Battle of Lovejoy's Station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Battle of Lovejoy's Station |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the American Civil War | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 United States (Union) |
 CSA (Confederacy) |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| H. Judson Kilpatrick | William H. Jackson | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
| Kilpatrick's Division | Jackson's Division | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1 Cavalry Division | 1 Cavalry Division | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 237 | 240 | ||||||
The Battle of Lovejoy's Station happened on August 20, 1864. It took place near what is now Lovejoy, Georgia, in Clayton County. This battle was part of the Atlanta Campaign during the American Civil War. At this time, both sides were in a difficult situation. The Union army had almost surrounded Atlanta. The Confederate defenders stayed behind their strong fortifications.
The Battle of Lovejoy's Station
During the Atlanta Campaign, the main Confederate cavalry leader, Major General Joseph Wheeler, was away. He was busy raiding Union supply lines. Because of this, Union Army commander Major General William T. Sherman sent his own cavalry. Brigadier General Hugh Judson Kilpatrick was ordered to attack Confederate supply lines.
Kilpatrick's raid began on August 18. That evening, his troops hit the Atlanta & West Point Railroad. They managed to damage a small part of the tracks. Next, they headed towards Lovejoy's Station. This station was on the Macon & Western Railroad.
On August 19, while on their way, Kilpatrick's men attacked a supply depot in Jonesborough. They burned a large amount of supplies there. By August 20, they reached Lovejoy's Station. They immediately started destroying the railroad tracks and supplies.
Suddenly, Confederate infantry soldiers, led by Dan Reynolds's Arkansas Brigade, appeared. Kilpatrick's raiders were forced into a fight that lasted into the night. To avoid being completely surrounded, they eventually had to retreat. Even though Kilpatrick had destroyed supplies and tracks, the railroad line was fixed and working again in just two days.
Other Actions at Lovejoy's Station
The battle on August 20 was not the only military action at Lovejoy's Station in 1864. The National Park Service recognizes it as a battle. However, there were three other important military events there that year.
- Brigadier General Edward M. McCook led a cavalry raid on July 29 and July 30.
- Another action took place from September 2 to September 6.
- A final cavalry action happened on November 16.
In 2010, historical research found more parts of the battlefield. These areas were along McDonough-Jonesboro Road, east of U.S. Highway 41.
The Battlefield Today
Much of the historic battlefield area has been lost over time. This is due to the growth of towns in Clayton and Henry Counties, Georgia. However, some land is being saved.
About 100 acres on the Henry County side are now the site of a different kind of fight. Local people, history lovers, and preservationists are working to stop new buildings from being built on this rural farmland. The community has even offered to buy the land. They want to create a historic park to remember the Civil War battle.
Henry County, Georgia, officially opened the Nash Farm Battlefield Park. This park was the site of Kilpatrick's Raid on August 20. It also saw infantry fighting from September 2 to September 6, 1864. Plans for the 202-acre battlefield include turning the old farmhouse into a museum. The barn will be renovated for public meetings and events. There will also be walking trails throughout the property. The museum, called the Nash Farm Battlefield Museum, closed permanently on June 1, 2017.
In 2008, Lovejoy Station was placed on the Civil War Preservation Trust's list of most endangered Civil War battlefields. This was the second time it received this important recognition.
