Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 2

[290] Waynesboro, on the road between Millen and Augusta. Here he skirmished with Wheeler's cavalry, but the national prisoners had been removed from Millen, and Kilpatrick fell back by Sherman's orders as far as Louisville, where he remained two days to rest his horses; and, as Wheeler seemed disposed to fight, Sherman added an infantry division to Kilpatrick's command, and told him to engage the rebel cavalry. He at once advanced upon Waynesboro, driving Wheeler through the town and across Brier creek, in the direction of Augusta, thus fostering the delusion that the main army was moving upon that point. The spirited movements of the cavalry were at this time of great importance to Sherman, for they relieved both the column and the wagon train from all molestation during the march on Millen. Having effectually covered the left flank, Kilpatrick now turned to the south and followed the movements of the Fourteenth corps for a while. The cavalry thus formed a shifting curtain, concealing the operations of the various columns in turn.

As the national army advanced, the consternation of the rebels increased. On the 22nd of November, the commander at Augusta declared: ‘I can as yet count on only four thousand for defence here. Am gathering all. People show little spirit.’ On the 23rd, Hardee reported from Savannah: ‘I could gain no definite or reliable information respecting the movements of the enemy's infantry. Wheeler attacked the enemy's cavalry at Clinton, Sunday, but gained no advantage. The same day Colonel Cross drove the enemy from Griswold, but, being reinforced, Cross was in his turn driven from the place, Monday.’