Doc. 7. operations of the cavalry.
Colonel Murray's Report.
headquarters First brigade, Third cavalry division, military division of the Mississippi, near Savannah, Georgia, December 25, 1864.
Captain: I have the honor to report that the First brigade, Third cavalry division, military division of the Mississippi, composed of the Ninth Pennsylvania, Fifth Kentucky, Eighth Indiana, Third and Second Kentucky cavalry, left Marietta at eight o'clock A. M., November fourteenth, to follow our indomitable leaders through the Confederacy to the ocean.
Camped four miles southwest of Atlanta.
November 15.--Moved at nine o'clock A. M. Attacked and drove the enemy from Jonesboro, capturing three caissons filled with ammunition.
This was accomplished by the Eighth Indiana and Fifth Kentucky cavalry.
16th.
Marched at half-past 8 o'clock A. M. Struck the enemy two miles from Lovejoy's Station, in force, behind intrenchments, with artillery.
The Eighth Indiana and Third Kentucky, dismounted, moved upon the works, which were taken possession of by the Eighth Indiana.
The Third Kentucky, mounting, made a most brilliant and successful sabre-charge, resulting in a total demoralization of the enemy and the capture of two pieces of artillery.
The engagement also furnished us with forty-two prisoners. The Second Kentucky, Captain Foreman, coming up after the charge, pushed on, but only to find the enemy straggling.
17th.
Marched at eight o'clock, encamped four miles south-west of Jackson.
18th.
Marched at eight A. M.; camped near Cork.
The Fifth Kentucky, crossing the Ocmulgee River, succeeded in capturing one hundred and twenty-five horses and mules.
19th.
Marched at midnight; crossed the Ocmulgee on pontoons at Planter's Factory.
The Second Kentucky was left to protect the division supply-train.
Camped fourteen miles from Clinton.
The Ninth Pennsylvania, Colonel Jordan, making a detour to the right, obtained valuable information in regard to the movements of the enemy about Macon.
20th.
Marched to Clinton, participating in the demonstration that day made by our command on Macon; Captain Handcock, of the Ninth Pennsylvania, with one hundred men, making a
[148]
Report of movement of train of Twentieth army corps, left wing, Army Georgia, on the march from Atlanta to Savannah, commencing November Fifteenth, 1864, and ending December twenty-First, 1864.
| date. 1864. | Left Camp. | Arrived in Camp. | Miles. | Hndths. | Place of Arrival. | Weather. | Condition of Roads. | remarks. |
| Tuesday, Nov. 15 | 9 00 A. M. | 5 00 P. M. | 16 | Stone Mountain | Fine | Good, hilly | Left Atlanta; public buildings destroyed, part of city on fire, halted an hour for dinner at Decatur. | |
| Wednesday, Nov. 16 | 9 30 A. M. | 4 30 P. M. | 8 | McGuire's Farm | Fine | Good, hilly | Commencing to find subsistence for men and forage for animals. | |
| Thursday, Nov. 17 | 7 30 A. M. | 6 30 P. M. | 16 | Unknown | Fine | Good, hilly | Commenced killing worthless animals; bad place two miles back from camp, over which First division could not pass to-night. | |
| Friday, Nov. 18 | 7 30 A. M. | 7 30 P. M. | 15 | Jones's Farm | Fine in day, rained at night | Good, hilly | Passed through Social Circle and Rutledge, destroying railroad depots, tanks, wood, and track thoroughly. | |
| Saturday, Nov. 19 | 7 00 A. M. | 1 00 P. M. | 7 | Beyond Madison | Raining | A little muddy | One brigade, Second division sent to burn railroad bridge across Oconee, two brigades, Third division, detailed to tear up road. | |
| Sunday, Nov. 20 | 8 00 A. M. | 4 30 P. M. | 12 | Toward Eatonton | Cloudy, rained at 5 o'clock | Muddy | Men and animals now faring luxuriously. | |
| Monday, Nov. 21 | 7 00 A. M. | 12 M. | 13 | 5 miles beyond Eatonton | Very hard rain | Very muddy and worn | Frost at night. Captured Commander of Post, Colonel White, and Captain and Assistant Quartermaster and Captain, Commissary of Subsistence. | |
| Tuesday, Nov. 22 | 7 30 A. M. | 5 00 P. M. | 15 | Milledgeville | Clear and very cold | Good | Crossed Little River on pontoons; arrived at Milledgeville at twelve o'clock, and camped east side of Oconee River in woods. | |
| Wednesday, Nov. 23 | In camp all day | Clear and very cold | Shoeing up and repairing. Burnt penitentiary, arsenal, destroyed arms, munitions of war, and railroad property. | |||||
| Thursday, Nov. 24 | 8 00 A. M. | 4 00 P. M. | 13 | In the woods | Fine and warmer | Good level | Built bridge over Buffalo Creek. | |
| Friday, Nov. 25 | 8 00 A. M. | 4 30 P. M. | 8 | Buffalo Creek | Warm, fine weather | Good country | Skirmish with the enemy in evening; passed Hebron. General Sherman joined us. | |
| Saturday, Nov. 26 | 7 00 A. M. | 10 A. M. by odom. | 8 | Sandersville | Warm, fine weather | Good country | Skirmish with enemy on entering town; we laid by here all afternoon; Fourteenth corps passing through. | |
| Sunday, Nov. 27 | 9 00 A. M. | 6 30 P. M. | 15 | 27 | Davisboro | Warm, fine weather | Good country | Burnt court-house and jail at Sandersville before we marched, and cut down the liberty-pole. |
| Monday, Nov. 28 | 7 30 A. M. | 12 M. | 9 | 23 | Ogeechee River | Warm, fine weather | Good country swamp bad | First and Second divisions sent down railroad to destroy it; found bridge burnt by rebels; laid by till it was built. |
| Tuesday, Nov. 29 | 12 M. | 5 00 P. M. | 6 | 13 | Beyond Louisville | Warm, fine | Good country | Crossed on pontoons; Fourteenth corps train and cavalry division train passing ahead; passed through Louisville. |
| Wednesday, Nov. 30 | In camp all day | Warm | First and Second divisions rejoin us. Repairing. | |||||
| Thursday, Dec. 1 | 9 00 A. M. | 5 15 P. M. | 13 | 17 | Near Birdville | Warm | Swampy | Michigan Engineers build bridges across the creek; forty-six men and one lieutenant One Hundred and Seventh New-York gobbled while out foraging. |
| Friday, Dec. 2 | 7 30 A. M. | 4 15 P. M. | 10 | 89 | Buckhead Church | Cloudy | Good | Passed a magnificent plantation belonging to Doctor Jones, called Birdville. |
| Saturday, Dec. 3 | 8 00 A. M. | 5 15 P. M. | 15 | 52 | Beyond Millen | Cloudy | Good | Passed the Millen prison on our left. |
| Sunday, Dec. 4 | 7 00 A. M. | 5 00 P. M. | 14 | 73 | Pine Woods | Fine | Swampy | Some of our men destroyed a mill on our left half a mile, burning the sluicegate, letting the water flood the road, delaying corps supply train and First division twelve hours. |
| Monday, Dec. 5 | 4 00 P. M. | 6 00 P. M. | 2 | 81 | Near Little Ogeechee | Fine | Swampy | Train of cavalry division, two hundred and eleven wagons, ordered to move with corps train. |
| Tuesday, Dec. 6 | 6 00 A. M. | 4 30 P. M. | 16 | 26 | Cowper Creek | Fine, rained during night | Swampy | Swamps very bad; road barricaded by felled trees. |
| Wednesday, Dec. 7 | 8 30 A. M. | 4 00 P. M. | 9 | 68 | Near Springfield | Rained hard till noon | Swampy | Crossed Turkey Creek; Provost-Marshal ordered to take all captured horses to mount the cavalry. |
| Thursday, Dec. 8 | 9 00 A. M. | 12 M. | 93 | Springfield | Fine | Very bad | Crossed Jack's Creek; troops, except Third division, ahead six miles; stopped at Springfield for dinner. |
