On Nov. 26, 1864, the Right Wing of Gen. Sherman’s army, consisting of the 15th and 17th Corps and advancing from Atlanta on the March to the Sea, crossed the Oconee River at Ball’s Ferry on pontoon bridges after a two-day delay caused by determined Confederate defenders. The 1st Alabama Cavalry moved to Oconee to burn the railway bridge over the river, which the attackers had found too well defended to seize by direct assault. Woods’ and Corse’s divisions of the 15th Corps moved to Irwin’s Crossroads, where headquarters for the Right Wing under Maj. O. O. Howard and for the 15th Corps under Maj. Gen. P. J. Osterhaus were established, while Maj. Gen. F. P. Blair encamped the 17th Corps at the forks of the Oconee and Irwins roads. The next morning Leggett’s division of the 17th Corps moved to Oconee and began destroying the railroad to a point opposite Irwin’s Cross-Roads, and Rice’s and Hurlbut’s brigades of Corse’s division together with Williamson’s brigade of Woods’ division completed the destruction to Tennille. During the day the 17th Corps moved to Irwin’s Crossroads, followed by Hazen’s and Smith’s divisions of the 15th Corps and the pontoon bridge trains. On Nov. 28, the Right Wing moved toward Savannah on roads south of the railroad and halted that night with its left near Riddleville and its right at Wrightsville.