The Evacuation of Gordon

The Evacuation of Gordon (HMRZC)

Location: Gordon, GA 31031 Wilkinson County
Buy Georgia State flags at Flagstore.com!
Country: United States of America
Buy United States of America flags at Flagstore.com!

N 32° 52.979', W 83° 20.565'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 542 views
Inscription
On Nov. 20, 1864, Maj. Gen. H. C. Wayne, Adjutant General of Georgia, found that telegraphic communications with Macon had been cut by the Right Wing of Gen. Sherman's Army [US], which had left Atlanta on Nov. 15th on its destructive March to the Sea. The only troops here were the Corps of Cadets (Georgia Military Institute), Factory and Penitentiary Guards, the Roberts Guards (paroled convicts), and three small militia units (Williams company of infantry, Talbot's company of cavalry, and Pruden's battery of artillery) all under Maj. F. W. Capers, Superintendent of the Georgia Military Institute. Total strength: 460.

That night, Wayne learned that the railroad had been destroyed east of Macon and that large forces [US] were approaching Gordon and Milledgeville. Gordon being no longer tenable, he decided to withdraw to the east bank of Oconee River and defend both the railroad bridge and Ball's Ferry, four miles downstream, the only practicable wagon road crossing within a day's march.

Although criticized by local citizens for evacuating Gordon, Wayne's decision saved Caper's small force and enabled him to use it at the river where, with another small force under Maj. A. L. Hartridge, it held the railway bridge, forcing the entire Right Wing [US] to cross Ball's Ferry after losing three days spent skirmishing in the swamps for possession of the site.
Details
HM NumberHMRZC
Series This marker is part of the Georgia: Georgia Historical Society/Commission series, and the Shermans March to the Sea series.
Tags
Marker Number158-8
Year Placed1957
Placed ByGeorgia Historical Commission
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014 at 9:25am PDT -07:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)17S E 280836 N 3640748
Decimal Degrees32.88298333, -83.34275000
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 32° 52.979', W 83° 20.565'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds32° 52' 58.74" N, 83° 20' 33.90" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)478
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 310 Milledgeville Rd, Gordon GA 31031, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Nearby Markersshow on map
Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. What historical period does the marker represent?
  2. What historical place does the marker represent?
  3. What type of marker is it?
  4. What class is the marker?
  5. What style is the marker?
  6. This marker needs at least one picture.
  7. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  8. Is the marker in the median?