“Headquarters First Brigade,⎫
Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps.⎬
Savannah, Georgia, December 25, 1864.⎭

“Captain W. T. Forbes, assistant adjutant general:

“In compliance with circular order No. 144, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade, from the capture of Atlanta, September 2, 1864, to the occupation of Savannah, Georgia, December 21, 1864, etc., etc.... December 2d, the march was resumed at daybreak and was uninterrupted until Buckhead creek was reached. The bridge over this place was partially destroyed, and a few of the enemy’s cavalry were on the opposite side of the swamp. Major Wright, commanding the Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers, was ordered to cross the creek with his regiment and drive and keep away this force, which was accomplished without loss. The command camped for the night near Buckhead church.... December 12th to December 20th inclusive, a substantial line of works was thrown up for the protection of the command from the artillery of the enemy, and in addition to this two forts, with thirteen embrasures in the aggregate, were constructed by the command. The working parties on Fort No. 2 were under the command of Captain Kreicler, One Hundred and Forty-seventh Pennsylvania volunteers, and those on Fort No. 3 under command of Captain E. B. Woodbury, Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers. Both these officers and the men under their command are deserving of praise for the energy and perseverance manifested in the prosecution of the duty assigned them.

“December 21st, the enemy having evacuated their position the night previous, their works were occupied at an early hour by the skirmishers of the division, and by sunrise the city of Savannah was entered and occupied, this brigade being in line in the advance into the city. Soon after reaching the city, the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania and Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers, under command of Colonel John Flynn, were, by order of the commanding-general of division, through Captain Veale, aide-de-camp, dispatched to occupy Fort Jackson and the smaller forts and batteries near it. The possession of the forts and other works was gained with but slight resistance.

“Inventory of ordnance and ordnance stores captured by the Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers and the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania in Fort Jackson and other forts on the Savannah river: Forty-four thirty-two-pounders, two ten-inch Columbiads, twenty eight-inch Columbiads, two rifled thirty-two-pounders, twelve twenty-four-pounder howitzers, one eight-inch mortar, three three-inch rifled field-pieces, etc., etc. Of the ninety-one guns captured, fourteen only were found to have been spiked and shotted. The gun-carriages were broken and temporarily disabled, and all the implements were broken and destroyed.

“To the regimental commanders I tender my thanks for the strict obedience to orders, and the enforcement of the regulation prescribed in regard to the conduct of the march, and especially are they due to Major M. T. Wright, Twenty-ninth Ohio volunteers, who was seriously wounded while supervising the working parties on the forts, for the promptitude exhibited by him in the execution of all orders, and his strict attention to the duties incumbent on him throughout the entire campaign.

“Respectfully submitted,

“Ario Pardee,

Commanding Brigade.”

EXTRACT—OFFICIAL REPORT OF GENERAL GEARY.