The only battle fought in Coffee County during the War Between the States occurred just east of this spot at the branch head, where the Coffee County Home Guards fought Ward’s Raiders, a group of Confederate deserters who had terrorized southeast Alabama and burned the Coffee County courthouse in Elba. One raider was killed and two were captured. Four Home Guard members were killed: William F. Beard, Robert P. Brooks, Make Carmichael, and Thomas P. Larkins.