Gen. Judson Kilpatrick
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General
Sherman, determined to find out the Confederate
strength south of
Atlanta, sent U.S. Judson Kilpatrick’s
cavalry to do what McCook and Stoneman had failed
to do. On August 18, 1864, Kilpatrick
and 4,700 cavalrymen left Sandtown in West Atlanta,
ordered by Sherman to cut all railroad lines
south of the city. Kilpatrick began his
southwestern trek by roaring through Fairburn
and slicing apart the Atlanta-West Point tracks.
On
the 19th he skirmished his way to
Jonesboro and unhinged the Macon & Western
Railroad. By early afternoon on August
20, Kilpatrick was in Lovejoy, but indelicately
sandwiched by Confederate infantry in front
and Confederate cavalry in back. The Federal
horsemen drew their sabers, hacked their way
through Sul Ross’ Texas brigade in front
and proceeded eastward toward McDonough.
Kilpatrick’s breakthrough thru the Texans
took place on the Nash Farm property at Babb’s
Mill and McDonough Roads.
This
breakthrough is well described and documented
in David Evan’s book of the Union cavalry
operations in the Atlanta campaign called, “Sherman’s
Horsemen,” Pages 405-460. Many artifacts
from this cavalry clash have been located on
this property site. The Texans put up a hard
fight but failed to hold their ground at the
Nash Farm.
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CSA General
Frank Armstrong
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