Year: 1865

SAVANNAH, GA, Dec. %, 1864.
To the Free Trader:


Dec. I've are now in the poorest part of
the state. The country is "a perfect wilder
ness. low aud swa,npv. covered with pine and
cypress: we passed but few plantations and
they generally of an inferior class. We
marched about Il miles today for 10 miles
of which there WAS not single house on the
road We got into camp quite late ust 10
miles from Savannah. All kinds of forage
is becoming scarce. What little the citizens
have is concealed in the swamps to prevent
it from falling into our hands.


Dec. Marched abont III miles to-day
and encampcd on old dilapida,ed planta-
ton. Most of the fields were abandoned, and
given over to a new growth of pines. The
pine seems to be natural in these sandy
plains. As soon, therefore, as the cultivation
eof these lands ceases Young pines spring up
as thick as ragwecd. Their growth is very
rapid in Il few years whole fields are chang
ed into beautiful pine forests. Not a twig
of any other kind of timber can get a foot
hold beneath their dark shadows. As they
increase in size the more weakly die out and
the stronger ones shoot ahead, seeking the
pure air and sunlight until they reach an al
titude of from 80 to 100 feet. In many Of
the old pine forests the trees range from 10
to 100 feet high without single branch. and
straight plumb line. This species
of the pine makes excellent building timber
but is not considered worth much for fine
finishing stuff, on account of the great amount
of resin it contains.


Dee. s.-To-dav had little more excite
ment about it. than We have been accustomed
TO. Early tiis morning We heard heavy skir-
mishing in our rear and it was reported that
the enemy had made dash on our supply
train. The third division was guarding the
train and were strongly posted on this side of
a low marshv swamp behind good works.
The train had all got through the swamp last
night, SO that but little apprehension was felt
for its safety. About 10 a. IN. heavy firing
was heard on our right III the direction of the
18th corps and also i'll our front. Heavy
cannonading was also heard in the direction
of the river.


The road in front Of us was heavily bar
ricaded with fallen trees all through the
swamps of EbeneZer river. and the bridge
over the river burned. We seemed to be en-
tirely surrounded BY the enemy and impassa-
BILE swamps. kilpatricks cavalry reported
the enemy crossing the river on poutoons at
the mouth of Beaver Dam Creek, with a view
of harrassing our rear. For while officers
and orderlies from the different commanders
stalls dashed along up and down the road
with an earnestness that indicated almost i'm
mediate action. The I'd division which had
the advance halted all the forage parties at the
swamp and the negro wenches were stopped
at the bridge over Ebcnezer river with all
their duds and young ones. They are to be
left here doubtless many will starve. About
noon our division moved forward two miles
and after forming in line of battle, threw up
a heavy line of field works, while the second
division, In advance of the train, crossed The
swamp and river. At about ii o'clock at
night we followed the I'd division, and the Sd
division took up their position i'll the line of
works we left. The firing had now ceased
and We encamped or this side of Ebenezer
River, at Fl. Green, of Revolutionary renown,
and near church which was used for Il hos
pital by Gen. W ashineton. The Fort is nearly
entirely gone. Nothing but the outlines of
the parapet and ditch remain to mark the
place OF its location. The church is a large
brick building and has beer kept in good
pair. This church was built in 1869 by the
Methodists. In the cemetery number Of
graves containing the remains of revolution
ary soldiers who died or were killed in this
vicinity during that war.


The ground around the church is shaded
with antique cedars and groves of myrtle and
magnolias, hoary with long pendent moss !;
and the large fields, which for years had been
cultivated, and which have furnished thou
1Hds OF bales of snowy cotton to clothe the
children of the earth, have long since been
abandoned to the monarch of the forest
the lofty signing pine.


The Savannah River here makes short
bend and approaches the road upon which our
corps was moving to within 200 wards. 1t
was at this point the firing was, which we
heard yesterday. Our advance had arrived
here and the rebel gunboat attempted to shell
them out. The high banks OF the river
however prevented their guns from doing anv
damage. Their shells all passed high over
our heads.


Dec. 9.-Heayy eannonading was heard all
day in our front We broke camp about .
O'Clock and after tedious march of about 10
miles arrived at another of those dismal
swamPs with which half the surface of this
section OF the state is covered. The enemy
had again fallen trees across the road render
ing further progress impossible until the road
could be cleared. We therefore took up
quarters for the night along the edge of the
swamp in thlcket of brush knit to gather
with rattan, grape, briar, and muskedinc
vines SO closely that a bird could scarcely get
through. Jackkuives, hatchets, axes and
spa'es were, howe er, brought into requisition,
and in 4 few hours quite decent lodges were
cleared up. The ground was covered with
broad spreading palm leaves which furnished
us material for comfortable beds on which We
slept sweetly. On the opposite side of the
swamp the enemy had battery strongly
posted in a well constructed fortlfcation and
supported with small force of infantry.
The artillery firing heard all day was at this
point. The rebels kept up a steady fire al