In September 1863, Union Major General William S. Rosecrans advanced into Georgia from Chattanooga, Tennessee, in pursuit of General Braxton Bragg’s Confederate army. From his headquarters in LaFayette, Bragg learned that the Federals had divided their forces. Union Major General George H. Thomas’ 20,000 man XIV Corps had crossed Stevens Gap over Lookout Mountain and marched into the confined McLemore’s Cove. Bragg ordered an attack to destroy Thomas’ vulnerable corps, but poor coordination by the Confederates resulted in inaction and a missed opportunity. Fighting occurred at Davis Crossroads on September 10, but Federal forces strengthened their position, making Bragg’s attacks unsuccessful.
In June 1864, 450 Union soldiers were quartered at the old courthouse in LaFayette, . Just before daylight on June 24, a Confederate cavalry force of 1000 troopers launched a surprise attack. The intense fighting went from building to building until Federal reinforcements arrived to drive off the attackers. This little-known but bloody struggle was one of the few Civil War conflicts fought in a town.