December 4.--Moved at half-past 7 A. M., still in rear of the corps, and about noon came up with the Third division trains, in park on the western side of Crooked Run.
The eastern side of this stream presents an extensive, level, swampy track of land, across which trains could not pass until the roads were corduroyed. I found the Michigan Engineers engaged at this work. The last of the Third division train crossed at dark. I then crossed my command, and by half-past 11 P. M. had encamped them about one mile east of the creek, leaving Jones's brigade in camp on the other side. The weather continued fine — country poor, roads good, excepting through the large swamps at Big Horse Creek and Crooked Run. Distance to-day, four miles.
December 5.--Moved at half-past 6 A. M., crossed, during the day, Little Horse Creek, south fork of Little Ogeechee and Little Ogeechee, destroying all the bridges after crossing. Much of the route to-day was through swamps which had to be corduroyed for my trains. At the south fork of Little Ogeechee, I destroyed a large saw-mill. Here we heard what the inhabitants stated to be cannon in Charleston harbor, about one hundred miles distant. Weather pleasant, country poor. Distance to-day, twelve miles.
December 6.--Moved at eight A. M., being the Second division in line of march; was obliged to halt twice, during the forenoon, for the trains preceding to move out of my way. After having moved my command, advanced a mile, and found all the trains of the Third division parked, and waiting for a long swamp to be corduroyed. I found but a few men working on the road, and immediately set a portion of my command at work, giving my personal superintendence until it was finished, at dark. The Third division trains then crossed, followed by my entire command. Crossed another smaller swamp, a short distance beyond, and encamped my division on good dry ground. The country was better than usual along the route to-day, and foraging parties were quite successful. Weather warm and pleasant. Distance, seven miles.
December 7.--The forenoon was rainy. Moved at seven A. M., and passed through a succession of terrible swamps, the surface-crust of which, in many places, would not bear up either man or horse. I distributed my entire division along the trains, so that each brigade, regiment, and company had its specified number of teams to bring through. With this arrangement, under the personal superintendence and efforts of myself, my brigade commanders and my staff, but little delay was allowed to occur, although so bad were the roads, that at one time I counted twenty-four loaded wagons sunk to the wagon-beds. Mules, in some places, went in nearly out of sight, but the trains were kept quite well closed up through all these difficulties. Twice, during the forenoon, I halted, and massed my troops and trains, until those preceding me moved on. As we approached Turkey Creek, the road improved. About one P. M. the rain ceased, and the sun shone out warm and pleasant. At two P. M., reached Turkey Creek, quite a wide, fordable stream, with good bottom. Across this creek the corps pioneers had constructed a bridge for the troops, after cutting away a quantity of timber which had been felled to hinder our progress. By five P. M., the division preceding had finished crossing. I then crossed my command, moved three miles forward on an excellent road, and encamped within a half-mile of Springfield. Distance, fifteen miles.
December 8.--Received orders to march in advance of the corps toward Monteith, leaving my trains under guard of the Third division. Moved at six A. M. on a road running south by east from Springfield. After following this road six miles, was ordered to take a small road branching off to the right, with a view of finding some middle road to Monteith. Followed this road, general direction west by south, for seven miles, and encamped in the woods, about one and a half miles from the Louisville road, on which the Seventeenth corps was then moving. The looked — for middle road was not found today. The roads were generally fair, although we crossed several small swamps. In them we found timber felled across the road. This was removed by our pioneers, without delaying the march more than thirty minutes at any one time. Most of our route, to-day, was through pine forests. We passed a number of plantation houses in these forests, and quite a large supply of potatoes, sugar-cane, fodder, mutton, and poultry was obtained. It is worthy of note that the swamp water through this region is excellent for drinking purposes, being much superior to the well water. Weather, to-day, pleasant. Distance, thirteen miles.
December 9.--Moved at half-past 8 A. M., following the First division. At Zion Church we struck the Louisville road, and there turned to the left, on the main road running due east to Monteith Station. At Monteith Swamp, five miles west of the station, we found the most extensive obstructions yet met with. The swamp is a very large one, about two miles wide where the road crosses it. Throughout this two miles of crossing, the enemy had felled great quantities of timber, and at the eastern side of the swamp had erected two small redoubts with flanking rifle-pits. In these works they had two pieces of light artillery, supported by a small force of infantry. The artillery was so posted as to rake the road running through the swamp. While the division preceding me was engaged in movements for the dispersion or capture of the force opposing us, my command was halted and massed at the western side of the swamp. Receiving orders to that effect, I sent Jones's brigade rapidly forward to support Carman's brigade, of the First division, which was working its way through to our right of the enemy's
