On December 6, 1864, a Federal fleet under Brigadier General E.E. Potter entered the Tulifinny River at low tide and landed about 5,000 soldiers, sailors, and marines at Gregory Farm on Deveaux's Neck to advance toward the Savannah and Charleston Railroad, which Union leaders hoped to break in support of Sherman's move on Savannah. Although no Confederate defense was initially visible, about 800 Confederate regulars, militia, reserves, and South Carolina Citadel Cadets under Colonel Edwards of the 47th Georgia had assembled to resist. The Union advance quickly neared the railroad and secured several roadways, but a Confederate counterattack on December 7 slowed the movement and produced a back-and-forth fight as Union forces tried to break the defensive line. Rain on December 8 brought little fighting while both sides resupplied ammunition, strengthened positions, and cared for the dead and wounded; by then Union losses were about 1,000 and Confederate killed and wounded about 50, while Confederate strength had risen to 1,600 and Federal numbers remained near 5,000 through reinforcements. On the cold, wet morning of December 9, Union forces made one more push, and marines on the far right came within 50 yards of the railroad before a resilient body of Citadel Cadets stopped them. When the 157th New York Regiment withdrew, the marines had to break off their attack to avoid being cut off, and with ammunition running low and the fight at a standstill, U.S. forces withdrew to a fortified position on Deveaux's Neck. The controlled retreat prevented a serious Confederate counterattack, and the railroad remained in Confederate hands, helping allow the evacuation of about 10,000 Confederate troops from Savannah during the advance of Sherman's forces.