Hazen's Division at the Canoochee River

On Dec. 6, 1864, the 15th Corps (US), under Maj. Gen. P. J. Osterhaus, held the extreme right of Gen. Sherman's army on its destructive March to the Sea and camped near Jenk's Bridge on the Great Ogeechee River east of Blichton. On the 7th, Oliver's brigade of Hazen's division moved down the west bank of the Ogeechee to seize the bridge over the Canoochee River, two miles southeast of Bryan Court House (Eden) (Clyde) and one-half mile northwest of this point. Confederate cavalry resisted the advance from Black Creek to the Canoochee, and after skirmishing most of the way, Oliver reached the bridge to find it burning and the south bank defended by Confederate infantry and artillery under Col. John C. Fizer. Because the position was naturally strong, with swamps along the river, Oliver withdrew to Bryan Court House to await Hazen's arrival. On the 8th, Hazen reached Bryan Court House with Gen. Osterhaus and with support from Woods' division, posted near Fort Argyle on the Ogeechee. After learning of an abandoned ferry site downstream from the bridge, Hazen sent a party across during the night, flanked the bridge position, and forced the defenders to retreat toward "Cross Roads" (Richmond Hill). At dawn, the bridge was repaired and two brigades crossed, one moving to Station No. 2 (Way's) and the other to Station No. 3 (Fleming) to break the Savannah and Gulf (ACL) Railroad at those points.

Georgia · United States