Georgia Militia at Forsyth

On Nov. 16, 1864, Maj. Gen. G. W. Smith, CSA, reached Griffin (30 miles NW) after a night withdrawal from Lovejoy’s Station (13 miles N of Griffin) where he had been posted to support Iverson’s division of Wheeler’s cavalry [CS] which was watching for a movement by Gen. Sherman’s army [US] from Atlanta toward Macon. His force consisted of 2800 infantry of the First Division, Georgia Militia, 3 batteries, and about 250 local reserve cavalry.<br><br>On the 15th, Gen. Sherman’s Right Wing had marched from White Hall (West End) near Atlanta toward Jonesboro and Lovejoy’s Station. Although Gen. Smith was prepared to fight a delaying action at Lovejoy’s Station, the Union column turned SE at Morrow’s Station (4 miles N of Jonesboro), toward Stockbridge and McDonough, forcing him to withdraw to the fortifications of Griffin to protect the hospital center there.<br><br>Late on the 16th, Gen. Smith learned that the Union forces had moved south through Stockbridge and McDonough toward Jackson, on the Atlanta-Macon road (22 miles N of Forsyth). At dark, he withdrew from Griffin and marched his command to Forsyth, to protect this defenseless town and to put his troops into position to delay the enemy’s advance on Macon