Georgia
Militia at Lovejoy's Station State Historical Marker Located
on U.S. 41 just below Talmadge Rd., Lovejoy, Ga. (Text) GEORGIA
MILITIA AT LOVEJOY'S STATION On Oct.
12, 1864, Maj. Gen. G.W. Smith, CSA (Street Commissioner, New York City, 1858-61),
assembled a force of militia at Lovejoy's Station (0.5 mile NE) to support Iverson's
division of Wheeler's cavalry corps, which was picketing the roads south from
Atlanta in anticipation of a movement by Gen. Sherman's army toward Macon and
Savannah. Gen. Smith's force consisted of 2800 infantry of the 1st Division, Georgia
Militia, 3 batteries, and about 250 local reserve cavalry. On
Nov. 15th, Gen. Sherman began his March to the Sea. The leading element of his
Right Wing -- the 15th Corps, Maj. Gen. P.J. Osterhaus, USA -- marched from White
Hall (West End) toward Jonesboro (6 miles N), apparently enroute to Macon via
Jonesboro and Lovejoy's Station. Its right was covered by Kilpatrick's cavalry
division on roads to the west. At Morrow's Station (4 miles N of Jonesboro) the
15th Corps turned Se toward Stockbridge and McDonough. Kilpatrick's cavalry closed
on Jonesboro and drove Iverson's smaller command toward Lovejoy's Station. His
position turned, Gen. Smith withdrew his force to Griffin (13 miles S), a fortified
hospital center, to cover that point and to keep his force between Macon and the
Union advance. 031-10 GEORGIA
HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1957 |
