Atlanta - Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow. John R. Hornady

enjoyed its restful shade and its pleasing flowers and foliage until the City reached that stage when it was being besieged by the Federal forces. As the number of wounded defenders increased and overflowed the emergency hospitals this park was converted into an open-air hospital, and then such scenes were witnessed as made sore the hearts of all observers.

      Men maimed by shot and shell were hurried to this open space, where many tables had been erected, and here busy surgeons carried on their work amid the groans of the suffering. When this frightful tragedy was succeeded by the tragedy of Atlanta's destruction, the park was practically obliterated by the force of the Sherman war machine, and it was never restored. The property had been given to the State road by Samuel Mitchell for railroad purposes, but that portion of it which was used as a park not being required for the purposes set forth in the deed of transfer, his heirs made a prolonged fight for its recovery. This fight culminated in the passage of an act by the Legislature under which the land was restored to the heirs upon payment of $35,000. The land was then sold at public auction and soon thereafter began to be covered with business structures. Thus passed Atlanta's first and only downtown park.