November 19.--In accordance with orders from the General commanding the corps, my command was detached, and moved at five A. M., unencumbered with wagons, leaving my whole train to be brought on with those of the other division. I passed through Madison before daylight, and moved along the road parallel to the Georgia Railroad, halting for dinner at Buck Head Station, where I destroyed the water-tank, station engine, and all the railroad buildings. After marching a mile beyond the station, I again halted, and destroyed a portion of the railroad, also a large quantity of cord-wood and other railroad materials. At Buck Head Station my advance exchanged shots with the enemy's scouts. I sent on a detachment in advance of the main body to drive these scouts and whatever there might be of the enemy's cavalry in the vicinity across the Oconee, and to burn the railroad bridge across the river; also another detachment several miles above, to destroy a large mill and the ferry-boats across the Apalachee. Both of these parties were successful; the railroad bridge, which was a fine structure about four hundred yards long and sixty feet high from the water, and was approached by several hundred yards of trestle-work at each end, was thoroughly destroyed. At Blue Spring I halted, and set my troops to work destroying railroad. Here, at night, encamped on the plantation of Colonel Lee Jordan, on which I found two hundred and eighty bales of cotton and fifty thousand bushels of corn stored for the rebel government. All the cotton and the most of the corn was destroyed. In addition to this, my command destroyed elsewhere during the day two hundred and fifty bales of cotton and several cotton-gins and mills. I also destroyed in all to-day about five miles of railroad and a large quantity of railroad-ties and string-timbers.
November 20.--Moved at seven A. M.; the weather rainy, the roads very deep and swampy. Leaving the railroad, I moved toward the Oconee, which was reached two miles below the railroad bridge, and then moved down parallel to the river to Park's Mill, which was burned. The bridge across the river at this place had been previously washed away, and ferry-boats were used at the crossing. These I destroyed. Some annoyance was experienced as we moved along the river-bank from squads of rebel cavalry on the opposite shore. They were, however, soon driven off. A small party sent out from my command crossed the river near the burnt bridge, and went on foot seven miles, to Greensboro, driving a small force of cavalry through the town, and taking possession of it. After remaining in undisturbed possession of the town for several hours, and having convinced the inhabitants that the most of General Sherman's army was close by, with designs upon Augusta, this little party returned safely, recrossing the river in canoes. I learned the next day that the enemy were tearing up the Georgia Railroad at Union Point, seven miles east of Greensboro, apparently being possessed with the idea that General Sherman's army was moving on Augusta, and using the railroad as it came. From all I could learn, then and since, it is my opinion that my small command could at that time have penetrated to Augusta, without serious opposition.
Leaving Park's Mill, and having crossed Sugar Creek, I came to Glade's Cross-Roads, when I took the one leading to the left; moving one and a half miles on this road, I again turned to the left on a smaller one, and encamped at dark near the large tannery and shoe factory and store owned by James Denham, one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the South. Most of the leather stock and goods had been carried off; a few boxes of shoes and leather were found hidden in a barn, and were turned over to the quartermaster's department for issue. My skirmishers and foraging parties during this day's march spread through all the country between the Oconee and the route of march taken by the rest of the corps. A large number of splendid mules and beef cattle and some horses were captured, and the troops lived well on the produce of the country. Distance to-day, ten miles.
November 21.--A heavy rain fell all last night, and continued throughout to-day, rendering the roads very deep and the streams much swollen. After entirely destroying Denham's tannery and factory, I moved at eight A. M. on the road to Philadelphia Church; reaching which, I took the Milledgeville road, crossed Crooked Creek, and encamped at the forks of the road, one leading to Dennis Mill and Station, the other to Waller's Ferry, at the mouth of Little River. A very heavy cold rain fell all day, and marching was quite difficult. The country passed through was a rich one, and supplies were abundant. Distance marched, eight miles. The rain ceased toward night, and the air become very cold. Among our captures to-day was Colonel White, of the Thirty-seventh Tennessee regiment. He had been in command of the post at Eatonton, and in attempting to escape from the other column of our troops, fell into my hands.
November 22.--The weather was extremely cold. Moved at six A. M., taking the road to Dennis Station, having previously ascertained that it would be impossible for my command to cross Little River below the crossing of the railroad, there being no bridge, and the ferry-boats having been destroyed by the inhabitants. Crossed Rooty Creek at Dennis Mill. The
