Sherman's March to the Sea was a 300-mile (480 km) military campaign of the American Civil War where Union General William Tecumseh Sherman lead his forces from Atlanta, Georgia, on 15 November until they captured Savannah on 21 December 1864. - AsNotedIn
We rode out of Atlanta by the Decatur road, filled by the marching troops and wagons of the Fourteenth Corps; and reaching the hill, just outside of the old rebel works, we naturally paused to look back upon the scenes of our past battles. We stood upon the very ground whereon was fought the bloody battle of July 22d, and could see the copse of wood where McPherson fell. Behind us lay Atlanta, smouldering and in ruins, the black smoke rising high in air, and hanging like a pall over the ruined city. Away off in the distance, on the McDonough road, was the rear of Howard's column, the gun-barrels glistening in the sun, the white-topped wagons stretching away to the south; and right before us the Fourteenth Corps, marching steadily and rapidly, with a cheery look and swinging pace, that made light of the thousand miles that lay between us and Richmond. Some band, by accident, struck up the anthem of "John Brown's Body"; the men caught up the strain, and never before or since have I heard the chorus of "Glory, glory, hallelujah!" done with more spirit, or in better harmony of time and place.
| Y/M/D | Description | Place |
|---|---|---|
| 1864/11/13 | General Sherman reviews General Kilpatrick's 5000 cavalry in Marietta. The district around the square has been destroyed. Union sentries were unable to prevent arson and looting. | Marietta, Georgia |
| 1864/11/15 | Sherman departs Atlanta: Some band, by accident, struck up the anthem of "John Brown's Body", the men caught up the strain, and never before or since have I heard the chorus of 'Glory, glory, hallelujah!' done with more spirit, or in better harmony.... | |
| 1864/11/23 | Union General William T Sherman and 30,000 Union troops take Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia. After ransacking the statehouse, they will leave a few days later. | Old State Capitol, Milledgeville, Milledgeville |
| 1864/11/23 | Ten thousand of William Sherman's Union soldiers camp at Barrowville. | Barrowville, Milledgeville |
| 1864/11/23 | William T Sherman makes his headquarters in the Governor's Mansion in Milledgeville. | Old Governor's Mansion, Milledgeville |
| 1864/12/00 | William H Norton fights for the Union during General William T Sherman's March to the Sea through Georgia. | |
| 1864/12/10 | Federal troops destroy the Richmond plantation home. | Richmond Hill Plantation, Richmond Hill |
| 1864/12/12 | The 3rd Cavalry Division, Brig Gen H J Kilpatrick, USA, crosses the Great Ogeechee River near Fort Argyle and the Canoochee River near Bryan Court House (Clyde) on pontoon bridges laid by the 1st Missouri Engineers and moves down Bryan Neck. | Old Fort Argyle Site, Fort Stewart |
| 1864/12/12 | Brig Gen H J Kilpatrick makes his headquarters at the plantation home of Lt Col Joseph L McAllister, 7th Georgia Cavalry CSA. The residence stood near the river immediately north of Fort McAllister. | Fort McAllister, Richmond Hill |
| 1864/12/13 | Gen Kilpatrick sends Murray's brigade into Liberty County to scout the country to Sunbury and orders Atkins' brigade and the 10th Wisconsin Battery to camp at "Cross Roads" (Richmond Hill). | |
| 1864/12/13 | With two of Atkins' regiments, Gen Kilpatrick moves down Bryan Neck. While approaching Fort McAllister, they skirmish with Confederate pickets and drive them back to the fort. | |
| 1864/12/13 | In about 15 minutes, Gen William B Hazen's infantry division overpowers Fort McAllister defended by some 230 CSA troops led by Maj George Wayne Anderson. Fort McAllister is the last fort defending Savannah. | Fort McAllister, Richmond Hill |
| 1864/12/13 | After examining the approaches to the Ft McAllister, Gen Kilpatrick moves on to Kilkenny Bluff (8 mi SE) where he makes contact with the USS Fernandina and forward dispatches to the Union flag-ship reporting the arrival of Gen Sherman's army at Savannah. | Fort McAllister, Richmond Hill |
| 1864/12/13 | At Gen Hazen's HQ, the McAllister home, Hazen, Lt Col Strong, Sherman celebrate their victory. Also invited, Anderson, has a discussion with Sherman about the tactics used to defend the fort. Sherman orders the Major to the land mine-clearing detail. | J A Lewis House, Clarkesville, GA |
| 1864/12/14 | Gen Kilpatrick moves with most of his command to Midway Church. After scouting the country and stripping it of provisions, he returns to Bryan at Cross Roads to picket to the south and west, and to protect the Union supply depot at King's Bridge. | Midway Historic District, Midway |
| 1864/12/21 | Savannah Mayor Richard Dennis Arnold, with a delegation of aldermen and ladies, surrenders the city of Savannah to Union Gen John W Geary. Geary's division of the XX Corps moves in and occupies the city. | |
| 1864/12/22 | Gen Sherman telegraphs President Lincoln: I beg to present you as a Christmas gift the City of Savannah, with one 150 heavy guns and plenty of ammunition and about 25,000 bales of cotton. | Green-Meldrim House, Savannah |
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