Battle of Griswoldville. On Nov. 22, 1864, the Right Wing (15th and 17th Corps) of Gen. Sherman's army marched southeast from the vicinity of Gray toward Gordon and Irwinton on its destructive March to the Sea. To protect the right against Wheeler's cavalry, Brig. Gen. C.C. Walcutt's brigade of Woods' division, 15th Corps, with two guns of Arndt's Michigan Battery, was sent toward Macon. Near Griswoldville, Walcutt found Murray's brigade of Kilpatrick's cavalry division engaged with Wheeler. Together, they drove Wheeler through Griswoldville, after which Walcutt withdrew and took up a strong position on the Duncan farm, south of the railroad and about 11/2 miles east of town. He intrenched hastily on a slight elevation behind a small stream (Little Sandy Creek), his flanks protected by swamps and open fields in his front. The guns were placed on the road near the center of his line. About 2:30 P.M., he was attacked by the 1st Division, Georgia Militia, Brig. Gen. P.J. Phillips, with four guns. Advancing in three lines across the open fields, the Georgians made seven determined assaults; they silenced Arndt's guns but could not break the Union line. About 3:30 P.M., Walcutt was wounded and Col. R.F. Catterson, 97th Indiana Infantry, assumed command. At dusk, Phillips was forced to retire but Catterson made no attempt to pursue him. Killed and wounded: [Confederate Flag] 523; [U.S. Flag] 92. 084-24 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1957
Henderson Road, Griswoldville, GA, United States
Battle of Griswoldville The Advance from East Macon. On Nov. 22, 1864, the 1st Division, Georgia Milltia (less the 1st Brigade), with the 1st and 2nd Regiments, Georgia State Line, and Anderson's Georgia Battery attached, Brig. Gen. Pleasant J. Phillips commanding, marched from East Macon about 8:00 A.M. enroute to Augusta. About a mile west of Griswoldville, Phillips found the Athens and Augusta local defense battalions, under Maj. F. W. C. Cook, formed in line of battle facing the town, through which elements of Wheeler's cavalry [CSA] had just been driven by Walcutt's brigade of Woods' division, 15th Corps, and Murray's brigade of Kilpatrick's cavalry division [USA]. Forming line of battle with Anderson's brigade on the right, the Athens and Augusta Battalions in the center, McCoy's brigade on the left, Mann's brigade in reserve and the State Line regiments deployed as skirmishers in his front, Phillips advanced to Griswoldville, only to find that the enemy had retired. Unaware that Walcutt had halted and intrenched about 1 1/2 miles east, south of the railroad, to protect the right of Sherman's army then moving on the Irwinton road, Phillips reassembled his command and began moving it east of town to await further orders. 084-25 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1957
Henderson Road, Griswoldville, GA, United States
Battle of Griswoldville: The Big Picture. On Nov. 15, 1864, [Union] Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman left Atlanta on his devastating "March to the Sea." His force divided into two wings and feinted toward Macon and Augusta while on their way to the capital at Milledgeville. [Confed.] General William J. Hardee opposed Sherman with cavalry under Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler and state troops and militia. Hardee realized the move toward Macon was a feint and ordered [Confed.] General Gustavus W. Smith with his Georgia Militia, the Athens and Augusta Defense Battalions and two regiments of the Georgia State Line to protect Augusta and its valuable industries and arsenal. Most of these troops under [Confed.] Brig. Gen. Pleasant J. Philips caught up with the right flank of Sherman's right wing under the command of [Union] Brig. Gen. Charles Walcutt. For some never adequately explained reason, Philips ordered his Confederates to attack the veteran Union troops who were lightly fortified along this ridge. The Confederates passed through the still smoldering Griswoldville, set afire by [Union] cavalry the day before, and saw the first real results of the devastation being wrought upon their homeland. The Confederates, mostly old men and boys, attacked with great courage and vigor, but failed to change any part of Sherman's plan in the only pitched infantry battle on the March to Sea. 143-12 GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 1998
Griswoldville Monument on Baker Rd. off Ga. 57 via Ridge Rd., Griswoldville, GA, United States