I recently tried to use the timetables and stations to guesstimate where the accident between Atlanta and Chattanooga occurred.

From Pvt.George Lea, Co. C 7th Regt. Miss. Inf.'s letter, August 8, 1862, Tynersville, TN:

"After the accident south of Greenville, AL the regiment's timeline looks like this:

Aug. 4, Mon. Cars left Montgomery for Tennessee
Aug. 5, Tues. Traveled to _______ (Probably West Point, Palmetto or Newnan GA or could be as far as Atlanta)
Aug. 6, Wed. Same day traveled to______ (Atlanta or Love Joy Station or as far north as Big Shanty or Marietta or Emerson)
Aug. 7, Thur. Traveled twenty miles before collision occurred. (Guess between Atlanta and Ringgold)
Aug. 8, Fri. Arrived Tynersville, Tenn." (about 10 miles SE of Chattanooga, TN.)

"George Lea's letter written after his arrival at Tyner's Station describes the events after leaving Montgomery on August 4, 1862 and what was to be the third train accident the regiment encountered on its journey since leaving the Mississippi coast less than six months earlier." (PP. 52-53 George S. Lea Collection) (From Draft History of the 7th Miss. "Lest We Forget-The Immortal Seventh Mississippi"-Ron Skellie)

My best guess based on how long after leaving August Montgomery 4th 1862 could be as far as (20+ miles north of _____) , Atlanta, Vinings Station, Marietta,Big Shanty(Now Kennesaw, GA),Allatoona or Emerson and before Ringgold. I know that's a big stretch, but the letter from Pvt.George S. Lea is unreadable as to place names after Montgomery.

Maybe David Bright or some other RR guy would like to figure the average speed and look at the timetables more closely and compare the notes in the Lea letter.