DOT’s plans worry friend of fort

Roman David Fowler Jr. has always been intrigued with Confederate history, but that intrigue grew into a mission when he learned a local road project could encroach on the remains of a Civil War fort. Fowler lives on part of the 1.9 acres that was part of Fort Attaway, which played a role during the Battle of Rome in May 1864. Sumo Japanese Steak House on U.S. 27 just north of downtown Rome sits on part of the site, and Fowler’s father David Sr. owns the rest. Fort Attaway was one of three Confederate forts in Rome during the Civil War. The remains of the earthen fort can be seen on what is called Desoto Hill near the restaurant. It is the only one of the three fort sites not listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The proposed state Department of Transportation project would involve widening U.S. 27 near John Davenport Drive and moving the railroad overpass farther south while building a new railroad trestle over U.S. 27. On Feb. 19, a representative of the state Department of Transportation approached Fowler’s father requesting that he sell a part of his land for the proposed project’s right of way. Realizing that a part of the important landmark might be endangered by construction, the younger Fowler began his campaign to preserve the fort and also get it listed in the NRHP. He believes that the right of way property needed for the new railroad tracks will destroy a part of the fort. Fowler’s father said that he supports his son’s efforts. “I’m in agreement with what he’s doing. I sure hope he can preserve the fort,” he said. “I would hate to see the old Confederate and wartime things relating to the Civil War not be here anymore.”

Ann Arnold, downtown development and historic preservation director for the city of Rome, said that the she supports any effort that preserves local historic places. A DOT environmental study, conducted by former DOT archaeologist Erica Jeters, studied two areas near the site to examine how the project would affect the surrounding property. One area, about 360 feet long and about 50 feet wide, included the current Norfolk Southern Railway right of way and the DOT’s proposed railroad right of way needed for the project. The other area was a 410-square-foot section near the top of the hill where the majority of the fort sat. Eric Duff, archaeology section chief for DOT, said that an environmental study is routine for all state road projects. “We do it as part of the project,” Duff said. “It combines the knowledge and expertise of archaeologists, ecologists and historians — a whole environmental compliment of projects.” In the study, Jeters said that the “required right of way for the project comes within 13 feet of significant features of the site (of Fort Attaway).” The study concluded that the fort area was determined eligible for listing in the NRHP. However, the rights of way area was suggested ineligible, noting that the area had suffered erosion, vandalism and disturbance by development. The study listed three reasons why the fort qualified for inclusion in the NRHP: It is representative of and strongly associated with the Civil War and important to the history of Rome; it is a good example of Civil War-era military defensive structures and it has yielded — and likely to yield more — important information about local Civil War history along with valuable information, including the design and construction of Confederate defensive earthworks. But Fowler Jr. believes that the required right of way area for the project is still a viable part of the fort and that erosion, vandalism and development have not diminished its significance. Jeters’ study included a sweep of the rights of way area using a metal detector. She noted that “a large number of ‘hits’ were encountered, but only five early-to-mid 20th Century metal artifacts were found.” Four of those, the study said, were railroad related, and the fifth piece was a toy jack. The study concluded that the rights of way area “lacks significant information potential. Yet when Hugh Durden and Don Adams, members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, swept over a small section of the area while visiting Fowler this past Wednesday, they said they found a Civil War relic in less than five minutes. It was a Union .58-caliber bullet, commonly called a Minié ball. The projectile got its name from its inventor, Capt. Claude Minié of the French Army. Adams also said that the firing pits, or trenches, at forts usually contain a lot of war relics of historical significance and are often located at the lower elevations.

That was true at Fort Attaway, where the rights of way areas are also located. When the SCV members gathered at the fort this past Wednesday, John Carruth assisted Fowler and others in raising three flags above the fort site on a 100-foot high pole. Those flags include the U.S. flag, the former Georgia flag and the 1864 Confederate Flag, called the Stainless Banner because of the large amount of white on it, which was the second flag of the Confederacy. “The 1864 Confederate Flag was taken down from Fort Attaway by the Union on May 18, 1864. This is the first time the flag has been raised above Fort Attaway since then,” Fowler said. Fowler currently has the paperwork in place to apply with the state historic preservation officer for nomination to the National Register. That application would also be submitted to a state review board. If the review board and the state historic preservation officer agree on eligibility, the nomination is forwarded to the National Park Service to be considered for listing. The review and nomination phase takes about 90 days, and the National Park Service normally makes its decision within 45 days of submission. Mohammed Arafa, a state DOT spokesman, said that efforts are made to satisfy landowners and DOT alike. “We (DOT) are a steward of taxpayers,” he said. “We want to be fair to the tax payers and to the property owners.” If an agreement to sell cannot be reached, Georgia law provides that the DOT can initiate a condemnation suit, which would be filed in Floyd County Superior Court. Dwayne Comer, a pre-construction engineer with the DOT, said that the project plans contain measures that will be taken to prevent encroachment onto the fort site as much as possible, including fencing. But Fowler is determined to do his best to preserve as much of the fort as possible. “All I want is to preserve it for my children and for everybody else’s children,” Fowler said. Anyone that has additional information about Fort Attaway or would wish to join the preservation effort may contact Fowler at 234-0537.