For a century, the statue of Confederate general Joseph E. Johnston has stood watch over downtown Dalton. On Saturday, the city will celebrate Johnston and the women who made the statue a reality.
“The Bryant M. Thomas chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy got the movement going to bring this statue to Dalton, and we will be paying tribute to them,” said Martha Locke, past state president of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC).
Johnston took control of the Confederate Army of Tennessee in Dalton in December 1863 and began building it back up. The opening skirmishes of the Atlanta Campaign were fought between Confederate forces under Johnston and Union forces under Gen. William T. Sherman in the area around Dalton in 1864.
The statue to Johnston was dedicated on Oct. 24, 1912, and earlier this year the Pvt. Drewry R. Smith chapter of the UDC had the statue refurbished for its 100th anniversary.
The statue, which stands at the intersection of Hamilton Street and Crawford Street, will be rededicated at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
John Fowler, director of Dalton State College’s Bandy Heritage Center for Northwest Georgia, will speak on Johnston’s life, and local historian Marvin Sowder will talk about how Johnston came to Dalton. Locke will talk about the Bryant M. Thomas chapter and the role its members played in creating the statue. The ceremony will also feature a re-enactor playing Johnston. Organizers are also looking to bring descendants of Johnston’s family to Dalton for the ceremony.
The ceremony will be followed by a reception at the Dalton freight depot at 11 a.m.
The fife and drum corps of the Eighth Regiment Band from Rome will play period music at the ceremony and at the reception. Fife and drum players were an important part of Civil War-era armies. When the armies marched, fifes and drums set the pace, and when the armies were at rest, the drummers and fifers entertained the soldiers.
Local News
October 19, 2012
Johnston statue anniversary will be celebrated Saturday
- Local News
-
-
Tough competition
A seasoned Dalton firefighter placed second in the Toughest Overall Competitor event at the Police and Fire Games in Dalton on Monday.
Continued ...
The event features a challenging obstacle course and a 1.7 mile run. - DPD seeks identity of cigarette snatcher
- Minding their P's and Q's
- Whitfield CERT members reach 141 after seventh class graduates
- Local agency can guide you through homebuying process
- Spring Place Ruritan Club receives awards
- Jun 16, 2013
- Ridley trades banking for farming
- Pilsbury diary to be unveiled at Bandy Heritage Center
- Blue Ridge wins Georgia Safe Routes to School award
- Dalton to host Police and Fire Games this week
- Phyllis Stephens: Building community leadership capacity
- Jun 15, 2013
- Ball for fathers and daughters
- Whitfield EMA director receives rare professional certification
- Flag Day helpers
- Man pleads guilty to planting drugs in Murray case
-
Tough competition
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Fla. Teen Catches Ride With Whale Shark
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
Raw: Obama, Putin Meet at G8
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Investigators Probe Origin of Colo. Wildfire
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
'Game of Thrones' Boosts N. Ireland
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
Zimmerman Jury Selection Turns to Media Exposure
Raw: FBI Meets Plane After Poison Threat
Family Tweets Say Kim Kardashian Gives Birth
US, EU Leaders Announce Free Trade Talks
