On the night of May 2, 1863, John H. Wisdom rode through Spring Garden on his way to warn Rome, Ga., about approaching U.S. troops. Originally from Rome and living near Gadsden, then part of Cherokee Co., he learned that Union raiders were heading for Rome and set out from Gadsden around 3:30 PM. He stopped in Spring Garden long enough to get 2 fresh horses and arrived in Rome a few minutes before midnight. He reached the town in time to allow defenses to be set up, and the party of 200 U.S. troops sent ahead to occupy Rome did not enter. Judging the town too well defended to risk an assault, the U.S. troops withdrew. Wisdom had traveled approximately 67 miles in 8.5 hours.