Bordering the western shore of Lake Allatoona and the Emerson-Allatoona Road, 1.5 miles east of I-75 in Bartow County, Georgia, is the Allatoona Battlefield. The battle fought there on October 5, 1864 is rich both in myth and legend and is one of the most dramatic and tragic episodes of the Civil War. It was the inspiration for the familiar hymn by Evangelist Peter Bliss, "Hold the Fort," and is remembered for the summons to surrender message by Confederate General Samuel G. French, "in order to avoid a needless effusion of blood."
