ARTICLE FROM THE MONTICELLO NEWS IN 1960
WRITTEN BY
DR. E. M. LANCASTER
ON SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH SHADY DALE, GEORGIA
(Transcribed by Suzanne Forte suzanneforte@windstream.net April 2005)
Based on Information Furnished by Benny Hawthorne
SHADY DALE NEWS
In the Georgia Historical Quarterly, September 1957 on page 288 to 300 is an article entitled: "With Sherman Through Georgia: A Journal", edited by David J. de Laubenfels. He gives credit to the following for a lot of his information: Mrs. W. H. Patterson, Covington, Mrs. W. J. Tucker, Shady Dale, Mr. T. H. Resseau, Eatonton. The author is a member of the Department of Geography and Geology of the University of Georgia, Athens.
When General Sherman made his famous march from Atlanta to Savannah during November and December 1864, he assigned to John Rziha, the task of making a journal and map of the route traversed. On November 15 the army was in Atlanta. November 16 it was at Lithonia, November 17 and 18 it was at Almon, Oxford and Covington. The journal of Capt. Rziha, who was a recent emigrant from Austira: "Tuesday, November 15, 1864, Burning of Atlanta. Wednesday, November 16, past Decatur one o'clock, crossed R.R. twice close to Decatur. Passed near first camp Snap Finger Creek, camp at Mr. Bradley's right hand from road; first camp 17 miles from Atlanta, two miles this side of Lithonia. Arrived at Camp 1-2 past five o'clock.
November 17th at Lithonia R R Cut South West R R 1 miles S W of little Rock Mountain camped at Mr. Grey's - Rebel." This house is still standing in Almon. Pontoon bridges were used to cross Yellow River, grist mill burned here, the depot at Covington had already been burned by raiders. Covington was spared from burning because it was the hometown of a classmate of Sherman.
On November 19 the army left the road to Augusta and took the road for Milledgeville after crossing the Alcovy River. He had camped in the John Harris home. They proceeded to Sandtown now known as Newborn. The Tavern is still standing i Newborn where Gen. Sherman made headquarters for a few hours in the middle of the day, Saturday, November 19. That night, General Sherman set up camp just north of a hamlet named Farrar, one mile from it. About half a mil further, General Davis set up camp at the home of Mr. Samuel Shy (known as Shy Town).
On Sunday, November 20, 1864, the army passed the headquarters of General Morgan which was set up in the James H. Green house. This house is now standing and is occupied by Norman Derricho. Another mile and the little post station of Shady Dale near the plantation of Squire Whitfield was reached. Salem Meeting house was passed that day. Salem was a school until recently.
Monday, November 21, Sherman camped at the home of Mr. Farley 8 miles S.W. of Eatonton. On Nov 22, he burned Clopton's Mill near the fork of Murder Creek and Little River. He camped at Mr. Freeman's that night.
The following are the names of the homes and farms mentioned by Capt. Rziha:
1. Home of Rev. Allen Grey, remodeled at Almon.
2. Mr. Merriwether, Almon
3. Methodist Church, Almon, grist mill burned
4. Harris house near Covington
5. Stanton House (near Hub)
6. Jim Perry (at junction route 11 and 142)
7. Sandtown Tavern - still standing.
8. Methodist Church - Newborn
9. George Loyd home below Newborn
10. Montgomery home nearby.
11. Freeman home (near Ray Stephens)
12. Thomas Weir (Farrar, Ga)
13. Green Kelly home, Henry Benford home.
14. Harmon Geiger (O. F. Lancaster home)
13. James H. Green home (Norman Derricho)
16. G. Tucker wagon maker (Spearman home recently burned)
17. Dr. George home near Mr. W. J. Tucker
18. Will Green (burned 1912 Hodge house)
19. Squire Whitfield, Shady dale hotel. Baptist Church Shady Dale.
20. Hawk home (Oliver H. Newton home)
21. Ed Baynes - Aikenton
22. John Turk (Mr. Depson has an egg farm here)
23. Charles Campbell (Apollo)
24. Farrar place (near Gus Griggs store)
25. Jim Lancaster place
26. John Hawkins place. Mr. Pimberton)
27. Linch Home, Langford's dairy
28. Sparks Home - Salem Meeting house
29. Rainey Home
30. John Linch (Linchburg)
31. Farley, Vaughn, Bowdoin- torn down by government
32. Bob Young home
33. Clopton's Mill
34. Lawrence home
35. Freeman home
36. Silas Umphrey