The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-05-14

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EXTENT OF TERRITORY COVERED BY SHEER
MANS ARMY.
at these places was told in our army by
a few prisoners who escaped. Three of
! these who had hid for days in the woods
near our supposed line of march came out
to the road and joined my brigade as we
were marching by. We cared for them.
fed them and nursed them back to life
and hope.
The army upon reaching Millen had
performed more than twO-thirds Of its
great journey. 1t had thoroughly Grip
pied the great railroad system of the
State. 1t had destroyed numerous foun-
deries, machine shops, factories and mills,
and had practically lived off of the coun-
try. While the cavalry had been con-
stantly engaged with the enemy, the great
infantry columns had not been seriously
attacked, and with the exception Of Girls
woldville had not fought a battle. The
Left Wing had now wheeled to the right.
The Ogeechee River had been crossed by
the Fourteenth, Twentieth and Seven
teenth Corps. The Fifteenth Corps, head
ed southwark, was passing down the right
bank of the Ogeechee, while the other
three corps were moving down the PENN
,uia pcb"cGh tuc anu OReccUce
Rivers.
While Gen. Wheelers cavalry had been
beaten at Waynesboro on Dec. 4, driven
from the town and pursued eight miles
toward Augusta, they lost no time in get
ting together and renewing their attacks
upon the rear of the moving columns. On
Dec. Ferguson's Brigade was encoun-
tered, and on the It'll and for several
days thereafter Gen. Wheeler kept up
a commotion in the rear; but his attacks
were met by our cavalry and they did not
delay the movement of our columns of in
fantry one hour.
The Fifteenth Corps now moved south
in two columns, some miles in advance
or the other corps, Gems. Woods and
Corses Divisions near the Ogeechee River
They occasionally bridged the stream and
sent a brigade or two to cut the rail
road.
The divisions. of Hazen and Smith.
forming separate column, marched
foraeers met n brigade of the enemy's
cavalry on their way to join Wheeler, and
were attacked by them, and an active
skirmish ensued. We lost eight wounded
and q captured, while the enemy loss
two killed and two captured. This was
the most serious loss of our foraging par
ties during the campaign.
The whole army now pushed forward
with great energy, the Seventeenth Corps
sticking to the railroad and destroying
it, the Twentieth and Fourteenth Corps
further to the left, so that the sweep of
these three corps covered the country be-
tween the Savannah and Ogeechee Rivers;
while the Fifteenth Corps. in two strong
columns, with the 18th Mo. M't'd Inf.
to scout the country, dominated an area
10 miles wide west of the Ogeechee.
The cavalry protected the rear of the
Fourteenth, Twentieth and Seventeenth
Corps.
The line of march of Hazen's and
Smiths columns lay across the Canoochee
River, tributary of the Ogeechee The
enemy burnt the bridges and defended the
crossing Of this river with infantry and
two pieces of artillery. The next morn
ing it was found that the enemy had dis
appeared. The bridge was soon repaired.
and the column continued its march.
Gen Hazen directed the march of his
division, which was on the right, TO Kings
Bridge, while our division marched TO
Jenkss Bridge, thence down between the
Little and Big Ogeechee to Bethel Church
on the Savannah and Ogeechee Canal.
Gen. 1azen with part of his division
marched TO Kings Bridge. He sent one
brigade six miles west to DESTROY the
Savannah, Florida & Western Railroad
east to the bridge. This railroad, incIud-
ing the bridge, was occupied and destroyed
Dec. .. Hazen's Division was now the
right flank Of the army.
In the meantime Gen. Corse's Division
had crossed the Ogeechee, had made n
reconnaissance down between the Little
ana Big OScechee, had deyeloped tho
enemy and skirmished with him. had
marched down to obtain possession of the
crossroads and open communcat ton with
the rest of the corps by way of Kings
Bridge, had again developed the enemy
ana engaged him with Rice's and Adams's
Brigades and one section of Lieut.. Rrun-
ner's battery, had assaulted the enemy in
position, carried their works, and had
captured one piece Of artillery and num-
Der OF prisoners, the 18th III. MID Inf.
pursuing the enemy four miles and
Adams's Brigade removing a rail of the
Iuif Raliroad and capturing locomotive
is cars and 40 prisoners.
Inc twentieth Corps. on the extreme
ie1t found the country low and swampy;
large ponds were encountered nearly ey
cry mile, and the creeks spread out into
mlry branches; the roads were treacherous
with quIcksand, and required extensive
corduroy. The enemy had feIed timber
to obstruct the march. The march was
directed to Montieth. on the Savannah
Charleston Railroad. Gen. Jackson's
DIVISION was in front. At the large
Montieth swamp the enemy had obstructed
the road for nearly mile with fallen tim
Der and had built two earthworks. which
were manned with one piece of artillery
and small body of troops.
Gen. Jackson threw out several regi-
men,s on each flank. and posted brigade
IN the center to make feint to enable
the pioneers to clear the Instructions. Col.
West, 31st Wis, led portion of Col.
James s. Robinson's Brigade across the