In February 1865, Union Gen. William T. Sherman's army cut a wide path of destruction from Atlanta to Savannah. His army destroyed and burned Blackville, S.C., and had Columbia in its sights.
However, he turned his attention to Graniteville Mills and a paper mill in Bath, dispatching a cavalry wing under Gen. Hugh Judson Kilpatrick to destroy them.
On Feb. 9, Gen. Kilpatrick's wing came across a Georgia unit under the command of Col. Charles C. Crews near Williston, S.C. After a short skirmish known as the Battle of White Pond, the Confederates retreated to Aiken.
Two days later, Gen. Kilpatrick reached Aiken.
Outnumbered by nearly 1,000 men, Confederate Gen. "Fightin' Joe'' Wheeler planned to surprise the Union troops at an old freight depot on Williamsburg Avenue, but a premature shot by one of his men alerted the Northern soldiers.
The fierce battle that ensued culminated on York Street at the present location of First Baptist Church of Aiken as the Union troops were driven back.
Casualty totals vary, but the Union was reported to have as many as 53 dead and 270 wounded. The Confederates suffered 31 dead and 160 wounded.
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