Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1865-01-19
g Letter from tho ostb Ohio.


through Geor0id-- Scenes and Incident
of the March, Rec,e,o Of the IAN Arm,
Corps Iy Gen. Sherman.
CAMP ID BRIG, 20 DIVISION, 14TH
ARMY CORPS, NEAR SAvANNAH,
Ga, Dec. 80, 1864.
Col. G. L. PooRNAN: .r... r4
Dear Sir: Thinking that you would b,
interested in hearing from your old com
mand, and the Brigade to which it belongs
and knowing that many Of the readers Of
the CHRONICLE have friends in the 9sth
Ohio Vol. Inf'y, we have concluded to sub
nit to you few lines, relating to the part
performed by that Regiment and Brigade
Ia the campaign that has lately 50 gloriously
ended and which has resulted in restoring
to the authority Of the Government one ol
the first cities Of the rsvolted States.
On the 10th Of November, after ending
his Galssvile campaign, Gen. Sherman,
with the old Army of the Tennessee organ
lied in two Corps, and the veterans of the
18th Army Corps, returned to Atlanta -
White Hall street had been burning for
two days; the depots and public buildings
were destroyed; the railroads we're torn up
in every direction, and every thing was done
that ingenuity could suggest to render the
place untsnable by the enemy. -
The "Gate" that had been open since
the battle Of Jonesboro' was now left bro
ken, and the raiders" went into the fer
tile field that lay open before tbom.iI
The 10th Corps, which had been guard.
ing commissary stores since the Atlanta
campaign, with the 14th Corps, was con-
stituted the left wing of the new army
now known as the Army of Georgia-under
command Of MAJ. Gen. Slocum; the right,
consisting of the Army of the Tennessee,
under command of Maj, Gen. Howard.
The columns were formed, and the order
forward to the Shores Of the sounding sea"
was given. In compliance with orders, the
majestic movement was commenced, and
the citizens of every town and city from
Mobile to Charleston trembled for their fats.
We can, of course, only speak of the line
of march pursued by the l4th Army Corps,
and of that only far enough to describe the
general direction.
From Atlanta, moving by way of Deca-
tur, Lthonia, Congers and Decatur, cross
ing the Yellow and Ulcofanhachee rivers at
opposite sides of Newton County, and leav-
ing Etonton to the left, we arrived, on the
evening of the .23d Of Novembe at q point
within one and half miles of the Capitol
of the State. Here our foragers had some
skirmishing and few of them were cap
tured. There was small organized force
OF the enemy in the neiehborhood, and it
is to bo hoped our comrades who we're taken
fell into their hands, for if it should be
otherwise, we might scarcely entertain a
hope Of ever seeing them again.
On the Gath we passed through the town,
parading the principal streets and treating
the resident Southern beauties to some fine
specimens of Yankee music. Milledgeville
is a pleasantly situated and rather pretty
little town, and contained previous to the
commencement of the Rebellion probably
l,500 inhabitants.
Crossing the Ocenee River, and continu-
ing our way through the harshest looking
country we had yet seen, we next came to
the Ogechee River at Fen's Bridge. From
this to Savannah our route lay between the
two rivers, the Savannah and Ogechee.
From Fen's Bridge our column moved on
Sandersville, tie cavalry and foragers skir-
mshing heavily with the enemy. The loss
to our Brigade was one man killed and one
wounded. Sandersville is county seat,
aud has at its public square monument to
the memory of Gen. afterwards Gov Err
win. 1t is pity that the bones of patriot
soldier should have been inferred in soil
to be rendered inhospitable by treason.
Louisville, in Jefferson County, was the
next town to which we came, and at this
point the left wing Of the army was con-
centrstea, which, together with the swampy
nature of the country, caused a delay Of q
couple Of days. During beth our foragors
we're almost continually engaged in skir-
hioutue. iHo ShSHy ucie mauiicslou
most malignant disposition. Several men
belonging to the Second Division were
known to have been taken prisoners and
afterwards shot by their captors. One, .
member of the Second Brigade, belonging
to the ll3th Ohio, was taken and shot;
everything Of value was taken from his per-
son, and he was left for dead. But he lived,
and was subsequently brought into camp
He was shot through the lungs. rr
On the lst inst. our march was resumed,
and the evening of the next day found us
at Buck Head Bridge, where Fitzpatrick
had fought the enemy's cavalry a day or
two before. We struck the Augusta Rail
Road on the morning of the 4th at Lump
kin's Station, ten miles North Of Millen,
and as is the habit whenever opportunity
presents itself, the troops went to work de-
stroying communications. -ot,1I ah
From Lumpkin's Station we continued
our march through an almost interminable
pine grove, till we came close upon the Sa-
vannah, whose banks on either side arc
beautiful beyond the power Of description.
On the 9Eh our head Of column eneoun-
~ -. !. n ID II. - ..t.ll.. Ia. 80