Battle of LaFayette

The Battle of LaFayette, alternatively capitalized, the Battle of Lafayette, was a battle of the American Civil War, taking place on June 24, 1864, during the Atlanta campaign. It started when confederate Brigadier General Gideon J. Pillow attacked LaFayette, Georgia, which was under occupation by Union Army Colonel Louis D. Watkins at the time. At first, Confederate forces had short lived victories, but a three-hour stalemate ensued, and eventually, Col. John Croxton arrived in time to push Pillow to retreat.

Battle of LaFayette
Part of the American Civil War
Date June 24th, 1864 Location LaFayette, Georgia Result Union victory
Belligerents
United States of America	Confederate States of America
Commanders and leaders
Louis D. Watkins John Croxton	Gideon J. Pillow Charles Armistead James Neely
Units involved
7th Kentucky Cavalry Regiment 4th Kentucky Mounted Infantry Regiment	2 cavalry brigades
Strength
~450 cavalrymen	~1,600 cavalrymen
Casualties and losses
4 killed 7 wounded 53 captured Total: 64	24 killed 53 wounded 78 captured Total: 155

Background

Col. Watkins first arrived, with around 450 cavalrymen of the Kentucky brigade, at LaFayette on June 18, 1864, during the Atlanta campaign, “to endeavor to rid the country of several guerilla bands”, including that of John Gatewood, an infamous criminal. He positioned himself first in the city's courthouse, then in the city square, his soldiers in nearby structures.

In early June 1864, following a series of unsuccessful battles led by Pillow, he was assigned a cavalry division of about 1,600 men, after imploring for months. On the day of the battle, Gen. Pillow was navigating through the north of Georgia, aiming to burn railroad bridges over Chickamauga Creek to sabotage William T. Sherman’s communication, and ultimately, the Union’s; during this time, he heard of LaFayette’s occupation, postponed his plans, and decided to engage in military conflict with Watkins, starting the battle.

Battle

Pillow in about 1862

Watkins sometime in the period of 1865-68

At around 3:30 A.M, June 24th, Col. Charles Armistead, after being split from Col. James Neely’s brigade which Pillow had gone with, arrived at the western perimeter of LaFayette. Alabamians, Mississippians, and Tennesseans comprised the Confederates’ side of the battle. Pillow, Neely, and their soldiers would arrive at around 4:00 A.M, the same time at which Armistead's skirmish would fire the first shots. Many soldiers of the 7th Kentucky were captured after waking up to alarms at around this time, being approached from the east and north. The remaining soldiers would barricade themselves in the courthouse with sacks of corn, and there was a lack of ammunition and water while they were there.

At around 5 A.M, Pillow stated that Watkins should surrender or risk the town being set on fire, to which Watkins responded to, declining. Following his reply, Pillow attacked the courthouse, the siege lasting over three hours before, in an unprecedented move at about 8:30, Colonel John Croxton, commander of the 4th Kentucky Mounted Infantry, took the Confederates by surprise by attacking them from behind. A Union soldier, having escaped the siege, had traveled 8 miles North horseback, finding Croxton at Rock Springs Church. Not soon after, Pillow and his men retreated, marking a Union victory. Throughout the battle, Chattooga Academy, also known as John B. Gordon Hall, was in the line of fire and was used with multiple purposes; an intense skirmish happened there during it.

Aftermath and legacy

Ultimately, Pillow's defeat at LaFayette would crush Joseph E. Johnston’s plans of interrupting General Sherman's communications. In 1957, a marker was erected in LaFayette that provided information about the battle by the Georgia Historical Commission. Many Confederate soldiers that died in the Battle of LaFayette are buried in the LaFayette City Cemetery, and although names were not provided, the Sons of Confederate Veterans researched and were able to find the names of fifteen of them.