Alabama Civil War Sites
he Battle of Columbus hinged on control of the two covered bridges that connected Girard, Alabama to Columbus, Georgia across the Chattahoochee River; in order to prevent access to Columbus, Confederates set fire to the lower bridge (right)

April 16, 1865

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The Confederates in Columbus were well aware that Wilson’s 13,000 men were on the way. Confederate Major General Howell Cobb had been placed in charge of whatever forces he could gather, and he did his best to prepare to defend Columbus.