Eden Ferry, Ogeechee river,
December 6, 1864.
We lay in camp until 1 p.m. when we suddenly pulled out and made this point, and had works up by dark. There was a good wagon bridge over the river at this point, which the Rebels partially destroyed. But a portion of our 3d Brigade, which had the advance, got across on the remains and stirred up a little skirmish. Killed four Rebels without any loss to us.
Our 2d Division got across three miles below. The 3d, I guess is with them. Hear nothing of the other corps. In the swamps to-day I saw more of the “barren lemon tree.” We were talking over last night what this army had cost the Confederacy since the 4th of October last, when we started from Eastpoint after Hood. We all agree that the following estimate is not too high in any particular: 100,000 hogs, 20,000 head of cattle, 15,000 horses and mules, 500,000 bushels of corn, 100,000 of sweet potatoes. We are driving with us many thousand of the cattle. The destruction of railroad property has been complete whenever within our reach. I can learn nothing of the prospect of a fight at Savannah, or whether we are going there. All think, though, that we will see tide-water this week. People here say they often hear the firing both at Savannah and Charleston.
Thirty-six miles from Savannah,
December 5, 1864.
Corse had the road to-day, but Wood side-tracked, took “catch roads” and got into camp, making 16 miles as soon as Corse. Rather poor country, farms small, and much pine. Negroes swarmed to us to-day. I saw one squad of 30 or 40 turned back. Sherman’s order is not to let anymore go with us than we can use and feed. A nice yellow girl came to our regiment about an hour after dark. She is the property of Milly Drake, who lives 30 miles back. The girl showed our men where Milly hid her horses and mules, in return for which, after the column passed, gentle Milly took half a rail and like to wore the wench out. Broke her arm and bruised her shamefully. That was all the reason that the girl had for running away.
December 4, 1864.
Got on the road before day-light and made 16 miles easily by 3:30 p.m. Good road, many fine places, and excellent forage, from 75 to 500 bushels of sweet potatoes on a farm. Heard cannonading for two hours this morning. Think it must have been in the vicinity of the 20th Corps. Quite a variety of forest trees to-day among the pines, but all of a stunted growth. Saw a very curious cactus by the roadside.
Almost all of the people from this section have sloped. I think I have not seen more than 12 white male citizens since we left Atlanta, at their homes. Am fully persuaded that Grant’s “cradle and grave” idea is correct.
South bank of Scull Creek,
December 3, 1864.
We have laid here all day, being our first rest since leaving Atlanta. Had to wait for the 17th Corps and “left wing” to catch up. We laid a pontoon across the river this morning, and two of our brigade went over to tear up railroad The 17th Corps came up and relieved them about 2 p.m.
Colonel Catterson (our brigade commander) told me today that a dispatch from Bragg to had been intercepted yesterday, that stated that he was moving on us from Savannah, with 10,000 infantry and Dick Taylor’s Cavalry. See if he don’t “come to grief.” Two of our divisions are moving 12 miles to our right—the 2d and 3d— the 4th is with us.
Kilpatrick has gone for the Millen and Augusta railroad. If he hurts it much he’ll do more than cavalry usually do.
West bank of Ogeechee River, eight miles
south of Millen,
December 2, 1864.
Recrossed the river this morning and, joining the brigade, made some eight miles to-day. We are ahead of the rest of the army or could have made more. Pine country, almost uninhabited. Saw to-day my favorite tree—the magnolia. Have seen but few of them in Georgia. In a swamp we passed through to-day a darkey pointed out to us some lemon trees. Saw in the same swamp some yellow pine. Nearly all the pine this side of the Oconee has been the “pitch” variety.
Cushingville Station, east bank of Ogeechee river,
December 1, 1864.
Ten miles to-day. Had just finished the last line when (the officers are talking over the rumors of the day) I heard Captain Smith say, “Our folks captured one Rebel ram.” I asked him where, and he pointed out an old he sheep, one of the men had just brought in. Our regiment is the only part of our corps this side of the river. We are guarding the prisoners who are repairing the bridge. The Rebels had destroyed one section of it. The 17th Corps crossed near the railroad bridge, but are ten miles behind us to-night. This river is about 60 yards wide here, and we have sounded it in several places and found it from 12 to 15 feet deep. It has no abrupt banks here, but runs river, lake, swamp, to dry land. I find here again what I thought was palm-leaf fan material, on the Oconee river. It turns out to be swamp palmetto. The palmetto tree also grows near here. Twelve p.m.—Have been out with 25 men burning railroad. I did not do much of it, for it is the 17th Corps’ work. Two of Howard’s scouts came to us while we were at work. Said they had just left Millen, and left 150 Rebels there. Millen is four miles from here and is the junction of the Savannah and Augusta railroad. One of our men captured eight mules and two horses to-day. The trees along the river are covered with Spanish moss, like we saw so much of at Black River, Miss. The men shake their heads when they see it and say, “Here’s your ager.” We are only guarding this bridge until the 17th Corps gets here. Our corps are going down the other side of the river. An immense number of “contrabands” now follow us, most of them able-bodied men, who intend going into the army. We have not heard a Rebel gun since the 22d of last month. They don’t trouble our march a particle.
Eight miles east of Summerville,
November 30, 1864.
Passed through the above named town this morning. All pine woods again to-day. Stopped at the first house I came to this morning and asked the resident, an ashcolored negress, something about the country. She said she’d had the chills and fever so long she didn’t know anything, but “over dar was a house whar de folks had some sense.” Captain Smith and I walked over to the house she pointed to and found a fine old German, very anxious to know if we intended to burn his house. After he cooled down a little he grew much Union. He said he had been ordered to join the army one, two, three, twenty times, but had told them he would rather be shot than take up arms against the United States. The 12th Indiana band struck up as we passed his house, and the music touched the old fellow’s heart. The tears rolled down his face and he blubbered out, “That is the first music I have heard for four years; it makes me think of home. D—n this Georgia pine wood.” He said that sugar is the staple here in peace times. The foragers brought in loads of it this evening.
Ten miles south of Sevastopol,
November 29, 1864.
All day in an awful pine forest, hardly broken by fence or clearing. I never saw such a lonesome place. Not a bird, not a sign of animal life, but the shrill notes of the tree frog. Not a twig of undergrowth, and no vegetable life but just grass and pitch pine. The country is very level and a sand bed. The pine trees are so thick on the ground that in some places we passed to-day the sight was walled in by pine trunks within 600 yards for nearly the whole circle. Just at dusk we passed a small farm, where I saw growing, for the first time, the West India sugar cane. One of the boys killed the prettiest snake I ever saw. It was red, yellow and black. Our hospital steward put it in liquor. We made about 11 miles to-day.
Old Indian Battle Ground, near Drummond,
November 28, 1864.
Made a dozen miles to-day through the thickest pine woods I ever saw. There is no white or yellow pine here; it is all pitch. I think the division has been lost nearly all day. We have followed old Indian trails four-fifths of the time.
The foragers have found a large number of horses and mules in the swamps to-day. Plenty of forage. Sergeant Penney, of my company, died in the ambulance to-day. He was taken sick in the ranks at 8 p.m., 26th, of lung fever. He has never been right healthy, but when well was always an excellent soldier. Lieutenant Dorrance swallowed his false teeth a few nights ago, and complains that they don’t agree with him.
I hear that Wheeler jumped the 20th Corps yesterday and that they salivated him considerably. We caught a couple of his men to-day, on our road, stragglers. We pick up a good many stray Rebels along the road, but they are not half guarded and I think get away nearly as fast as captured.
Riddlesville, November 27, 1864.
Was foraging this morning and supplied the regiment with staples within a mile of camp. Took the road as train guard at 1 a.m. Have had a tedious march over sandy roads and through pine woods for 11 miles. It is too dark to see the town. Have heard no “music” to-day. We crossed the head waters of the Ohoopee river to-day. Saw a magnolia tree by the road. The first I have seen in Georgia.
