Garrard’s Cavalry Raid Marker

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Covington in Newton County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Garrard’s Cavalry Raid

By David Seibert, June 20, 2009

1. Garrard’s Cavalry Raid Marker

Inscription. On July 20, 1864, Union forces under Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman USA, were closing in on Atlanta. Hq. 2nd Cavalry Division [US], Brig. Gen Kenner Garrard, was in Decatur, 6 miles E of Atlanta. Garrard’s three brigades were guarding bridges over the Chattahoochee River picketing the left flank. That night, Garrard was ordered to assemble his command and move to Covington, to burn the bridges over the Yellow and Ulafauhachee (Alcovy) rivers and to destroy the railroad between Lithonia and the Alcovy.

He marched late on the 21st. By noon on the 24th, he had returned to Decatur, bringing with him “200 prisoners and a fine lot of fresh horses and negroes.” In three days, he had marched over 90 miles and destroyed three wagon bridges and the railroad bridge over the Yellow River, and more than six miles of track. At Covington, he burned the depot, a newly-built army hospital center, 2,000 bales of cotton, and large quantities of quartermaster and commissary supplies. At Conyers, at Covington and near the Alcovy, trains were captured and burned. A detached brigade burned the depot at Social Circle and destroyed other facilities enroute.

Garrard’s raid cut off all communication between Atlanta and Augusta and destroyed any hope that the Army of Tennessee [CS] -- the hard-pressed defenders of Atlanta -- might receive

By David Seibert, June 20, 2009

2. Garrard’s Cavalry Raid Marker

supplies or reinforcements from the Eastern Confederacy.

Erected 1957 by Georgia Historical Commission. (Marker Number 107-3.)

Location. 33° 36.18′ N, 83° 51.51′ W. Marker is in Covington, Georgia, in Newton County. Marker is on U.S. 278 0 miles west of Elm Street NE, on the right when traveling west. Click for map. Marker is located in a picnic area in front of a Dairy Queen restaurant. Marker is in this post office area: Covington GA 30015, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. The March to the Sea (a few steps from this marker); The Stoneman Raid (a few steps from this marker); Lucius Q. C. Lamar (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Capture of Covington (approx. 0.5 miles away); Town of Oxford and Emory College (approx. 1.4 miles away); Town of Oxford, Georgia Historic Shrine of the United Methodist Church (approx. 1.4 miles away); a different marker also named The March to the Sea (approx. 8.7 miles away); Hightower Trail (approx. 8.8 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Covington.

Credits. This page originally submitted on July 3, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 100 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. Submitted on July 3, 2009, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.