UPSON COUNTY, GA - Co. K 5th - I.P. Collier Account of June 21, 1864 Battle at Kennesaw Mountain Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Bill Kinney Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/upson.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm This column by Bill Kinney appeared in 03/09/03 Marietta Daily Journal. It is used here with permission. Staff photo by Damien A. Guarnieri Local historian and Sons of Confederate Veterans. It can be viewed along with a photograph on their website. http://apt.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=7&show=localnews&NewsID=31799 MEDAL REJECTED, BUT COLLIER’S EXPLOITS HONORED AT MUSEUM Heroism has been common in America’s wars, and rarely was that more true than during the Civil War. The recent reopening of the museum at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a good occasion to recall a little-known historic episode from that war, one that actually took place during the battle for the mountain on June 21, 1864. The hero was Sgt. Isaac Peter Collier of the 5th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry, a native of Upson County. Collier’s regiment was part of the division of Confederate Maj. Gen. William H.T. Walker and was dug in south of Burnt Hickory Road in west Cobb. Trench works of that era were four or five feet deep and were topped by what was known as “head logs,” tree logs propped a foot or so off the ground atop the side of the trench that faced the enemy. The logs provided protection for the heads of the trench’s occupants while they fired their rifles between the log and dirt. Collier was in such a trench when a Union artillery shell whizzed through the space between the trench and the head log, nicking the log sufficiently to slow the shell and cause it to fall into the trench. What happened next was described by Collier’s immediate commander, Brig. Gen. John King Jackson, in his official report of the battle. “While the fuse was still smoking, and the men were flying from the danger of the apprehended explosion, Sergeant Isaac P. Collier & seized the projectile and threw it out of the ditch. “In the judgment of the brigade commander, this is a case which calls for the exercise of the power of appointment for ‘acts of distinguished valor,’ which is vested in the president.” Corroborating testimony was given by seven fellow Confederates who witnessed the incident, all of whom said Collier had saved their lives that day. No one was hurt in the incident, and Collier turned down the offer of a battlefield promotion to lieutenant, preferring to remain in his company. His heroic act took place just two days after the death of his brother elsewhere on the Kennesaw Mountain Line. But Sgt. Collier survived into old age and died in 1887. Among his descendants is a great-great-granddaughter, Cathy Lipsett of Marietta. Collier’s bravery was such that local amateur historian Larry Blair, a lieutenant commander of the Kennesaw Battle Camp No. 700 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, submitted an application for the Confederate Medal of Honor in Collier’s name to the national SCV. That is the only organization that awards posthumous heroism medals to Confederate veterans and has awarded only 46. Blair was stunned, however, when the SCV turned down his request. He based the request on the fact that Collier’s act: n Was above and beyond the call the duty, being that it would have been more reasonable for him to run from the trench rather than risk picking up the projectile n Put his health and life in danger n Was unselfish, since he accomplished it rather than run for safety n Was not motivated by thoughts of gain, as illustrated by his rejection of the promotion offer afterward n Successfully saved the lives not only of Collier himself, but his comrades. However, the SCV committee rejected the application, without stating much of a reason, other than implying that a soldier would have had to die during his act of heroism in order to qualify. So Blair decided on another way of gaining recognition for Collier, and persuaded Kennesaw park officials to include a small display on Collier’s heroism in the new, expanded museum. It can be found along the “Exhibit 13” timeline, the part of the museum that focuses on the combat at the mountain. It includes a wide variety of weapons carried at the fight and uniforms worn during the battle, as well as more personal soldier artifacts like hats, socks, eating utensils and the like. “Collier’s act of bravery is written as accounts of the day described them,” Blair said. “How proud we can be, for if we had not of fought this long and hard fight, then Sgt. Collier would not have received any credit here in Marietta at our new museum. Although he did not have the highest level of honor that he deserves, he is at the least honored by our Park Service, which probably did all they could have done. And well done it is!” Indeed. If you haven’t yet, you should go visit the park and the museum. And a big thanks to Blair and his SCV compatriots for doing their part to bring to light the forgotten heroism of Sgt. Isaac Collier. Bill Kinney is Marietta Daily Journal associate editor. His column also appears on Saturday and Tuesday. mdjonline.com Additional notes: photo Collier, family Bible on his lap, and his wife, late in life. Collier Family Cemetery (Upson County) Isaac Peterson (Peter) Collier Co. K, 5th GA Regt. C.S.A. (born July 7, 1831 - dod unknown)ca 1887 (son of Charles Vines Collier) (Charles Vines Collier's first wife was Rebecca Owen)