Hampton in Henry County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
The "Right Flank" on the McDonough Road
And the Campsites of Hood's Army of Tennessee
— September 2-18, 1864 —
Taking full precautionary measures to save the rest of his forces at Atlanta, during the night of August 31, 1864 at about 2 a. m; General Hood dispatches Confederate Lt General Stephen D. Lee’s corps at Jonesborough to march toward Atlanta to support the evacuation of his forces consisting of Lt. General A. P. Stewart’s corp and the Georgia Militia. Lee’s corps halted at the Killis Brown farm, NE of the South River.
Meanwhile, on September 1, 1864 Confederate General Hardee’s corps is overrun on the second day’s battle at Jonesboro and Hardee’s corps escapes southward and lands on Cedar Bluff ridge, located six miles south of Jonesboro, and north of Lovejoy on the McDonough road. On that same evening, Stewart’s corps marched out of Atlanta at 5 p.m. on the McDonough Road, in the direction of McDonough with orders to quickly support Hardee’s corps at Lovejoy, and facing five Union army corps.
General S.D. Lee reported: “On the morning of September 1st I was ordered to move my command toward Lovejoy’s Station, which place I reached on the 3rd.” On September 2nd, Steward’s corps arrived at Lovejoy, supporting Hardee’s entrenched corps on the McDonough road.
On September 3, 1864, at 9 a.m. U.S. General Schofield sent a dispatch to Major General Sherman that Stewart’s corps had already joined Hardee at Lovejoy, and that Lee’s corp was at McDonough. Schofield reported: “If this is true both are probably here now. The enemy’s line has been considerably extended eastward since last evening, and probably beyond my reach. It appears to run along a high ridge immediately in front of the McDonough road and behind Walnut Creek. I am feeling well to the left with skirmishers to see if I can reach the enemy’s left on the McDonough road.” This report indicates that Lee’s corps would have arrived after Stewart’s corps and Lee’s corps would have extended the Confederate right flank.
On September 7, 1864, 10:50 p.m. General Hood’s Chief of Staff, F.A Shoup, sent a dispatch to Lee: General Hood desires that you select some convenient place near your present lines and bivouac your corps. Let your artillery go into regular park under the senior officer. Establish such police regulations as shall secure the presence of the men.”
In another dispatch General S.D. Lee wrote: “The army remained at Lovejoy’s till September 18, when it commenced moving toward Palmetto Station, on the West Point and Atlanta Railroad, where it arrived in the 19th.”
(captions)
(lower left) Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee
(lower right) The main Confederate campsites extended from Nash Farm at Babb's Mill road , westward to the Talmadge property, crossing Pan Handle road.
Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil.
Location. 33° 27.509′ N, 84° 17.46′ W. Marker is in Hampton, Georgia, in Henry County. Memorial can be reached from the intersection of Jonesboro Road and Babbs Mill Road, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located on the Nash Farm Battlefield Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4361 Jonesboro Rd, Hampton GA 30228, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. "The Old Bronze Gentleman of Lovejoy's Station" (a few steps from this marker); Locomotive Bell from the Nancy Hanks (within shouting distance of this marker); Kilpatrick's Raid at the Nash Farm (within shouting distance of this marker); Kilpatrick's Raid (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Crawford-Dorsey House (approx. 1.3 miles away); Cavalry Action at Lovejoy's Station (approx. 2 miles away); Constantine Memorial (approx. 2½ miles away); Georgia Militia at Lovejoy's Station (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hampton.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 11, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 972 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 11, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.