General Wayne said it would be ridiculous to try to check Sherman's army of one-hundred thousand with this small band, so he ordered his train to Oconee long bridge below Toomsboro.

Kelly says he heard of Sherman’s approach the day before General Wayne arrived with his cadets and prisoners, and he rode out toward Griswoldville to see what was happening.

On the way John Ross Bragg joined him for a short distance, but did not go far. A Negro girl in the road crying said two Yankee soldiers were at the farm home of Dr. Tom Gibson. threatening Mrs. Gibson, who was alone. When Kelly rode up one of the soldiers, standing in the Gibson doorway, called to his comrade and made a dash for their two horses at the gate.

"Being on my horse, I beat them to it." said Kelly, " and they began firing at me with their sidearms. I shot down one, and the other man took to his heels." "I had a Negro man on the Gibson place to help me load the wounded prisoner in a wagon, hitched the two horses to it and drove in to Gordon for medical aid. I put the wounded man on a bed in the tavern, but he soon died."

According to the statement, General Wayne, Major Capers and Adjutant Tinsley arrived the next day with their home guard. Wayne was Adjutant-General of the State, and Mr. Tinsley was a Clerk in the Treasury Department, having been discharged from the Confederate Army. Rufus Kelly rode up and offered his services as a vidette. General Wayne thanked, and accepted. Kelly rode off toward Griswoldville.