McDonough Square

McDonough Square. A Promise Broken. By Wednesday evening, November 16, 1864, after marching that day from the vicinity of Stockbridge, two Federal infantry corps camped at locations around McDonough, the seat of Henry County. The 17th Corps, more than 11,000 strong and commanded by Major General Francis P. Blair, Jr., spent the night two miles north of McDonough on the Charles Walker plantation. Meanwhile almost 16,000 men in the 15th Corps under Major General Peter J. Osterhaus camped in and near McDonough. Together they formed the “Right Wing,” commanded by Major General Oliver O. Howard, of Major General William T. Sherman's army. The Henry County Courthouse stood on the city's square., McDonough was designated by General Sherman as an initial rendezvous point for the Right Wing after beginning their “March to the Sea.” Osterhaus wrote, “At McDonough the whole of the [15th Corps] was for the first time assembled, and the divisions in supporting distance of each other.” First Lieutenant William H. Sherfy, a signal officer in the 15th Corps, reported, “… joined the remainder of the detachment on the morning of the 16th. That day we met the enemy at McDonough, and the detachment assisted in a charge in driving a brigade of rebel cavalry from the town, following it up with little support for several miles.” The Confederate cavalrymen were mounted infantry from Kentucky, known as the “Orphan Brigade,” commanded by Brigadier General Joseph H. Lewis., Arriving Federal officers promised local physician Dr. Lewis M. Tye, whose wartime house is just southwest of McDonough's square, that their army would not burn the town. Dr. Tye had reportedly told them, “I cannot see while helping your wounded soldiers if I have smoke in my eyes.” Although McDonough was not burned some soldiers violated the spirit of their promise. Stores, residences, churches, schools, the courthouse and McDonough Collegiate Seminary all sustained damage from looters. Many graves in the city's cemetery had their headstones destroyed and jewelry taken from the dead. The Baptist church located west of McDonough's square was heavily damaged. After destroying its furnishings, soldiers carried slaughtered cattle and hogs into the church to butcher them, leaving their bloody remains on the floor., On the morning of November 17th the Right Wing divided again as it departed town. Two divisions of the 17th Corps moved east from McDonough via the (Old) Jackson road. The third division marched to Lofton (Worthville) along the Key's Ferry road. The entire 15th Corps moved south from McDonough toward Locust Grove., Captions (clockwise from left) , . Union Major General Peter J. Osterhaus (prior to his promotion). , . Confederate Brigadier General Joseph H. Lewis. , . Dr. Lewis M. Tye. , . McDonough, Georgia, circa 1864. , . The “March to the Sea” through Henry County (Lloyd's Topographical Map of Georgia, 1864). , . Contemporary photo of the Dr. Lewis M. Tye House.