Griswoldville Civil War Battle

Georgia historical marker describing the Battle of Griswoldville
Photo: Dsdugan, CC0
Brig. Gen. Charles Walcutt was ordered to make a demonstration, with the six infantry regiments and one battery.
Continued Battle Description and Results
He set out on the morning of November 22, and after a short march he ran into some of Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry and drove them beyond Griswoldville.

Having accomplished his mission, Walcutt retired to a position at Duncan’s Farm and fortified it with logs and rails to meet an expected Rebel attack force composed of three brigades of Georgia State Militia.

The Georgia Militia had been ordered from Macon to Augusta, thinking the latter was Sherman’s next objective, and accidentally collided with Walcutt’s force. The Union force withstood three determined charges before receiving reinforcements of one regiment of infantry and two regiments of cavalry.

The Rebels did not attack again and soon retired.

Results: Union victory
General Information
BulletLocation: Jones County and Twiggs County
BulletCampaign: Savannah Campaign (1864)
BulletDates: November 22, 1864
BulletPrincipal Commanders: Brig. Gen. Charles C. Walcutt [US]; Brig. Gen. Pleasant J. Philips and Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler [CS]
BulletForces Engaged: 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, XV Corps, Army of the Tennessee and two regiments of cavalry [US]; 1st Division Georgia Militia and Cavalry Corps, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida [CS]
BulletEstimated Casualties: 712 total (US 62; CS 650)
Visiting the Site Today
Griswoldville was the only real pitched infantry battle of Sherman's March to the Sea, and a tragic one: most of the Confederate force were old men and boys of the Georgia Militia, attacking veteran Union troops with predictable results. A state historical marker and a small preserved section of the battlefield mark the site in Jones County today.

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