Town of Bartow

In 1860, the town's name was changed to Bartow to honor Savannah native Francis Bartow, who died during The War Between the States at the First Battle of Manassas. The town was a constant source of supplies for the Confederate soldiers until the arrival of General William Tecumseh Sherman's troops, who swept through the area on their mission to destroy crops, houses, and rail lines between Atlanta and Savannah. While Sherman turned south just prior to reaching Bartow, in order to blow up a bridge below Shake Rag (now Wadley), his men entered town to burn all the cotton and supplies they could not take with them. During their stay, the union troops camped in a pine thicket that separated the house at 1038 Speir Street from the railroad tracks.