Ogeechee and Rocky Comfort rivers, and encamped near Louisville.

On the 30th, Jackson and Geary moved up the Ogeechee to Coward's Bridge, which was found partly destroyed, but easily repaired, and the whole corps encamped about three miles south of Louisville.

Meanwhile, on the 27th of November, the trains of the Fourteenth Corps, under escort of Carlin's division, moved by the way of Davisboro' upon Louisville, while Baird's and Morgan's divisions, unencumbered, moved on the Finn's Bridge road; thus protecting the left flank from any demonstrations the enemy's cavalry might make from that direction upon the trains.

These two divisions, united under the command of Brigadier-General Baird, marching on a road between the Ogeechee River and Rocky Comfort Creek, reached Louisville early in the afternoon of the 28th, immediately laid a pontoon bridge across the creek, and commenced the passage of troops. Owing to the movements of Ward's division of the Twentieth Corps with the trains, occupying the main road from Davisboro' to Louisville, Carlin's division and the trains of the Fourteenth Corps moving on that road were only able to reach the Ogeechee about three o'clock, P. M. The Fifty-eighth Indiana Pontoniers, under Colonel G. P. Buell, under the personal supervision of General Slocum, immediately commenced laying their bridges, and repairing the roads destroyed by the enemy, and before night the troops and trains were passing both streams into their camps around Louisville.

The road, running as it does here through an immense cypress swamp, required considerable labor to put and keep it in condition for the passage of trains, and it was not until noon the next day that the entire column succeeded in getting into camp. Early on the morning of the 29th, a report was received from General Kilpatrick that he was about ten miles from Louisville, on the road leading direct to Buckhead Bridge, hard pressed by Wheeler.

Kilpatrick, having received his instructions from General Sherman, had also started from Milledgeville on the 25th, and marching by Sparta, crossed the Ogeechee River at the shoals, and thence continuing his course by Spread Oak, Woodburn, and St. Clair, struck the railway on the 27th at Waynesboro'; the advance, under Captain Estes, assistantadjutant-general, having destroyed a portion of the track, and partly burned the railway bridge over Briar Creek the day previous. During the march, Kilpatrick's flanks and rear had been repeatedly attacked by Wheeler's cavalry, but without delaying the movement. Passing through Waynesboro', Kilpatrick encamped his division in line of battle on the railway, three miles south of the town. Several attacks were made during the night upon Colonel Murray's line, but they were easily repulsed, and did not prevent the destruction of the track, one battalion being detailed from each regiment for that purpose. Here Kilpatrick learned that our prisoners had been removed from Millen two days previous, and the great object of his movement in that direction being thus frustrated, after destroying sufficient track to prevent transportation on the road for a few days, he deemed it prudent to retire to the support of the infantry. Accordingly, Colonel Atkins' brigade was ordered to move out to the intersection of the Waynesboro' and Louisville road, and there take up position, while Colonel Murray should move past him and take up position in his rear, and so on in succession retire from any force that might be sent in pursuit. By some misunderstanding, Colonel Atkins moved on without halting as directed, and the consequence was, that two regiments, the Eighth Indiana, Colonel Jones, and Ninth Michigan Cavalry, Colonel Acker, together with General Kilpatrick himself and all his staff, were cut off and partly surrounded. But these two regiments, by their splendid fighting, led by Kilpatrick, broke through the rebel lines, and slowly fell back, repulsing every attack of the enemy, until the main column was again reached. The cavalry moved on, crossed Buckhead Creek, burned the bridge, and halted two miles from the creek, where information soon reached Kil

patrick that Wheeler was crossing with his entire force. Parties sent out having ascertained this report to be true, Kilpatrick took up a strong position, and constructed a long line of barricades, with his flanks thrown well to the rear. These dispositions were scarcely completed ere the enemy came in sight and made a most desperate charge, but was handsomely repulsed at all points, and with but slight loss. The cavalry moved on a few miles further, and encamped at the first place where forage could be obtained, the enemy making no further attempts to follow.

Immediately on receipt of General Kilpatrick's message, General Jefferson C. Davis sent a brigade of Baird's division of his corps, under Colonel Morton C. Hunter, to the support of the cavalry; but Wheeler having been already repulsed in the thorough manner just narrated, these re-enforcements were not needed.

During the 29th Kilpatrick came in and took position near the Fourteenth Corps, on the east bank of Big Creek.

Having successfully, and almost without opposition, passed the last of the three large rivers, the Ocmulgee, the Oconee, and the Ogeechee, that crossed its path and formed the strong natural lines of defence against its movements, Sherman's army now lay with its left wing and the cavalry on the east bank of the latter stream, its right in close communication with it on the other side, and on the morrow would begin the easy and unbroken descent to the sea.

CHAPTER XXII.

TO THE SEA.

WE shall first follow the movements of the right wing down the Ogeechee. Osterhaus, with the Fifteenth Corps, kept the right, and Blair, with the Seventeenth Corps, still accompanied by General Sherman, the left.

On the 30th of November, 1864, Woods' and and Corse's divisions, of the Fifteenth Corps, pushed on through Summerville northward, till they reached the upper Savannah road, and encamped near Deep Creek. Blair moved forward to Barton, or Station No. 9; he rebuilt the partially destroyed wagon bridge, laid a pontoon bridge, and crossed the Ogeechee at that point.

On the 1st of December, the three columns moved as follows: the lower one, consisting of Hazen's and John E. Smith's divisons, on the Statesborough road; the middle column, comprising Woods' and Corse's divisions, upon the Savannah road; and Blair's seventeenth corps, constituting the left, along the Georgia Central railway, destroying it as it marched. The two right columns encamped opposite Station No. 8, General Woods securing and repairing the wagon bridge across the Ogeechee at that point; and a small force crossed over, made, break in the railway, and destroyed the depot. The Seventeenth Corps succeeded in reaching Station No. 9.

On the 2d the column preserved the same order of march. General Blair reached Millen, having completely destroyed the railway up to that point, including the depot and a large quantity of lumber, ties, etc. The middle column encamped

near Clifton's Ferry, having thrown a bridge over the Ogeechee at that point, and sent a brigade of Corse's division to assist the Seventeenth Corps in breaking up the railway. Scull's Creek, a wide stream, too deep to be forded, was carefully bridged in two places. Scouting parties hurried on to Scarborough, a little below, and seized a mail with Savannah papers of that day.

On the 3d, the Fifteenth Corps remained in position, excepting that two brigades of Corse's division crossed the river, and aided the Seventeenth Corps in destroying the railway from Millen to Scarborough. The Seventeenth Corps came up abreast, encamping near Scarborough, or Station No. 7.

On the 4th the central column, Woods and Corse, marched to Wilson's Creek; the left, Blair and part of Corse's division, reached Station No. 5, having continued the destruction of the railway up to that point; and the right, Hazen and John E. Smith, proceeded as far as Statesborough. Hazen's division, leading, encountered a small body of the enemy's cavalry, said to be four hundred strong, and had a successful skirmish with them. The road being boggy, Hazen was obliged to corduroy several long stretches during the day.

On the 5th the two columns of the Fifteenth Corps moved along their respective roads to a position nearly opposite Guyton, or Station No. 3. General Howard, who was with the central column, hearing that some resistance was offered to General Blair near Ogeechee Church, caused a feint of crossing the Ogeechee to be made at Flat Ford. Some men were thrown over in boats, but no bridge was laid. General Sherman detained General Blair near Station No. 41, for the left wing to come up.

On the 6th, reconnoissances were made towards Wright's Bridge and Jenks' Bridge at Eden Station with a view of saving them, if possible. Colonel Williamson's brigade of General Woods' division reached the former in time to save much of the timber, but all the planking and several of the trestles were already burned. He, however, constructed a foot-bridge and crossed over a small force which he pushed forward towards the