Week 190

(Nov. 13th - Nov 19th, 1864)

Sunday - Nov.13, 1864

Confederate Cavalry commander Joseph "Fightin' Joe" Wheeler arrives in Jonesboro, Georgia

Downtown Marietta destroyed by Union Cavalry General Judson Kilpatrick

Federal troops destroy Acworth, Georgia

Ruins of Marietta Paper Mill at Sope Creek

Sewell Mill, Marietta

Monday - Nov. 14, 1864

Sherman arrives at his Atlanta headquarters with some 45,000 troops. Some 15,000 more join him in the city.

The Men Who Burned Atlanta

• Headquarters Staff
• Right Wing - The Army of the Tennessee - Gen. Oliver O. Howard Commanding
• Left Wing - The Army of Georgia - Gen. Henry W. Slocum commanding
• Cavalry Division - Gen. Judson Kilpatrick commanding

Tuesday - Nov. 15, 1864

Right Wing of Sherman's Army leaves East Point, heading to the southeast towards Stockbridge, where they spend the night. Sweeping the front of the Right Wing, Judson Kilpatrick skirmishes with men under Joseph Wheeler in Jonesboro. Wheeler pulls back to Griffin.

The Burning of Atlanta

City of Atlanta burned under orders from General Sherman. A special battering ram was used to destroy the stone and brick railroad depot. Because of the city's size, it took the Union Cavalry nearly a day to complete the task, beginning this evening and completing the task the following afternoon.

Wednesday - Nov. 16, 1864

Right Wing spends the night in McDonough.

Sherman leaves Atlanta having reorganized his men into two "wings" of two corps apiece. The Left Wing is commanded by Henry Slocum, the Right Wing by O. O. Howard. Sherman's strategic plan is for the Left Wing to make a feint on Augusta while the Right Wing makes a feint at Macon, forcing the remaining Confederate troops to be split between the two towns.

The right wing (15th and 17th Corps), Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, USA, marched from bivouac areas in the vicinity of White Hall (West End) early that morning, the 15th Corp toward Jonesboro, the 17th Corp. toward McDonough. The 3rd Cavalry Division, Brig. Gen. J. L. Kilpatrick, USA, covered the right wing. The left wing (14th and 20th Corp), Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, USA, marched from bivouac areas in and around Atlanta, the 20th Corps. to Stone Mountain on the 15th and the 14th Corps, accompanied by General Sherman and his staff, to Lithonia the next day. The Provost Guard (2nd and 33rd Massachusetts and 111th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry) was the last unit to leave Atlanta, marching behind the 14th Corps on Nov. 16th. During the four days preceding the departure, the work of destruction had been so thorough that when General Sherman mounted his horse, here at the John Neal house, early on Nov. 16th, his Chief Engineer, Capt. Orlando M. Poe. CE, stated that "for military purposes the city of Atlanta has ceased to exist".

Account of Captain William E. Fisher of Company D, 17th N.Y. Veteran Volunteers - "On the 16th we left Atlanta, passed through Decatur, Geo., on the 17th, we were destroying the Georgia State Rail Road. The same on the 18th. We continued marching until the 14th(19th) when we arrived at Middligville (Milledgeville), Geo., quite a pretty city.

Thursday - Nov. 17, 1864

Kilpatrick engages Wheeler near Forsyth ahead of the Right Wing of Sherman's Army. Right Wing spends the night in Jackson and Indian Springs, Georgia.

Lithonia's railroad depot, track, and some homes are destroyed by the Left Wing

Friday - Nov. 18, 1864

Joseph Wheeler arrives to defend Macon. Along with Howell Cobb, William Hardee and G. P. T. Beauregard, the city had about 10,000 men to defend it.

Forward elements of the Left Wing reach Social Circle.

Union troops pass through Covington, Georgia

Saturday - Nov. 19, 1864

Leading edge of Sherman's Troops reach Milledgeville

Left Wing arrives in Rutledge. General John Geary is detached from the main column and ordered to make a feint on Augusta. He encounters resistance at Buckhead and burns bridges over the Oconee River and destroys a rail depot in the town.

Investigating the lack of a Union attack, Joseph Wheeler heads northeast of Macon into the Right Wing of Sherman's army. The army had bypassed Macon.

Henry Slocum spares Madison, Georgia (Morgan County). Joshua Hill, who knew Sherman's brother John, was the last Confederate senator to leave Washington D. C., and had met Sherman during the Atlanta Campaign, rode out to meet Slocum and ask that the town be spared destruction. Slocum granted the request, ordering the town be spared. In spite of the order the town was heavily looted and the railroad depot was burned.

Dolly Sumner Lunt's Account

Other Events This Week

Ash Creek KS Nov. 13, 1864

Russellville TN Nov. 14, 1864

Cow Creek KS Nov. 14-28, 1864

Clinton LA Nov. 15, 1864

Collierville TN Nov. 15, 1864

East Point GA Nov. 15, 1864

Jonesboro GA Nov. 15, 1864

Loudon TN Nov. 15, 1864

Stockbridge GA Nov. 15, 1864

Lee's Mill VA Nov. 16, 1864

Lovejoy's Station GA Nov. 16, 1864

Strawberry Plains TN Nov. 16-17, 1864

Shoal Creek AL Nov. 16-20, 1864

Chester Station VA Nov. 17, 1864

Flat Creek TN Nov. 17, 1864

Maysville AL Nov. 17, 1864

New Market AL Nov. 17, 1864

Pine Barren Bridge FL Nov. 17, 1864

Aberdeen AL Nov. 17-19, 1864

Butler Creek AL Nov. 17-19, 1864

Myerstown WV Nov. 18. 1864

Bayou la Fourche LA Nov. 19, 1864

Duckett's Plantation AL Nov. 19, 1864

Paint Rock River AL Nov. 19, 1864

Reeves' Mill AR Nov. 19, 1864

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