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Management Summary
Nash Farm Battlefield Historical Archaeology Project
By
Daniel T. Elliott, The LAMAR Institute, Inc., Savannah, Georgia,
February 18, 2007. |
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The LAMAR Institute was
contracted by Henry County to conduct a historical archaeology
study of the Nash Farm battlefield property in Henry County,
Georgia. This study was conducted over 11 days of fieldwork from
January 31 to February 11, 2007. The project was deemed a
success by all those involved. This management summary serves as
a brief interim report of findings pending the completion of a
full report, which will be submitted in August 2007.
The Nash Farm Battlefield
Park is owned by Henry County and is located in western Henry
County at the Clayton County line, a few miles east of Lovejoy,
Georgia. The McDonough (Jonesboro) Road and Babb’s Mill Road
are located in the study area. The study area measures
approximately 204 acres and is mostly pasture. It contains a
farm house and farm complex, patchy areas of woodlands and
several ponds.
The survey began with an
assembly and review of published accounts of the Civil War
battles that took place in the study area. These included the
August 20, 1864 Union cavalry charge, which was commanded by
Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick and led by Colonel Robert
Minty. The other battle was the Battle of Lovejoy Station, which
took place 13 days later.
The August 20th battle was
brief, lasting less than 30-45 minutes, but it was quite
important for Major General William T. Sherman because
Kilpatrick’s cavalry narrowly avoided capture and was later able
to participate in the March to the Sea. The movement of the
Union cavalry in this charge was from west to east and the main
brunt of the charge occurred at Nash Farm where the dismounted
Confederate Texas cavalry had formed defensive lines. The
Confederate cavalry was supported by Captain Croft’s Columbus
Flying Artillery, which was commanded by Lieutenant Young. The
Union cavalry was supported by artillery batteries from
Wisconsin and the Chicago Board of Trade, which were located
west of the Nash Farm park property. The Union cavalry that
participated in the charge numbered about 4,700 horsemen, who
were followed by many support personnel. Union losses of killed,
wounded, captured or missing in the engagement numbered in the
hundreds. The Confederate troops in the vicinity probably
numbered several thousand but the primary area of attack was
defended by fewer than 1,000 dismounted horsemen. The August 20th
event was the most massive cavalry action in Georgia and one of
the most memorable in the entire Civil War.
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