Midtown in Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

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Capt. Grant's Vision for a Safe City

Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

1. Capt. Grant's Vision for a Safe City Marker

Inscription. During the Civil War, Midtown Atlanta was mostly undeveloped wilderness. As a defensive move prior to the Battles for Atlanta in 1864, the area was cleared of trees and turned into a field of trenches, rifle pits, felled timbers, and earthen forts, creating a 10-mile ring encircling the city. This work was largely carried out with slave labor. Fort K was the northernmost outpost of the artillery entrenchments, and was located near the current site of the Fox Theatre.

These reinforcements were designed by a former railroad engineer named Captain Lemuel P. Grant - the same Grant who would lend his name to Grant Park. However, they were not enough to stop the Union's numbers, and the City of Atlanta was captured. James L. Calhoun, Mayor of Atlanta, surrendered the City to General William T. Sherman on September 2, 1864.

[Caption] View from a Confederate fort east of Peachtree Street, looking east, 1864. Image taken by George N. Bomard, retrieved from the Library of Congress

Erected by Atlanta History Center • Midtown Alliance.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is September 2, 1864.

Location. Marker is missing.

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It was located near 33° 46.832′ N, 84° 23.332′ W. Marker was in Atlanta, Georgia, in Fulton County. It was in Midtown. Marker was at the intersection of Peachtree Place Northwest and Spring Street Northwest, on the left when traveling west on Peachtree Place Northwest. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 950 Peachtree Pl NW, Atlanta GA 30309, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Academy of Medicine (approx. 0.2 miles away); David and Frances Cotting (approx. 0.2 miles away); Georgia Tech Meets Midtown (approx. ¼ mile away); The Atlanta Biltmore Hotel (approx. ¼ mile away); The Biltmore (approx. ¼ mile away); Margaret Mitchell House (approx. ¼ mile away); Peachtree Manor (approx. 0.3 miles away); The Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlanta.

Photographed By Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 11, 2023

2. Capt. Grant's Vision for a Safe City Marker

Arrow points to where the marker once stood.

Lemuel Pratt Grant (1817-1893) image. Click for full size.

from Atlanta and Its Builders by Thomas H. Martin via Wikipedia (Public Domain), circa 1902

3. Lemuel Pratt Grant (1817-1893)

Although his defensive plan for Atlanta failed, the city felt his influence in other, more positive ways. He donated the land for Grant Park, served as a councilman and was an influential civic leader. His home is one of only four remaining antebellum houses in Atlanta.

Atlanta fortifications image. Click for full size.

George N. Barnard via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), November 1864

4. Atlanta fortifications

View along the rebel line just east of the Western & Atlantic Railroad.

George N. Barnard via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), November 1864

5. Atlanta fortifications

Confederate palisades and chevaux-de-frise (timber spikes with barbed wire) near Potter house.

George N. Barnard via Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division (Public Domain), November 1864

6. Atlanta fortifications

Confederate chevaux-de-frise (wooden pickets) on the north side of the city.

Credits. This page was last revised on July 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on July 5, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 53 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 5, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on July 6, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.