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| Iowa Monument at Allatoona Pass
The Etowah Valley Historical Society has established a memorial garden for monuments for each of the states that had soldiers at the Civil War Battle of Allatoona Pass in Georgia. So far, there are monuments for Texas, Mississippi and Missouri.
Allatoona Pass is located north of Atlanta and served as an important Union supply point and a depot on the Western and Atlantic Railroad. Confederate General Samuel French and a force of 3276 men attacked on October 5, 1864. Union General John Corse with 2025 men drove off the Confederate force after a fierce battle. The 30% casualty rate is one of the highest of any Civil War battle.
Hold the Fort! Ever wondered where that term originated? Although he claimed he never said it, newspapers reported that General Sherman sent this message to General Corse during the battle. “Hold the Fort” soon became a popular and well known hymn.
The 39th had two companies each from Madison, Dallas and Polk counties. Clarke, Greene, Carroll, Des Moines, Henry, Warren, Guthrie and Decatur Counties were also heavily represented in the regiment.
The other Iowa connection at Allatoona Pass was General Corse, a native of Burlington, Iowa. Earlier in the war he commanded the 6th Iowa Infantry. He was wounded at Allatoona Pass and led the Federal Forces to victory.
Today, the battlefield is very well preserved. In addition to Iowa, the Union had units from Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio. The budget for a monument honoring the Iowa soldiers is $10,000. The design of the monument will prominently mention the Iowa 39th Regiment and General Corse. The dedication will be held Saturday, October 4, 2008. Anyone with an ancestor or relative in the regiment or other Iowans would be encouraged to attend.
Persons wishing to make a donation can make a tax deductible contribution to the Etowah Valley Historical Society. It should be earmarked for the Iowa monument.
c/o Ed Hill, President 36 Ben Ham Circle Cartersville, GA 30120. The Iowa monument project is headed by Mark Willard, Elias Moon Camp #2, a native of Fort Dodge who now lives in Georgia. His phone is 770 923-6681. Or contact Tom Gaard, Grenville M. Dodge Camp #75 in Iowa. Contact him at 515 226-1961 or Gaardt@aol.com if there are questions or if there is an interest in having a presentation made to an organization.
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The Iowa 39th Regiment suffered severe casualties. Of 280 men engaged in the battle, there were 40 killed, 54 wounded, and 76 missing, a 61% casualty rate. Regimental Commander Colonel James Redfield was shot, first in the foot and then in the leg, without leaving his post. Finally, he was killed when he was struck in the heart. The town of Redfield was named after him.
