In July 1864, Union Gen. Wm. T. Sherman sent Maj. Gen. L.H. Rousseau to Alabama with 2500 cavalry to cut the West Point & Montgomery Railroad, the rail link remaining to Confederates defending Atlanta. On 18 July, 3 Union units arrived at Chehaw Station and faced about 500 Confederates, mostly volunteers 15-17 years old who had never been under fire, were poorly armed, outnumbered, and commanded by an officer they had never seen. The 1st Ala. Reserves came by freight from Pollard, 54 Univ. of Ala. cadets joined at Montgomery, and conscripts from Camp Watts in Notasulga met them at Chehaw Station. Maj. Bryan Thomas, in overall command, took their train over Uphaupee Creek trestle to Beaseley's tank, where Union Maj. Baird reported that he had met a superior force of the enemy. Obsolete muskets faced Sharps carbines and Spenser repeating rifles for several hours before Union reinforcements arrived, forcing the Boys' Brigade to fall back. Rousseau then withdrew his men rather than delay further in destroying the railroad. Final casualties were 2 wounded among the cadets, 48 killed or wounded among the Reserves, and 15 wounded and 17 missing among the conscripts; the Union had 3 killed, 11 wounded, and 1 captured.