Description: |
While Confederate Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler was absent raiding Union supply lines from North
Georgia to East Tennessee, Maj. Gen. William Sherman, unconcerned, sent Judson Kilpatrick to raid Rebel supply
lines. Leaving on August 18, Kilpatrick hit the Atlanta & West Point Railroad that evening, tearing up a small area of
tracks. Next, Kilpatrick headed for Lovejoy’s Station on the Macon & Western Railroad. In transit, on the 19th,
Kilpatrick’s men hit the Jonesborough supply depot on the Macon & Western Railroad, burning great amounts of
supplies. On the 20th, they reached Lovejoy’s Station and began their destruction. Rebel infantry (Cleburne’s
Division) appeared and the raiders were forced to fight into the night, finally fleeing to prevent encirclement.
Although Kilpatrick had destroyed supplies and track at Lovejoy’s Station, the railroad line was back in operation
in two days. |