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, the 15th and 17th Corps under Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, USA, moved south via McDonough to feint at Macon, crossed the Ocmulgee River at Seven Islands, and concentrated around Gordon, where it could communicate with the Left Wing as that wing converged on Milledgeville. Kilpatrick’s cavalry division covered the army’s right as far as Gordon, skirmishing continually with Wheeler’s cavalry. The Left Wing, the 14th and 20th Corps under Maj. Gen. H. W. Slocum, USA, marched east from Atlanta in two columns. The 20th Corps, under Brig. Gen. A. S. Williams, USA, moved through Social Circle and Madison, feinted at Augusta, then turned south through Eatonton, reaching Milledgeville on the 22nd. The 14th Corps, under Maj. Gen. J. C. Davis, USA, accompanied by Gen. Sherman, turned southeast via Covington and Shady Dale, reaching Milledgeville on the 23rd. On Nov. 18th, the 14th Corps moved through Covington, camped that night in and east of town and on the banks of the Ulcofauhachee, or Alcovy, River, four miles east. The 20th Corps destroyed the Georgia Railroad east from Social Circle and camped near Madison.