NE Henry County and the White Family"
*Civil War Era*
In the following submission will be found records of the White Family of NE Henry County, Georgia and along the DeKalb County line and showing their presence there during the Civil War and the Atlanta Campaign.
Outline of Review
1. The Text of Events
A. Claims Commission Records of Thomas White
B. Claims Commission Records of William C. White
C. Claims Commission Records of Mary A. White
2. Application for Pension of Widow by Elizabeth White
A. Eyewitness Account of Skirmish at Flat Rock
3. Maps of Area
A. Foraging area 1864
B. Map showing Distances
C. Map showing West side of Flat Rock
D. Map showing East side of Flat Rock
4. Photo of General Geary
5. References
Families of Flat Rock Before and
During the Civil War"
Claims Commission Records
The White Family settled the area of NE Henry County which became Flat Rock due
to the flat rocks in the area. According to records Thomas White was one of the first
settlers in the area which became annexed into DeKalb County but he still had land in Henry County along Hearn Rd north of Panola Rd.
The archives has the documents where the White Family and other witnesses describe the actions of the Union Army who came to the area in the Summer and Fall of 1864. Mrs. Elizabeth White described the military actions of July 28-29, 1864 when General Joe Wheeler, CSA came to her home and received food and water. She could hear the gunfire from the Flat Rock or Panola Shoals area during the time that Wheeler met
General Kenner Garrard, USA during the Stoneman Raid. (see copies)
Then the people of the are discuss the foraging activities of the Union Army during October 11-14, 1864 in the area. There are several of the residents who filed claims in 1871 for the items taken by raiders during the Civil War. The Claim Commission would hear and make a decision on the matter.
In these records, it describes the scope of the foraging which took place in the area. There were several camps set up across the area by the men under General Geary, USA 20th Corps whose job it was to appropriate any useful foodstuffs for he troops under General William T. Sherman, USA in Atlanta. This was to aid in the buildup of supplies for the beginning of he March to the Sea a month later. The size of this military operation was much larger than many would suspect. The first wagon train which left the area for Atlanta carried 500 wagon loads. The second wagon train to come into the area left with 800 wagon loads making a total of 1,300 wagon loads of food and material for the Union Army war effort. The folowng records in this section detail the amount of items taken from the area.
Surrounding the White Family"
1. The National Archives Division, Morrow GA.
2. The Civil War Dictionary, 1976, Boatner.
3. Mother of Counties, 1971, Mrs. Rainer
4. The White Family, 1989, Mrs. Middlebrooks
5. Early Henry County, 1921, Mrs. Hankinson
6. Southern Claims Commission, 1871-1880, Moore, 1984.
7. The Atlanta Historical Society, 1985
8. The Library of Congreee
9. Henry and DeKalb Records.
10. The Weekly Adverstiser Newspaper, McDonough GA.
