Lot 1046

HOWARD REPORTS TO SHERMAN ABOUT CROSSING THE OCMULGEE OLIVER

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HOWARD REPORTS TO SHERMAN ABOUT CROSSING THE OCMULGEE OLIVER

Estimate: $400 - $500

Starting Bid: $200

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by Alexander Historical Auctions LLC
July 31, 2026 10:00 AM EDT
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HOWARD REPORTS TO SHERMAN ABOUT CROSSING THE OCMULGEE OLIVER
OLIVER OTIS HOWARD (1830 - 1909) Union major general and Medal of Honor winner who led his division at Chancellorsville, Fredericksburg, and was senior commander at Gettysburg. Superb content report sent on Howard's behalf (unsigned), 4pp. 4to., [n.p.], Nov. 27, 1864, on letterhead of the ‘Head Quarters Dep't & the Army of the Tennessee' to Gen. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN. Howard gives a highly detailed account of his actions around Jackson's Ferry, in part: ‘…In accordance with instructions from your Head Quarters contained in Special Field Order dated Nov 23rd, my command marched from Gordon in two columns, the 15th Corps via Irwinton to Balls Ferry. Seventeenth Corps along the Rail Road with instructions to cross at Jaction's [sic, Jackson's] Ferry two and one half miles north of R.R. Bridge. Genl. Giles A. Smith who had preceded his column with the 1st Ala Cavalry drove quite a force of the enemy from two setts [sic] of stockades, and across the Bridge. He found that Jacktion's [sic] Ferry was an old abandoned route through the Swamp, completely impracticable. I therefore directed that Genl. [Francis P.] Blair's Corps move to Balls Ferry. The two heads of column arrived at Balls Ferry about the same time on the 25th inst. A detachment of the 1st Ala had the day before [?] the Ferry, finding a small force of the enemy, made a raft, crossed the river and drove the enemy back, but were subsequently themselves forced to re-cross the river…found the enemy with barricades, quite an extended line of skirmishing. Genls [Peter J.] Osterhaus and Blair confronted them with a line which extended beyond the enemy's flank both up and down the river, the former placed artillery in position and made demonstration on the front along the road, while the latter, Genl. Blair, sent a detachment some two miles up the river, under the direction of Lt Col [Edmund] Kirby of his staff. Capt. [Edmund] Rice Chf Engineer assisted them with boards to cross the river. The current was too swift to get them over by rowing, they were finally however swung over the…the junction of a flying ferry, after working through the bayou and swamps ‘till near morning. Genl. Kirby with his men reached the road at a point that was in rear of the enemy's position. The enemy had retreated. Col Kirby came in sight of his rear guard and I imagine but could not overtake them…this place is about a mile the Ocmulgy [sic, Olcmugee] at ‘Planters Factory', but the currant is very swift…two miles of swampy ground on the right bank, but the immediate [?] of the Ferry on the left bank is very good. The Bridges were laid so that the troops commenced crossing in two columns about 12 (Nov. 24). Genl [John M.] Corse and Wood of 18 AC [?] reached this point between mine and ten miles from the Ferry last night. Seventeenth Corps amassed near the fork of the road that leads to Station fourteen. The rear of the 18th Corps is now crossing. Genl. Blair has sent a Division that is destroying the R. R. from the…Bridge to a point near Irwin's Cross-Road. Genl Osterhaus has sent a force to destroy the deliver the rest to Station 13. I directed the wagon bridges across Commissioners Creek and the bridge across sandy river to be destroyed. The enemy helped me…destroying the one nearest the enemy. The country this side [of] the river is thus far quite open and sandy, but there is plenty of forage thus far. [Joseph] Wheeler with his main force passed here the day before yesterday. My Head Qrs will receive him today…'. In November 1864, Howard's forces struggled through heavy rain and muddy banks to cross the Ocmulgee River via pontoon bridges, a crucial maneuver that flanked Confederate defenses and cleared the path toward Savannah. On the morning of Nov. 18, 1864, Sherman's flank (15th and 17th Corps, led by Howard) moved from its bivouacs in and near Jackson toward Planters' Factory (Ocmulgee Mills), on the Ocmulgee River at Seven Islands (9 miles SE), to effect a passage at that point on pontoon bridges to be laid by the 1st Missouri Engineers, the pontoniers of the Right Wing. Smith's 15th Corps, led by Major Gen. Peter J. Osterhausled the way and by the time they arrived at Jackson Ferry, two bridges had been built. Smith completed his crossing and camped two miles from the river on the Hillsboro road, to wait for Woods' and Hazen's divisions and to permit the cavalry to pass to the front. During the night of Nov. 18, 1864, Blair's 17th Corps crossed and moved via Monticello and Blountsville to avoid the Hillsboro road. On the 19th, Kilpatrick's cavalry division crossed, followed by Woods and Hazen and several wagon trains. Heavy rains having made the steep hills on the east bank extremely difficult, the passage was not completed until the afternoon of the 20th, when Corse's division of the 15th Corps cleared the bridge site and, with the bridge train, followed the 17th Corps to Monticello. One day later, the Battle of Walnut Creek on the outskirts of Macon would commence as a diversionary tactic by Sherman. Sited at Dunlap Hill again, this fairly large but relatively bloodless encounter against Joseph Wheeler was an important part in the early stages Sherman's March to the Sea. The Union fell back, but again they battled with Wheeler's men the next day at the lesser known but much more costly Battle of Griswoldville. Some edge faults.

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