On July 27, 1864, Brig. Gen. E. M. McCook and 3,600 Federal cavalry began a raid to destroy railroads south of Atlanta and release 32,000 Federal prisoners at Andersonville. Three miles south of Newnan on July 30th, Maj. Gen. Joseph Wheeler and 1,400 Confederate cavalry caught and routed the Federals, captured about 2,000 men, several ambulances, a full battery, and released 500 Confederate prisoners. Here Wheeler defeated what was called the pick of the Federal cavalry and saved Newnan from capture and possible destruction.