Red Oak – War Was Here

August 30th, 1864

August 30th, 1864:

Having left the area of Red Oak and Fairburn, the Federal army advances on Jonesboro and the Western & Atlantic Railroad. Howard’s Corps is the first one to cross the Flint River. Howard’s troops come under fire as they approach the Flint River. The Confederates are trying to delay them and as the retreat across the river toward Jonesboro, they set fire to the bridge. The men of Logan’s XV Corps dash across the burning bridge, some providing cover fire and others putting out the flames and saving a usable portion of the bridge. They purse the Confederates to the edge of the city and then fall back to high ground between the river and Jonesboro. They dig in on the eastern side of the river in an area that is now Hynds Springs Road near the intersection of 138.

_DSC0300.bw — Logan’s 15th, along with Ransom’s 16th and Blair’s 17th Corps of the Army of the Tennessee, commanded by General Howard (U.S.), marched from Fairburn to Jonesboro on this road. This view is looking west towards Fairburn. This is Hwy 138 at the Flint River.

_DSC0296.bw — As Howard’s Army of the Tennessee reached the Flint River, they engaged in a skirmish with the Confederates. The Confederates set the bridge on fire and soldiers from Logan’s Corps sprinted across the burning bridge to provide covering fire for other soldiers to begin putting out the flames on the bridge. They pushed the Confederates back towards town and then the Federal troops entrenched along the ridge line that Hynds Springs Road follows. This view is looking east towards Jonesboro from the Flint River bridge on Hwy 138.

_DSC0294.bw — Bethsaida Baptist Church sits along Bethsaida road. At the time of the war, this was the main road from Fairburn to Jonesboro. As the Army of the Tennessee (U.S.) left the destroyed railroad in Fairburn and Shadnor Church, the 15th, 16th, and 17th Corps all converged on this road. They skirmished constantly with Confederate Cavalry during their march to Jonesboro. The church was used as temporary headquarters by the Federals during their march and the church pews were used as feed troughs for the horses.

_DSC0339.bw — On their march from Red Oak, Baird’s Division of the 14th Corps split off from the other two divisions to march along a different road traveling in the same direction. This was common practice as roads were much smaller and the shear volume of soldiers and wagons could quickly bottle neck on a small road. Baird moved his Division along what is now Flat Shoals Road and made a right hand turn onto what is now Riverdale Road heading south towards Jonesboro to link up with the remainder of the 14th Corps. As the division was making its turn to the south, two divisions, Wood’s and Kimball’s, of the 4th Corps (U.S.) were halted at this cross roads on their march to Rough and Ready. The 4th Corps ended up camping here around the crossroads and the farm and home of John A. Mann, which was located a few hundred feet down the road. This view is looking south down Riverdale Road in the direction the Federals marched towards Jonesboro.

August 29th, 1864

August 29th, 1864:

The Federal Army, having reached the West Point railroad at Red Oak and Fairburn on the previous day, spend the 29th destroying 12.5 miles of track stretching as far south as Palmetto. They burned the ties and lay the track across them to heat them and then bend them around trees. They fill the railroad cuts with trees, rocks, dirt, and in some cases they rig up artillery shells in the debris to explode if material is moved. There is also a great deal of looting and pillaging of the local populace. Livestock and food stuffs are taken along with anything the looters deem useful. Some things are destroyed just for fun. On the night of the 29th, Sherman issues marching orders for the next day. In the morning they will begin moving toward Jonesboro.

_DSC0286.bw — Atlanta – West Point Railroad looking south towards Fairburn.

_DSC0166.bw — Fairburn Georgia as it stands today. Much of the town and local farms were looted during the two days that Federal forces spent here destroying the railroad prior to their movement to Jonesboro.

_DSC0241.bw — The Atlanta – West Point Railroad at Red Oak. Looking north from mile marker 14 toward the Confederate held East Point. The Federals destroyed over 12 miles of track in two days time between East Point and Fairburn and further south to Palmetto.

August 27th, 1864

August 27th, 1864:

The first of Sherman’s troops reach Camp Creek on the morning of the 27th. The Federal IV Corps is moving toward Camp Creek from the area around Utoy Creek. Hood, is increasingly concerned about the possibility of Sherman attempting a flanking movement to attack the railroad at Rough and Read (now called Mountain View, which is directly east of the Atlanta airport between I-75 and I-285) or possibly at Jonesboro. Hood has received word from some Cavalry scouts that the Federals are massing at Camp Creek. Hood has dispatched French on a reconnaissance to the north and west of Atlanta and he has found the Federal XX corp entrenched in the are of the railroad bridge across the Chattahoochee River. Stewart’s and Lee’s Corps move into the empty Federal trenches and begin to reap the rewards of all the items an army leaves behind. They find everything from food to blankets. Hood sends Sthal’s Brigade to reinforce Hardee at East Point and instructs Jackson to have Armstrong’s Brigade of Cavalry ready to block and delay the Federals if they attempt to cross Camp Creek and move on Rough and Ready. From the south side of Camp Creek all the way to Joneboro, Confederate Cavalry skirmished with the Federals as they advanced. Their efforts did little to stop or slow the Federals.

_DSC0118.bw — This crossroads, just east of where “Sandtown” was, was a military landmark during the Civil War. This is the Intersection of Boat Rock Road, New Hope Road, and Campbellton Road. From here the Federal 15th Corps marched southeast and the 16th and 17th Corps marched south crossing Camp Creek and making their way to Shadnor Church (in present day Union City) and to Fairburn.

_DSC0187.bw — Camp Creek at Stonewall Tell Road. Federal forces crossed this creek on their way towards Shadnor Church and Fairburn.

_DSC0181.bw — Camp Creek at Enon Rd. Federal forces crossed this creek on their way to Shadnor Church and Fairburn.

_DSC0154.bw — Owl Rock Church. This historic church was founded in 1828 and was a military landmark for Confederate and Federal forces during the battles around Atlanta. The Federals passed by here on their march south and east toward the Atlanta – West Point Railroad.

_DSC0136.bw — Owl Rock, the church’s name sake.

August 25th, 1864

August 25th, 1864:

General Sherman has grown impatient and restless with the siege of Atlanta and the failure of his Cavalry to destroy the Confederate supply line south of Atlanta. He has devised a plan to sweep his entire army with the exception of one Corps, to the south west then move back east towards the railroad. This movement will carry them though Red Oak, Fairburn, and Palmetto. From there they will move on Jonesboro.

On the 25th, Sherman gives the order to begin the movement and late in the evening the XX Corps begins pulling back from the siege lines and moves across the Chattahoochee river. The IV Corps moves as well. They moved to the area that is now I-285 and Cascade Road. They form a line of battle facing toward the north in the direction of the Confederate stronghold of Atlanta. They will act as a rear guard to protect the remainder of the Union army as they begin their march on Jonesboro. The IV Corps will remain in the Atlanta area during the assault on Jonesboro. Sherman has also ordered all the surplus wagons and supplies to be moved from the siege lines and taken across the Chattahoochee where they will be guarded.

_DSC0513.bw — Cascade Road at I-285. Sherman ordered his IV Corps to this area where they formed a line of battle facing the Confederate lines in Atlanta. They were to act a the rear guard as the remainder of Sherman’s army moved towards the railroad in Red Oak, Fairburn and Palmetto, before moving on to Jonesboro.

150 Years Ago Today: August 28th, 1864

August 28th, 1864:
Around midday on the 28th, the Federal XV and XVII Corps reach the Westpoint railroad in Fairburn and the later in the afternoon the Federal IV and XIV Corps reach the Westpoint railroad in Red Oak. Sherman orders his troops to destroy as much of the railroad as possible so as to make it unusable and to burn the cross ties and bend the tracks so that no piece can be reused. They are to begin immediately and continue to work all through the next day.
Hood is starting to realize the threat is on the Western and Atlantic railroad near Jonesboro. Hood has sent Reynold’s Brigade to Jonesboro by train and they will be followed by Lewis’s Kentuckians. Brown moves to Rough and Ready with part of Bate’s Division to protect it from possible raids coming from Red Oak or Fairburn.