Below is a letter that I wrote today to the Henry County (Georgia) Board of Commissioners regarding the current and future status of its Nash Farm Battlefield Park:
June 7, 2017
June Wood, Chairman
Henry County Board of Commissioners
140 Henry Parkway
McDonough, Georgia 30253
RE: Nash Farm and Battles of Lovejoy
Dear Chairman Wood:
I am writing to express my concern for the future of Henry County’s Nash Farm Battlefield Park and the related historical resources on adjacent lands that comprise the Battles of Lovejoy from the American Civil War. For those members of the board who may not be familiar with the LAMAR Institute, our organization worked closely with Henry County government in 2007 to define the archaeological resources on the Nash Farm property. That effort is fully documented in our research report, entitled, The Nash Farm Battlefield: History and Archaeology. That report is available for free download at our website at http://thelamarinstitute.org/images/PDFs/publication_123.pdf .
Since 2007 historians and archaeologists have continued to delve into the cultural resources associated with the battles at Lovejoy and I have continued my involvement as a researcher on that subject. In 2010, our research team worked with the National Park Service to revise its boundary and understanding of the Battle(s) of Lovejoy and this resulted in a large area of Clayton and Henry Counties designated as the battlefield boundary. That recognized boundary encompasses all of the Nash Farm Battlefield Park property.
Archaeological surveys from 2008-2017 have verified this boundary, primarily the result of Georgia Department of Transportation projects for the proposed improvement of Jonesboro Road. Those efforts are fully documented in multiple survey reports by the firms of Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. and Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. The bottom line is Lovejoy was the scene of four battles in 1864, three of which are manifested at Nash Farm. Soldiers from both armies fought, died, were wounded, captured or survived. These men who clashed at the Nash farm are recognized by the U.S.A. as military veterans.
Metropolitan Atlanta has preserved very few reminders of the military contest for Atlanta. The Nash Farm Battlefield Park presents an excellent opportunity for telling this history as it provides an opportunity for outdoor learning for today’s youth and future generations. I applaud Henry County for demonstrating the initiative to acquire and preserve this historical property. It concerns me to read talk in today’s news, however, questioning the battlefield’s reality and the poor prospects for its continued preservation. This property is a huge asset to the county, both in terms of serving the local community as a lovely park and as a destination for those interested in studying and experiencing important places in America’s past.
Our recommendations would be to expand the boundaries of the park by acquiring additional property, create a museum that tells the stories of the battles in an unbiased format, and promote the site to the public for its important role in the development of our country. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Daniel T. Elliott
President
The LAMAR Institute, Inc.
Cc: Johnny Wilson, Dee Clemmons, Gary Barham, Blake Prince, Bruce Holmes
Mister Soapstone 