Respectfully submitted,
(Signed.) Geo. W. Cook,
Captain Commanding.
REPORT OF SAVANNAH CAMPAIGN.
Headquarters 125th Regiment Illinois Volunteers,
Near Savannah, Ga., December 29th, 1864.
Sir: In pursuance of orders, I have the honor to respectfully submit the following report of the operations of my command from the fall of Atlanta to the fall of Savannah:
Reached Atlanta on the 4th day of September last, at which point it remained in a state of inactivity, resting from the fatigues incurred on the previous campaign, until the 29th of same month when, in connection with the brigade, it started for Florence, Alabama, by rail, via Chattanooga, Huntsville and Athens, to check the advance of Gen. Forrest, who was marching through that district. It did not proceed as far as Florence, owing to its having been ordered back to Huntsville on train guard duty, and upon returning was prevented from rejoining the balance of the troops composing the expedition, by the rapid rise of Elk river.
Remained at Athens until the return of the brigade from Florence, performing while there daily picket duty. Left the former place on the 13th day of October and reached Chattanooga on the 14th. Remained at the last named point four days, when we started for and rejoined the corps at Galeville, Ala., on the 22nd. Remained at this place several days, when the column was headed toward Atlanta, Ga., which we reached Nov. 15th, having made short halts at Rome, Kingston and Cartersville. Between the last named place and Atlanta, the command was engaged in "demoralizing" the railroad, the extent of which will be found in subjoined recapitulation.
On the 16th of November, having obtained a thorough outfit and forming a part of the left wing of the grand army, it started for the "new base." Reached Savannah 21st inst., upon the previous evacuation of the city, and went into camp about two miles from the place, where it now remains ready at any moment to "strike tents," hoping that its next field of operations will be South Carolina. With the exception of a slight skirmish with the enemy in front of Louisville, Ga., nothing occurred to disturb the equilibrium of the march between Atlanta and Savannah. During the entire march the command subsisted upon supplies found in the country, (which were abundant) with the exception of five days issue from the regular supplies, thus destroying vast quantities of material belonging to the enemy, and contributing much to the bone and muscle of the army.