"It was one of the most fiercely fought battles of the whole Civil War," said attorney Fred "Bowtie" Bentley Sr., who helped save the park from developers in the 1970s.
"The Federal troops stormed in there and ... the Southern troops caught them in crossfire and just plain wiped them out," Bentley said.
The 765-acre state park was put on the Civil War Preservation Trust's annual list of 10 historic battlefields most threatened by development or neglect. The list was released this month in Washington, D.C.
Making the list does not mean that there will be added regulations or that further preservation will be required.
Recent economic difficulties have not spared the park from the fiscal challenges plaguing state parks across the country. Following the most recent round of budget cuts last July, the park was forced to reduce its hours significantly, and is now only open three days a week. Of its original staff of five, only one full-time employee remains. Adding to the site's woes, it was inundated by floodwaters that stood up to 15-feet deep in some areas last fall. Portions of several walking trails, including three footbridges, were destroyed and a portion of the foundation of the mill that gave the battle its name was swept away, according to the trust.
In 1971, Bentley, along with four others, including the late Cobb Board of Commissioner Chairman Phil Secrist, learned that Georgia Kraft, formerly North Georgia Timberland Company, was planning to sell the property to a developer. The five men bought the property from Kraft and sold it to the state, which turned it into a state historic park.
"The state made a study of the battlefield site and found that it was the only battlefield site that was completely enclosed within the land that was purchased," Bentley said. "Fortunately we saved it.
But, now, in addition to being placed on the endangered list, Bentley is hearing rumors that the state might sell the park.
"Now, I'm hearing rumors that they may not keep it," he said. "And if that's true, then I'd love to have somebody's head because we worked too hard to save it in the first place and, number two, the state worked too hard to keep it like it was, and it's preserved just like it was at the time of the battle."
Trust spokeswoman Mary Koik said Pickett's Mill was not placed on the list because of rumors that it might be sold, but because with reduced state funding, citizens don't have the opportunity to visit it that they did in the past.
The Georgia Department of Natural Resources reports that park visitors can travel roads used by Federal and Confederate troops, see earthworks constructed by these men, and walk through the same ravine where hundreds died.
On May 27, 1864, the Federal Army, having been stopped in its advance on Atlanta two days earlier by the Battle of New Hope Church, attempted to outflank the Confederate position. Some 14,000 Federal troops were selected for the task, and General Howard was given command. After a five-hour march, Howard's force reached the vicinity of Pickett's Mill and prepared to attack. Waiting were 10,000 Confederate troops under the command of General Cleburne. The Federal assault began at 5 p.m. and continued into the night. Daybreak found the Confederates still in possession of the field. The Federals had lost 1,600 men compared to the Confederate loss of 500. The Confederate victory resulted in a one-week delay of the Federal advance on Atlanta, according to the DNR.
Senate Majority Leader Chip Rogers (R-Woodstock) called it unfortunate that the site has joined the list of endangered battlefields.
"At a time when American students seem to be falling behind in their knowledge of history, we need to do all we can to preserve places like Pickett's Mill. A place where young people can touch and feel the struggles of their ancestors," Rogers said.
If the state needs funding, Bentley said they can look elsewhere.
"Sell the Capitol. It's less important," he said.
"That is the most asinine thing I have ever heard, because of all the sites that we've had in this area, that one is the most perfectly preserved and the most important in that sense than any other site we have, including the Kennesaw Mountain because it's preserved better than the Kennesaw Mountain site," he said.
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All history must be remembered and preserved, even if some people don't agree with it.