BGuthrie Photos: GA -- Decatur -- Court House

GA -- Decatur -- Court House:

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Copyrights: All pictures were taken by amateur photographer Bruce Guthrie (me!) who retains copyright on them. Free for non-commercial use with attribution. See the [Creative Commons] definition of what this means. "Photos (c) Bruce Guthrie" is fine for attribution. (Commercial use folks including AI scrapers can of course contact me.) Feel free to use in publications and pages with attribution but you don't have permission to sell the photos themselves. A free copy of any printed publication using any photographs is requested. Descriptive text, if any, is from a mixture of sources, quite frequently from signs at the location or from official web sites; copyrights, if any, are retained by their original owners.

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[1] DECCH_150813_002.JPG	[2] DECCH_150813_005.JPG	[3] DECCH_150813_011.JPG
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Specific picture descriptions: Photos above with "i" icons next to the bracketed sequence numbers (e.g. "[1] ") are described as follows:
1. DECCH_150813_002.JPG: Relic of the Indian War of 1836. Mounted by Agnes Lee Chapter UDC No. 484, Apr. 26, 1906.
2. DECCH_150813_005.JPG: The Stoneman Raid In July, 1864, Maj. Gen W.T. Sherman's army (US) closed in on Atlanta. Finding its fortifications "too strong to assault and too extensive to invest," he sought to force its fall by sending Maj. Gen. Geo. Stoneman, with three brigades (2112 men and 2 guns) of the Army of the Ohio cavalry, to cut the Central of Georgia R.R. by which the defenders (CS) were supplied. On the 27th, Stoneman sent Garrard to Flat Rock (12 miles SE) to protect his rear, then left Decatur, crossed the Ocmulgee (Yellow) River near Covington, and turned down the left bank towards Monticello and Macon. Near Macon on the 30th, he detached part of the 14th Illinois Cavalry which wrecked railway facilities at Griswoldville, Gordon, McIntyre, and Toomsboro (east of Macon), and burned trains, trestles, and the long railway bridge over the Oconee River. At Macon (95 miles SE), he was turned back by the Georgia Militia, strongly entrenched. Unable to advance, he shelled Macon briefly, then attempted to retreat. Early the next morning, Sunday the 31st, he was brought to bay at Sunshine Church (19 miles NE of Macon) by Brig. Gen. Alfred Iverson, Jr., who, with only 1300 cavalry (CS), had marched to intercept him. Deluded into believing that he was surrounded, Stoneman covered the escape northward of Adams' and Capron's brigades, then he surrendered, with about 600 men and his artillery and train, to what Iverson had managed to convince him was a substantially superior force.
3. DECCH_150813_011.JPG: Garrard's Cavalry Raid On July 20, 1864, Union forces under Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman, USA, were closing in on Atlanta. Hq. 2nd Cavlary Division (US), Brig. Gen. Kenner Garrard, was in Decatur. His three brigades were scattered from Decatur to Roswell, guarding bridges over the Chattahoochee River and picketing the left flank. That night, Garrard was ordered to assemble his command and march to Covington (30 miles SE), to burn bridges over the Yellow and Ulcofauhachee (Alcovy) rivers and to destroy the railroad between Lithonia and the Alcovy. Garrard marched late on the 21st. He returned to Decatur on the 24th, after marching almost 90 miles. He destroyed 4 wagon bridges, 2 railroad bridges and more than 6 miles of track. At Covington, he burned the depot, a newly built army hospital center, 2000 bales of cotton, and large quantities of quartermaster and commissary supplies. Three trains were captured and burned. Garrard's raid cut off all communication between Atlanta and Augusta and destroyed any hope that the Army of Tennessee (CS) - the hard pressed defenders of Atlanta - might receive supplies or reinforcements from Eastern Confederacy; but this success was not without its price. Because of Garrard's absence from the Union left, Hardee's Corps (CS) was able to approach undetected and launch his smashing blow at that unguarded flank which has passed into history as the Battle of Atlanta.
4. DECCH_150813_021.JPG: After forty-two years, another generation bears witness to the future that these men were of a covenant keeping race who held fast to the faith as it was given by the fathers of the republic. Modest in prosperity, gentle in peace, brave in battle and undespairing in defeat, they knew no law of life but loyalty and truth and civic faith, and to these virtues they consecrated their strength. These men held that the states made the Union, that the Constitution is the evidence of the covenant, that the people of the state are subject to no power except as they have agreed that free convention binds the parties to it, that there is sanctity in oaths and obligation in contracts, and in defense of these principles they mutually pledged their lives, their fortunes and their sacred honor.
5. DECCH_150813_024.JPG: How well they kept the faith is faintly written in the records of the armies and the history of the times. We who knew them testify that as their courage was without a precedent their fortitude has been without a parallel. May their posterity by worthy.
6. DECCH_150813_027.JPG: Erected by the men and women and children of DeKalb County, to the memory of the soldiers and sailors of the Confederacy, of whose virtues in peace and in war we are witnesses, to the end that justice may be done and that the truth perish not.
7. DECCH_150813_042.JPG: "At the Height of Laughter, the Universe is flung into kaleidoscopes of New possibilities." -- Jean Houston
8. DECCH_150813_046.JPG: Commodore Stephen Decatur 1779-1820
9. DECCH_150813_062.JPG: DeKalb County Police Established 1915 This Memorial, conceived by Police Chief R. T. Burgess, Sr. and funded by the citizens, was dedicated on May 16th, 1997 during the celebration of the 175th anniversary of DeKalb County. It will forever honor law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the performance of their duty.
10. DECCH_150813_066.JPG: Old DeKalb County Courthouse "I had no doubt of my ability to hold the courthouse..." Georgia Civil War Heritage Trails Historic Driving Routes Five DeKalb County courthouses have been erected here in the center of Decatur since 1823. The third courthouse structure, between 1847 and 1898, was where DeKalb County's two anti-secession delegates were selected to attend Georgia's secession convention in January 1861. That same courthouse was also in the center of numerous military actions during 1864. On Tuesday, July 19, 1864, the 15th, 16th and 17th Corps of Union Major General James B. McPherson's "Army of the Tennessee," part of Union Major General William T. Sherman's command, camped overnight in Decatur. They moved southwest across the county toward their clash with Confederates at the "Battle of Atlanta" on July 22nd. Union Brigadier General Kenner Garrard assembled his cavalry division in Decatur on July 20th leaving on the 21st in order to destroy the railroad eastward toward Covington. His cavalrymen returned here on the 24th. When Confederate General John B. Hood planned the Battle of Atlanta, his cavalry, under Major General Joseph Wheeler, was directed to attack the wagon trains of General McPherson's army. These wagons carrying vital supplies were still located in Decatur. They were guarded by Union Colonel John W. Sprague's brigade. On July 22nd, General Wheeler's dismounted cavalrymen deployed south of the railroad (about four blocks to the south) and drove Colonel Sprague's command north to the courthouse. Outnumbered and attacked on three sides, Sprague was forced to withdraw about one mile north (to present-day North Decatur Road). Sprague later wrote, "I had no doubt of my ability to hold the courthouse square and the town, but this would not prevent the enemy from attacking the trains of our army coming up from Roswell, so I withdrew from the town on [Clairmont] Road." The Federals made a stand at their new location and Wheeler withdrew after receiving orders to rejoin the main Confederate army at Atlanta. As a result of this action, Sprague was promoted to brigadier general and in 1894 was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously. One brave lady, Mary Gay, refused to leave her home in Decatur which was originally located on Marshall Street within view of the courthouse. She told her amazing story in her book, Life in Dixie During the War. Gay hid clothing in her home before delivering them to needy Confederate soldiers. She later supported both herself and others by collecting bullets and artillery shells to trade for food. Following these military actions the citizens of Decatur endured another four months of enemy activities. They included the assembly of Union Major General George Stoneman's cavalry division for its raid toward Macon starting on July 27th, occupation by the 23rd Corps in September 1864 following the surrender of Atlanta and the marching of General Sherman's "Left Wing" through town on November 15th and 16th after departing Atlanta on their "March to the Sea." The current structure served as DeKalb County's courthouse from 1918 to 1967.
11. DECCH_150813_081.JPG: Steatite Boulder This steatite boulder was found on the site of a prehistoric quarry along Soapstone Ridge 8 miles south of Decatur. It shows the methods of Indians in making stone bowls, with the first girdling of the stone to remove workable cores. It is estimated to be at least 3,000 years old by archaeologists studying such remains in central and north Georgia. The soapstone quarry on River Road, DeKalb County, is the largest found by archaeologists in Georgia.
12. DECCH_150813_084.JPG: Baron DeKalb 1721-1780 Hero of the American Revolution Placed by Baron DeKalb chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
13. DECCH_150813_113.JPG: Valentine by George Lundeen This bronze sculpture reflects the enduring love shared by the couple depicted here. The artist completed a sculpture of these subjects early in their lives together and chose to revisit them again later in life for this piece. This sculpture is dedicated to William R. "Bill" Floyd and his wife Sydney Floyd in recognition of their contributions to the City of Decatur. January 22, 2008
14. DECCH_150813_117.JPG: "Freedom is the genesis of all American glory." -- United States Senator Paul Coverdell, January 20, 1939 - July 18, 2000 Dedicated by the City of Decatur on October 23, 2000, to the memory of U.S. Senator Paul D. Coverdell who devoted his life and career to the principles of liberty set forth by Thomas Jefferson. "A wise and frugal government, which shall restrain men form injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouths of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government." -- Thomas Jefferson The statue of Thomas Jefferson was crafted by artist George Lundeen of Loveland, Colorado.
15. DECCH_150813_121.JPG: Wheeler's Cav. at Decatur July 22, 1864. Coincident with Hardee's night march to attack Federal forces in E. Atlanta, Wheeler's cavalry (CS) was sent to seize McPherson's wagon trains parked N. of the Decatur public square, guarded by Sprague's 16th A.C. brigade & three sections of field artillery. Wheeler's men, dismounted, were deployed S. of the R.R. & drove Sprague's troops, together with the Chicago Board of Trade & Michigan batteries, (US) to the public square where, out flanked, they withdrew with the wagon trains to the North Decatur Road. Wheeler made no pursuit because of peremptory orders to rejoin Hardee in E. Atlanta.
16. DECCH_150813_127.JPG: DeKalb County DeKalb County, created by Act of General Assembly Dec. 9, 1822 and including Fulton County until 1853, was named for Baron Johann DeKalb, a native German who fought gallantly for American freedom. Wounded and captured at the Battle of Camden, S.C., August 9, 1780, he died a British prisoner. Most of the early settlers of DeKalb County came from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina. First County Officers, commissioned March 18, 1822 in Fayette County, were: John S. Welch, Sheriff; Thomas A. Dobbs, Clerk Inferior Court; John Calhoun, Coroner; James Adams, Surveyor.
17. DECCH_150813_140.JPG: During the Battle of Decatur on July 22nd 1864 there was hot fighting in and around the old courthouse which stood on this square. Wheeler's Cavalry made a gallant charge here and captured a battery of federal artillery with officers and men.
18. DECCH_150813_142.JPG: Unlawful to park wagon or buggies around this square
19. DECCH_150813_151.JPG: Roy A. Blount Plaza Dedicated to the memory of a great builder of homes and schools, and the rapid transit system which lies under this plaza. Roy A. Blount 1913-1974
20. DECCH_150813_156.JPG: Viet Nam "Flame of Freedom" Presented by the county officials and the American Legion in commemoration of its 50th anniversary and dedicated to all those who served the cause of freedom in the armed forces of the United States. March 15th, 1969
21. DECCH_150813_167.JPG: Decatur, Georgia The city of homes, schools and churches Settled by Scotch-Irish pioneers from Virginia and the Carolinas. Incorporated in 1823. Named for Commodore Stephen Decatur, noted American naval officer in the War of 1812. "Our country! -- In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right -- but, our country, right or wrong." Erected by Decatur Lodge BPOE 1602 1937
22. DECCH_150813_170.JPG: Elizabeth Wilson Mayor Emerita Decatur citizens purchased this sculpture to honor Elizabeth Wilson and commemorate her retirement from the Decatur City Commission. With her election in 1983, she became the first African American to serve on the City Commission and in 1983, she became the first African American mayor, a position she held until 1998. She retired from the commission in 1999. A civil rights activist, community health center advocate, neighborhood leader, public servant, mother, grandmother and friend, Elizabeth Wilson is a quiet, dedicated trailblazer who forever changed this city with her gentle but firm determination to create a better community for all citizens. Her impact will continue to be felt for years to come. The artist's description of this sculpture Celebration, describes Elizabeth Wilson and her vision for our community. Dedicated in May 2000
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