Georgia’s Paul Revere
Along this road John H. Wisdom rode from Gadsden, Ala. to warn that a Federal force of over 2,000 men was approaching Rome to occupy the town, destroy foundries making ammunition for the Confederates and to cut Confederate communications (May 2, 1863).
On Wisdom’s arrival in Rome the bridge over the Oostanaula river was fortified and made ready for burning as a last resort. Wisdom’s warning and the plans for defense played a big part in the surrender of Col. Streight [US] with 1,500 men to Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest [CS] with only 425 men.
Marker is at the intersection of South Broad Street (Georgia Route 53) and Myrtle Street, on the right when traveling south on South Broad Street.
Courtesy hmdb.org
