Friday, August 15, 2003
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Friday, August 15, 2003 |
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Society hosts Civil War author By CAROLYN
CARY
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."
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