On the night of Nov. 15, 1864, the Right Wing of General Sherman's army, the 15th and 17th Corps, camped near Stockbridge during the March to the Sea, while the Left Wing, the 14th and 20th Corps, camped between Stone Mountain and Lithonia. Blair’s 17th Corps, marching from Atlanta that day on the McDonough road, camped astride Upton Creek with its advance guard on Brush Branch near Stockbridge. Woods’ and Hazen’s divisions of Osterhaus’ 15th Corps, after marching toward Jonesboro and then turning toward McDonough at Morrow’s Station, halted south of the Jonesboro road and camped along Reeves Creek west of town. Kilpatrick’s cavalry division, after skirmishing with parties of Iverson’s cavalry, camped near Jonesboro. On Nov. 16th, the Right Wing moved toward McDonough. Hazen’s division marched through Stockbridge, followed by the 17th Corps. Woods’ division marched by way of Lee’s Mill, followed later that day by Smith’s and Corse's divisions of the 15th Corps, which had camped near Morrow’s Station and Hapeville. Although Confederate cavalry attempted to burn the Indian Creek bridge below Stockbridge, the advance guard drove them back, put out the fire, and saved all but the planking. Quick repairs enabled the columns to advance in forty minutes.