McKelvey House (site): Polk's HQ, May 19, 1864

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Location of the home of William Neal McKelvey. Used as headquarters by Gen. Leonidas Polk, commanding 2nd Corps, Army of Tennessee (CS), May 19, 1864. It was at this location on the night of May 19, 1864, that Polk, along with fellow corps commander John B. Hood, browbeat their commanding general Joseph E. Johnston into abandoning a very strong position facing Union general William T. Sherman's army. Johnston's third corps commander, William J. Hardee, was not present when the decision to retreat was made and expressed disgust when word of it reached him. In his memoirs, Sherman stated that the position held by the Confederates at Cassville was one of the strongest he had ever seen, and was surprised the next morning when the rebels were gone.