During the March to the Sea, units of General Joseph Wheeler's CSA Calvary
were posted on all roads to the south of Atlanta. On November 15, 1864, the
advance of Gen. Osterhaus' USA 16th Corp marched from West End and was halted
by the Orphan Brigade near Stockbridge. The Orphan Brigade were from Kentucky
and because the state was not aligned with the north or south they took on this name.
Gen. Joseph H. Lewis CSA had the 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 9th Kentucky Mounted
Infantry, and were placed NW of Old Stockbridge near where Stagecoach Rd and Panola Rd intersect today. The Orphans delayed the enemy until they were flanked
out of position. They retired to Lovejoy after putting up the first real resistance met
by Gen. Sherman's Army of the Right Wing.
On the night of November 15, 1864, the Right Wing of Sherman's Army the 15th
and 17th Corps camped near Stockbridge. Gen. Blair's 17th US Corps camped on Uptons Creek about 3 miles NW of Stockbridge while his advance guard camped east of
Stockbridge on Brush Branch. Woods and Hazen's divisions of Gen. Osterhaus 15th Corps camped west of Stockbridge on Reeves Creek
On November 16, 1864, the Right Wing moved toward McDonough from Stockbridge in three waves. The CSA Calvary attempted to burn the Cotton Indian
Creek bridge SE of Stockbridge. The Advanced guard of Blair's 17th Corps drove the calvary back. This calvary was elements of teh 2nd Georgia Calvary homeguard.
The advanced guard saved everything but the planking. Quick repairs enabled the column to advance in about an hour. Then they encountered more Confederate
resistance about a mile to the south of the bridge. Then the column finally camped
north of McDonough on the Walnut Creek on the night of November 16th. This ended the actions in and around Stockbridge during the March to the Sea.
References:
1. 1957 GA Commission on the Civil War.
2. The AHS.
3. War of the Rebellion Records Washington DC.
4. Mother of Counties, Mrs. Rainer 1971.
