Bartow County was created in 1832 as "Cass County" to honor General Lewis Cass of Michigan. When the General's views on abolition proved an embarrassment to the Confederate populace in 1861, they took steps to rename it to honor General Francis S. Bartow who led victorious Southern forces at the first battle of Manassas. The first county seat, Cassville, was destroyed by yet another general, William T. Sherman, then a point a few miles south on the railroad, Cartersville, was designated the new county seat.