LaFayette in Walker County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Chattooga Academy - John B. Gordon Hall
Bragg's Headquarters and the Battle of LaFayette
— Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails, Inc. —
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 20, 2019
1. Chattooga Academy - John B. Gordon Hall Marker
Inscription.
Chattooga Academy - John B. Gordon Hall. Bragg's Headquarters and the Battle of LaFayette. Named for John Brown Gordon, a Confederate general, Georgia governor and U.S. Senator, this school stands, as a silent monument to the citizens whose legacies made La Fayette a historically rich community. Originally named “Chattooga Academy,” it was completed in May 1836 when this area was inhabited mostly by the Cherokee Nation. Its architecture is a classic design in Georgian simplicity. It cost $815 to construct.
The Federal Army of the Cumberland's advance into northwest Georgia in early September 1863 threatened the communications of Confederate General Braxton Bragg's Army of Tennessee, prompting the latter's evacuation of Chattanooga on September 8th. Bragg moved about 25 miles south to La Fayette, making his headquarters at the Academy from September 10 through 17. He worked each day under the shade of a large oak tree located in front of the school. Bragg left to observe activities at Davis's Cross Roads on September 11 and at Lee and Gordon's Mills on September 13, returning each evening. From here he also mapped his army's strategy for what became the Battle of Chickamauga which occurred 15 miles north from September 18 through 20, 1863.
Near dawn on June 24, 1864, approximately 1,000 Confederate cavalrymen commanded by Brigadier General Gideon J. Pillow attacked about 400 Federals occupying LaFayette. A two-pronged strike from both the south and west was initially successful. Confederate Captain William V. Harrell's Alabama battalion drove some of Union Colonel Louis D. Watkins' Kentuckians from the Academy and took possession of it. Pressing their advantage to the center of town, the Confederates were close to forcing Watkins' surrender when suddenly the Federal 4th Kentucky Mounted Infantry Regiment under Colonel John T. Croxton arrived and turned the fight.
The Confederate 8th Alabama Cavalry Regiment, principally conscripted young boys and old men in their first battle, was fighting dismounted. They retreated in panic but could not reach their horses before a number were captured, many near the Academy. Among those captured was 44-year-old Private Thomas Jefferson White of Fayette County, Alabama. After his capture, White, along with other Confederates, was sent via train to Camp Morton, a prisoner-of-war camp in Indianapolis, Indiana. White contracted pneumonia there during the winter of 1864-65 September 13 from which he died shortly here he after being exchanged. at be a Although not listed as being killed during the Battle of La Fayette, White ultimately died because of it. The 8th Alabama suffered the largest number of Confederate casualties, which totaled 24 killed, 53 wounded and 77 captured. Colonel Watkins reported 4 killed, 7 wounded and 64 captured, most of whom were taken captive near the Academy.
After the war the Academy continued until 1921 under various names. The famous oak tree, named “Bragg's Oak," stood until 1925 when felled by lightning. The building was renamed “John B. Gordon Hall” during its centennial year of 1936. Gordon had attended the Academy as a boy. The building has since been used for a variety of community purposes.
Named for John Brown
Gordon, a Confederate
general, Georgia governor
and U.S. Senator, this
school stands, as a silent
monument to the citizens
whose legacies made
La Fayette a historically rich
community. Originally
named “Chattooga Academy,” it was completed
in May 1836 when this area was inhabited
mostly by the Cherokee Nation. Its architecture
is a classic design in Georgian simplicity. It cost
$815 to construct.
The Federal Army of the Cumberland's
advance into northwest Georgia in early
September 1863 threatened the communications
of Confederate General
Braxton Bragg's Army
of Tennessee, prompting
the latter's evacuation
of Chattanooga on
September 8th. Bragg
moved about 25 miles
south to La Fayette,
making his headquarters
at the Academy from
September 10 through 17. He worked each day
under the shade of a large oak tree located in
front of the school. Bragg left to observe
activities at Davis's Cross Roads on September 11
and at Lee and Gordon's Mills on September 13,
returning each evening. From here he also
mapped his army's strategy for what became the
Battle of Chickamauga which occurred 15 miles
north from September 18 through 20, 1863.
Near dawn on June 24,
1864, approximately 1,000
Confederate cavalrymen
commanded by Brigadier
General Gideon J. Pillow
attacked
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about 400 Federals
occupying LaFayette. A
two-pronged strike from both
the south and west was initially
successful.
Confederate Captain
William V. Harrell's
Alabama battalion drove
some of Union Colonel Louis
D. Watkins' Kentuckians
from the Academy and took
possession of it. Pressing
their advantage to the center
of town, the Confederates
were close to forcing
Watkins' surrender when
suddenly the Federal 4th
Kentucky Mounted Infantry
Regiment under Colonel
John T. Croxton arrived and
turned the fight.
The Confederate 8th
Alabama Cavalry Regiment,
principally conscripted young
boys and old men in their
first battle, was fighting
dismounted. They retreated in
panic but could not reach their
horses before a number were
captured, many near the Academy. Among
those captured was 44-year-old Private Thomas
Jefferson White of Fayette County, Alabama.
After his capture, White, along with other
Confederates, was sent via train to Camp
Morton, a prisoner-of-war camp in Indianapolis,
Indiana. White contracted
pneumonia there during
the winter of 1864-65
September 13 from which he died shortly
here he after being exchanged.
at be a Although not listed as
being killed during the
Battle of La Fayette, White
ultimately died because of
it. The 8th Alabama
suffered the largest
number of Confederate
casualties, which totaled
24 killed, 53 wounded
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 20, 2019
2. Chattooga Academy - John B. Gordon Hall Marker is on the right of the three.
and
77 captured. Colonel
Watkins reported 4 killed,
7 wounded and 64
captured, most of whom were taken captive
near the Academy.
After the war the Academy continued until
1921 under various names. The famous oak
tree, named “Bragg's Oak," stood until 1925
when felled by lightning. The building was
renamed “John B. Gordon Hall” during its
centennial year of 1936. Gordon had attended
the Academy as a boy. The building has since
been used for a variety of community purposes.
Erected by Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails, Inc. (Marker Number 3.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Civil War Trails series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1836.
Location. 34° 42.531′ N, 85° 16.84′ W. Marker is in LaFayette, Georgia, in Walker County. Marker can be reached from North Main Street (Business U.S. 27) north of Wardlaw Street East, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 308 North Main Street, La Fayette GA 30728, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Chattooga Academy (here, next to this marker); The Marsh House (here, next to this marker); John B. Gordon Hall (a few steps
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 20, 2019
3. The former Chattooga Academy - John B. Gordon Hall
4. Another Chattooga Academy marker to left of this marker.
Photographed By Mark Hilton, November 20, 2019
5. Nearby marker about the John B. Gordon Hall.
Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on November 26, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 281 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 26, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
