The Newnan-Coweta

Historical Society, along with the City of Newnan, has been working to

preserve much of the historical site where the Battle of Brown's Mill

took place in 1864.

The historical

society has a dinner each year to keep everyone up to date.

This year's

event was a bring your own lawn chair and sit under the cool trees in

back of the Male Museum.

Dr. David Evans,

a professor at the University of Georgia, was invited back as speaker.

He has written a book, "Sherman's Horsemen" that deals in part

with the Battle of Brown's Mill.

Nearly 100

people were on hand for the latest information on the site plan and a

generous helping of Sprayberry's barbecue.

Coweta County

comprehensive planner Sandra Parker said that the preliminary master plan

would be shown at a meeting Aug. 26 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Fairgrounds.

"When

it is completed," she said, "it will be the only passive recreation

park in the county."

Dr. Evans,

whose specialty is military history, spoke about heroes and the fact that

they come in many sizes and shapes and under different circumstances.

"Heroes,"

he said, "are people who do things we all admire."

He told the

story of Private John Lewis Mitch, who joined the 3rd Ohio Cavalry in

February, 1862. Being short, he was overlooked as a sure-enough soldier

but served the company faithfully in other duties and he finally won a

spot in the company. He was with Col. John T. Croxton, 4th Kentucky Mounted

Infantry in the Newnan area in late July, 1864. Col. Croxton was wounded,

and the two of them ended up 60 miles behind Confederate lines.

Pvt. Mitch

stuck with the colonel and 14 days later they had made their way back

to Union forces. The private was only 15 years old.

"You're

all heroes in my book," Evans concluded, "by being here and

working diligently to preserve the Battle of Brown's Mill site."