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. He divided his army into two wings. The Right Wing marched south from Atlanta to feint at Macon, then to cross the Ocmulgee River above the city and concentrate at Gordon. The Left Wing, the 14th and 20th Corps under Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, USA, marched through Decatur, where the 20th Corps under Brig. Gen. A. S. Williams, USA, took the Rock Bridge road toward Social Circle to strike the Georgia R.R. there and destroy it to Madison. The 14th Corps, accompanied by General Sherman, cleared Decatur the next day and turned southeast toward Covington. After marching about 15 miles, the 20th Corps camped in this area west of the railroad, with Jackson’s division on the right to cover the road to Lithonia, Geary’s division on the left to cover the roads to Stone Mountain and Rock Bridge, and Ward’s division about 3 miles to the rear east of Snapfinger Creek. Next morning, the 20th Corps continued on the Rock Bridge road, crossed the Yellow River at Rock Bridge 8 miles east, and halted for the night to allow the trains to close up on the main body. Between Atlanta and Milledgeville, the movements of the Left Wing were almost unopposed, because the few Confederate troops available were employed against the Right Wing to protect Macon, a principal arsenal center, and the Central of Georgia Railway.