There are a number of great sources about the guerilla war in north Georgia. I suggest you google Robert S. Davis, Jr. for the Union side of the conflict. He is a professor at Wallace State College in Alabama. His "Forgotten Union Guerillas of the North Georgia Mountains" is fascinating reading (even for a person with pro-Southern proclivities like myself). There are a number of very good general articles in "North Georgia Journal" and "Georgia Backroads" which is what NGJ became in about 2000. O'Brien's "Mountain Partisans" is a very good read, and "Cumberland Blood" deals with Champ Ferguson in TN, but is riveting background on the dirty mountain war. There was a tidbit I ran across recently (sorry, can't remember where) about a rabid abolitionist in Dade County who did everything in his power (he was a wealthy businessman) to undermine the Confederacy. He also helped fund John Brown's assault on Harpers Ferry. Local histories are also excellent sources. The best may be Sartain's two volume history of Walker County and Battey's Floyd County.

Maybe this will give you some help on getting started. Also Jonathan D. Sarris has a good recent book on Lumpkin and Fannin County. Hope this helps. Zack