On June 18, 1864, during Gen. Sherman's campaign for Atlanta, Col. Louis D. Watkins, commanding the 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, occupied LaFayette with about 450 men of the 4th, 6th and 7th Kentucky cavalry regiments "to endeavor to rid the country of several guerilla bands." His headquarters were in the Court House, then in the center of the square, and his men were quartered in adjacent buildings.
On June 24th, about 3 A.M. he was attacked by Brig. Gen. Gideon J. Pillow, CSA, who, with about 1600 cavalry was moving to North Georgia to burn the railroad bridges over Chickamauga Creek and harass Gen. Sherman's communications.
Although suprised, Watkins men barricaded their quarters and fought stubbornly: but without water, and with ammunition running low, their plight was becoming desperate when, about 8#30 A.M., relief arrived. Escaping the Confederate encirclement, one of the Union pickets had ridden for help and, at Rock Springs Church Col. John T. Corxton, encamped for the night.
Riding hard to LaFayette, Croxton suprised in turn Pillow's heavily engaged force and stampeded many of their horses. Uncertain of Croxton's strength, and with his own ammunition depleted, Pillow abandoned the attack and withdrew.
Losses: USA: 4 killed, 7 wounded, 53 captured; total 64
CSA: 24 killed, 53 wounded, 78 captured; total 155
