Lovejoy Station Civil War Battle

1864 print depicting the fighting along the Macon & Western Railroad south of Atlanta

Photo: Currier & Ives, public domain

Major Gen. William Sherman, unconcerned, sent Judson Kilpatrick to raid Rebel supply lines.

Continued Battle Description and Results

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.

Results: Confederate victory

General Information

Location: Clayton County

Campaign: Atlanta Campaign (1864)

Date: August 20, 1864

Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. H. Judson Kilpatrick [US]; Brig. Gen. William H. Jackson [CS]

Forces Engaged: Kilpatrick’s Cavalry Division [US]; Jackson’s Cavalry Division [CS]

Estimated Casualties: Unknown

Visiting the Site Today

Kilpatrick's raid on Lovejoy's Station damaged track and supplies but failed to permanently cut the rail line, a reminder that cavalry raids alone rarely settled the Atlanta Campaign's outcome. It took the infantry victory at Jonesboro, just days later, to finally force Atlanta's fall.