The Civil War came to Powder Springs in the summer of 1864. The town’s proximity to several major battle sites made it a good place to stop and make encampments. The Union Army was making its way on the path of General Sherman’s March to Atlanta – The Atlanta Campaign. Both armies were progressing on to the Battle of Atlanta which took place July 22, 1864.

Over a 10 day period during the summer of 1864 Powder Springs hosted 16 Confederate and Union Generals. Both armies had encampments in and around Powder Springs during this time. There were no major battles of the war fought in Powder Springs. Only minor skirmishes were reported. There was a band of rough-and-ready Confederate spies that kept U.S. Major General George Stoneman’s men busy during their stay in Powder Springs.

Both armies used area homes, churches and various buildings as field headquarters and hospitals. The Presbyterian Church was used as a stable for their horses. The church was located on the corner of Marietta Street and North Avenue.

Union Soldiers also tore down both the Methodist and Baptist Churches and used the lumber to build their winter quarters. They were camped on the edge of town near the Methodist Cemetery on (Old) Austell Road. In 1914 both churches were compensated for their loss ($640.00) thanks to the efforts of Josie Kiser Autry.

Many artifacts and relics have been found by several relic hunters that attest to the occupation of Powder Springs by both armies during this time. Some have been donated by family members. In the Civil War Display Case is the collection of Jeff Jerkins, a local relic hunter. He has found the items about 5 miles of down- town. Over the years he has found thousands of relics. The most unique find is that of a bullet whittled into a chess piece. Other finds are assorted bullets, personal, military, non-military items and Confederate Camp shells.

Jeff has sorted the relics in an orderly and neat fashion, placing them inside the shadow boxes on display. Each box is labeled A – F as identification to where they were found. He then took an 1864 Civil War Map of the area and imposed present day roads over it. The letters on the map correspond to the cases of artifacts, showing where they were found. Jeff Jerkins has also documented, in notebooks, information about the US Calvary Camps and the Confederate Calvary Camps in Powder Springs.

Loren Baker, Historical Society Member and Historian, has researched and compiled a listing of Company D 7 th Georgia Infantry (Regiment) from Cobb County, Georgia. These are of Confederate Volunteers departing from Powder Springs Camp Ground (Macland) on May 31, 1861. The list is displayed (framed) along with a notebook of those volunteers listed. A log is on display from the Lindley Home which has shrapnel imbedded in it from a cannon ball. The house was located on the corner of Marietta (now Powder Springs Road) and Carter Road not far from Noses Creek. A framed picture and story is placed on top of the log giving more information.

There are other various photos, periodicals, maps, Confederate Money, Confederate Canon Ball, Union Artillery Shells and books relating to the Civil War in the room with the display cases. A letter written by the commanding Officer of the Union Army informing his mother that
her son was killed in battle.

A pre-civil war Old Testament Bible belonging to Emma Ragsdale Camp (1872-1964) was given to her by her father. Emma lived in the second house on the right past the Methodist Church at 4279 Marietta Street.

All of these artifacts and relics and more Civil War information are on display at the museum. Additional information may be found upstairs in the Research Room and in the Images of Powder Springs Book.