Today is the 146th anniversary of the Battle of Atlanta. Not the version seen in "Gone With the Wind". The scene depicted in the Atlanta Cyclorama vividly captures the scope of this pivotal battle and captures the actual hand-to-hand fight for the railroad cut on the Atlanta and Augusta Railroad where men of Cheatham' Corps., particularly Brown's division composed of Sharp's Mississippi Brigade, Deas' Alabama Brigade, Brantley's Mississippi Brigade, and Manigault's South Carolina and Alabama Brigade, stormed the federal lines and routed several divisions of federal troops only to have to withdraw due to lack of reinforcements and the tremendous federal artillery barrage from their left.

On the right two great generals gave their lives, General Walker of the Confederate forces and General McPherson of the federal army. Men on both sides gave their all this day especially the men of Cheatham's Corps who advanced against enemy breastworks they had built and abandoned days before. In regiments now the size of companies and companies which at one time held 80-100 men now being as small as 15-20 men per company, they charged bayonets. The flags of the regiments in this late afternoon charge were so close that it was described a red sea of flags as on parade. On the breastworks men fought with bayonets, Bowie knives, gun butts, rocks and fists in what was described by one man as "the closest fight we was ever in".

Atlanta was by no means the end of the conflict for these men; but as we now know, it was a major turning point in the fight. Let us remember these men on both sides. They are all "our men" and should be held in high esteem for saving our nation regardless of the side for which they fought. Had not these battles been fought, our union would not have been renewed and we would be less free as a result.

Rest in Peace Brave Warriors.