad bridges between Atlanta
and Chattanooga. All were caught. Eight were hung,
some escaped and eight were exchanged. Those
exchanged received the first of what was to become
the Nation’s highest award for military valor, the
Congressional Medal of Honor.
Welcome to the Gateway to
Georgia….
http://www.nps.gov/chch/historyculture/index.htm )
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Park was officially dedicated in September 1895
1,400 monuments and historical markers
Theater - 26 minute multi-media program “Battle
of Chickamauga” (tickets available in bookstore)
Driving tours, hiking trails
Visitor Center & Museum
Well-stocked bookstore
(Photo by Patricia Silcox)
GRAYSVILLE COMMUNITY and
OOLTEWAH-RINGGOLD RD.
27. GRAYSVILLE (Marker at Mill – Graysville
establish -ed 1849 - Hwy 41 N to Indian Springs
Community; turn on Graysville Rd– Mill is on left near creek
& Railroad)
Our communities are a great place to live, work, and
play. Explore Civil War history at the Chickamauga
Chattanooga National Military Park, the Old Stone Church
Museum, the Ringgold Depot, and at the 28 Civil War
historical sites listed.
th
Discover Fort Oglethorpe’s namesake at the 6 Cavalry
Museum. Taste distinctive flavors at the Georgia Winery,
the state’s first farm winery. Spend an exciting day at Lake
Winnepesaukah, the south’s favorite amusement park.
Discover hidden treasures and delightful eats at local shops
and restaurants.
Stop by the Catoosa Visitors Information Center
located in the Chamber office or visit us on the web-site at
www.catoosachamberofcommerce.com
We hope you enjoy your time in Catoosa County and
visit us again soon.
264 Catoosa Circle, Ringgold, GA 30736
706-965-5201
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