HOOD’S HEADQUARTERS AT ATLANTA.
SHERMAN’S HEADQUARTERS AT ATLANTA.
On the 28th of November, a foggy morning, Wheeler’s cavalry suddenly assaulted Kilpatrick’s rear, drove him behind his second barricade, and followed up the advantage with so much vigor, that nothing but hard fighting and swift running saved that commander from capture. At Buck Head creek the cavalry had another sharp conflict. The enemy charged Kilpatrick on the flank, but his men were advantageously posted behind timber, and the rebels exposed in an open field to a fire which drove them back with the loss of two hundred left dead and wounded upon the field. On the first of December Kilpatrick had the good fortune to strike Wheeler’s cavalry in turn on the flank, and an encounter ensued in which the rebels were defeated. On the 4th, Kilpatrick was again in search of the enemy, and found him eight miles from Waynesboro’, where he was ensconced behind rail barricades. These defences were found obstinate, but Kilpatrick led his men in person, when the three lines were successfully carried in a hand-to-hand fight, and Wheeler was chased through Waynesboro’. The cavalry now moved toward Savannah, exchanging a few shots with the rebel infantry at Sister’s ferry, when, passing to the right wing again, they moved through Cypress Swamps; and, on December 10th, they were shelled by the rebel batteries at Savannah, in plain view, while picking their way through the rice fields which the rebels had flooded to prevent their approach to the city.
As all the columns had reached their rendezvous about Millen in time, they were ordered to continue their march on Savannah by several roads, according to their position in line; General Davis following the Savannah railroad, General Slocum the middle road, by the way of Springfield, General Blair the railroad, and General Howard continuing still south and west of the Ogeechee, with instructions to cross to the east bank opposite Eden Station.
On approaching Savannah, the country became more marshy and difficult, and the pioneer companies were constantly employed removing felled trees and other obstructions, so placed as to impede the advance of the army. When the heads of the columns were within fifteen miles of Savannah, all the avenues to the city were found to be thus obstructed, with the addition of extended earthworks and artillery. “But these,” says General Sherman, “were easily turned, and the enemy driven away, so that by the 10th of December the rebels were driven within their lines at Savannah, which followed two swampy streams, bordered by flooded ricefields.” The only approaches to the city were by two railroads and three dirt-roads, all of which were commanded by heavy ordnance, too strong for an attack by the artillery which Sherman’s army had brought with it.
General Slocum had struck the Charleston railroad near the bridge, and thus severed the connection between Charleston and Savannah. He invested the latter city on the right and front, the left of the Twentieth corps extending to the river. Here some of the foragers discovered the steamer Water Witch, captured from the Union fleet, moving up, which was soon recaptured and burned.
Howard now swung into line, bringing the Seventeenth corps on the right centre, and placing the Fifteenth in reserve, to open communication with the Union fleet, which purpose was effected by Captain Duncan, chief of Howard’s scouts.
Major-General Kilpatrick had reconnoitred Fort McAllister, and, by a rapid movement to Kilkenny Bluff, also succeeded in communicating with the fleet. He solicited permission to attack the fort, which was very prudently refused.