US Researchโ€บConflictsโ€บCivil Warโ€บAlabamaโ€บAthens
Civil War

Athens

1864
Alabama
Era
Civil War
Year
1864
Location
Alabama
Status
Historical record
Part ofWestern Theater โ€บThe Civil War โ€บ
The Battle

History & Significance

Athens was a Civil War engagement fought in Alabama, 1864. It was a Union victory.

Confederate cavalry, numbering about 600 men, attacked Athens, held by about 100 Union troops, around 4:00 am on the morning of January 26, 1864. After a two-hour battle, the Confederates retreated. Union forces, although greatly outnumbered and without fortifications, repulsed the attackers.

Result
Union victory
Forces engaged
9th Illinois Mounted Infantry [US]; 1st Alabama Cavalry [CS]
Casualties
50 total (US 20; CS 30)
Outcome
Union victory (The Confederate force failed in its attempt to take Athens.)
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Questions & Answers

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Athens take place?
Athens took place in 1864.
Where was Athens fought?
Athens was fought in Alabama, United States.
What was the significance of Athens?
Confederate cavalry, numbering about 600 men, attacked Athens, held by about 100 Union troops, around 4:00 am on the morning of January 26, 1864. After a two-hour battle, the Confederates retreated. Union forces, although greatly outnumbered and without fortifications, repulsed the attackers.
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Everything a full report reveals about Athens

This page covers Athens. A full Aubrey report for the area pulls together this battle alongside historic sites, land records, and everything else the record holds within a few miles:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Protected heritage nearby

Historic Sites near Athens

Houston, Governor George Smith, House
Industrial ยท 1.3 mi
Houston, George S., Historic District
Listed ยท 1.6 mi
Old Athens, Alabama Main Post Office
Industrial ยท 1.6 mi
Athens Courthouse Square Commercial Historic District
Early Republic ยท 1.7 mi
All battles in Alabamaโ€บCivil Warconflicts โ€บHistoric sites in Alabamaโ€บ
Source

The account on this page is written by Aubrey Research from cited sources. Wikipedia is cited as a reference; its text is not reproduced.

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