Remembering the Battle of Atlanta – by Calvin E. Johnson, Jr.

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We enjoy our freedom, today, due to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. This story is dedicated to you and may God bless and bring you home safely.

Do your children know about the Battle's of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Chattanooga, Fredericksburg, Vicksburg and Atlanta of America's War Between the States?

In July, 1864, a free-black man, Soloman (Sam) Luckie, was leaning against a gas lamp post in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. The Atlanta barber was talking to a group of businessmen when a cannon shell burst wounded him. The white businessmen took him to their surgeon where he died from the wounds. Luckie may have been one of the first casualties of General Sherman's assault on Atlanta. A street was later named in his memory.

This gas lamp that proved unlucky for Sam Lucky was one of 50 gas lamps erected by the Atlanta Gas Light Company in 1856 and the only one to survive the War Between the States. This famous lamp was relit on December 15, 1939, in conjunction with the World Premiere of the movie "Gone With The Wind" in Atlanta, Georgia. It stood for many years on the corner of Whitehall (now Peachtree) and Mitchell Street. It was moved to Underground Atlanta when construction began on the Five Points Marta Rail Station.

July 22, is the 143rd Anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta that marked the beginning of the end of the Southern people's quest for freedom.

One hundred sixteen years after the Civil War Battle of Atlanta, a memorial event took place at the Neiman Marcus Department Store at Atlanta, Georgia's Lenox Square Shopping Mall. A special Battle of Atlanta Tea was held here starting in 1980. The programs for this occasion included speeches by noted historians; Mr. Virlyn Moore, Mr. Judson Ward and the late great Mr. Franklin M. Garrett. Garrett was the official Historian for the City of Atlanta and served as Director of the Atlanta Historical Society. History is always alive in Atlanta, Ga. Check the many events at: www.AtlantaHistoryCenter.com

The Battle of Atlanta Tea, held through the early 1980s, was a big success due to the efforts of Mrs. Elizabeth Edmondson, Mrs. Sally White of Nieman Marcus, the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. For information about the Sons of Confederate Veterans go to: www.scv.org

Atlanta's historic "Cyclorama", located at Grant Park, is a jewel of a painting depicting the Battle of Atlanta. A short distance from here is Historic Oakland Cemetery that is the final resting place to many Confederate soldiers some of whom died during the Battle of Atlanta.

Many people supported the Battle of Atlanta Tea in the 1980s. A reception room was set up with food and refreshment and the walls were adorned with Confederate and United States flags. The women wore ante-bellum attire and men wore Confederate uniforms. Confederate reenactors, with replica black powder period rifles, stood guard at store entrances and escalators to give directions and tell stories from the past.

Can you imagine such an event happening today? Our school bands no longer play "Dixie" but Dixie was played during the Battle of Atlanta Commemorations.

The Battle of Atlanta took place south of the Carter Center, down to the intersection of Moreland Avenue and Interstate 20 and around Glenwood Ave., Memorial Drive and Clay Street.

It is written that Black Confederates helped defend the city of Atlanta and Black Confederates are buried nearby on the grounds of a famous Atlanta African-American University. For more information about Black Confederates go to: www.blackconfederates.com

During the Battle of Atlanta the Confederate forces were first commanded by General Joseph E. Johnston and later by General John Bell Hood. The Union Forces were under command of General William Tecumseh Sherman. The main Union force was the Army of the Tennessee under Major General James B. McPherson who was killed during the Atlanta battle.

The webpage: www.batlevent.org is an interesting site for events celebrating the 143rd Anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta during the weekend of July 22nd in Atlanta.

Lest we forget the history of our nation!!!!

Calvin Johnson is a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and author of the book, "When America Stood for God, Family and Country" which is available at at: www.dixiedepot.com/CalvinjohjsonBook.htm.

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