The Battle

of Brown's Mill was the topic at a recent Sharpsburg Sharpshooters Sons

of Confederate Veterans meeting.

Coweta County

Commission Chairman Jim McGuffey spoke of the 100-acre site that saw part

of the Civil War battle.

In January

2000, Ellen Ehrenhard, director of the Male Academy Museum for the Newnan-Coweta

County Historical Society, first approached the county commissioners for

permission to pursue the purchase of the battle site property from owner

Temple-Inland Timber Company.

In November

2000, the commissioners began seeking grant approval under Gov. Roy Barnes'

green space program.

Of the $400,000-plus

paid for the land, $300,000 came from this program and $100,000 came from

the state through Rep. Lynn Smith.

Students in

Northside Elementary School's Environmental Club sold t-shirts and raised

an additional $1,000.

The Battle

of Brown's Mill took place during the week of July 27, 1864, when Brig.

Gen. E. M. McCook, with 3,600 Federal cavalry, began a raid to destroy

railroads south of Atlanta. Three miles south of Newnan, July 30, Maj.

Gen. Joseph Wheeler, with 1,400 Confederate cavalry, caught and routed

the Federals, saving Newnan from capture and possible destruction.

"We foresee

this space as a passive site," said McGuffey, "and will strive

to have it as exact to July 1864 that is possible."

The Sons meet

second Mondays at the Sharpsburg Baptist Church at 7 p.m. Phone Kerry

Elliott, 770-251-3743.