On Nov. 22, 1864, Brig. Gen. Pleasant J. Phillips led the 1st Division, Georgia Militia, less the 1st Brigade, with the 1st and 2nd Regiments of the Georgia State Line and Anderson’s Georgia Battery attached, from East Macon toward Augusta. About a mile west of Griswoldville, he found the Athens and Augusta local defense battalions under Maj. F. W. C. Cook formed in line of battle facing the town after elements of Wheeler’s cavalry [CS] had just been driven through it by Walcutt’s brigade of Woods’ division, 15th Corps, and Murray’s brigade of Kilpatrick’s cavalry division [US]. Phillips then formed his own line of battle, with Anderson’s brigade on the right, the Athens and Augusta battalions in the center, McCoy’s brigade on the left, Mann’s brigade in reserve, and the State Line regiments deployed as skirmishers in front, and advanced to Griswoldville, where he found the enemy had withdrawn. Unaware that Walcutt had halted and entrenched about 1 1/2 miles east, south of the railroad, to protect the right of Sherman’s army as it moved on the Irwinton road, Phillips reassembled his command and began moving it east of town to await further orders.