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LAKEOCONEE

LAKESINCLAIR

YellowRiver

A lcovy River

OgeecheeRiver

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ulgeeRiver

South River

Ebenezer Creek

Savannah

River

DECATUR

ATLANTA

JONESBORO

CONYERS

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SavannahRiver

Hillsboro

Shady Dale

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GordonBartow

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Lithonia

Monroe

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Exit # 1

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RINGS CT

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R1 Little Cotton Indian Creek Crossing Leaving Atlanta on November15, 1864, Union Brigadier General John E. Smith’s division arrived hereto camp south of Little Cotton Indian Creek, but found the Confederate“Orphan Brigade” had burned the bridge. It was quickly repaired.

R2 McDonough City Square Union Major General Peter J. Osterhaus’sentire 15th Corps, over 16,000 strong, camped in and around this cityon November 16, 1864, doing considerable damage.

R3 Locust Grove Leaving McDonough on November 17, 1864, the Federal15th Corps and cavalry passed through here. Two infantry divisions continuedsouth, and two turned east, with the cavalry feigning toward Macon.

R4 Sylvan Grove Plantation Now a hospital on part of the plantation,Federal 17th Army Corps commander Major General Francis P. Blair, Jr.and his staff occupied the home on November 17, 1864, with many of his12,000 troops camping here.

R5 Butts County Courthouse On November 17, 1864, the county seatof Jackson became headquarters for Union Major General Oliver O. Howard’s“Right Wing” (the 15th and 17th Corps). Two divisions of the 17th and threeof the 15th marched through Jackson on November 17th and 18th.

R6 Ocmulgee River On November 18 to 20, 1864, the entire Federal RightWing and cavalry, over 33,000 men, crossed the Ocmulgee River onpontoon bridges at Seven Islands. Planters Factory was also burned. It hadbeen making cotton cloth for the Confederacy.

R7 Hillsboro Headquarters for General Osterhaus’s Federal 15th Corpswas established here the night of November 19, 1864. Three 15th Corpsdivisions camped in the area that night and the fourth on the 21st.

R8 Battle of Sunshine Church On July 31, 1864, as Federal cavalryunder Major General George Stoneman were returning from a raid onMacon, they were defeated here by Confederate Brigadier General AlfredIverson’s cavalry. The Federal 15th Corps burned the church inNovember 1864.

R9 Old Clinton Settled in 1808, Clinton expanded to an extensivemanufacturing center until after the Civil War when it became, and is now, apeaceful wayside village with many antebellum buildings. In July andNovember 1864 a total of about 22,000 Federal troops were in the area.

R10 Macon City Hall Built in 1837, City Hall was used as a Civil Warhospital, then as Georgia’s temporary capitol building during and after theMarch to the Sea. It was also a Confederate surrender site on April 20, 1865.

R11 Town of Griswoldville Founded and built by Connecticut-bornSamuel Griswold, who made cotton gins, plus ran a sawmill and otherfacilities. During the war Griswold made Confederate navy revolvers. Thetown was destroyed by the Federal army in November 1864 and never rebuilt.

R12 Gordon Depot Originating in 1843 with the first Central of Georgiatrain service, much of the town was destroyed by some of General Howard’s28,000 Federal “Right Wing” troops camped in the area from November 22to 25, 1864.

R13 Union Church Built between 1854 and 1856, this church wasshared by Baptists and Methodists for 100 years. It demonstrates aconstruction of lasting design. The church was used as a granary byOsterhaus’s Federal 15th Corps on November 24 & 25, 1864.

R14 Ball’s Ferry This ferry operated until 1939 as a principal OconeeRiver crossing. After a skirmish on November 24, 1864, the Federal RightWing built two pontoon bridges and crossed on the 26th and 27th. A smallConfederate force under General Henry Wayne was forced to retreat.

R15 New Hope Methodist Church Originating in 1776 and known asthe “Mother Church of Washington County,” this church survived beinga campsite for General Blair’s Federal 17th Corps on the night ofNovember 28, 1864.

R16 Speir’s Turnout (Bartow) Renamed in honor of Confederate ColonelFrancis Bartow, killed at First Manassas, most of the Federal 20th Corpscamped in this area on November 28, 1864. They destroyed the railroad,while General Sherman accompanying the 17th Corps passed just to the south.

R17 Old Savannah Road This was the campsite of Blair’s Federal 17thCorps, accompanied by General Sherman, on November 29, 1864. Theymarched on the Savannah Road through the “Pine Barrens” and “Wiregrass”area of central Georgia.

R18 Pine Barren Crossroads Marching east on November 30, 1864,the Federal 17th Corps turned north here to cross the Ogeechee River. Two15th Corps divisions followed from the south, turning east on the SavannahRoad. In all, some 20,000 men passed through this crossroads.

R19 Millen Depot Founded in 1835 as an important railroad junction,Millen was entered by some 12,000 Federal soldiers of the 17th Corps onDecember 2, 1864. They burned the old depot, hotel and warehouses, thencamped that night in this area.

20

25

57

March to the Sea - Paved

March to the Sea - Unpaved

20th Corps Route - No Trailblazers

14th Corps Route - No Trailblazers

Interstates

US Highways

State Highways

Railroads (1864)

Interpretive Markers

Other Sites of Interest

Visitor Information Centers

Lakes Not in Existence in 1864

L8 Shady Dale This community was passed through on November 20,1864 by the Federal 14th Corps, accompanied by General Sherman, onits way toward the vicinity just west of Eatonton.

L9 Rutledge Station The Federal 20th Corps, accompanied by Left Wing(14th and 20th Corps) commander Major General Henry W. Slocum,marched through here on November 18, 1864. They destroyed the railroadand warehouses, camping that night east of town on the way to Madison.

L10 Madison Station The Federal 20th Corps arrived in Madison onNovember 19, 1864, destroying the railroad, depot, and warehouses. Mosthomes were undamaged, and today they represent much of Madison’sbeauty and culture.

L11 Blue Springs (Swords) Union Brigadier General John W. Geary’sdivision of the 20th Corps was ordered to march east from Madison todestroy the railroad bridge over the Oconee River. They camped in thisarea on November 19, 1864, before burning the bridge and warehousesthe next day.

L12 Denham Tannery General Geary’s division of the Federal 20th Corpsmarched here on November 20, 1864, and camped that night. The nextmorning they burned the tannery and leather buildings, which made goodsfor Confederate armies, then marched to rejoin their corps.

L13 Putnam County Court House Home of author Joel Chandler Harris,this county seat housed numerous Confederate medical facilities. Twodivisions of Alpheus Williams’ Federal 20th Corps marched into Eatontonon November 20, 1864, destroying its railroad facilities.

L14 Old Governor’s Mansion Completed in 1839, the mansion wasoccupied by eight governors, including Joseph E. Brown, until the statecapital was moved to Atlanta in 1868. It served as headquarters for GeneralSherman on November 23 & 24, 1864, and is now an impressive museum.

L15 Penitentiary Square Burned by prisoners, after many had beenparoled to serve in the Confederate militia, just before nearly 29,000 troopsof Henry Slocum’s Federal Left Wing arrived on November 22 & 23, 1864.This 20 acre square is now home to Georgia College and State University.

L16 Statehouse Square Georgia’s capitol grounds from 1807 to 1868,and now home to Georgia Military College, were damaged from theexplosion of the State Magazine in November 1864. The gothic styledformer Capitol building was recently renovated and now houses a museum.

L17 Washington County Court House On November 26, 1864, as theFederal Left Wing entered Sandersville, they were fired on by ConfederateMajor General Joseph Wheeler’s cavalry from inside the court house.Sherman ordered it burned; it was replaced after the War with thepresent building.

L18 The Brown House Purchased in 1851 by the William Gainer Brownfamily, this house was used by General Sherman as his headquarters on thenight of November 26-27, 1864. The house has been restored and is nowoperated as a museum by the Washington County Historical Society.

L19 Tennille Station General Sherman and his staff arrived in Tennilleon November 27, 1864 to join the Federal 17th Corps for the remainderof the March. He witnessed the destruction of the town’s rails, depot, andcotton warehouse. The present depot was built shortly after the War.

L20 Ogeechee Crossing Two divisions of the Federal Left Wing with allsupply trains crossed the Ogeechee River here on November 28, 1864,before entering Louisville. They camped in the area with cavalry and theremaining infantry divisions, leaving on December 1.

L21 The Sacking of Louisville While the main Federal units were busybuilding and repairing bridges to cross the Ogeechee River just to the west,some soldiers left their units and officers to enter Louisville uncontrolled.They looted and burned until their main units arrived and stopped them.

L22 Augusta Arsenal Now the campus of Augusta State University, itsadministration buildings are the original United States Arsenal structures,founded on this site in 1826. Seized by Georgia militia in January 1861, itbecame a major Confederate manufacturing center until the War’s end.

L23 Confederate Powder Works This 153 foot tall chimney remainsfrom the largest facility ever built by the Confederacy. Colonel GeorgeWashington Rains oversaw construction of multiple brick buildings, thenproduction of some 3 million pounds of quality gun powder.

L24 Ivanhoe Plantation Established before 1841 from a Crown Grantin 1765, this was the location of a cavalry skirmish on November 26, 1864between Union Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick and Joseph Wheeler’sConfederates. The latter made camp nearby for several days thereafter.

L25 The Roberts House This 1858 Georgian cottage, now the BurkeCounty Museum, was used as a hospital for another cavalry skirmish onNovember 27, 1864. This was followed on December 4 by another battleand the Federal destruction of bridges over Brier Creek toward Augusta.

L26 Big Buckhead Church Built in 1855, it is adjacent to Carswell GroveChurch, which was founded by former slaves from Big Buckhead Churchin 1867. On November 28, 1864, General Kilpatrick’s Federal cavalry wereagain attacked here by Wheeler’s outnumbered Confederates.

L27 Jacksonboro The Screven County seat from 1799 to 1847, only thisone house remains. Approximately 14,500 Federal 14th Corps soldierscamped in this community on December 5, 1864.

L28 Ebenezer Creek On December 9, 1864, after the Federal 14th Corpscrossed here on a pontoon bridge, General Jefferson C. Davis ordered itremoved before recently emancipated slaves could follow. Some troops triedto help, but a number of slaves drowned trying to swim to freedom.

L29 Savannah River Plantations This rice growing area was occupiedby the Federal 14th Corps on December 10, 1864. Two days later, theirartillery battled three Confederate boats, capturing one. Nearby was MulberryGrove plantation, where Eli Whitney invented the cotton gin in 1793.

L30 Central of Georgia Railroad Complex Here are a depot, trainshed, shops, and other facilities, now containing a visitor’s center andtwo museums. They cover Savannah’s extensive history, including numerouspieces of railroad equipment from the antebellum and Civil War years.

L31 Fort Jackson Construction began in 1808 and continued to 1861,at which time it was seized by Georgia troops and additional equipmentinstalled. It was then used as Confederate headquarters for SavannahRiver batteries until captured by Sherman’s army in December 1864.

R1 Indian Springs State Park Originally a spring used by the CreekIndians and later a resort, this was the campground for two Federaldivisions on November 18,1864.

R2 Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site Originally built in 1847 asa cotton plantation, the area around this home was heavily foraged byFederal soldiers on their March to the Sea in November 1864.

R3 Hay House Completed in 1859, this beautiful museum was originallythe home of William Butler Johnston, an entrepreneur and keeper ofMacon’s Confederate Treasury.

R4 Sidney Lanier Cottage The famous poet and musician was born herein 1842. Lanier served as a Confederate army private before being capturedwhile captain of a blockade runner.

R5 Cannonball House Now a museum, this house built in 1853 by JudgeAsa Holt was struck by a cannonball during Union Major General GeorgeStoneman’s cavalry raid on July 30, 1864.

R6 Griswoldville Battlefield State Historic Site The November 22,1864 battle occurred on this site when an ill-prepared force of youthsand old men in local and state militia units attacked a veteran and fortifiedFederal brigade during the March to the Sea. The result was a severeConfederate defeat.

R7 Fort McAllister State Historic Site This Confederate fort withstoodseven Federal naval attacks. It was finally captured by Brigadier GeneralWilliam B. Hazen’s infantry division on December 13, 1864, enablingSherman’s army to establish contact with Rear Admiral John A. Dahlgren’s fleet.

R8 Midway Church Built in 1792, this church was Union BrigadierGeneral Judson Kilpatrick’s cavalry headquarters on December 14, 1864,and campsite for an infantry division on the 17th.

L1 Stone Mountain Park This popular family recreational park includesa museum, antebellum plantation, and a 90 by 190 foot granite carvingof Confederate President Jefferson Davis, Generals Robert E. Lee andStonewall Jackson.

L2 Uncle Remus Museum These former slave log cabins focus on authorJoel Chandler Harris’ famous book and contain many associated artifacts.

L3 Augusta Museum of History The museum’s 6,500 square foot exhibitentitled “Augusta’s Story” includes displays of Civil War history andantebellum society, as well as industry.

L4 Magnolia Springs State Park Named for its 9-million-gallon-per-daysprings, this recreational park also contains the site of Confederate prisonCamp Lawton, used from September 18 - November 25, 1864.

S1 Laurel Grove Cemetery Opened in 1852, this cemetery containsgraves and monuments for many Confederate soldiers, including over100 casualties of Gettysburg, and at least eight generals.

S2 Georgia Historical Society Founded in 1839, its Hodgson Hall isa repository for books, newspapers, and manuscripts about Georgia’shistory, including many about the Civil War.

S3 Green-Meldrim House Built for Englishman Charles Green in the1850s, Green offered it to Union Major General William T. Sherman forhis headquarters, from December 22, 1864 to February 1, 1865.

S4 Second African Baptist Church Established in 1802, over 1,000 blacksmet here on February 2, 1865 to learn about General Sherman’s Field Order#15, the famous pledge that each freedman would receive 40 acres and a mule.

S5 Fort Pulaski National Monument Starting in 1829, United Statesarmy engineers (including a young Lieutenant Robert E. Lee) supervisedits construction. Seized by Georgia militia in 1861, the Federal army,using rifled artillery, bore through the walls and forced its surrender onApril 11, 1862.

R20 Ogeechee Church (Oliver) About 4,000 Confederates commandedby Major General Lafayette McLaws entrenched here to block crossing ofthe Little Ogeechee River by the Federal 17th Corps. They were forced toretire on December 4, 1864 when outflanked on both sides.

R21 Guyton General Hospital This Confederate hospital was startedin 1862, expanding to 270 beds with a staff of 67 before closing uponthe approach of Federal troops in December 1864.

R22 Elevated Tent Camps The Federal 17th Corps arrived in this low-lying area on December 9, 1864, establishing camp and headquarters.About a mile east on the railroad was a Confederate heavy artillery batteryfiring at them, with one shot narrowly missing General Sherman.

R23 Savannah & Ogeechee Canal On December 8, 1864, UnionBrigadier General John M. Corse’s division of the 15th Corps moved downthe east side of the Ogeechee River, rebuilt a burned bridge over this canaland camped. The next day a tiny Confederate force was driven into Savannah.

R24 Nicholsonboro This community was started by freedmen in 1865before reverting to its previous owners in 1868. Then, in 1878, 18 freedmenbought 200 acres, paying the mortgage by 1882. This church remains theprimary monument to the community.

R25 Ways Station Now the City of Richmond Hill, it was Ways Station#1-1/2 on the Savannah & Gulf Rail Road when established in 1856. Animportant transportation junction to Fort McAllister and south Georgia, therailroad here was destroyed by Federal troops in mid-December 1864.

R26 Cherry Hill Plantation Partially destroyed by Federal troops onDecember 13, 1864, on their way to capture Fort McAllister later thatsame day, the Richmond Hill Historical Society Museum is now locatedon the property.

L1 Stone Mountain Cemetery More than 200 Confederate veterans areburied here. The massive granite monolith by the same name was viewedby the 14,000+ Federal soldiers of Brigadier General Alpheus Williams’ 20thCorps as they marched east from Atlanta on November 15 & 16, 1864.

L2 Conyers Station This depot replaced the one burned by BrigadierGeneral Kenner Garrard’s Federal cavalry on July 22, 1864. Then, onNovember 17, 1864, the Federal 14th Corps, accompanied by MajorGeneral William T. Sherman, marched through Conyers, destroying rails.

L3 Old Church Built in 1841 as a Methodist meeting house, Old Churchwas used as a war-time hospital. It is adjacent to the slave quarters “Kitty'sCottage,” with historic Old Emory College (Oxford College) located nearby.Federal troops were in Oxford three different times during 1864.

L4 Covington’s Square Some 14,500 Federal 14th Corps soldiers,commanded by Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis, entered Covington onNovember 18, 1864. They marched through town with bands playing, doinglittle damage, as Garrard’s raid in July had destroyed most rail facilities.

L5 Philadelphia Church The original church was a reference point onFederal military maps of this old Native American “Hightower Trail,” usedby the Federal 20th Corps, which marched by on November 17, 1864. Theycamped that night near Centreville (Jersey).

L6 Centreville (Jersey) Known as Centreville in 1864, General AlpheusWilliams’ Federal 20th Corps camped in this area on November 17, foragingliberally. They continued marching generally east on the historic HightowerTrail, leaving for Social Circle and Rutledge the next day.

L7 Social Circle On November 18, 1864, the Federal 20th Corps marchedthrough Social Circle, destroying the railroad. The depot and warehouseshad been burned earlier by Union Brigadier General Kenner Garrard’scavalry raid on July 23, 1864.

WALNUT ST

9THSTTS

DAOR

BW

E BROADST

GREEN ST

LOUISVILLE

24

L21

221

1.25" = approximately 10 MILES

Courtesty of Atlanta History Center

Image copyright William R. McGrathPublished by WRM GRAPHICS, INC.

-W.T. Sherman to U.S. GrantOctober 9, 1864

-Mrs. Mary Jones to a Federal foragerDecember 24, 1864

made in Griswoldville, Georgia

www.gcwht.org

-Slave named “Uncle Stephen” to General ShermanNovember 18, 1864

fter capturing Atlanta on

September

2, 1864,

Union Major General

William

T. Sherman spent several

weeks considering his army's next

move. Already having indicated a

desire to march toward "salt water",

and to disrupt the Confederacy's ability

to continue fighting, possibilities included Savannah, Charleston,

Andersonville or Mobile. Sherm

an received Comm

anding

General Ulysses S. Grant's approval for a campaign to Savannah,

from where his arm

y would be in position to support Grant's

army in Virginia.

When Confederate General John B. Hood's arm

y left to fight

in Tennessee, the defense of Georgia fell upon Lieutenant General

William

J. Hardee. A seasoned veteran, who like Sherman was a

West Point graduate, Hardee was nicknam

ed

"Old Reliable" for his steady leadership

during the battles of Chattanooga, the

Atlanta Campaign and m

any others.

Hardee assembled a m

otley force of

10,000 in Savannah, then settled in

for a siege. When the city was nearly

surrounded by

Sherman's

6-to-1

advantage, Hardee ordered the construction of a pontoon

bridge across the Savannah River, enabling

his troops to escape to South Carolina.

Other significant comm

anders

during the March to the Sea included

the respective cavalry leaders. Known

as the "War Child" in part for his

5'5" 120-pound physique, Confederate

Major General Joseph W

heeler was barely

28 years old in late 1864. Wheeler's 3,500 horsem

en harassed

Sherman's colum

ns, preventing destruction of an even wider

area. Brigadier General Judson Kilpatrick comm

anded

Sherman's 5,000 cavalry troopers, protecting the m

ain army's

flanks. Federal cavalry led feints against Macon and Augusta,

causing the Confederates to divide their already badly

outnumbered

forces. W

heeler's and

Kilpatrick's cavalrym

en clashed

on

several occasions, in running fights

through m

iles of

Georgia's

countryside. Cavalry traveled many

miles from

their principal sources of

supply, often causing both comm

anders

to forage off civilians.

he interior of Georgia was almost untouched by

war until November 1864, allowing the institution

of slavery to continue. But the approach of

62,000 Federal soldiers sent many in Georgia's African-

American population into joyful celebration. "The day of

Jubilee has come!" they exclaim

ed. Sherman wrote that they

"clustered about my horse, shouted and prayed." Referring to

Federal troops at Shady Dale one black man m

arveled, "It

looked like the whole world was coming!"

Some of Georgia's slaves had been told that Federal

soldiers were demons who would burn black m

en alive, and

drown women and children. They soon learned the truth,

though not all Federal soldiers were excited to be part of a

liberating force.

Sherman's m

arch attracted an ever growing crowd of slaves

eager to escape their bondage and accompany the Federal arm

y

to freedom. W

hen Sherman asked one why he was following the

column, the m

an replied, "Good trade or bad trade, I was bound

to risk it." Yet other slaves remained loyal to their owners, or

stayed behind for a variety of family and personal reasons.

This army of "freedm

en" worried Sherman, who feared

they would "eat up the food needed for our fighting men" or

become an obstacle if battle erupted. Sherm

an announced he

would pay for the labor of able-bodied men, but those with

family responsibilities should rem

ain at home. As he explained,

"our success was their assured freedom." M

any blacks who joined

the march becam

e pioneers, scouts, teamsters, and servants.

An estimated 19,000 enslaved persons followed Sherm

an's

army for som

e part of its march, at least half of whom

reached

Savannah. Georgia's African-American population had received a

taste of freedom from

Sherman's successful m

arch, and complete

emancipation was only m

onths away.

avannah is Georgia's first settlement, dating to

1733. By 1861 it had become the state's

principal seaport, with a population of 20,000,

and the largest city in Georgia. Thus when war began Savannah

was soon blockaded by a Federal naval fleet. On April 11, 1862

Fort Pulaski, guarding the mouth

of the

Savannah River,

was

captured by

Federal troops,

further choking off Confederate

comm

erce. The city remained

heavily defended on its eastern

side through 1864, with a small

river squadron.

Savannah

continued to be a haven for

high-risk blockade runners.

Milledgeville was Georgia's capital city from

1807 to

1868, chosen for its central location. From there Georgia's

ordinance of secession was passed in January 1861. And from

there Governor Joseph E. Brown raised troops for the

Confederacy, while administering the state's defense. But with

only one railroad connection, Milledgeville was som

ewhat isolated,

thus cities such as Atlanta surpassed it in military and econom

ic

importance. Yet it rem

ained an important political "prize."

When Sherm

an left Atlanta in mid-Novem

ber 1864 on

his "March to the Sea,” M

illedgeville was his initial destination.

The city was occupied by his "Left Wing" on Novem

ber 22,

after officials of Georgia's

government fled to M

acon.

Sherman

set up

his

headquarters in

the

Governor's mansion, while

Union officers conducted a

mock m

eeting of the State

Legislature in the Capitol

building. The State arsenal

and other buildings were

damaged or destroyed. On Novem

ber 24, Sherman's arm

y

moved on, and the city was re-occupied by state forces.

Sherman's ultim

ate destination, however, was Savannah,

where his army laid siege by early Decem

ber. After a

hopeless 10-day defense by Confederate forces, Savannah

fell on December 21, 1864.

Courtesy of the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism

n November 15, 1864, M

ajor General William

T.

Sherman's

62,000-man

army

began its

March to the Sea. Sherm

an cut his army's

supply line, after putting Atlanta to the torch. A raging fire

consumed m

ost of the city's businesses, plus many hom

es

and churches. Sherman's arm

y "lived off the land" for the

next 35 days. The result was a swath of devastation throughout

central Georgia.

Each morning m

ounted foraging parties ranged several

miles from

that day's planned march route. Often traveling in

units of fifty, smaller groups were frequently attacked by

Co

nfed

erate

cavalry. Food

and livestock

were m

ost

co

mm

on

ly

taken, leaving

civilians destitute.

Worst im

pacted

were women and

children, plus

slaves and old

men,

becauseby Thom

as Nast

burned. This left the already war-torn Georgia economy in

shambles. Thousands of civilian refugees fled the approaching

Federal juggernaut. Some residents of M

acon and Augusta,

expecting to be attacked, moved to the countryside only to find

themselves directly in Sherm

an's path.

After Savannah's fall on December 21, 1864, though

the city was protected from foraging, the dying Confederacy

was deprived of its important resources. W

ithin weeks,

welcome relief arrived from

Boston and New York, and was

distributed to needy citizens. But this did nothing to relieve

the tremendous suffering throughout central Georgia, as the

war continued into 1865.

most fighting-age m

en were away in the Confederate military. Near

Covington, Dolly Burge entered in her diary,

Some foragers, labeled "bum

mers", stole for personal gain whatever

they could carry. Although such acts violated Sherman's orders, they were

frequently overlooked. Yet not all soldiers behaved as such, and many

officers issued instructions to respect private property. Civilians who did

nothing to hinder the army's activities were often left enough provisions to

care for themselves. But any who resisted received the harshest treatm

ent.

Many slaves welcom

ed the advancing Federals as liberators.

Thousands followed Sherman's colum

ns, burdening supplies and

clogging roads. The army generally treated slaves callously, urging

most to return hom

e, while employing som

e able-bodied men. But

Federal soldiers were given priority for food.

Sherman's colum

ns often followed railroads, burning crossties

and twisting rails into unusable "neckties." Mills, depots, factories,

bridges, cotton, some hom

es and other civilian properties were also

"But like Demons they rush in! M

y yards are full. To my

smoke-house, m

y dairy, pantry, kitchen, and cellar, likefam

ished w

olves they

come,

breaking locks

andw

hatever is in their way... M

y eighteen fat turkeys, my

hens, chickens, and fowls, m

y young pigs, are shot down

in m

y yard

and hunted

as if

they w

ere rebels

themselves... this ended the passing of Sherm

an's army

by my place, leaving m

e poorer by thirty thousand dollarsthan I w

as yesterday morning. And a m

uch strongerRebel!"

AUGUSTA WELCO

ME CENTER

560 Reynolds Street | P.O. Box 1331 | Augusta, GA 30903877-AUGUSTA | 706-724-4067

www.augustaga.org

BURKE CO

UNTY CHAM

BER OF CO

MM

ERCE241 East Sixth Street | W

aynesboro, GA 30830706-554-5451

www.burkechamber.com

BUTTS COUNTY CH

AMBER &

VISITORS CENTER

206 East Third Street | Jackson, GA 30233770-775-4839

www.buttscochamber.com

CONYERS W

ELCOM

E CENTER895 Iris Drive | Conyers, GA 30094

800-CONYERS | 770-602-2606www.conyersga.com

COVINGTO

N-NEWTO

N COUNTY W

ELCOM

E CENTER2101 Clark Street | Covington, GA 30014

800-616-8626 | 770-786-7510www.newtoncham

ber.com/tourism

DEK

ALB CONVENTIO

N & VISITO

RS BUREAU750 Com

merce Drive, Suite 200 | Decatur, GA 30030800-999-6055 | 404-378-2525

www.dcvb.org

EATONTO

N-PUTNAM CH

AMBER O

F COM

MERCE

105 South Washington Avenue | Eatonton, GA 31024

706-485-7701 www.eatonton.com

EFFINGHAM

COUNTY CH

AMBER O

F COM

MERCE

520 Third Street | Springfield, GA 31329866-754-3301 | 912-754-3301

www.effinghamcounty.com

FORT M

CALLISTER STATE HISTO

RIC PARK3894 Fort M

cAllister Road | Richmond Hill, GA 31324

912-727-2339www.gastateparks.org/info/ftm

callister

FORT PULASK

I NATIONAL M

ONUM

ENTU.S. Hwy. 80 East | P.O. Box 30757 | Savannah, GA 31410

912-786-5787www.nps.gov/fopu

HENRY CO

UNTY CONVENTIO

N & VISITO

RS BUREAU1709 GA Hwy. 20 W

est | McDonough, GA 30253

800-436-7926 | 770-957-5786www.henrycvb.com

JARRELL PLANTATION STATE H

ISTORIC SITE

711 Jarrell Plantation Road | Juliette, GA 31046478-986-5172

www.gastateparks.org/info/jarrell

JEFFERSON CO

UNTY CHAM

BER OF CO

MM

ERCE302 East Broad Street | Louisville, GA 30434

866-527-2642 | 478-625-8134www.JeffersonCounty.org

JONES CO

UNTY/GRAY CHAM

BER OF CO

MM

ERCE161 W

est Clinton Street | P.O. Box 686 | Gray, GA 31032 478-986-1123

www.jonescounty.org

MACO

N WELCO

ME CENTER

200 Cherry Street | Macon, GA 31201

800-768-3401 | 478-743-3401www.m

aconga.org

MAD

ISON-M

ORGAN CO

UNTY WELCO

ME CENTER

115 East Jefferson Street | Madison, GA 30650

800-709-7406 | 706-342-4454 www.m

adisonga.org

MAGNO

LIA SPRINGS STATE PARK1053 M

agnolia Springs Drive | Millen, GA 30442

478-982-1660www.gastateparks.org/info/m

agspr

MILLED

GEVILLE & BALD

WIN CO

. VISITORS BUREAU

200 West Hancock Street | M

illedgeville, GA 31061 800-653-1804 | 478-452-4687

www.milledgevillecvb.com

MILLEN-JENK

INS COUNTY CH

AMBER O

F COM

MERCE

548 Cotton Avenue | Millen, GA 30442

478-982-5595www.m

illenjenkinscounty.org

MONTICELLO & JASPER CO. CHAM

BER OF COMM

ERCE119 W

est Washington Street | M

onticello, GA 31064706-468-8994

www.monticelloga.org

POO

LER AREA CHAM

BER OF CO

MM

ERCE175 Bourne Avenue | Pooler, GA 31322

912-748-9121www.pooler-ga.com

/chamber

PORT W

ENTWO

RTH CH

AMBER O

F COM

MERCE

204-A South Coastal Highway | Port Wentworth, GA 31407

912-965-1999www.portwentworthga.com

RICHM

OND

HILL M

USEUM &

WELCO

ME CENTER

11460 Ford Avenue | Richmond Hill, GA 31324

912-756-3697www.richm

ondhillcvb.org

SAVANNAH VISITO

R INFO CENTER - H

ISTORIC D

ISTRICT301 M

artin Luther King Jr. Boulevard | Savannah, GA 31401877-728-2662 | 912-944-0455

www.savannahvisit.com

SCREVEN COUNTY CH

AMBER O

F COM

MERCE

101 South Main Street | Sylvania, GA 30467

912-564-7878www.screvencounty.com

SOCIAL CIRCLE CITY H

ALL ANNEX & VISITO

R CENTER129 East Hightower Trail | P.O. Box 310 | Social Circle, GA 30025

770-464-1866www.citysocialcircle.org

SWAINSBORO-EM

ANUEL CO. CHAMBER OF COM

MERCE

124 North Main Street | Swainsboro, GA 30401

478-237-6426www.em

anuelchamber.org

WASH

INGTON CO

UNTY CHAM

BER OF CO

MM

ERCE131-B W

est Haynes Street | Sandersville, GA 31082478-552-3288

www.washingtoncounty-ga.com

WILK

INSON CO

UNTY CHAM

BER OF CO

MM

ERCE100 Hatfield Street | Irwinton, GA 31042

478-946-1122www.accucom

m.net/~

wilcobocGeorgia-M

ade Infantry Officer’s Sword

fter

Unio

n M

ajor

Gen

eral

Will

iam

T. S

herm

an

capt

ured

Atla

nta

on S

epte

mbe

r 2,

186

4, h

e

brie

fly p

ursu

ed G

ener

al J

ohn

B. H

ood'

s

Conf

eder

ate

Arm

y thr

ough

nor

thwe

st Ge

orgi

a. S

herm

an th

en

turn

ed h

is ar

my s

outh

towa

rd G

eorg

ia's l

arge

st cit

y... S

avan

nah.

His n

ow le

gend

ary "

Mar

ch to

the

Sea"

ripp

ed th

e he

art o

ut o

f

the

Conf

eder

acy,

dem

oral

ized

civil

ians

, des

troye

d ra

ilroa

ds,

and

deni

ed C

onfe

dera

te a

utho

ritie

s co

nsid

erab

le fo

od a

nd

othe

r bad

ly ne

eded

supp

lies.

Sher

man

's ar

my

tota

led

62,0

00 o

f hi

s be

st so

ldie

rs,

inclu

ding

5,0

00 ca

valry

and

65 p

ieces

of a

rtille

ry. H

e esti

mate

d

to r

each

Sav

anna

h wo

uld

requ

ire s

ix w

eeks

, yet

She

rman

orde

red

only

enou

gh fo

od fo

r 20

day

s, to

be

carr

ied

by 2

,500

wag

ons.

Sher

man

's pl

an w

as a

dan

gero

us g

ambl

e, be

caus

e hi

s ar

my

was

cut o

ff

from

any

com

mun

icat

ion

or c

hanc

e fo

r re

-sup

ply.

So h

is tro

ops

fora

ged

"libe

rally

," liv

ing

mos

tly o

ff th

e fo

od th

ey to

ok fr

om c

ivilia

ns.

The

wors

t for

ager

s we

re la

bele

d "b

umm

ers,"

ofte

n ste

aling

or d

estro

ying

prop

erty

indi

scrim

inate

ly.

Leav

ing

Atla

nta

on N

ovem

ber 1

5 an

d 16

, 186

4, th

e ar

my s

plit

into

two

"win

gs"

of b

etwe

en 2

8,00

0 an

d 29

,000

eac

h, w

ith c

aval

ry

guar

ding

the

ir fla

nks.

Mar

chin

g al

ong

gene

rally

par

alle

l rou

tes,

the

two

wing

s we

re o

ften

sepa

rate

d by

bet

ween

20

and

40 m

iles.

Sepa

ratio

n av

oide

d co

nges

tion,

thus

the

arm

y ad

vanc

ed q

uick

ly, a

nd

was

allo

wed

a la

rger

are

a fro

m w

hich

to

fora

ge.

Sepa

ratio

n al

so

resu

lted

in a

bro

ader

swat

h of

dev

asta

tion

acro

ss th

e ce

nter

of G

eorg

ia,

mea

surin

g up

to 6

0 m

iles w

ide,

and

300

mile

s lon

g. Th

ousa

nds o

f slav

es

follo

wed,

whi

ch th

e ar

my

disc

oura

ged,

kno

wing

they

cou

ld n

eithe

r fee

d

them

nor

gua

rant

ee th

eir sa

fety.

Sher

man

's tw

o wi

ngs

conf

used

the

Conf

eder

ates

. Maj

or G

ener

al

Olive

r O.

How

ard'

s "R

ight

Win

g" a

dvan

ced

sout

h to

thre

aten

Mac

on.

Mea

nwhi

le, M

ajor G

ener

al He

nry W

. Slo

cum

's "L

eft W

ing"

feign

ed to

ward

Augu

sta. C

onfed

erate

s sp

lit th

eir p

altry

forc

es b

etwee

n th

e tw

o cit

ies, b

ut

Sher

man

ign

ored

bot

h. H

e co

ncen

trate

d m

uch

of h

is ar

my

arou

nd

Mill

edge

ville

, Geo

rgia

's ca

pita

l city

, the

n sw

ept o

n to

ward

Mill

en a

nd

Sava

nnah

, be

siegi

ng t

he l

atte

r on

Dec

embe

r 10

. Af

ter

ten

days

the

10,0

00-m

an C

onfe

dera

te g

arris

on, u

nder

Lie

uten

ant G

ener

al W

illiam

J.

Hard

ee, e

vacu

ated

the

vital

seap

ort.

Sher

man

wire

d Pr

esid

ent

Abra

ham

Lin

coln

afte

rwar

ds sa

ying,

"I be

g to

pre

sent

to yo

u th

e

City

of S

avan

nah"

as a

Chr

istm

as p

rese

nt.

Cava

lry cl

ashe

d fre

quen

tly al

ong t

he ed

ges o

f She

rman

's

mar

ch r

oute

s, an

d tw

o siz

able

infa

ntry

bat

tles

occu

rred

. On

Nove

mbe

r 22,

186

4, G

eorg

ia m

ilitia

, unt

rain

ed b

oys a

nd o

ld

men

, wer

e sla

ught

ered

atta

ckin

g Fe

dera

l lin

es a

t Gris

wold

ville

near

Mac

on. O

n De

cem

ber

13, S

herm

an's

vete

rans

ove

rran

Fort

McA

lliste

r al

ong

the

Ogee

chee

Rive

r, en

ablin

g th

e U.

S.

Navy

to re

-sup

ply h

is ar

my.

Sher

man

acc

ompl

ished

all

his g

oals

for h

is M

arch

to th

e

Sea

in o

nly

five

week

s, in

flict

ing

one

billi

on d

olla

rs w

orth

of

dam

ages

. "I c

an m

ake

Geor

gia

howl

," Sh

erm

an h

ad s

worn

,

and

he d

id.

Cour

tesy

of t

he H

all o

f Val

or, G

eorg

ia C

apito

l Mus

eum

Cour

tesy o

f Pete

r Glen

dinn

ing a

nd th

e Mich

igan

Capi

tol C

omm

ittee

20

16 95

75

85

85

75 20

75

16

Dalto

n

Atla

nta

Mill

edge

ville

Augu

sta

Sava

nnah

Mac

onM

illen

Vald

osta

ww

w.g

cwh

t.o

rg©

Cop

yrig

ht 2

003

Geor

gia’s

Civ

il W

ar H

erita

ge T

rails

, Inc

.Al

l Rig

hts

Rese

rved

Cove

r:“S

herm

an’s

Mar

chto

the

Sea”

by F

elix

Octa

vius

Carr

Darle

yci

rca

1883

SM

This

broc

hure

dep

icts

two

histo

ric d

rivin

g ro

utes

, ea

chap

prox

imat

ely 3

00-m

iles i

n le

ngth

, fol

lowi

ng th

e Le

ft an

d Ri

ght

"Win

gs"

of M

ajor

Gen

eral

Will

iam

Tec

umse

h Sh

erm

an’s

62,0

00-m

an a

rmy

on it

s "M

arch

to th

e Se

a" in

Nov

embe

r an

dDe

cem

ber

1864

. M

any

of th

e sa

me

road

s th

ey u

sed

are

still

trave

led

toda

y. T

his

broc

hure

and

the

drivi

ng r

oute

s ill

ustra

tem

uch

of G

eorg

ia’s

rich

herit

age

durin

g th

e en

tire

Civil

War

era

,in

clud

ing

som

e am

azin

g sto

ries o

nly n

ow b

eing

told

! Fo

llow

the

cann

on tr

ailbl

azer

dire

ction

al sig

ns to

doz

ens o

f int

erpr

eted

sites

.M

arke

rs a

t ea

ch s

ite e

xplai

n ho

w bo

th s

oldi

ers

and

civili

ans

endu

red

Amer

ica’s

mos

t tra

gic ye

ars a

t tha

t exa

ct lo

catio

n.An

y po

rtion

of t

hese

rou

tes

can

be e

njoy

ed in

onl

y an

hou

r,or

the

entir

e M

arch

can

be

expe

rienc

ed o

ver s

ever

al da

ys.

Near

byre

crea

tiona

l ac

tiviti

es,

incl

udin

g hi

king

, fis

hing

, ca

mpi

ng,

shop

ping

and

mor

e at

man

y pa

rks

and

attra

ctio

ns, c

an a

dd to

your

enj

oym

ent.

For m

ore

detai

led h

ighwa

y inf

orm

ation

, a G

eorg

ia De

partm

ent

of Tr

ansp

ortat

ion

map

is re

com

men

ded.

For

mor

e Geo

rgia

tour

ismin

form

ation

visit

www

.geor

giaon

mym

ind.

org,

or st

op a

t any

Geo

rgia

Visit

or In

form

ation

Cen

ter, l

ocal

Welc

ome C

enter

, or a

ttrac

tion

listed

in th

is br

ochu

re.

For m

ore

detai

led d

irecti

ons,

and

upda

tes to

any

info

rmati

on in

this

broc

hure

, visi

t ww

w.gc

wht.o

rg.

Inte

rpre

tive

Mar

ker

Trai

lbla

zer