Dr. David Evans, historian and Civil War author, goes
over plans for the Brown’s Mill battle ground site with Elizabeth Beers,
Newnan-Coweta Historical Society. The occasion was the annual Battle of Brown’s
Mill dinner. Photo/Carolyn Cary
Newnan holds
annual Brown's Mill Dinner
By CAROLYN CARY
The Battle of Brown’s Mill took place July 30-31, 1864 in Newnan. The
conflict took about 600 Union lives and 50 Confederate lives. Major General
William T. Sherman had wanted to avoid a long siege of Atlanta, and used
his cavalry to try to cut Atlanta’s railroads. He sent Brigadier General
Edward M. McCook on several around each side of Atlanta to accomplish this.
However when approaching Newnan, he met Confederate General Joe Wheeler,
and Confederate Brigadier General Philip D. Roddey and was eventually routed.
The Newnan-Coweta County Historical Society has held a dinner on this date
for the past several years. This year the event was also used to raise funds
for the restoration of its Old Newnan Train Depot.
The Speaker was Dr. David Evans, author of “Sherman’s Horseman”,
a book describing the battle. He outlined the plans for the portion of the
original battlefield recently purchased by Coweta County commissioners.
Just over 105 acres have been saved and plans are in place to create walking
paths and a memorial center.
Estimates for completion have gone as high as several million dollars and
various entities will be applying for matching funds and grants.
