August 11, 1862

1862 From Chattanooga, Confederate general Braxton Bragg issued Special Order 14 declaring martial law within the city limits of Atlanta, Ga.

August 11, 1864

1864 During the siege of Atlanta, Sherman lost a regiment on this day -- but not due to battle. Rather, the three-year term of enlistment for the 1st Regiment of the East Tennessee Infantry was about to end. Members of this unit had been the first secession opponents in eastern Tennessee to volunteer for the Union Army in Aug. 1861. Gen. Schofield, commander of the Army of the Ohio, issued a special order commending the 1st Regiment for its faithful service and directing it members to travel by rail to Knoxville, Tenn., where they would be mustered out of service.

August 11, 1864

1864 In a message to Col. Cole, Inspector-General Field Transportation for the Confederate Army, Gen. John B. Hood requested the impressment of 4,000 slaves "for teamsters and other services in this army" to help in the defense of Atlanta.

August 11, 1903

Georgia cities and towns first incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 11:

1903 Menlo (Chattooga County)

August 11, 1905

Georgia cities and towns first incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 11:

1905 Climax (Decatur County),Good Hope (Walton County), and Graysville (Catoosa County)

August 11, 1908

Georgia cities and towns first incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 11:

1908 Chalybeate Springs (Meriwether County), Glenwood (Montgomery County), and Orland (Montgomery County)

August 11, 1909

Other acts affecting Georgia cities and towns approved on Aug. 11:

1909 Name of Five Forks (incorporated Dec. 8, 1899 in Madison County) changed to Colbert

1909 Charters of Oakland (incorporated Dec. 12, 1894 in Fulton County) and Piedmont (incorporated Oct. 14, 1891 in Pike County) repealed

August 11, 1913

1913 On the thirteenth day in the trial of Leo Frank, his defense called several medical experts to contradict the testimony of Dr. Roy Harris, secretary of the State Board of Health who had examined Mary Phagan’s corpse. The defense witnesses said Harris was merely guessing at the time of death and that Phagan had been sexually violated, as there was insufficient evidence to substantiate either claim. Herbert Schiff, an assistant to Frank, again asserted that the financial work done by Frank on the day of the murder was time consuming; it could have easily taken 3 1/2 hours to complete. Schiff also testified that Jim Conley was a very unreliable worker and that other employees had complained about him numerous times.

August 11, 1913

Georgia cities and towns first incorporated by acts approved on Aug. 11:

1913 Clermont (Hall County) and Cotton (Mitchell County)

August 11, 1914

1914 Gov. John Slaton signed a proposed constitutional amendment creating Evans County from portions of Bulloch and Tattnall counties. The county was named for former Confederate general, historian, and minister Clement A. Evans [see Feb. 25 entry for biographical information on Evans]. Georgia voters ratified the amendment on Nov. 3, 1914, making Evans Georgia’s 152nd county.

August 11, 1925

Other acts affecting Georgia cities and towns approved on Aug. 11:

1925 Name of Milltown (incorporated Dec. 8, 1899 in Lanier County) changed to Lakeland

August 11, 1938

1938 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt delivered the commencement address [see text] at the University of Georgia, but before moving on the Barnesville, Ga. for an important political speech (see below).

August 11, 1938

1938 During a speech in Barnesville [see text], with Georgia Senator Walter F. George on the stage behind him, President Franklin D. Roosevelt publicly criticized George for not supporting the Democratic Party and the New Deal. George responded by warning the president that some of his programs threatened state rights and white supremacy. At the time, George was campaigning for reelection in the Democratic primaries and faced stiff competition by New Deal foe Eugene Talmadge. However, Roosevelt’s public chastisement of George in his Barnesville speech, and George’s response, undercut Talmadge’s efforts to tie George to Roosevelt and the New Deal. After the speech, many Georgians rallied to George’s campaign, and he went on to win reelection.

August 11, 1953

1953 Terry Bollea was born in Augusta, Georgia, though he later moved to Tampa and then to Venice Beach, California. A big boy--he weighed 195 pounds by age 12--Bollea got even bigger working out in the gym, where he began taking steroids (a fact he later testified to in court). At age 23 he had his first professional wrestling match. By the 1980s, the 6’6", 295-pound Bollea was wrestling under the name of Hulk Hogan. As a "good guy" and biggest name for the World Wide Wrestling Federation, he always admonished his legions of young fans--known as "Hulksters"--to say their prayers. By the mid-’90s, however, Hogan had changed personas and now wrestled as bad guy "Hollywood Hulk Hogan" on Turner Broadcasting’s World Championship Wrestling, shown nationwide on WTBS. From August 1996 to August 1997, Hogan was WCW world champion. He transformed back into a good guy when he appeared on World Wrestling Entertainment in the 2000s. In 2005 he was inducted into the World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame. However long he stays active, and whether he wrestles as a good guy or a bad guy, the Augusta-born multi-millionaire will be remembered as one of the biggest names in the history of professional wrestling.

August 11, 1962

1962 In Albany, Ga., police closed city parks and the library after integrated groups tried to use the facilities.

August 11, 1968

1968 The Atlanta Braves signed famed Negro League pitcher Satchel Paige to a contract. At the time, Paige was in his 60s, but the Braves took the action so Paige could qualify for a Major League Baseball pension.