hurry. Prisoners and scouts reported the enemy in three columns, about 60,000 strong, moving in our front and on our right and left. At 1.30 p.m. the enemy opened at the bridge with light, long range of artillery, but after throwing a few shells withdrew it. Enemy reported building a raft in the woods below. Captain Warthen, with fifty-three men, Washington militia, some mounted and some on foot, reported for duty. At 5 p.m. enemy reappeared in small numbers (a reconnoitering party at Ball's Ferry), and, after delivering a few shots, retired. Bridge hard pressed all day. Small parties of cavalry marauding on the other side of the Buffalo and occasionally feeling the crossings. At 8.15 p. m. the enemy, under cover of night and of heavy volleys of small-arms, succeeded in forcing a firing party up to the far end of the trestle on their side, almost without range of our best rifles, and fired it. Colonel Gaines with 500 men joined me at midnight, by direction of General Wheeler, who had crossed in the morning at Blackshear's Ferry and at Dublin.

Friday, 25th, at 1 a. m., General Hardee arrived with a portion of his staff. At daybreak the enemy opened heavily at the ferry on Talbot with two pieces of artillery and small-arms. Trestle-work burning slowly toward the bridge, enemy covering its progress. At 9 a. m. General Hardee returned to No. 13. Enemy reported moving in large force on Sandersville and No. 13. At 11 a. m. Lieutenant Colonel Young, Thirtieth Georgia Battalion, sent to the ferry with a portion of Gaines' command to re-enforce Talbot, who was hard pressed, but well covered and confident, the Fourth Kentucky detachment patrolling the roads to our right. During the afternoon, the fire having approached the bridge, the enemy withdrew from our front, moving to our left. In the evening Major Capers, assuring himself that the enemy had entirely left our front, extinguished the flames which had reached the bridge, but ouly charred a few feet of it. The attempt to destroy the bridge by a direct attack in front had failed. At 9.15 p. m. Colonel Young, commanding at Ball's Ferry, reported that the enemy were preparing to cross above and below him; that his men and ammunition were nearly exhausted, and if held in his position until daylight his command would be sacrificed. On telegraphing this report to General Hardee at No. 13, for which point the enemy were also making, I received orders to withdraw all my forces and fall back on No. 13.

Saturday, 26th, 1.05 a. m., the forces were withdrawn, bringing off everything, and at 5.30 a. m. reached No. 13. Here Huger's artillery was turned over to General Wheeler, who was impeding the enemy's march from Sandersville. At 9 a. m. left for the Ogeechee bridge, No. 10, which I had been ordered by General Hardee to occupy. Arrived at 1 p. m. at the Ogeechee.

Sunday, 27th, enemy cut the Waynesborough railroad at Waynesborough in the morning. Ordered to fall back to Millen and fortify. Cavalry left in the front by order of General Hardee to watch the bridges. Arrived at Millen 3.30 p. m., with the infantry and Pruden's batteryin all, 423 strong. Fortified around the railroad depot.

Monday, 28th, at 2 a. m. received information from General Wheeler that Kilpatrick, with his command, with between 4,000 and 5,000 men, had left Waynesborough for Millen. My scouts on that road gave us no notice of the enemy. At 8.15 a. m. Major Black, inspector-general to General Hardee, arrived from up the road with the same information. As Kilpatrick was, on good authority, reported to have left Waynesborough for Millen, and as my scouts on the direct road between the two places gave me no hint of his approach, I concluded that his march

was to cut me off at No. 5, below, and that the safety of my command required me to fall back to or near that point. Major Black concurring, the command was moved back to No. 41, behind the Little Ogeechee bridge, arriving there at 3.30 p.m.

Tuesday, 29th, occupied in preparing defenses. Sent Major Hartridge with his company of the Twenty-seventh Battalion to Savannah, as ordered by General Hardee. Rumors vague as to the movements and force of the enemy above. Command reduced to the Cadets and Milledgeville battalion of infantry, Pruden's battery, and the Washington County militia-in all, 350 men. Emanuel militia, mounted, numbering about thirty men, reported for duty under Captain Clifton.

Wednesday, November 30, sent Major Capers with an engine up the road for information. Communicated with General Wheeler.

Thursday, December 1, moved with the command up the road to No. 6 as a corps of observation. Leaving the command there, proceeded on the engine with some of my staff to No. 7. Enemy reported in force at No. 8, and crossing to west bank of the Oconee. Can learn nothing positively of the force on the right.

Friday, December 2, Captains Bridewell and Darling, quartermaster and commissary, C. S. Provisional Army, who had volunteered their services at Gordon, returned to their station at Milledgeville, the enemy having left that place. Ascertained positively that the enemy, said to be the Seventeenth Corps, are moving down the road, and that another column, reported to be the Fifteenth Corps, are three miles below me on the other side of the Oconee. A courier from General Wheeler reports a heavy cavalry force moving down on my right from Waynesborough. Fell back again to No. 41, arriving there at 4 p. m.

Saturday, December 3, daybreak, joined by the State Line and First Brigade, Georgia Militia, of General Smith's division, from Savannah, under direction of Col. Robert Toombs, inspector general, First Divis ion. [At] 10.30 a. m. learned that the Fifteenth Corps, on the other side of the Ogeechee, was moving for No. 2, as I had supposed. As this march, if not anticipated, would cut my rear, determined, on consultation with Colonel Toombs, to fall back to that point, our only dependence being upon the railroad, having no wagons nor other means of transportation, and no cavalry to cover our movements, three columns of the enemy being also in our front on the railroad and on our right. At 11 a. m. joined by General Baker, C. S. Provisional Army, with his brigade of North Carolinians. Explaining to him the position of the enemy, he agreed with me that No. 2 was our post, and the command was accordingly moved down to that station. On arriving at No. 2 I was met by Major Black, of General Hardee's staff, with instructions to return to No. 4, and that further re-enforcements would be sent to me. Obeyed the instructions, though in opposition to my own judg ment and of my officers, and reoccupied No. 41 about 7 p. m.

Sunday, December 4, re-enforced early in the morning by Anderson's and Phillips' brigades, Georgia militia, of General Smith's division. Formed line of battle behind the Little Ogeechee, throwing back the right to protect that flank, as the river was fordable above us with open pine barren to the Savannah River, enabling a superior force to envelop us easily. Our force consisted of about 4,000 men and three pieces of Pruden's battery; no cavalry. Assigning General Baker as executive officer in command of the line and Major Capers as chief of the staff, waited for events.

At 1.35 p. m. the advance of the Seventeenth Corps appeared on our left in front of the Cadets, one of whom (Coleman, a vedette) brought

down the officer of the party who demanded his surrender. Skirmishing began on our left and in front of the bridge on the railroad. At 4 p. m. General McLaws arrived from Savannah with orders from General Hardee to assume the command. At 5.30 p. m. General McLaws, having learned the position, directed me to withdraw the troops quietly during the night and fall back to No. 13. At 7 p. m. enemy ceased skirmishing and began intrenching in our front.

Monday, December 5, 2 a. m., troops withdrawn and in march for [No.] 1, Central railroad. Arrived at [No.] 12, and while examining for a line received orders to fall back still farther and take up a position within three miles and a half of the city of Savannah.

Tuesday, December 6, arrived at the lines within three miles and a half of Savannah at 2 a. m. At 10 a. m. examined the line to be occupied by the State troops. It extended from the Central railroad to the Savannah River. Batteries were erected at the Central railroad, at the Augusta road, and at Williamson's plantation on the river, but no lines for infantry; nearly three-quarters of a mile had been thrown up. Wednesday, December 7, General Smith returned to duty, having been temporarily unwell, and turning over to him his own division and Major Capers' battalion, I reported to General Hardee for any assistance I could render him.

Remaining in Savannah until Monday, the 19th of December, when General Hardee informed me that he had orders to evacuate the city, I left with my staff in the evening, and riding up on the South Carolina side reached this place again on Tuesday, the 27th of December, and resumed my office duties as adjutant and inspector general of the State.

In concluding this report I take the opportunity of bringing to the notice of Your Excellency and of officially expressing my thanks to Majors Hartridge and Capers and to the officers of my staff, improvised for the occasion, viz: Maj. John O. Ferrell, assistant adjutant-general; Messrs. S. P. Myrick of Baldwin, Charles J. Harris of Bibb, Benjamin Myrick of Baldwin, Hon. Francis L. Gue of Chatham (member of the Legislature), R. L. Hunter of Baldwin, and Captains Bridewell and Darling, C. S. Provisional Army, for their valuable counsel, confidence, and active assistance at all times and under any circumstances. My thanks are also due to the gallant officers and men whom I had the honor to command, and to whom I am indebted for support. I would conspicuously mention Majors Hartridge and Capers, and Captains Talbot, Pruden, Austin, and Warthen. The gallantry of these gentlemen cannot be surpassed. To Major Capers I am under the greatest obligations. His qualifications for military command are of the highest order, and entitle him to a prominent position. They have been brilliantly illustrated by the Corps of Cadets, whose gallantry, discipline, and skill equal anything I have seen in any military service. I cannot speak too highly of these youths, who go into a fight as cheerfully as they would enter a ball-room, and with the silence and steadiness of veterans. The Washington County and Emanuel County militia (fortydays' men) deserve commendation, consisting, as they did, of gentlemen advanced in life, to whom the hardships of camp must have been severe, whose homes were being overrun by the enemy, and yet who, from the purest incentives of patriotism and of duty, offered their lives in defense of their State. My thanks are also due to Drs. S. D. Brantley and James R. Smith, of Washington County, who volunteered their surgical skill and instruments during our contest on the banks of the Oconee. The Roberts Guards (convicts) generally

behaved well. Their captain (Roberts) is a brave and daring man. Inclosed is a list* of those of the company who, sharing the fortunes of our troops, have returned to this place and been furloughed for thirty days. I recommend them for the full pardon conditionally promised.

With deep gratitude to a kind Providence, it is my pleasure to report that my losses were small, but 5 killed and 5 wounded. One of the wounded (Cadet Marsh) has since died, as also Mr. Stephen Manigault, of Charleston, S. C., of Heyward's cavalry, who received his death wound under Hartridge at Ball's Ferry on the evening of the 23d of November. Advanced in years, possessed of wealth, and of high social position, all of which might have screened him from military service, he nevertheless did not hesitate to uphold, as a private in the ranks, the political opinions he maintained. He fell gallantly fighting for them. His friends have already embalmed his memory, but it may be permitted to his accidental commander, personally a stranger to him, but who had learned his worth, to add a leaf to the chaplet of laurels that crowns his tomb, and to hold up his conduct as an example for imitation. What injury was inflicted upon the enemy we could not learn. Prisoners taken reported their loss as forty-five on the first day, November 23. Three bodies, unburied, were found at the ferry on the 24th, and I have learned since my return that a number of graves opposite the ferry mark in part the stubbornness of Talbot's resistance. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY C. WAYNE, Major-General.

His Excellency JOSEPH E. Brown, [44.]

Governor of Georgia.

Reports of Maj. Gen. Gustavus W. Smith, C. S. Army, commanding First Division, Georgia Militia.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, GEORGIA MILITIA,

Camp near Augusta, Ga., December 31, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my command during the recent siege of Savannah:

In compliance with your order of December 7 my division was placed upon the right.of the line, which at this point was about three miles from the city, and extended from the Savannah River to the Central railroad. One brigade, having been previously detached by your order, was stationed on the Altamaha River, guarding the Savannah and Gulf railroad bridge. The enemy were at that time within a short distance, and steadily approaching by the Augusta and Louisville roads, on both of which slight batteries had already been constructed and four heavy guns placed in position. Near the river on our right flank were two small batteries, one 32-pounder being mounted on each. There were some rifle-pits prepared for skirmishers on a portion of the line. Otherwise the position was not fortified; but there was a swamp in front of us between the Louisville and Augusta roads, and rice-fields from the latter to the river-bank, which gave considerable natural strength to the position. Notwithstanding the deficiency of intrenching tools, a good deal of work was done upon the lines in the course of two days,

* Omitted.

so that when the enemy appeared in force upon our front on the 9th we were prepared to make a very effective resistance to any direct attack the enemy might make. A strong detached work was constructed beyond the rice-fields near the river-bank, which enfiladed the whole of our front and added very materially to the strength of the position. My line was two miles and a half in length. We had on it about 2,000 men, afterward a good deal reduced by detachments. The two regiments of the State Line were placed near the Louisville road, the First Brigade of militia held the Augusta road, and the intermediate line was occupied by the Battalion of Cadets, the whole under command of Brigadier-General Carswell. The Second and Third Brigades held the line from the Augusta road to the river-bank, Colonel Hill, with a detachment from the Third Brigade, a detachment of Cadets, and Pruden's militia battery, occupying the advanced work beyond the rice-fields. The whole of my right was under the command of Brigadier-General Anderson. Later, a portion of Anderson's battery, eight pieces of Major Hamilton's artillery, and some additional heavy guns, were placed in position. The enemy pressed close upon our works, but made no direct or determined attempt to carry them. After the fall of Fort McAllister it was clearly only a question of time when Savannah would fall into the hands of the enemy. We were informed that no re-enforcements could be expected. Our only line of communication was across the Savannah River upon a narrow rice-field dike. Our supplies of provisions and ammunition were very limited. I urged upon you the necessity of preparing a pontoon bridge, and did everything in my power to aid in its early construction.

The enemy, after the capture of Fort McAllister, effected a permanent lodgment on Hutchinson's Island, crossed the Savannah River, and established works on the South Carolina shore, almost in range of our only line of retreat. In my judgment, as expressed to you at that time, they were in position to prevent the escape of any portion of the garrison for two or three days before we gave up the place. On the night of the 20th of December the evacuation of Savannah commenced. About 2 o'clock on the morning of the 21st the militia, which formed the rear guard, left the city at daybreak; reached the sand hills in South Carolina opposite to Savannah, from which place we marched to Bamburg, on the Charleston and Augusta Railroad. At the latter place you deprived us of the transportation which we had brought from in front of Atlanta, and the command came by railroad to this place, where we are now encamped. The officers and men behaved uniformly well and are entitled to all the credit and respect due to soldiers who have performed their full duty. Before closing this report I wish to call especial attention to three Confederate officers who have long served with the militia of Georgia, and by their gallantry and skill have materially aided in our success. I refer to Lieut. Col. B. W. Frobel, chief engineer; Capt. J. R. Troup, inspector-general, and Capt. R. W. Anderson, who, besides commanding his own most excellent battery, acted at Savannah as chief of artillery upon my line. Much credit is also due to the staff officers of my division belonging to the militia proper, for gallantry, skill, and good conduct throughout the arduous campaign from beyond the Chattahoochee to Savannah and Augusta. G. W. SMITH, Major-General.

Lieut. Gen. W. J. HARDEE,

Commanding Department, &c., Charleston, S. O.