The
Infantry Battle after the fall of Jonesboro,
September 2-5, 1864
The official ending of the Atlanta Campaign
Map
of the Raid
Click on map for
a Larger View |
After
Jonesboro fell into Sherman’s hands on
September 1, 1864, he sent his army
southward from Jonesboro towards Lovejoy to
finish off Hardee’s decimated Confederate
army corps. As General Hardee’s
corps were squaring off with Sherman’s
Army at Lovejoy, General Hood, General A. P.
Stewart's Corps and the Georgia Militia were
evacuating Atlanta and heading to Lovejoy to
support Hardee’s Corps there. In
the meantime, Confederate General Stephen D.
Lee’s Army Corps were strung out halfway
between Atlanta and McDonough. Hardee’s
Confederate Corps were centered on the Macon
& Western Railroad one mile north of Lovejoy.
Hardee’s stretched out battle lines were
facing north. The 15th U.S.
Army Corps positioned themselves west of the
Macon Railroad with Stanley’s 4th
and Schofield’s 23rd U.S. Army
Corps east of the railroad facing south.
Ransom’s 16th U.S. Army Corps
were facing east on the Pan handle Road.
Stanley’s
4th U.S. Army Corps commenced the
battle by attacking Hardee’s Corps in
a frontal assault but could not hold the works.
Stanley attempted several more assaults but
failed each time with disastrous results.
A general engagement took place all along Stanley’s
and Schofield's front lines. The 15th
Army Corps were facing Hardee’s left flank
near Lovejoy High School, a half mile distance
west of the Macon Railroad.
Stephen
Pollard
40th Ga Inf. Regt
Fought
& camped
at the Nash Farm |
On
September 3rd, Schofield received
a dispatch from General Sherman to feel for
the Confederate right flank towards the McDonough
& Fosterville roads (Babb’s Mill Road).
Schofield replied he would feel for the McDonough
& Fosterville Roads if Lee’s Corps
were not marching from the direction of McDonough.
Schofield’s 23rd Army Corps
found Stephen D. Lee’s Corps at a location
he described:“The enemy’s line has
been extended last evening, and is probably
beyond my reach. It appears to run along
a high ridge immediately in front of the McDonough
Road and behind Walnut Creek (Henry County).
I am feeling well to the left with skirmishers
to see if I can reach the enemy’s left
on the McDonough Road.” This is the exact
location of the property located on Babb’s
Mill and McDonough Roads. Walnut Creek
starts at a springhead and is located on the
property. The high ridge is located on
the back of this property. Stewarts Corps
arrived at the location from Atlanta via McDonough
adjoining Hardee’s right flank by connecting
to Lee’s left on this property. A sharp
engagement was initiated here running all long
the lines extending on the McDonough Road towards
County Line Church - a half mile east of this
property.
Stewarts
and Lee’s Corps used this property as
a staging area (via the extinct road from Babb’s
Mill) to extend on Hardee’s right flank.
Heavy fighting in this area of Stewart and Lee’s
Army Corps is evident from all the artifacts
that have been recovered from this property.
Schofield’s location was on the Union
Army’s left flank and was in the direct
line of fire facing Stewarts and Lee’s
Corps.
By
the morning of September 6th, Sherman
pulled his army back to Atlanta via Jonesboro
to join other Union forces that were already
in Sherman’s prized city. Thus ended the
Atlanta Campaign. 33 battles would be
fought before Atlanta would fall. The
confederate loss at Jonesboro caused the fall
of Atlanta, assured the re-election of Lincoln
and opened the pathway for Sherman’s March
to the Sea.
