Nash Farm Battlefield-Battle of Lovejoy Page 2

Wood organized an attack from the left, using Knefler's brigade from his division and Grose's and Taylor's brigades from Kimball's division. The advance overran the Confederate skirmish pits and found the main line of the enemy across a 'deep ravine full of thick brush and fallen timber." Grose and Taylor decided not to attack the line and began digging in, but Knefler charged on and received a volley of musket fire than cut down 38 of his men (Castel 1992:530-532). This action took place to the west of the Nash Farm property in the vicinity of the Stephen Green Dorsey home site, located at the corner of Freeman and McDonough Roads.

By this time, Brigadier General John M. Schofield's 23rd A.C., which had been behind Stanley on the march from Jonesboro, had begun deploying to Stanley's left after what he called "a long and tedious march, through fields and woods, upon the flank of the main army." Milo Hascall's division, which was the first to arrive on Stanley's left, was "subjected to a severe shelling" as they were getting into position. According to Stanley, Hascall refused to support his attack and Stanley called off any further assaults. Hascall did not mention this is his report, saying only that darkness had fallen before he could get in position, and he had been unable to take part in the advance, which had already ended (Castel 1992:532; OR 1997:1:38:2:519).

At 8 p.m. Sherman ordered Schofield to "fell for the McDonough Road, to prevent reinforcements coming to the enemy from that direction." Schofield replied that he would try to reach the road in the morning, if Lee's corps did not come that way during the night, which is exactly what happened. In the morning he wrote to Sherman the "the enemy's line has been considerably extended [eastward] since last evening and is probably beyond my reach." The position is described as running "along a high ridge immediately in the front of the McDonough Road [the McDonough-Fayetteville Road south of the Nash Farm property] and behind Walnut Creek" (OR 1997:1:38:5:764, 774, 785-786). Walnut Creek originates on the Nash Farm property, and the left flank of the Union line was facing the right flank of the Confederate line across the property, where their skirmishers were engaged in an effort to prevent any incursions by the enemy (Map).

A special field report was sent to U.S. Brig. Gen. J.D. Cox who was commanding the Third Division by Major Assistant Adjutant-General J.A. Campbell. It read as follows: "In the field:" -

GENERAL: "The commanding general directs me to inform you that the signal officer reports that the enemy is in line of battle behind his works on his right, (flank), with battle-flags flying from the parapets, and he has thrown out about fifty skirmishers in his front and a company on his flank." Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. CAMPBELL, Major and Assistant Adjutant- General. (OR: 1997: Chapter 50:799)

The 23rd corps prepared defensive works throughout the day of September 3rd as heavy rains fell in the afternoon and skirmishing and artillery fire continued across the front. The skirmishing and shelling continued over the next two days, with Schofield's lieutenants reporting varying levels of engagement. (This accounts for the immense artillery shell fragments that have been recovered during the years by relic hunters and during the March 2007 Archaeological dig). Major John W. Tucker of the 80th Indiana Infantry Regiment reported, "we reached the rebel line of works three miles east of Lovejoy's Station, where we took up position within 500 yards of the enemy's works, where we lay, continually skirmishing with the enemy until the evening of September 5th. (OR 1997:1:38:2: 606, 614, 629, 631, 651).

When Sherman, had confirmed that Atlanta was his, he withdrew his army through Jonesboro and back to Atlanta, content with having achieved the objective of the campaign. The withdrawal was orderly and uneventful, with Hood also taking advantage of the opportunity to rest and resupply. In the attack on the Confederate line, the brunt of the damage was to the center and left flank of Stanley's corps, to the west of the Nash Farm property, but some intense skirmishing and artillery bombardments took place along the east end of the line, (Confederate Right Flank) in the vicinity and beyond Nash Farm property.

General Stanley's Official Report of the Infantry Battle Fought Near Lovejoy

OR, VOL 38, P.932 THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN. [CHAP. L]

September 2.--4.30 a. m., the enemy has retreated. 4.40 a. m., directed General Kimball to move down the railroad, Newton to move on his left and parallel with him, and Wood to follow Newton; all to move by the flank. 5.30 a. m., head of our column reached Jonesborough and halted. The skirmishers of the Army of the Tennessee are moving out in our front. 7.30 a. m., received instructions from General Sherman to move forward; at once directed division commanders to march, Newton's division to lead, followed by Wood's, then Kimball's; the line of march to be southward, down the Macon railroad, after the enemy; our artillery, ambulances, and headquarters trains to move on the road along the side of the railroad. The Army of the Tennessee is moving along the direct road to Griffin, on the right hand of the railroad; we keep the railroad and the left hand dirt road. 7.50 a. m., our column passing through Jonesborough. 9.30 a. m., received note from General Thomas stating that our trains would move in the rear of our column, and that he had sent orders to send them in that direction. 9.30 a. m., directed General Kimball to leave one brigade with the trains as a guard. 12 m., have arrived at a point within two miles of Lovejoy's Station. The enemy can be seen about half a mile this side of the station, and just this side of the McDonough and Fayette road, on high ground, building barricades and constructing earth-works. The Army of the Tennessee has halted on the right-hand side of the railroad and deploying in line of battle. 12.15 p. m., commenced to deploy and informed Major-General Thomas by note of this fact. 1.15 p.m., received word from General Thomas to push forward at once. 1.45 p. m., General Thomas sends word to General Stanley that "We have Atlanta," and he wishes him to press forward as soon as he possibly can. The troops are not yet in position, but our skirmishers have advanced about half a mile. 2.25 p.m., Newton's and Wood's divisions now deployed, and the head of Kimball's division has arrived. He is ordered to deploy on Wood's left immediately. Newton holds the right of the line, then Wood, then Kimball. 2.35 p. m., General Thomas directed General Stanley to move forward just as soon as General Howard moves (General Howard will send word when he is ready), and informs him (General Stanley) that Schofield is coming up on his left; to feel for him, and let him know when he gets up. 2.40 p. m., put two batteries or ten guns on the right of our line to quiet the enemy's batteries; our right rests on the railroad; division commanders
instructed to take the enemy's works if possible; not to stop for anything trifling. 3.20 p.m., General Howard reports that he has given to his command the order to advance. 3.20 p. m., orders given division commanders to move forward. The Second Division did not make much progress (being on the right of our line), as the Army of the Tennessee did not move up in conjunction with them.

The Third Division was on the left of the Second, and the First on the left of the Third. The First and Third Divisions had to move through an almost impenetrable swamp and over deep ravines and high ridges, and the Second Division had to pass through a very
dense jungle. It was after 5 p. m. when we came up in sight of the enemy's works. 5.30 p. m., Kimball made an endeavor to assault the enemy's works, but could not succeed, as the enemy was too strong, and had a terrible enfilading fire of artillery on his line; at the same time Wood's division (Third) made an assault; Knefler's brigade got into the works, but could not hold them; his (Knefler's) loss was quite severe in officers.

At the time of this assault General Schofield was coming up, and was one mile in the rear. Afterward he joined us and made a connection on our left. It is supposed that the enemy's right this evening is about opposite the center of our left division (Kimball's).

Our troops are building barricades in their front to-night. 8.30 p. m., received note from Major-General Thomas, directing that to-night we break the railroad thoroughly for a distance of one mile to our rear, and then press the enemy at daylight in the morning with our entire line, and, if practicable, to assault them; replied that it will be impossible to withdraw the troops to-night to destroy the road, and that the enemy's works cannot be assaulted with success. When General Schofield came up to our left this p. m. Captain Steele, aide-de-camp, instructed Hascall's brigade so as to turn the enemy's right flank, but he refused to make the attempt, as we had one brigade in reserve. There is no doubt but that he would have been able to have struck the enemy's right (we then knew where it was) and to have routed him. Took 90 enlisted men and 5 commissioned officers prisoners to-day.