On December 1, 1864, while General Sherman's army marched to the sea, the Fourth Brigade, Georgia Militia, under Brigadier General H. K. McKay, reached Morgan's Lake to defend the Savannah and Gulf Railroad bridge over the Altamaha River at Doctor Town. Earthworks were built on the north bank, two 32-pounder rifled guns were mounted at Doctor Town to sweep the bridge, and a light gun mounted on an engine supported two companies of infantry at Morgan's Lake. On the 16th, Sherman sent Hazen's division of the 13th Corps to destroy the railroad from Great Ogeechee River to McIntosh and Mower's division of the 17th Corps to destroy it from there to Doctor Town. By the 19th, the work had been completed as far as Morgan's Lake, when Mower, under previous orders, moved back to rejoin the forces closing in on Savannah, leaving destruction of the Altamaha bridge to Atkins' brigade of Kilpatrick's cavalry division, which, with the 1st Alabama Cavalry, had been covering the infantry's working parties. Atkins destroyed the trestle work past Morgan's Lake but could neither capture the bridge nor cross the river and attack the Doctor Town battery from the rear. Unable to dislodge the Confederate defenders, Atkins withdrew through Hinesville and rejoined Kilpatrick at Great Ogeechee River.