South Downtown in Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Transfer of Command
Under orders from President Davis, on July 17, 1864, General Joseph E. Johnston, the masterful tactician and soldier, relinquished command of the Army of Tennessee. To succeed him, General John B. Hood, one of his corps commanders, an intrepid fighter, was appointed. The transfer of command was formerly made on July 18, at a point on the Marietta Road, near the city limits. When Hood assumed command of the Army of Tennessee, its numerical strength, according to the General's official report, was: Infantry 33,750, Artillery 3,500, Calvary 10,000, which, with 1,500 Georgia militia, made a total of 48,500 men.
Opposed to him, at the Gates of Atlanta, and Sherman´s monster force of invasion, a triple army, subdivided as follows: the Army of the Tennessee, under McPherson, the Army of the Cumberland, under Thomas, and the Army of the Ohio, under Schofield. It strength, at the beginning of the summer, according to Union authorities, was 100,000; and deducting losses sustained during the march from Dalton to Atlanta, it was still nearly twice the size of Hood's, and was commanded by veteran leaders.
Erected 1920 by Atlanta Chapter United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1854.
Location. 33° 44.966′ N, 84° 23.319′ W. Marker is in Atlanta, Georgia, in Fulton County. It is in South Downtown. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Washigton Street SW and Martin Luther King Jr Drive SW, on the left when traveling south. Located on the grounds of the Georgia State Capitol. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 206 Washington St SW, Atlanta GA 30334, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Battle of Atlanta (here, next to this marker); Thomas E. Watson (a few steps from this marker); The Seige of Atlanta (a few steps from this marker); The Evacuation of Atlanta (a few steps from this marker); John Brown Gordon (within shouting distance of this marker); Historic Ground (within shouting distance of this marker); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (within shouting distance of this marker); Joseph Emerson Brown (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atlanta.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 20, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 376 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 20, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.