Kilpatrick and his troops battled confederate forces on Feb. 9, 1865. He stationed some of his troops in Montmorenci, commandeering this house because of its three stories, and the widows walk, which he used as a lookout. He then headed for Aiken with a force of 2000.
General Joseph Wheeler and 4,500 Confederate Calvary men skirmished with the union troops in Montmorenci and eventually he consolidated his forces in
Aiken using the buildings to hide his true numbers. Gen. Wheeler planned to trap Brig. Gen. Kilpatrick and charge the main Union column as it entered town.
On Feb. 11 the federal troops reached Park Ave., Richland Ave., and Barnwell St. in what is now downtown Aiken. An Alabama Trooper fired his gun prematurely tipping off the Union troops that they were walking into a trap. Brig. Gen Kilpatrick ordered his men to attack. All plans fell apart in the ensuing fight and the Federals fled back to Montmorenci where they
barricaded themselves.
