The Alabama in the Civil War Message Board

Re: Gen Phillip D. Roddy From Lawrence Co. Alabama

Roddey and his men fought in countless skirmishes and actions. However, other than the Battle of Selma, Apr. 2, 1865, can't think of many actual battles. I would have to check on Roddey himself being on the field at Brice's Crossroads and Tupelo. You may have seen a claim of Roddey being involved in the Battle of Chickamauga. That claim is unfounded.

People may not know much about the Battle of Brown's Mill, Ga., July 30, 1864.

battleofbrownsmill.org
http://timelines.com/1864/7/30/battle-of-browns-mill

Approaching Newnan on the morning of July 30th, McCook's Cavalry Division had been raiding Hood's communications east of Atlanta. In a matter of hours McCook expected to cross a good ford over the Chattahooche which lay just nine miles beyond the town. His exhausted men could then make camp on the north bank of the river and report to General Sherman the following day.

Entering Newnan, horsemen from Cos. "D" and "E" of the 8th Indiana Cavalry were surprised to find 550 of Roddey's men at the railway depot. These Confederates had just arrived by train on the way to Atlanta and were just as surprised as the Federal troopers. One of the Alabama soldiers who saw bluecoats cantering towards the station exclaimed, "Yonder come the Yankess now!"

Federal horsemen drew up short of the railway platform and called on General Roddey to surrender. Roddey refused the demand and a brief exchange of gunfire began. The Yankees quickly withdrew by the same route as they had come. McCook received the bad news grimly. The road through Newnan being blocked, he was obliged to find a way around the town to the Chattahoochee. The delay allowed time for Confederate pursuit led by General Wheeler to overtake the Federal rear guard on the opposite side of Newnan. General Roddey and his men hurried on foot to the scene of the fighting along Ricketyback Road (I'm not making this up).

The day-long conflict ended with elements of McCook's exhausted cavalry command scattering towards the river. One hundred were killed and wounded, nearly 1,300 more either surrendering or being captured in the countryside. The Battle of Brown's Mill was probably Wheeler's greatest victory. Roddey returned to Alabama, orders sending his command to Atlanta being revoked. Before leaving Roddey told Wheeler that a more agressive pursuit of McCook's scattered men would have completely destroyed his cavalry division.

Find a copy of this excellent book by David Evans --
http://www.brettschulte.net/ACWBooks/Books/ACWWest/ATLShermansHorsemenEvans.html

Evans grew up near the battlefield and heard stories about it as a boy.

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Gen Phillip D. Roddy From Lawrence Co. Alabama
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Re: Gen Phillip D. Roddy From Lawrence Co. Alabama