GRISWOLDVILLE, Battle of. When General Sherman marched from Atlanta to the sea, his right wing, commanded by General Howard, was under instructions to threaten Macon and strike the Savannah Railroad at Gordon, about 20 miles east. Upon his arrival at Clinton, the cavalry advance made a demonstra tion on Macon, and 21 Nov. 1864, his entire cavalry force took up an advanced position cov ering all the roads to Macon, and that day and the next all the troops and trains were closed up toward Gordon, except C. R. Woods' division, which was directed to take up a strong position on the Irwinton road and demonstrate on Macon and Griswoldville, eight miles east. The demon stration was made on the 22d by Walcutt's brigade of 1,513 men and two guns. in co operation with Kilpatrick's cavalry on the dif ferent roads. Some of Kilpatrick's cavalry were in advance of Walcutt and were fiercely attacked by Wheeler; but with Walcutt's as sistance Wheeler was driven from the field, and followed by Walcutt beyond Griswoldville. Walcutt was then recalled to a position a little east of Griswoldville, where two miles in ad vance of his position, he formed line along a slight rise of ground, with his flanks well pro tected by swampy ground, and with an open field in front. Kilpatrick's cavalry was on either flank. Walcutt had scarcely thrown up a rail barricade, in view of another attack of Wheeler's cavalry, when he was fiercely as sailed by infantry. That morning, under Gen
eral Hardee's order, Gen. G. W. Smith, in command of a considerable body of Georgia militia that had been concentrated at Macon, directed General Phillips, with a division of in fantry and a battery, to march from Macon to Gordon and take trains for Augusta. Phillips had been instructed to halt before reaching Griswoldville and wait for further orders, and was cautioned not to engage an enemy if met, but to fall back to the fortifications at Macon. But when he heard of Walcutt's position he moved through Griswoldville and, with more courage than discretion, threw his four brigades against Walcutt, at the same time opening de structively with his artillery. At 2 o'clock, in three compact lines, his militia charged to within 75 yards of Walcutt's line, and were re pulsed. The assaults were repeated in front arid on both flanks, and continued until sunset, when, everywhere repulsed, he abandoned the field, leaving his dead and wounded. During the action Walcutt was severely wounded by a piece of shell. The Union loss was 13 killed, 69 wounded, and 2 missing. The Confederate loss was 51 killed and 472 wounded. Consult 'Official Records' (Vol. XLIV) ; Cox, 'The March to the the Century Company's 'Battles and Leaders of the Civil War' (Vol. IV).