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 Left Wing, the 14th and 20th Corps under Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, USA, moved east from Atlanta in two columns, feinting at Augusta before turning southeast to converge on Milledgeville. The 14th Corps, accompanied by Sherman, moved by way of Covington and Shady Dale, while the 20th Corps went by Social Circle, Madison, and Eatonton. The Right Wing, the 15th and 17th Corps under Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, USA, marched south by way of McDonough and Jackson, crossed the Ocmulgee River at Seven Island, and moved toward Gordon, where it would be in communication with the Left Wing at Milledgeville and receive orders for the next move. The 15th Corps under Osterhaus, preceded by Kilpatrick’s cavalry division, marched by way of Clinton, from which Kilpatrick feinted on Macon and skirmished heavily with Wheeler’s cavalry as far as East Macon. The 17th Corps under Blair moved by way of Blountsville toward Gordon without incident. On Nov. 22nd, Walcutt’s brigade of the 15th Corps on the extreme right was attacked near Griswoldville by a division of Georgia Militia under Brig. Gen. P. J. Phillips, and after three hours of battle Phillips was forced to retire.