“Jackson, seat of Butts County, ‘was a beautiful little place and evidently occupied by the most prosperous people of that region.‘ Those descriptive words were penned by Union Major Thomas W Osborn, Chief of Artillery of Major General Oliver O. Howard’s ‘Right Wing’ in Major General William T. Sherman’s army. Osborn, along with some 12,000 other Federal soldiers, marched through town on Thursday, November 17, 1864. Afterwards, Osborn’s description of Jackson changed to ‘a sadder if not a wiser community. Little was left besides themselves and their houses.‘ General Howard and both of his subordinate commanders, Major Generals Peter J. Osterhaus (15th Corps) and Francis P. Blair, Jr. (17th Corps) made their overnight headquarters at Jackson, the latter at Sylvan Grove Plantation. Union Major General Peter J. Osterhaus (prior to his promotion) Commander, 15th Corps, Army of the Tennessee (“Right Wing”) Osterhaus was born in Prussia (part of today’s Germany) before immigrating to the United States in 1848. He fought in Western Theater battles from Missouri to Georgia. After the war he served as U.S. Consul in France & Germany.”
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