Battle of Brown's Mill
Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia
Marker Inscription
Battle of Brown's Mill. On July 27, 1864, Brig. Gen. E.M. McCook with 3,600 Federal cavalry began a raid to destroy railroads south of Atlanta and release 32,000 Federal prisoners at Andersonville. Three miles south of Newnan on July 30th, Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler with 1,400 Confederate cavalry caught and routed the Federals, captured about 2,000 men, several ambulances, a full battery and released 500 Confederate prisoners. Here General Wheeler whipped the "pick" of the Federal cavalry and saved Newnan from capture and possible destruction. 038-2 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1955
Erected by Georgia Historical Commission
The Story
In July 1864, as the Atlanta Campaign raged, Union Brig. Gen. E.M. McCook led 3,600 cavalry on a raid to wreck the railroads feeding Atlanta and free the thousands of Federal prisoners held at Andersonville. Three miles south of Newnan, Confederate Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler caught the raiders with a far smaller force and routed them, capturing some 2,000 men, a battery, and freeing 500 Confederate captives.
Why it matters
Wheeler's victory at Brown's Mill blunted a bold Union effort to sever Atlanta's supply lines and liberate Andersonville, buying the Confederacy precious weeks in the fight for the city.
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Related people
- · E.M. McCook
- · Joseph Wheeler
Related events
- · Battle of Brown's Mill
- · Atlanta Campaign
- · McCook's Raid
Themes & tags
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