Confederate Delaying Action

Early in Dec. 1864, Gen. Sherman's army (USA) approached Savannah by four routes, the right via Statesboro, the left near the Savannah River. Dec. 6th, Osterhaus' 15th A.C.* (USA) reached Ogeechee River at Jenk's Bridge (US 80, east of Blitchton). Osterhaus sent Corse's and Smith's divisions down E. bank of the Ogeechee to seize the Savannah and Ogeechee Canal (4 mi. NW), Hazen's and Wood's divisions down W. bank to cross the Canochee River, break the Savannah and Gulf R.R. at Way`s Station (Richmond Hill) and Fleming then cross the Ogeechee, reassemble the corps in this area, and move on to Savannah.