Battle of Atlanta 8,000 men

It is amazing to me how quickly we forget.
I have been reading lately about the Civil War in Atlanta.
There are so many places near my house that were significant historical sites.
I have found out that places that i go everyday were battle locations.
You think of national historic sites with park guides and big empty spaces...
historical markers and informative brochures.
In Atlanta, battle locations have been paved over with fast food eateries, houses, banks, interstate exit ramps, and trashy hotels.
The exit ramp of I-20 and Moreland Avenue is one such place.
The newly built Edgewood Shopping center is another.
In these battles in July of 1864, over 8,000 men lost their lives.
8,000.
8,000 men died in hand to hand combat.

That is roughly 3 times the amount that died on 9-11.
3 times the dead of Pearl Harbor.
About 3 times the amount that have died in Iraq.

And yet only a few knows of them or thinks of the events that happened there 150 years ago.

Leggett's Hill is the location at the off ramp of I-20. Originally Bald Hill. The first Union artillery shots were fired from here into the city of Atlanta. Many Southern troops died trying to take this exit ramp....I mean enemy high ground.

I live off of Bouldercrest Road. This was a route which Confederate troops took as they marched to north to fight near the intersection of Flat Shoals and Glenwood Road. Many men and horses and wagons and cannons walked and rolled right by where I park my truck everyday. Where I go jogging. Many of them would not see the next day.

The Edgewood Shopping center was a battle site too.
Next time I go to Target or Best Buy I will think about this.
Under the Lowe's parking lot I am sure the soil still holds the blood and bullets.
Paved over. Silenced.

The Inman Park Marta Station is the basic location of the battle around Potter's House. A sight documented in the Atlanta Cyclorama.

The area around East Atlanta Village was also a battle area.
Many thousands of Union troops gathered here and the Battle of Atlanta started when the Southern troops showed up behind their lines. General McPherson died nearby...on what now is McPherson Street.

All of this happened not so long ago.
Yet no one really remembers.
8,000 men.
I think we should remember.