"The Big Raid"

"The Big Raid" (HM1S8D)

Location: Newnan, GA 30263 Coweta County
Buy Georgia State flags at Flagstore.com!
Country: United States of America
Buy United States of America flags at Flagstore.com!

N 33° 20.092', W 84° 50.347'

  • 0 likes
  • 0 check ins
  • 0 favorites
  • 456 views
Inscription

Brown's Mill Battlefield

You are standing on an old farm road where, on July 30, 1864, Union cavalrymen sweltering on tired horses were hurrying toward the Chattahoochee River. Confederate cavalrymen were hiding near the end of the road waiting for them. As the Yankees approached, the Rebels sprang a perfect ambush, and the Battle of Brown's Mill began.

These six interpretive panels relate the circumstances that propelled 4,000 men into battle, identify the commanders of the opposing forces, the outcome of the battle, and the significance of the battle within the context of America's Civil War. Visiting with a smart phone or tablet? Scan the QR code on this sign to reach additional information videos, slide shows, or a battle animation.



In May of 1864, Major General William T. Sherman led three Union armies from Chattanooga, Tennessee, into north Georgia. His orders were to "break up" the Confederate Army of Tennessee led by General Joseph E. Johnston. During May, June, and July, Sherman drove Johnston from Dalton to Atlanta. Alarmed and angered at Sherman's progress, Confederate President Jefferson Davis relieved Johnston of command on July 17 and replaced him with General John Bell Hood. By then, Sherman had crossed the Chattahoochee River and was 10 miles north of Atlanta. Formidable earthworks around Atlanta gave Hood a tactical advantage against a Union frontal assault, but Sherman closed within cannon shot and began firing on the city. Hood attacked Sherman at Peachtree Creek on July 20, and again near Decatur on July 21. Casualties were heavy on both sides.

Sherman's primary strategy was to strike Hood's supply lines.
Three railroads supplied Hood's army with food and armaments.
Between July 17 and 24, 1864, Sherman's cavalry successfully broke two of these vital connections. The raid on the Montgomery & West Point Railroad near Opelika, Alabama, destroyed 26 miles of track. Another column of raiders burned two long trestles over the Yellow and Alcovy rivers near Covington, crippling the Georgia Railroad. At a cost of fewer than 70 casualties, these raids severed Atlanta's access to supplies from Alabama arsenals and granaries and the Confederate gunpowder mill at Augusta.

On July 25, confident he could cut Atlanta's only remaining supply line and compel Hood to abandon the city, Sherman ordered his entire cavalry corps, nearly 9,000 officers and men to prepare for "the big raid." Sherman directed Major General George Stoneman to ride east of Atlanta while Brigadier General Edward M. McCook rode to the west. Both cavalry columns were to converge 30 miles south of Atlanta to wreck the Macon & Western Railroad. While this operation was underway, Sherman directed an infantry column to march around Hood's left flank to threaten the vital rail junction at East Point.

The day before the raid, Stoneman asked for permission after cutting the railroad to ride 100 miles farther south to liberate 30,000 Union prisoners of war held at Macon and Andersonville. Sherman admitted the idea was captivating and could not refuse permission. "The most stupendous cavalry operation of the war" was underway.
Details
HM NumberHM1S8D
Year Placed2013
Placed ByCoweta County, Georgia Departments of Transportation & Natural Resources
Marker ConditionNo reports yet
Date Added Monday, May 16th, 2016 at 9:02pm PDT -07:00
Pictures
Sorry, but we don't have a picture of this historical marker yet. If you have a picture, please share it with us. It's simple to do. 1) Become a member. 2) Adopt this historical marker listing. 3) Upload the picture.
Locationbig map
UTM (WGS84 Datum)16S E 701113 N 3690495
Decimal Degrees33.33486667, -84.83911667
Degrees and Decimal MinutesN 33° 20.092', W 84° 50.347'
Degrees, Minutes and Seconds33° 20' 5.52" N, 84° 50' 20.82" W
Driving DirectionsGoogle Maps
Area Code(s)770, 678
Which side of the road?Marker is on the right when traveling East
Closest Postal AddressAt or near 190 Millard Farmer Rd, Newnan GA 30263, US
Alternative Maps Google Maps, MapQuest, Bing Maps, Yahoo Maps, MSR Maps, OpenCycleMap, MyTopo Maps, OpenStreetMap

Is this marker missing? Are the coordinates wrong? Do you have additional information that you would like to share with us? If so, check in.

Check Ins  check in   |    all

Have you seen this marker? If so, check in and tell us about it.

Comments 0 comments

Maintenance Issues
  1. Is this marker part of a series?
  2. This markers needs some tags to help categorize the marker
  3. What historical period does the marker represent?
  4. What historical place does the marker represent?
  5. What type of marker is it?
  6. What class is the marker?
  7. What style is the marker?
  8. Does the marker have a number?
  9. This marker needs at least one picture.
  10. Can this marker be seen from the road?
  11. Is the marker in the median?