Tour Details

Battle took place on July 22, 1864
This special tour will take place on July 23, 2022 (my 67th birthday)
Very likely my last BoA tour; maybe even my last “final tour”
Virtual tour possible (you can attend one or both)
SherpaVIP promo code should work
Registration Link (Eventbrite)

Background

On July 22, 1864, a massive battle raged in the modern-day neighborhoods of Inman Park, Reynoldstown, Edgewood, Candler Park, Kirkwood, East Atlanta and Grant Park. The battle's front line ran along what is now Moreland Avenue and stretched from East Atlanta Village to the Inman Park MARTA station.

During the fateful encounter, 75,000 troops (wool uniforms in 94-degree heat) engaged in fierce hand-to-hand combat. By the time the sun set that day, eyewitnesses reported seeing a "river of blood" flowing down Bald Hill, which stood where the eastbound exit ramp for Moreland Ave comes off of I-20 today. The nine-hour battle, which resulted in 9,200 casualties, would claim the lives of two major generals: James Birdseye McPherson (USA, 35 years old) and William Henry Talbot Walker (CSA, 47 years old).

Commanding (USA) General William Tucumseh Sherman watched the battle unfold from his vantage point where the Carter Center stands today. Commanding (CSA) General John Bell Hood did the same from his vantage point, which was located on the highest point of what is now Historic Oakland Cemetery. These are the starting and ending points of this 3-hour walking tour.

Some of the most intense fighting took place late that afternoon in an area known as the "Railroad Cut." That was located where the Inman Park MARTA station stands today. That specific scene was immortalized in the historic painting known as the Atlanta Cyclorama, which now lives at the Atlanta History Center in Buckhead.

The purpose of this educational tour is to help participants understand what happened that day and place it into context with our modern-day city. It is not to celebrate or honor anyone or anything in any way.

Logistics

$25/person; tickets are non-refundable, but they are transferrable
Tour is limited to 20 people
Minimum age is 21 (no exceptions)
You must be in excellent physical condition to participate due to the heat and distance
The tour, itself, is about three hours long. There will be an optional lunch after the tour (location TBD). Food and beverages are not included in the ticket price.
Tour participants will receive at least one email update after registering.
We will be following the "Battlefield West" tour route on this interactive educational map.
Dogs are permitted if leashed and well-behaved at all times. That said, please keep in mind that we will be walking on hot and uneven asphalt and concrete for 3+ hours.
Please arrive at meeting location by 09:45. You will NOT need a printed ticket. All check in is done digitally. We will meet at the picnic tables shown in the first video below.
In the event of heavy rain, the tour will be rescheduled to July 30. If you cannot make that new date, you can request a full refund. Weather updates will be sent 24 hours before the tour if necessary.

Interactive Map

Register for July 23 Tour

Resources

Interactive Map by ATLsherpa
Battle of Atlanta Overview (American Battlefield Trust)
Battle of Atlanta: History & Remembrance (Southern Spaces)
War in Our Backyards (AJC)

Blood Mountain Hike

Blood Mountain Hiking Trail Map

Exploring Atlanta

Battle of Atlanta Walking Tour (Sold Out)