Submitted by Don Bankston October 1, 2005

Georgia Department of Commerce Jack Minter, Director 100 State Capitol Atlanta 3, Georgia							Nelson M. Shipp, Manager Public Information and Research Division

THE MARCH TO THE SEA

By the Georgia Historical Commission

On November 15, 1864, after destroying Atlanta and cutting his communications with the North, Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, USA, began his destructive campaign for Savannah--the March to the Sea. He divided his army (60,000 infantry and artillery and 5,500 cavalry) into two wings: one to move via McDonough and Monticello, feinting at Macon, but crossing the Ocmulgee River above the city and concentrating at Gordon; the other wing in two columns via Covington and Madison, feinting at Augusta, but turning southeast and converging on Milledgeville.

The Right Wing (15th and 17th Corps), Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, USA, commanding, marched from bivouac areas in the vicinity of White Hall (West End of Atlanta) early the morning of November 15th. The 15th Corps headed toward Jonesboro, the 17th Corps toward McDonough. The 3rd Cavalry Division, Brig. Gen. J. L. Kilpatrick, USA, covered the Right Wing.

The Left Wing (14th and 20th Corps), Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, USA, commanding, marched from bivouac areas in and around Atlanta through Decatur. The 20th Corps, Brig. Gen. A. S. Williams, USA, commanding, marched to Stone Mountain on November 15th, then took the Rock Bridge road toward Social Circle to strike the Georgia Railroad at that point and destroy it to Madison. The 14th Corps, accompanied by General Sherman and his staff, cleared Decatur the next day and headed for Lithonia, heading southeast toward Covington. The Provost Guard (2nd and 33rd Massachusetts and 111th Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteer Infantry) was the last unit to leave Atlanta, marching behind the 14th Corps November 16th.

During the four days preceding the departure, the work of destruction had been so thorough that, when General Sherman mounted his horse at the John Neal house early on November 16th, his Chief Engineer, Capt. Orlando M. Poe, CE, stated that "for military purposes the city of Atlanta has ceased to exist."

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The 20th Corps (Sherman's Left Wing) marched from Atlanta about fifteen miles, camping the night of November 15th about one mile southwest of Stone Mountain and west of the railroad. Jackson's division was placed on the right, to cover the road to Lithonia, Geary's division on the left, to cover the roads to Stone Mountain and Rock Bridge, and Ward's division about three miles to the rear.

The next morning the 20th Corps, after destroying about two miles of the railroad, continued on the Rock Bridge road, crossed the Yellow River at Rock Bridge, and halted for the night to allow the trains to close up on the main body. Jackson's and Ward's divisions camped near the river, Geary's division about a mile southeast on the road to Social Circle. On the morning of the 17th, the 20th

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Corps marched east through Sheffield to Centreville Box (Jersey) and camped for the night between Cornish and Big Flat creeks, with Geary's division on the west bank of the Ulcofauhachee (Alcovy) River, three miles from Social Circle and the undefended line of the Georgia Railroad.

The other corps of the Left Wing, the 14th Corps, accompanied by General Sherman, had marched from Atlanta toward Covington and Milledgeville. On the night of November 16th, the 14th Corps made camp with its advance at Lithonia and its rear guard west of Snapfinger Creek. General Sherman established headquarters at Latimer's Crossroads (Belmont). The next morning march was resumed toward Covington and the night of November 17th found these troops halted at Yellow River. Enroute, the tracks, depots, water tanks and other facilities of the Georgia Railroad were destroyed between Lithonia and the river, approximately 14 miles.

Between Atlanta and Milledgeville the movements of the Left Wing were almost unopposed, the few Confederate troops available being employed against the Right Wing to protect Macon, a principal arsenal center, and the Central of Georgia Railway.

Meanwhile, the Right Wing (15th and 17th Corps), commanded by Maj. Gen. Howard, had marched south from Atlanta. The 17th Corps, commanded by Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair, USA, marched via the McDonough road with the 1st Alabama Cavalry in advance. The 1st Missouri Engineers (with a pontoon column) and Kilpatrick's supply train marched with this column. That night the 17th Corps camped on the north fork of Cotton River with its advance near Stockbridge.

The 15th Corps, Maj. Gen. P. J. Osterhaus, USA, commanding, moved down the old Jonesboro road. At Rough and Ready the advance guard skirmished with Iverson's Confederate Cavalry. Turning left toward McDonough, and continuing southeast, Woods' and Hazen's divisions camped near Stockbridge, Smith's at Morrow Station and Corse's, the last of the Right Wing to leave Atlanta, south of Hapeville.

Since activities in Atlanta had indicated a new offensive by General Sherman's army (which had occupied that area since September 2nd), units of General Wheeler's Confederate Cavalry Corps had been posted on all roads to the south. On November 15th the advance of Osterhaus' 15th Corps was halted near Stockbridge by Brig. Gen. Joseph H. Lewis' "Orphan Brigade" (2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th Kentucky Mounted Infantry).

These Kentucky regiments were "orphans" because the secession movement had failed in Kentucky, leaving them with no "home state" in the Confederacy. The Orphan Brigade was first commanded by Maj. Gen. John C. Breckinridge, formerly Vice President of the United States, later Secretary of War in the Confederate Cabinet. The brigade served with great distinction through all four years of the War Between the States.

Although greatly outnumbered by the troops of the 15th Corps, the Orphans delayed the enemy until flanked out of position, after which they retired in good order to Lovejoy Station. This was the first real resistance met by the Right Wing of Sherman's army on its destructive March to the Sea.

The 3rd Cavalry Division, Brig. Gen. J. L. Kilpatrick, USA, commanding, marched through East Point and down the west bank of Flint River to cover the right flank of the 15th Corps, and to "feint strongly toward Forsyth, cross the

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Ocmulgee, (and) move on Macon as if to attack it". The night of November 15th found Kilpatrick camped on the west bank of Flint River near Jonesboro. Murray's brigade, Kilpatrick's division, had crossed the river and met elements of Iverson's smaller cavalry division (Confederate) which had been posted there to watch Shermans movements. Deploying the 5th Kentucky and 8th Indiana cavalry regiments, Murray attacked, drove the Confederate cavalry from the town, and captured three caissons filled with artillery ammunition. Then he retired across the river to rejoin his division.

On November 16th Kilpatrick moved south through Jonesboro toward Lovejoy's Station. After skirmishing heavily most of the way, he found Iverson with two 3-inch guns, occupying earthworks constructed east and west of Lovejoy's Station by the Army of Tennessee (Confederate) after evacuating Atlanta in September. Murray's brigade assaulted the position. The 3rd Kentucky and 8th Indiana cavalry regiments, supported by the 10th Wisconsin Battery, followed by the 2nd Kentucky, charged with the saber, captured the guns and forty prisoners, and drove Iverson southeast toward Bear Creek Station (Hampton). There Iverson halted to reform his smaller command.

At noon, Atkins' brigade took the lead. Upon his approach Iverson posted his men hastily behind light rail barricades. Atkins charged, with the 10th Ohio Cavalry in advance, broke through the flimsy defences, captured 20 prisoners, and drove Iverson south toward Griffin.

On November 16th, the Right Wing moved toward McDonough. Hazen's division marched through Stockbridge, followed by the 17th Corps. Woods' division marched via Lee's Mill, followed later in the day by Smith's and Corse's divisions of the 15th Corps which had camped near Morrow's Station and Hapeville.

Although Confederate cavalry attempted to burn the Indian Creek bridge below Stockbridge, the advance guard drove them back, put out the fire, and saved all but the planking. Quick repairs enabled the column to advance in forty minutes.

That night the Right Wing camped in and near McDonough. Headquarters Department and Army of the Tennessee (the Right Wing), Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, and Headquarters 15th Corps (Osterhaus) were established in McDonough. Headquarters 17th Corps (Blair) was established on Walnut Creek, about two miles north. Kilpatrick's cavalry division, after driving Iverson from Lovejoy's Station and Bear Creek, turned east and camped on the Griffin and McDonough road.

On November 17th, 1864, the Right Wing marched from McDonough to Jackson, Enroute to Planter's Factory on the Ocmulgee River, where it was to cross into Jasper County the next day. South of Locust Grove, Woods' and Hazen's divisions, to facilitate the movement, took a road to the west of Jackson and camped near Liberty Church. Smith's and Corse's divisions continued their march through Jackson and camped east of town.

The 17th Corps (less G. A. Smith's division) followed the 15th to Jackson and camped in and near the town. G. A. Smith's division, accompanied by the 1st Missouri Engineers (with a pontoon train), marched east from McDonough and camped near South River. Kilpatrick's cavalry marched to the Towaliga River to threaten Forsyth. This threat to Forsyth and Griffin caused the Towa1iga bridges to be burned by Wheeler's Confederate cavalry. The towns and the large Confederate hospital centers there had to be protected. That night, the 17th, Kilpatrick camped at points north of the Towaliga.

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That same night, November 17th, the 14th Corps (Left Wing), commanded by Maj. Gen. J. C. Davis, had camped on the west bank of the Yellow River. Both the railroad and wagon bridges over the river having been destroyed in July, and the river being unfordable, two pontoon bridges (120 feet each) were laid during the night by the pontoniers of the Left Wing, Col. George P. Buell's 58th Indiana Veteran Volunteer Infantry.

The next day the troops and trains crossed on the pontoons and marched through Covington to the Ulcofauhachee (Alcovy) River, four miles beyond the town. To expedite the crossing of that stream, one bridge was taken up, moved forward to the Alcovy, and relaid. That night, the 14th Corps camped east of Covington on both banks of the Alcovy, its advance on the Eatonton road. General Sherman's headquarters were established at "Harris' Quarters", the overseer's house and negro cabins of a large plantation owned by Judge John Harris of Covington.

During these first three days of the March to the Sea Davis' column marched more than forty miles, destroyed the tracks and station facilities of the Georgia Railroad from Lithonia to the Yellow River, and crossed two rivers on its own pontoons. After stripping the Harris, Graves and other nearby plantations of livestock, provisions and able bodied Negroes, the 14th Corps departed on the 19th and marched southeast through Shady Dale and Sand Town (Newborn) enroute to rendezvous with Headquarters Left Wing and the 20th Corps at Milledgeville.

The 20th Corps (Left Wing) had camped near Social Circle the night of November 17th. On the 18th, elements of the 2nd and 3rd divisions destroyed the Georgia Railroad from Social Circle to Madison (16 miles). At Rutledge the depot, water tank, warehouses and other railroad facilities were burned, those at Social Circle having been destroyed in July by Garrard's cavalry (Union). That night the 20th Corps camped west of Madison on the Covington road.

The Right Wing camped around Jackson the night of November 17th. That night Osterhaus (15th Corps) sent the 29th Missouri Mounted Infantry to seize the ferry at Planters' Factory on the Ocmulgee River at Seven Islands and to secure both banks of the river at that point for the passage of the troops on the next day.

On the morning of the 18th the Right Wing moved from its bivouacs to effect the passage at Planters' Factory on pontoon bridges to be laid by the 1st Missouri Engineers. Smith's division (15th Corps) moved first. Upon arrival, the 1st Brigade (McCowan), with the 4th Minnesota Infantry in advance, crossed on the ferry and entrenched on high ground east of the river. At 11:00 a.m. the pontoons arrived and, by 1:00 p.m., two bridges were ready.

Smith completed his crossing that afternoon and camped two miles from the river on the Hillsboro road, to wait for Hoods' and Hazen's divisions and to permit the cavalry to pass to the front. During the night Blair's 17th Corps crossed and moved via Monticello and B1ountsville to avoid congestion on the Hi11sboro road.

On the 19th, Kilpatrick's cavalry crossed and took the advance. He was followed by Woods and Hazen and several wagon trains. Heavy rains had made the steep hills on the east bank extremely difficult and the passage was not completed until the afternoon of the 20th when Corse's division of the 15th Corps

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cleared the bridge site. Smith moved through Hil1sboro and camped near the Jasper-Jones county line. Woods' and Hazen's divisions, 15th Corps, and the Artillery Brigade followed and camped in and around Hillsboro. Headquarters Right Wing (Howard) and Headquarters 15th Corps (Osterhaus) were established there for the night. On the 20th Smith, Woods and Hazen moved to Clinton and Blair to Blountsville (southeast). Corse, who was crossing the Ocmulgee that day, did not reach Hillsboro until the 21st.

Kilpatrick, who had crossed the Ocmulgee on the 19th, reached Clinton that day and turned toward Macon, the Right Wing continuing toward Gordon. The infantry had marched from Atlanta almost unopposed but Kilpatrick had skirmished steadily with Wheeler who was now contesting his advance toward Macon.

The next morning he attacked the defences of East Macon. Repulsed by Wheeler and the Georgia Militia, he retired east to Griswoldville where he found Walcutt's Brigade, 15th Corps, posted there to protect the passage of the wagon trains of the Right Wing. They destroyed several miles of track, and burned the pistol factory, a soap and candle factory and other facilities in Griswoldville, but no further attempt was made on Macon during the March to the Sea.

The Right Wing was moving southeast toward Gordon where it would be in communication with the Left Wing at Milledgeville, to receive orders for the next move. The more direct roads to Gordon were already crowded with the troops and trains of the 15th Corps and with Kilpatrick's cavalry. So Blair's 17th Corps marched via Monticello and Blountsville toward Gordon. On the night of the 20th, the 17th Corps camped at Blountsville and along the road to Haddock with its advance guard near Fortville, well abreast of the 15th Corps which had reached Clinton that day.

On the 21st Woods' and Hazen's divisions, 15th Corps, moved south from Clinton on the old Irwinton road; Smith's moved southeast toward Gordon. Since parties of Wheeler's command, avoiding Kilpatrick, were harassing the Union right, inflicting casualties and taking prisoners, Jones' brigade (Hazen's division) remained to protect this flank until relieved by Corse's division which, heavily encumbered with wagon trains, a cattle herd and pontoons, did not reach Clinton until late the next day.

On the 22nd, Hazen moved "past Woods toward Irwinton. Walcutt's brigade (Woods' division) on the extreme right was attacked near Griswoldville by a division of Georgia militia under Brig. Gen. P. J. Phillips. After three hours of battle, Phillips was forced to retire to Macon. No attempt was made to pursue him. Walcutt was wounded and both forces suffered casualties.

The Left Wing (14th and 20th Corps) meanwhile was converging on Milledgeville. On November 19th the 20th Corps was at Madison. Geary's division was detached to burn the railroad bridge over the Oconee River 13 miles east of Madison. They destroyed gins and mills, 330 bales of cotton and 50,000 bushels of corn, in addition to the bridge and railroad supplies. Geary rejoined the Corps near Dennis Station.

On November 21st the 20th Corps marched through Eatonton, destroyed a few miles of the railroad and camped below Dennis Station. Heavy rains slowed the march and bogged down the trains, so little destruction of public utility

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property was attempted. The 14th Corps, which had marched from Shady Dale that day, destroyed Eatonton Factory and camped in the vicinity.

On the 22nd both corps converged on Milledgeville, then the Capitol of Georgia. The 20th Corps arrived that day and took possession of the city; the 14th Corps arrived on the 23rd. General Henry W. Slocum, commander of the Left Wing, occupied the Milledgeville Hotel. The left wing was comprised of 30,000 men, 12,000 horses and mules, 1,300 wagons, and several thousand head of cattle.

General Sherman's cavalry corps, under General Kilpatrick, consisted of 5,000 men, 8,000 animals and 300 wagons. It rode from Gordon to Milledgeville on November 24, l864, to join the Left Wing of the Army there. On the 25th, Kilpatrick moved toward Louisville and Waynesboro on the Sparia road. The Right Wing of the army, numbering 29,000 men of the 15th and 17th Corps, was commanded by General Howard. It joined the Left wing near Sandersville on November 27th.

In Milledgeville the 3rd Wisconsin and the 107th New York Regiments were detailed for provost duty. The State Arsenal was burned. The Magazine was destroyed with explosives. Considerable damage was bought to the churches and the Statehouse. The State Library was plundered and books were destroyed. Otherwise little permanent damage was done to Milledgeville's houses and public buildings.

Beginning on the 24th Slocum moved toward Sandersville and Howard toward Tennile Station four miles south of Sandersvi11e. Kilpatrick marched rapidly eastward to cut the Augusta-Savannah railroad and release the Union prisoners-of-war confined in Camp Lawton, an open stockade five miles north or Millen.

On the 21st the Right Wing (15th and 17th Corps) had begun its concentration around Gordon where it would be in communication with the Left Wing then converging on Milledgeville. By the 24 all troops had reached Gordon. Beginning on the 23rd the Right wing moved to Oconee River in two columns. The 17th Corps moved along the railroad to cross at Jackson's Ferry above the railroad bridge. Learning that the ferry was an abandoned road through the swamp, impassable for troops and trains, the corps was diverted twenty five miles southeast to Ball's Ferry. Headquarters 17th Corps, Maj. Gen. F.P. Blair, were established at McIntyre two miles north of Irwinton on the night of the 23rd.

On the 20th, Maj. Gen. H. C. Wayne, Adjutant General of Georgia, had found that telegraphic communications with Macon had been cut by Sherman's Right Wing. The only troops in Gordon were the Corps of Cadets (Georgia Military Institute), Factory and Penitentiary Guards, the Roberts Guards (paroled convicts), and three small militia units all under Major F. W. Caper, Superintendent of the Georgia Military Institute. Total strength: 460. That night, Wayne learned that the railroad had been destroyed east of Macon and that large forces were approaching Gordon and Milledgeville. Gordon being no longer tenable, Wayne withdrew to the east bank of the Oconee to defend both the railroad bridge and Ball's Ferry, four miles upstream, the only practicable wagon road crossing within a day's march.

Although criticized by local citizens for evacuating Gordon, Wayne's decision saved Caper's small force and enabled him to use it at the river where, with another small force under Major A. L. Hartridge, it held the railway bridge, forcing the entire Right Wing to cross at Ball's Ferry after losing three days

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spent skirmishing in the swamps for possession of the site. The defenders were well entrenched with skirmishers up and down the stream. Osterhaus' infantry and the 12th Wisconsin Battery engaged them in front while Blair's infantry crossed upstream and worked through the swamps to their rear. Their position turned, the defenders withdrew without serious loss. On the 26th the 17th Corps crossed the Oconee here on pontoon bridges, together with the 15th Corps which had moved via Irwinton. By noon of the 27th the last of the trains had crossed and the bridges were taken up and loaded in wagons. The cavalry moved to Milledgeville for duty with the Left Wing. The Right Wing then concentrated at Irwin's Crossroads, six miles southwest of Tennille in Washington County. On the 28th the 15th Corps marched southeast into Johnson County, stripping the countryside of livestock and provisions enroute. Troops of the 17th and 15th Corps destroyed the railroad from Oconee as far as Tennille.

The Left Wing had left Milledgeville November 24th enroute to Sandersville, the 14th Corps via Black Spring, the 20th Corps via Hebron. That night the advance of the 20th Corps camped at Hebron, the main body on Bluff, Gumm and Town creeks.

Next day the march was delayed near Hebron until mid-afternoon, since the nine bridges over Buffalo Creek and tributaries had been burned by Wheeler's cavalry. After rebuilding the bridges and driving back the Confederate cavalry, the advance of the 20th Corps camped near Sandersville, which it entered November 26th. The invaders were fired upon from the windows and portico of the Courthouse and General Sherman ordered the structure destroyed. That afternoon Jackson's and Geary's divisions, 20th Corps, moved south to Tennille to destroy the railroad from that point to Davisboro. On the 27th, Ward's division, 20th Corps, and Carlin's division, 14th Corps, moved to Davisboro with the artillery and trains of both corps. Morgan's and Baird's divisions, 14th Corps, moved northeast to Fenn's Bridge, crossed the Ogeechee, then turned toward Louisville.

On the 27th General Sherman, who had accompanied the Left Wing from Atlanta to Sandersville, changed to the Right Wing which was then near Tennille. On November 28th the Right Wing moved toward Savannah, halting that night with its left near Riddleville and its right at Wrightsboro. That same day the Left Wing, minus Morgan and Baird, and also minus Jackson and Geary (20th Corps) who were destroying the railroad east from Davisboro, moved from Davisboro to Louisville.

Kilpatrick's cavalry which was covering the Left Wing had camped at Sylvan Grove November 26th. Murray's brigade covered the rear. At 2:00 a.m., the outpost (8th Indiana cavalry) was attacked by Wheeler's cavalry and driven in. Supported by the 2nd Kentucky cavalry, it retired slowly to Murray's barricaded camp. Wheeler resumed the attack at daylight as Kilpatrick was moving off on the Waynesboro road, harassing the Union column and causing some losses, then turned toward Augusta to keep his command between Kilpatrick and that important Confederate munitions center.

On November 28th Kilpatrick was driven south from Waynesboro by Wheeler. Retreating from constant harassment, Kilpatrick's command commenced crossing Buckhead Creek east of Buckhead Church. The rear guard beat off Wheeler's

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attack and crossed, burning the bridge behind it. With the bridge gone and the crossing defended by the 5th Ohio cavalry, Wheeler moved upstream, effected his crossing, and again attacked Kilpatrick Who had entrenched about three miles west of the church. Kilpatrick managed to extricate his command as darkness set in and retreated six miles toward Louisville where the Left Wing was encamped. Wheeler then resumed his mission of attacking Union foraging parties which were attempting to strip the countryside of animals and provisions.

On November 30th Sherman's headquarters were with the 17th Corps at Burton (Midville), and General Slocum's in Louisville. While the 20th Corps and headquarters of the Left Wing were moving from Louisville to Buckhead Church via Birdsville on December 1-2, the 17th Corps of the Right Wing was moving to Millen, its work details destroying the railroad enroute, its foraging parties stripping the country of provisions.

The 15th Corps moved via several roads to Summerville (Summertown), from Which place two divisions moved near the river on the old Savannah road and two via Statesboro. On December 4th Hazen's and Smith's divisions, 15th Corps, camped at Statesboro. While approaching Statesboro that day, a strong party of Hazen's mounted foragers was attacked by a detachment of Confederate cavalry and driven back to the protection of their division. The 70th Ohio Infantry (leading the Union advance) deployed, fired a volley, and charged with the bayonet, driving the cavalry back through Statesboro and clearing the way for the advance. Woods' and Corse's divisions camped northeast near Mill Ray. Next morning both columns moved toward Jenck's Bridge where the final movements toward Savannah were begun.

On November 28th Maj. Gen. H. C. Wayne, Adjutant General of Georgia, with a small force composed of the Corps of Cadets, Georgia Military Institute, Warthen's Washington County militia company, and Pruden's Battery fell back from Millen and entrenched a line to block the passage of Little Ogeechee River by the 17th Corps Which was advancing onward to Savannah, destroying the railroad enroute. Reinforcements on December 3rd and 4th gave Wayne a force of 4,000 infantry. Preparations to fight at the Little Ogeechee continued and, late on the 4th, skirmishing began between the advance guard, 17th Corps, and the G. M. I. cadets. Wayne was confident that he could hold this line until he learned that the 15th Corps was preparing to cross the Great Ogeechee River behind his left and that the 20th Corps was approaching his right. To escape encirclement, he extricated his command in the night.

On the 5th Sherman reached Ogeechee Church (Oliver) and established headquarters in the home of Matthew Lufburrow, east of the depot, where he remained for two days to coordinate the movements of his four columns. At this stage of the campaign the 20th Corps was about nine miles southeast of Sylvania; the 14th Corps (the extreme left) was marching on the old Savannah road near the Savannah River; the 17th Corps on the old Louisville road near the Central Railroad; the 15th Corps (the extreme right) on the old Milledgeville road, across the Ogeechee River.

The Left Wing (14th and 20th) had moved east from Atlanta in two columns which converged on Milledgeville, crossed the Ogeechee near Louisville, then marched toward Savannah by two routes: the 14th Corps on the old road near the Savannah River (Ga. 24), the 20th via Springfield. Both Corps approached Savannah via Monteith. Sherman accompanied the Left Wing as far as Sandersville.

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The Right Wing (15th and 17th) marched south via Gordon and crossed the Oconee at Ball's Ferry. The 17th Corps moved on roads south of the Central Railroad until opposite Midville, crossed the Ogeechee there, and moved via Millen and Eden, destroying the railroad enroute. Sherman accompanied the 17th from Tennille to the outskirts of Savannah.

The 15th Corps moved in two columns, the right via Statesboro, reaching the Ogeechee at Jenck's Bridge December 6th and camping there. Sending Corse and Smith down the east bank of the Ogeechee to seize the Savannah and Ogeechee Canal, Osterhaus moved down the west bank with Hazen and Woods to cross the Canoochee River, break the Savannah and Gulf Railroad at Way's Station (Richmond Hill) and Fleming, then cross the Ogeechee and reassemble his corps in this area and move on Savannah.

On the 8th Hazen reached Bryan Courthouse accompanied by Osterhaus and supported by Woods' division, posted near Fort Argyle on the Ogeechee. Also that day Corse moved to the Savannah and Ogeechee Canal. He found the bridge over the canal in flames, but rebuilt it, then camped for the night. On the 9th Smith arrived with the corps train. Corse moved forward to the Darien road and defeated a small Confederate force of 600 men and 2 guns sent by Lieut. Gen. William J. Hardee, in command of Savannah, to delay the Federal advance. The defenders were driven toward Savannah. On the 10th Corse moved north of Little Ogeechee River followed by Hazen who, having secured the bridge over the Canoochee, had crossed the Ogeechee at Dillon's Bridge. Smith moved north along the canal, followed by Woods who had crossed the Ogeechee at Fort Argyle. That night Corse, Woods and Smith were in line facing the strong Confederate works along Salt Creek, with Hazen in reserve at the Little Ogeechee.

While Sherman was closing in on Savannah, Kilpatrick crossed the Ogeechee and Canoochee Rivers and moved down Bryan Neck. Approaching Fort McAllister on the 13th he skirmished with Confederate pickets, driving them back to the fort. After examining approaches to the fort, he moved southeast to Kilkenny Bluff where he was able to make contact with the USS "Fernandina" and forward dispatches to the flagship reporting Sherman's arrival at Savannah. Sherman had found little subsistence along the coast and needed all classes of supplies, as well as heavy guns with which to conduct a siege. Although a supply fleet, under Admiral Dahlgren, was waiting in nearby anchorages, the ships could not pass McAllister downstream at Genesis Point and all attempts to reduce it by naval bombardment had failed. On the 13th Hazen's division (15th Corps) moved via Richmond Hill and Bryan Neck to the fort and overwhelmed it by assault from the rear. The great guns of McAllister silenced, the heavily laden supply ships began to move up stream. A wharf was built at King's Bridge and became the base from which all supplies, including siege materials were distributed. Kilpatrick camped there to protect the depot.

On December 14th, Fort McAllister having fallen the day before, rendering Savannah untenable, General Hardee decided to evacuate the city to save it from destructive bombardment and to extricate his besieged army. River craft being unequal to the task, and no pontoon bridging being available, an engineering expedient was adopted. Pontoon type bridges were laid, using large "cotton flats" for boats, car wheels for anchors and planks from the city wharves for flooring. Bridges were laid from the foot of West Broad Street to Hutchinson Island; across

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Back River to pennyworth Island; across Little Back River to the South Carolina shore. Orders were issued giving priorities and times of withdrawal. The heavy guns were spiked and carriages and ammunition destroyed. Well before dawn of the 21st, the rear-guard had cleared Hutchinson Island, the bridge from West Broad Street had been cut adrift and the troops, having crossed on the bridges, were marching via the Union Causeway to Hardeevil1e.

On December 22nd Sherman marched into Savannah and sent this telegram to President Lincoln:

"I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the city of Savannah, with one hundred and fifty heavy guns and plenty of ammunition, also about twenty-five thousand bales of cotton."

The March to the Sea had ended.

Compiled from its State Historical Markers by the Georgia Historical Commission, 116 Mitchell Street, S. W., Atlanta 3, Georgia.

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