Approaching Savannah

As the Union forces approached Savannah, Georgia on December 9, 1864, the 61^st Ohio and 31^st Wisconsin received orders to attack Confederate fortifications protecting the city.  The following account of the action is taken from a letter written by “Dave,” a member of the 31^st Wisconsin and published in the Dodgeville (Wisconsin) Chronicle on January 12, 1865 (the complete letter outlining the 31^st’s march from Atlanta to Savannah is available here).

December 9^th, when within 15 miles of Savannah our scouts discovered a rebel fort on the other side of a swamp, built directly in the road.  They had cut down the trees on each side of the road (falling them across the road) for about a half mile, in order to give a sweep for their artillery.  When within a mile of them they commenced shelling us; the column halted, and the 31^st Wis. and 61^st Ohio under command of Col. West (of the 31^st) were ordered to charge and take the fort.  Accordingly our boys waded for half a mile through the swamp and as soon as they got out to the edge of the timber, the rebs, numbering about 500, saw them and fired a volley.  We replied with interest and then charged on them but they being mounted, considered discretion the better part of valor, and skedaddled, leaving everything behind them.  We got their cannon and all their knapsacks, accoutrements, etc.

“Dave” reported that the 31^st lost one man killed and two or three wounded.  Captain John Garrett, commanding the 61^st, stated in his report that he had one man severely wounded in the engagement.