Columbus, Georgia - Historic City on the Chattahoochee

Columbus, Georgia, has been visited by untold thousands of Americans over the years, many of them because they were stationed at the U.S. Army's famed Fort Benning.

Thousands of new visitors, however, are learning the Columbus is realizing its potential as a major heritage tourism destination. Noted for its multiple historic districts, Riverwalk, museums and more, the city has placed major emphasis on its historic resources and the results are stunning.

From its revitalized downtown area with the River Center for the Performing Arts and allegedly haunted Springer Opera House, the city spreads out along the Chattahoochee River from Lake Oliver on the north to Fort Benning on the South. Founded in 1828, Columbus was a major riverboat port and manufacturing center during the antebellum era.

The Confederate Navy built the ironclad C.S.S. Jackson here and the city was home to one of the South's few major industrial complexes during the Civil War. The Battle of Columbus, fought on Easter Sunday in 1865, was the last major land battle of the war.

Columbus rebounded from the destruction dealt it by Union troops following that battle and today is a progressive and modern city. Its past, however, remains very much alive. The main Columbus Historic District preserves a stunning area of historic and restored homes, including two that once housed the family of Dr. John Pemberton, the inventor of Coca-Cola. The Columbus Riverwalk links a variety of historic sites and points of interest, among them the National Civil War Naval Museum, which houses two original Confederate warships as well as reconstructions of the U.S.S. Hartford, U.S.S. Water Witch and C.S.S. Albemarle. Near the entrance to Fort Benning is the National Infantry Museum, which relocated last month into a stunning new facility.

To learn more about historic Columbus, Georgia, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/gacolumbus1.

Battle of Columbus, Georgia (Girard, Alabama)

Today is the 144th anniversary of the battle for Columbus, Georgia, an engagement fought on an Easter Sunday seven days after the surrender of Robert E. Lee in Virginia.

Variously known as the Battle of Columbus or Battle of Girard, the engagement was fought on both sides of the Chattahoochee River in both Girard (today's Phenix City), Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia. As a result, both sides of the river claim the battle and it has two names.

The battle was still developing while a second Union column attacked and captured Fort Tyler in the upriver town of West Point. As the fight at Fort Tyler was underway, Union forces advanced on Columbus and swept up to the west bank of the Chattahoochee in a rapid effort to take the Dillingham Street bridge. Confederate forces used turpentine and other flammables to fire the bridge, however, and the initial Federal advance fell back.

The Union commander, General James Wilson, then waited for additional reinforcements to come up before launching his second attack. The focus of the action shifted to the Summerville Road, which approached Columbus from the northwest. Southern troops occupied a series of positions there along a commanding ridge and prepared to dispute Wilson's advance.

Advancing as darkness fell, the Federals overran an advanced Confederate position and thought they had broken through the main Southern lines. Wilson ordered two companies of Missourians to move forward and seize the upper or 14th Street bridge. When the men advanced, however, they ran headlong into the main Confederate positions.

A swirling night battle developed as Confederate artillery and musket fire swept down the slopes from forts and breastworks on each side of the Summerville Road and a Southern battery planted directly in the road opened fire on the Union advance. The Federals charged again, breaking through the line along the road and capturing nearby forts. They pushed rapidly toward the upper bridge.

Southern troops had positioned two cannon to fire directly across the bridge and also had prepared for to fire the span as the Union troops approached, but the attacking Federals became mixed in with the retreating Confederates and the gunners held their fire rather than slaughter their own men as the mass of humanity made its way across the bridge.

The fighting moved across the bridge to the city itself, but quickly came to an end. The Federals had won the day and awaiting them in Columbus was one of the largest hauls of military hardware and industrial capacity seized during the entire war.

To learn more, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/battleofcolumbus.

Linwood Cemetery - Columbus, Georgia

One of the most significant burial grounds in the South can be found in the downtown area of the historic city of Columbus, Georgia.

Established in 1828, Linwood Cemetery is the burial place of a number of individuals who contributed significantly to Southern history. Among them are General Henry "the Rock" Benning, the Confederate general for whom Fort Benning is named; Lizzie Rutherford Ellis, the leader of the group of Columbus ladies who started the tradition we recognize today as Memorial Day; Dr. Francis Oray Ticknor, author of the famed Civil War poem "Little Giffen," and Dr. John S. Pemberton, the Georgia druggist who invented Coca-Cola.

In addition, more than 200 Confederate soldiers are buried at Linwood, including men who died in the Battle of Columbus (Girard), considered by most authorities to have been the last major land battle of the Civil War.

To learn more about this fascinating place where history is written in stone, please visit www.exploresouthernhistory.com/linwood.

Columbus, Georgia and the Last Major Battle of the Civil War

It is a little known fact that the last major battle of the Civil War was fought for control of the city of Columbus, Georgia.

The last major Southern industrial center, Columbus was attacked by Union forces on Easter Sunday, April 16, 1865. Confederate forces fought to defend the city and a major battle erupted.

The battle was fought after both the surrender of Robert E. Lee and the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.

Also called the Battle of Girard, the Battle of Columbus was a Union victory and resulted in the fall of Columbus and destruction of the nearly-finished ironclad C.S.S. Jackson. Although several smaller encounters took place over the following weeks, the fight was the last major battle of the Civil War.

If you would like to learn more, our new Battle of Columbus page is now available at www.exploresouthernhistory.com/battleofcolumbus.