After Hardee’s Confederate command was defeated at Jonesboro on Aug. 31, 1864, it was depleted by the withdrawal of S.D. Lee’s Army Corps before the battle’s results were known in Atlanta. Anticipating a Federal attack at East Point, Hood ordered Lee toward Atlanta. Lee left Jonesboro early Sept. 1 and, via McDonough Road, reached South River on the 2nd, passing Stewart’s Confederate Army Corps, which had abandoned Atlanta that morning because of Hardee’s defeat. Hardee was forced to withdraw to Lovejoy’s Station on Sept. 1, where Stewart joined him on the 2nd. Lee, covering Stewart’s rear, followed him to Lovejoy’s on this road, arriving there Sept. 3d.