March to the Sea State
Historical Marker
Located on Ga. 11 in front of the United
Methodist Church in Social Circle, Ga.
(Text)
THE MARCH TO
THE SEA
On Nov. 15, 1864, after destroying
Atlanta and cutting his communications with the North, Maj. Gen.
W. T. Sherman, USA, began his destructive campaign for Savannah
-- the March to the Sea. He divided his army into two wings.
The Right Wing marched south from Atlanta, to feint at Macon
but to cross the Ocmulgee River above the city and concentrate
at Gordon.
The Left Wing (14 and 20th
Corps), Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, USA, marched to Decatur where
the 20th Corps, Brig. Gen. A. S. Williams, USA, took the road
to Social Circle to strike the Georgia Railroad here and destroy
it through Madison.
Late on the 17th, the 20th
Corps reached Centreville Box (Jersey), 6 miles NW, and camped
between Cornish and Big Flat creeks, with its leading division
(Geary's) on the west bank of the Ulcofauhachee (Alcovy) River,
3 miles from Social Circle.
On the 18th, elements of the
2nd and 3rd Divisions destroyed the Georgia Railroad from Social
Circle to Madison (16 miles). At Rutledge (7 miles SE), the depot,
water tank, warehouses and other RR facilities were burned, those
at Social Circle having been destroyed in July by Garrard's cavalry
[Union]. That night the 20th Corps camped west of Madison on
the Covington road.
Between Atlanta and Milledgeville,
the movements of the Left Wing were almost unopposed, the few
Confederate troops available being employed against the Right
Win to protect Macon, a principal arsenal center, and the Central
of Georgia Railway.
147-5 GEORGIA
HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1957
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