Ruff's Mill and Concord Covered Bridge, Civil War historic district in Smyrna, US

Ruff's Mill and Concord Covered Bridge is a historic site in Smyrna, Georgia, comprising a gristmill, the Miller's House and a one-lane covered bridge over Nickajack Creek. The bridge measures 133 feet long, 16 feet wide and 13 feet high, with a heavy wood-planked floor, vertical board-and-batten sides and a cedar shake roof. The mill's fieldstone facade still shows bullet marks.

The land was won in Georgia's 1832 Gold and Land Lottery, and Martin L. Ruff and his descendants ran a wheat-and-corn grist mill here for most of the century. On July 4, 1864, Union troops overran the Confederate earthworks at the Battle at Ruff's Mill during the Atlanta Campaign. The mill's fieldstone facade was struck by bullets, while the house was spared from burning after being designated a field hospital.

The mill complex shows rural industrial life in Georgia, with the Miller's House reflecting the architectural style typical of the 1850s. The site preserves the character of a former working place where daily activities centered around grain processing and family living.

The site is best explored on foot, as the bridge has a low clearance and cannot be used by large vehicles. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes and allow time to walk through the buildings and outdoor areas.

The mill's fieldstone facade still bears bullet pockmarks from the July 4, 1864 Battle at Ruff's Mill, when Union troops overran the Confederate earthworks. The Miller's House, not the mill, was spared torching because it was designated a field hospital for the wounded.