"The March to the Sea"

State Historic Marker

 

March to the Sea State Historic Marker

Located on the Putnam County Courthouse Square, Eatonton, 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 (14th and 20th Corps), Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum,

USA, marched east. At Decatur, the 14th Corps, accompanied by

Brig. Gen. A.S. Williams, USA, marched east to Social Circle

and Madison, destroying the Georgia RR between those towns.

On the 19th, at Madison, Geary's division was detached to burn

the RR bridge over the Oconee River (13 miles E of Madison). It

rejoined the Corps near Dennis Station (9 miles S).

On the 20th, the Corps camped about three miles north. Next

day, it passed through Eatonton, destroyed a few miles of the

railroad, and camped below Dennis Station. Heavy rains having

slowed the march and bogged down the trains, little destruction

of public utility property was attempted. The 14th Corps, which

had marched from Shady Dale that day, destroyed Eatonton factory

(3 miles W on Little River) and camped in that vicinity.

On the 22nd, both corps converged on Milledgeville, then the

Capital of Georgia. The 20th Corps arrived that day and took

possession of the city; the 14th Corps arrived on the 23rd.

 

117-7 GEORGIA HISTORICAL COMMISSION 1957

Photo: Ed Jackson

© Carl Vinson Institute of Government, The University of Georgia

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