On Nov. 28, 1864, Maj. Gen. H.C. Wayne, adjutant general of Georgia, with a small Confederate force composed of the Corps of Cadets of the Georgia Military Institute, Warthen's Washington County militia company, and Pruden's battery, fell back from Millen and entrenched a line through this site to block the passage of the Little Ogeechee River by the 17th Corps of Gen. Sherman's Union army as it advanced toward Savannah destroying the railroad. On Dec. 3, Wayne was reinforced by the 1st and 2nd Georgia State Line, Toombs's Brigade of Georgia Militia, and Baker's North Carolina brigade. On Dec. 4, Anderson's and Phillips' brigades of Georgia Militia arrived, giving Wayne a force of 4,000 infantry. Preparations to fight at the Little Ogeechee continued, and late on Dec. 4 skirmishing began between the advance guard of the 17th Corps and the Georgia Military Institute cadets. Wayne believed he could hold the line until he learned that the 15th Corps was preparing to cross the Great Ogeechee River behind his left and that the 20th Corps was approaching his right. To avoid encirclement, he withdrew his command during the night. On Dec. 5, Maj. Gen. W.T. Sherman reached Ogeechee Church at Oliver and established headquarters in the home of Matthew Lufburrow east of the depot, where he remained for two days to coordinate the movement of his four large columns.