On Nov. 15, 1864, after destroying Atlanta and cutting his communications with the North, Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, USA, began his destructive Campaign for Savannah, the March to the Sea, dividing his army into two wings. The Left Wing, the 14th and 20th Corps under Maj. Gen. H.W. Slocum, USA, moved east from Atlanta in two columns that converged on Milledgeville, crossed the Ogeechee River near Louisville, and then marched toward Savannah by two routes, with the 14th Corps under Davis taking the old road near the Savannah River and the 20th Corps under Williams going by way of Springfield; both corps approached Savannah via Monteith, and Sherman accompanied the Left Wing as far as Sandersville. The Right Wing, the 15th and 17th Corps under Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard, USA, marched south by way of Gordon and crossed the Oconee River at Ball's Ferry. The 17th Corps under Blair moved on roads south of the Central Railroad until opposite Midville, crossed the Ogeechee River there, and moved by way of Millen and Eden while destroying the railroad en route; Sherman accompanied the 17th Corps from Tennille to the outskirts of Savannah. The 15th Corps under Maj. Gen. P.J. Osterhaus, USA, moved in two columns, and its right column came to the Ogeechee River at Jencks Bridge on Dec. 6th. Finding the bridge burned, the troops laid a pontoon bridge, and Rice's brigade crossed, drove back the Confederate defenders with minor losses, and moved to Eden to join Woods' brigade, which had crossed 3 miles upstream at Wright's Bridge.