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 with 1,500 men to Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest with only 425 men.
GHM 057-1 Georgia Historical Commission 1953
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Byron Hooks of Lat34North.com.