Hood lost contact with Sherman's army for several days.

under the command of Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard were across the

Flint River, less than two miles from Jonesboro. Hood reacted

quickly, sending forces to Jonesboro with orders to attack Howard

and drive him back across the river. On August 31, the Confederates

assaulted the federal bridgehead, but were repulsed and withdrew

to the western edge of Jonesboro and dug in. Although the Yankees

were in strength near Jonesboro, Hood believed their presence

there was merely a diversion. After a federal column cut the

Macon & Western between Atlanta and Jonesboro, Hood perceived

that the main threat was an attack on Atlanta. He pulled nearly

half of his troops out of Jonesboro, leaving Lt. Gen. William

J. Hardee's corps to defend the town.

On September 1, Sherman struck Hardee's Corps with overwhelming

odds, and nearly broke through the Confederate lines. As darkness

fell, the Union forces withdrew and the Confederates held their

position until ordered to retreat to Lovejoy Station. Following

the battle, Hood ordered a general evacuation of Atlanta. Sherman's

army entered the city on September 2.

"Jonesboro was by no means the largest of the battles fought

in the Atlanta campaign, but it was one of the most vicious,

especially in terms of hand-to-hand combat," explains Richard

Peterson, a McDonough resident and reenactor with the Co. C,

7th Georgia Volunteers, Georgia Division Reenactors' Association.

"Tactically, the two-day battle was a draw � the Confederates

held their positions and later withdrew in good order. However,

the strategic impact of Jonesboro is most significant. The loss

of the Macon & Western railroad spelled doom for Atlanta," Peterson

added.

There are several reenactment units in Georgia, filled with

men who cannot seem to let history fade away in tattered books

with yellowed pages that collect dust on abandoned bookshelves.

Instead they keep reliving it for a variety of reasons.

"It's a way of getting out with the public so they

can see what living history is about," says Capt. Louis

Rice, commander of the 30th Georgia, Co. E, the oldest reenactment

unit in the state. "It's also a reminder � we wouldn't

want to see Americans fight Americans again."

On the Union side, members of the 10th Kentucky and 104th Illinois

units will also participate in the Battle of Jonesborough. Soldiers

from the 10th Kentucky will camp close to the plantation house,

similar to what occurred at Stately Oaks in 1864 when Federal

troops, although mostly cordial, helped themselves to the McCord

family's food and other supplies.

Battle weekend at Stately Oaks begins Saturday with a 9 a.m.

parade from the Jonesboro courthouse on N. McDonough St. to Stately

Oaks, 100 Carriage Lane. The grounds at Stately Oaks will be

filled with living history demonstrations, sutler stores, soldier

camps, and old-fashioned cooking. Un-Reconstructed, a period

band that performed at the funeral service for the crewmen of

the CSS Hunley, will provide musical entertainment.

Victorian mourning tours will be conducted inside the house

on the hour all weekend. Saturday, after the 2 p.m. battle, guests

are invited to join the barbecue at 5 p.m. and a street dance

at 7:30 p.m. at the Clayton County History Center/Old Jail, 125

King St. Sunday morning, the public is encouraged to attend a

memorial service at the Jonesboro Cemetery on the corner of N.

McDonough and Johnson streets at 9 a.m. The battle reenactment

will also be held at 2 p.m. Sunday. Gates will be open 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m. both days.

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