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 Right Wing marched south from Atlanta, feinting at Macon before crossing the Ocmulgee River above the city and concentrating at Gordon. The Left Wing, the 14th and 20th Corps under Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, USA, marched east to Decatur, where the 20th Corps under Brig. Gen. A. S. Williams, USA, took the road to Social Circle, struck the Georgia Railroad there, and destroyed it to Madison. At Rutledge, all railway facilities had been destroyed late in July by Garrard's cavalry. That night, the 20th Corps camped two miles west of Madison on the old Covington road. On the 19th, Geary’s division was detached to destroy the railroad bridge over the Oconee River and other bridges downriver toward Milledgeville. Jackson’s division marched through town and camped four miles south on the Eatonton road. Ward’s division destroyed the depot, water tank, warehouses, switching tracks, side-tracked cars, and other railway facilities in Madison, along with quantities of cotton and army supplies. This was Madison’s second ordeal by fire, as large stocks of army supplies and valuable industrial property had been burned by Adams´ brigade of Stoneman's cavalry on August 1st.