McCaysville in Fannin County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Madden Branch Massacre

Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia

Photographed By David Seibert, September 28, 2011

1. The Madden Branch Massacre: Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia Marker

Inscription. North of here on Madden Branch in Polk County, Tennessee, on November 29, 1864, during the American Civil War, six Georgians trying to enlist in the U.S. Army—Thomas Bell, Harvey Brewster, James T. Hughes, James B. Nelson, Elijah Robinson, Peter Parris, and Wyatt J. Parton—were executed by the notorious Confederate guerilla John P. Gatewood, “the long-haired, red-bearded beast from Georgia.” The Madden Branch Massacre was one of several atrocities that occurred as the mountain counties divided into pro and anti-Confederate factions. Many Georgians resented the Confederacy's strong central government measures such as conscription, impressment, and taxation and resisted by enlisting in the 5th Tennessee Mounted Infantry (U.S.) and the 1st Georgia State Troops Volunteers (U.S.) or forming their own guerilla units.

Erected 2011 by Georgia Historical Society and the Georgia Department of Economic Development for the Civil War 150 Commemoration. (Marker Number 55-1.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical date for this entry is November 29, 1864.

Location. 34° 59.25′ N, 84° 22.233′ W. Marker is

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in McCaysville, Georgia, in Fannin County. Marker is on Blue Ridge Drive (Georgia Route 5) 0 miles south of Toccoa Street (Georgia Route 60), on the right when traveling south. The marker is on Blue Ridge Drive just north of the Toccoa River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 44 Blue Ridge Drive, Mc Caysville GA 30555, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 11 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Discovery of Copper (approx. 3 miles away in Tennessee); Hiwassee Mine (approx. 3.2 miles away in Tennessee); The Tennessee Overhill Experience (approx. 3.4 miles away in Tennessee); Blue Ridge Park (approx. 8.9 miles away); William Clayton Fain: Georgia Unionist (approx. 8.9 miles away); Fannin County (approx. 8.9 miles away); PFC. Jack Clem Robinson (approx. 8.9 miles away); North Carolina / Georgia (approx. 11 miles away in North Carolina).

More about this marker. The marker states that six Georgians were killed at Madden Branch, but lists seven names.

Regarding The Madden Branch Massacre. In his book "A Separate Civil War: Communities in Conflict in the Mountain South" (University of Virginia Press, 2012), Jonathan Dean Sarris relates that Peter Parris, mentioned in the marker text, actually escaped from the incident and though injured, survived. He later enlisted

Photographed By David Seibert, September 28, 2011

2. The Madden Branch Massacre: Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia Marker

Looking south across the Toccoa River bridge

with the 5th Tennessee U.S. Cavalry but was soon discharged due to this injuries. The others killed in the massacre were posthumously in the unit. This possibly explains the contradiction in numbers shown on the marker (six men killed but seven names are listed).

Additional commentary.
1. The Omission of Samuel Lovell
My great great grandfather, Samuel L. Lovell, Sr. was not added to the sign. He was murdered at the massacre by Gatewood. Is there a reason this has been omitted?

Editor's note: It is noted that Samuel Lovell is mentioned in some texts related to the massacre (see Anatomy of an Atrocity: The Madden Branch Massacre and Guerrilla Warfare in North Georgia, 1861-1865, Jonathan D. Sarris, The Georgia Historical Quarterly, Vol. 77, No. 4 (Winter 1993), pp. 679-710, Georgia Historical Society). However, the policy of this site is to transcribe exactly what is on the marker. Questions about the marker text should be directed to the erecting organizations noted on the marker.
If you have additional information about the incident we would gladly add it to this or other pages.

— Submitted May 8, 2023, by Brenda Kent of Victoria, BC Canada.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 28, 2011

3. The Madden Branch Massacre: Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia Marker

The marker before it was dedicated on September 28, 2011.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 28, 2011

4. The Madden Branch Massacre: Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia Marker

The marker before it was dedicated on September 28, 2011.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 28, 2011

5. The Madden Branch Massacre: Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia Marker

Dr. Todd Groce, President/CEO of the Georgia Historical Society and the author of Mountain Rebels: East Tennessee Confederates and the Civil War, 1860-1870, giving the keynote address at the dedication.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 28, 2011

6. The Madden Branch Massacre: Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia Marker

The marker unveiled.

Photographed By David Seibert, September 28, 2011

7. The Madden Branch Massacre: Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia Marker

The marker unveiled

Photographed By David Seibert, September 28, 2011

8. The Madden Branch Massacre: Anti-Confederate activity in North Georgia Marker

Fannin County government and historical officials participated in unveiling the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 10, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. This page has been viewed 3,162 times since then and 83 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. submitted on September 30, 2011, by David Seibert of Sandy Springs, Georgia. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.