On December 12, 1864, the 3rd Cavalry Division under Brig. Gen. J. L. Kilpatrick, covering the right rear of Gen. Sherman's army as it closed in on Savannah, crossed the Great Ogeechee River near Fort Argyle and the Canoochee River near Bryan Court House on pontoon bridges laid by the 1st Missouri Engineers and moved down Bryan Neck. That night Kilpatrick made his headquarters at the plantation home of Lt. Col. Joseph L. McAllister of the 7th Georgia Cavalry, which stood near the river immediately north of this site. On December 13, Kilpatrick sent Murray's brigade into Liberty County to scout as far as Sunbury, ordered Atkins' brigade and the 10th Wisconsin Battery to camp at Cross Roads, and with two of Atkins' regiments moved down Bryan Neck. Near Fort McAllister, his force skirmished with Confederate pickets and drove them back to the fort. After examining the approaches to Fort McAllister, he continued to Kilkenny Bluff, where he made contact with the USS Fernandina and sent dispatches to the flagship reporting the arrival of Gen. Sherman's army at Savannah. On December 14, Kilpatrick moved with the rest of his command to Midway Church, then after scouting the countryside and taking livestock and provisions, returned to Bryan County to camp at Cross Roads, picket the country to the south and west, and protect the Union supply depot at King's Bridge.