At the site of the McPeak House stood an earlier house, not the one standing in 1958, at the rear on the old road of which the driveway is a remaining portion. It was cited in Official Records of military operations at Jonesboro in 1864. On Aug. 31, 1864, Hardee’s A. C. and Anderson’s div. of S. D. Lee’s marched by this old road when they detoured from the Rough and Ready road to the one near the railroad, en route to Jonesboro. This 3 A. M. detour was made to avoid Federal outposts at the bridge near Chamber’s Mill. On the second day of the battle at Jonesboro, Sept. 1, 1864, this sector was occupied by Federal 14th A. C. troops under Gen. J. C. Davis, who had headquarters at the McPeak House.