Near Tuskegee in Macon County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)
Battle of Chehaw Station
Photographed By Mark Hilton, May 21, 2023
1. Battle of Chehaw Station Marker
Inscription.
Battle of Chehaw Station. . In July 1864, Union Gen. Wm. T. Sherman sent Maj. Gen. L.H. Rousseau to Alabama with 2500 cavalry to cut the rail link remaining to Confederates defending Atlanta: the West Point and Montgomery Railroad. On 18 July, 3 Union units arrived at Chehaw Station, to be opposed by about 500 Confederates, mostly volunteers 15-17 years old who had never been under fire, were poorly armed, outnumbered, and commanded by an officer they had never seen. 1st Ala. Reserves came by freight from Pollard; 54 Univ. of Ala. cadets joined at Montgomery; conscripts from Camp Watts in Notasulga met them at Chehaw Station. Maj. Bryan Thomas, in overall command, took their train over Uphaupee Creek trestle to Beaseley's tank, where Union Maj. Baird reported he had met a superior force of the enemy." Obsolete muskets faced Sharps carbines and Spenser repeating rifles for several hours before Union reinforcements arrived, forcing the Boys' Brigade to fall back. Rousseau then withdrew his men rather than to delay further destroying the railroad. Final casualty count: Cadets, 2 wounded; Reserves. 48 killed or wounded; conscripts 15 wounded, 17 missing. The Union had 3 killed, 11 wounded, and 1 captured.
In July 1864, Union Gen. Wm. T. Sherman sent Maj. Gen. L.H. Rousseau
to Alabama with 2500 cavalry to cut the rail link remaining to
Confederates defending Atlanta: the West Point & Montgomery
Railroad. On 18 July, 3 Union units arrived at Chehaw Station,
to be opposed by about 500 Confederates, mostly volunteers 15-17
years old who had never been under fire, were poorly armed,
outnumbered, & commanded by an officer they had never seen.
1st Ala. Reserves came by freight from Pollard; 54 Univ. of Ala.
cadets joined at Montgomery; conscripts from Camp Watts in
Notasulga met them at Chehaw Station. Maj. Bryan Thomas, in
overall command, took their train over Uphaupee Creek trestle to
Beaseley's tank, where Union Maj. Baird reported he had met a
superior force of the enemy." Obsolete muskets faced Sharps
carbines & Spenser repeating rifles for several hours before Union
reinforcements arrived, forcing the Boys' Brigade to fall back.
Rousseau then withdrew his men rather than to delay further
destroying the railroad. Final casualty count: Cadets, 2 wounded;
Reserves. 48 killed or wounded; conscripts 15 wounded, 17 missing.
The Union had 3 killed, 11 wounded, and 1 captured.
Erected 2018 by Admiral Semmes Chapter #57 UDC Auburn, AL & the Alabama Historical Association.
Location. 32° 28.778′ N, 85° 43.259′ W. Marker is near Tuskegee, Alabama, in Macon County. Marker is at the intersection of Alabama Route 199 and Old Chehaw Road, on the right when traveling north on State Route 199. Located deep along the tree line. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tuskegee AL 36083, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. Battle of Chehaw Station Marker looking NNE towards Old Chehaw Road.
Public domain (LOC)
4. Maj. Gen. Lovell Harrison Rousseau
Credits. This page was last revised on May 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 21, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 265 times since then and 168 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 21, 2023, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.