Nash Farm Battlefield and Museum

Nash Farm Battlefield of Henry County Georgia

There were at least four military engagements in the Lovejoy and Mount Carmel vicinity over the period from July - November 1864.

These include:  

 A Confederate attack on McCook’s U S Calvary in July 1864.

 Kilpatrick’s Raid/Minty’s Charge against the Texas Cavalry in August 1864. 

The main Infantry Battle of Lovejoy Station in early September 1864, which pitted the entire armies under Major Generals Sherman and William Bell Hood. 

Kilpatrick’s “Right flank” engagement at Lovejoy and Bear Creek (Hampton)  in November 1864.

Portions of these battlefields have been preserved at the Henry County GA Nash Battlefield Park, a public park owned and managed by the Henry County Board of Commissioners
 770 288-6001  A Museum is located inside the original farm house which contains Civil War artifacts, local history displays, reference material and books.

Located at 100 Babbs Mill Road - Hampton, Georgia

In the summer of 1864, toward the end of the Battle of Atlanta and Jonesboro, Georgia, large battles were fought in Henry and Clayton Counties and particularly at and near Lovejoy Station. 

Atlanta had been captured, burned and evacuated, but somehow the Confederates were still receiving supplies up the Macon and Western Railroad from the South commanded by General John B Hood.

General Sherman sent 2 battalions south to cut off this supply line and destroy the railroads.  One circled around to the west through Newnan, Fairburn and Palmetto to destroy the Atlanta and West Point Railroad.    They continued east along the McDonough Fayetteville Road areas toward the Mount Carmel area, where the Steele family lived, to destroy the Macon and Western Railroad near Lovejoy Station. Another battalion came down the railroad from Atlanta.       

General Sherman sent his Cavalry Corps to Henry and Clayton Counties.

The Union forces were from Michigan, Pennsylvania and Ohio, made up from men from many states that had joined together. 

The Confederate Forces were from Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia, however many of the local men were off fighting battles in other states.

1864 Map by Edgar Rugar and reproduced in 1895 showing the Lovejoy Station battle lines near the "Still" Steele home and the Nash Farm

During these battles, Gen. Sherman used the Steele-Gunter House as his headquarters which is located by the railroad just north of the Nash Battlefield.

  (See Post "Gen. Sherman Slept Here)

Painting of the Steele-Gunter House by Steele family member, Judy Upchurch
This painting is displayed in the Nash Farm Museum
 along with additional information about Gen. Sherman's stay at the house

 The railroad was destroyed and General Sherman retreated back to Atlanta to prepare for his March to the Sea and give President Lincoln Savannah as a Christmas present.    

1864 U S Battlefield Map by Engineer Orlando Poe - Reproduced in 1877
The Nash Farm is noted near the red battle line

The Battlefields around Lovejoy's station, Mt Carmel Church, 

Liberty Hill Church  and the Macon and Western Railroad

THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY of THE NASH FARM SITE   - Although it is in Henry County,  at one time, all or part of the Nash Farm was located in Clayton County, which was created in 1858 from Henry and Fayette County.  The original east line of the county ran between Land Lots 121 and 122, rather than 122 and 123 as it does today.  The line was adjusted in the mid twentieth century.  Originally, all of this land was part of Henry County, which was created in 1821 from lands acquired from the Creek Indian Tribe  in the Treaty of Indian Springs in 1821.  The land was surveyed into 202.5-acre lots that were distributed in a lottery to qualified citizens of Georgia.  The winner of these lots usually sold them to interested parties rather than settle the land themselves.

Nash Farm Battlefield and Museum Contact Information -

A Community Building is available for functions.  

                                                 

  Nash Farm Battlefield                    

100 Babbs Mill Road

Hampton, Georgia 30228

Contact email  nashfarmbattlefieldmuseum@gmail.com. 

Web Site www.henrycountybattlefield.com.

 Henry County Board of Commissioners 770 288-6001

Park Hours: Daily -8:00 AM  -  11:00 PM                                                                                                                        

Museum Hours: Friday & Saturday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

Directions:

From Atlanta, GA     I-75 South, Exit 221, Jonesboro Road

(the 2nd Jonesboro Road exit located in Henry County). - go west 6 miles. Nash Farm on your left. .

From Macon, GA    I-75 North, exit 221 and go west approximately 6 miles.  Nash Farm will be on your left.  Parking is on Babbs Mill Road.

From Hwy 19/41 at Hastings Bridge  Cross over the railroad bridge, take first LEFT onto McDonough Road, and go EAST a few miles.  Nash Farm Battlefield will be on the RIGHT.  Turn right onto Babbs Mill Road to park.                  

Maps and battle information furnished courtesy of Civil War Historian and Re-enactor, Mark Pollard, and the Nash Farm Battlefield Museum