On Nov. 15, 1864, after destroying Atlanta and cutting his communications with the North, Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, USA, began his destructive campaign for Savannah, the March to the Sea. He divided his army into two wings. The Left Wing marched east from Atlanta in two columns, to feint at Augusta but then turn southeast and converge on Milledgeville. The Right Wing, the 15th and 17th Corps under Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, USA, marched south from White Hall, with the 15th Corps under Maj. Gen. P. J. Osterhaus, USA, moving by way of Old Jonesboro Road and the 17th Corps under Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair, USA, by way of the McDonough road. The 3rd Cavalry Division under Brig. Gen. J. L. Kilpatrick, USA, marched past East Point and down the west bank of Flint River to cover the right flank and to feint strongly toward Forsyth, cross the Ocmulgee, and move on Macon as if to attack it. Near Jonesboro, Murray’s brigade crossed Flint River and met elements of Iverson’s small Confederate cavalry division, posted there to watch Sherman’s movements. Deploying the 5th Kentucky and 8th Indiana cavalry regiments, Murray attacked, drove the Confederate cavalry from the town, and captured three caissons filled with artillery ammunition. The next morning, Kilpatrick moved south through Jonesboro toward Lovejoy’s Station, six miles south, where after heavy skirmishing along the way he found Iverson strongly intrenched.