The diary begins with the description: "Memorandum of the March from Rome, Ga to Savannah, Ga."

The first entry is Friday November 11, 1864:

Up at 3 O.C. AM. Moved at 4 O.C. Marched to Kinston. Moved out 8 miles down the railroad and went into camp for the night. Marched 21 miles today. The railroad was probably the Georgia RR, not shown on the attached map. The next several days are entries describing the number of miles marched, usually from 16 to 20 miles or more per day. the first mention of any combat was:

Tuesday Nov 15, 1864

Up at 2 O.C.. Moved at 4. Passed through Atlanta. Moved on found some rebs. Marched 18 miles today. The next two days report moving through Jackson, camping on the Ocmulgee River.

Friday Nov 18, 1864

Up at 6 O.C. got breakfast and moved to the river and crossed in flats. Moved out half mile and into camp for the night.

Saturday Nov 19, 1864

Moved out at daylight a raining mourning passed through Mountesilm and charged 3 miles after rebels. Captured one-went into camp 20 miles from Macon and the same from Milledgville Ga.25 miles today. Note: Could not determine exact location of town because of spelling. Sunday November 20 reported marching to Fort Hill and making camp in the rain.

Monday Nov 21, 1864

Up at 4 O.C. moved out at day break. Came to the railroad moved to Gordon. Charge the rebels drove them back and wen into camp. Note: Possible Ga. Central RR.

Tuesday, Nov 22 1864

Up at daylight Cold and blustry Moved up the railroad to Erwin and went into camp at sundown Cold and windy. Wednesday Nov 23 1864 Move on in advance of the 17 A.C.(17th Ala Cav) Some rebels in front come to Ocana River at 3 O.C. PM. scirmish with the rebels 2 hours. Our batery came up and sheld them We taken one end of the bridge which is 2 miles long. We moved back and went into camp. the Second Batallion down at the other ferry. Note: Probably referring to the Oconee River, Ga Central RR bridge and Ball's Ferry.

Thursday Nov 24 1864

Up at daylight. Sadeled up and rode through the snow up to hunt for a road leading up the river to a ferry. All swamp and no road moved back and went into camp at the same place where we lay last night. The Second batallion lost 20 men out of 60 last evening. Sadeled up and moved back on the RR 6 miles and went into camp for the night with the 17 A.C. Note: this entry was the first mention as "sadeling up" as a cavalry unit.

Friday Nov 25 1864

Moved out at sunrise moved 1 mile of the river and fought for one hour and fell back to our horses. May Tramel and Capt Hinds go to river with a flag of truce.

Saturday Nov 26 1864

Up at 5 O.C. AM moved to the river and crossed and went to the front to the RR bridge and burnt it. Moved back and went into camp 4 miles from the RR.

Sunday Nov 27 1864

Moved at 10 O.C. AM down the railroad and crossed the railroad at Station No 13. Gen Sherman's H.Q. at the widow Peacocks Plantation.

The next few days recount the day's marches and by Friday Dec 2 the regiment had crossed the Little Ogeeche River and camped close to Millen.

Saturday Dec 3 1864

Our Co. marched up the August RR 6 miles to burn the stockaids the rebs kept our prisoners in. burnt the depot. Moved back for the regiment has fine time riding through the woods.The regiment ordered down the road 9 miles. Our Co. went into camp for the night.

Sunday Dec 4 1864

Moved out at 7 O.C. find the regiment at 10 O.C. move on down the RR within 45 miles of Savanah to Indian Creek. found rebels dismounted Co. D and skirmished with the rebels. got one man bad wounded. moved back 4 miles and went into camp for the night. Dec 5-7 reports fording the creek with the help of the infantry, a days rest in camp and some light fighting.

Thursday Dec 8 1864

Moved out at 6 O.C. Charged the pickets, dismounted and scirmished with enemy half hour. mounted persued rebs. Hidden torpedoes got 2 horses and three men wounded. heavy shelling,musktry in the evening. drove them 12 miles and wen into camp for the night. Dec 9-13 comment on heavy cannonading and musketry fire in the distance. On Dec 13 ordered to prepare for three days march. Foraged the area for horses and men.

Wednesday Dec 14 1864

Have a fine time riding in the country. Fort Pulaski taken today with 3000 prisoners. Dec 15th was spent in camp.

Friday Dec 16 1864

Orders to move with 5 days rashens down the gulf to tare up the Gulf RR. Moved out marched 25 miles and went into camp.

Saturday Dec 17 1864

Moved out at 5 O.C. marched 25 miles and went into camp and distroid RR until dark. Sunday Dec 18 was spent completing the destruction of the railroad. Dec 19 marched 30 miles, Dec 20 uneventful.

Wednesday Dec 21 1864

The rebels vacated Savanah last night. We remain in camp today. All quite all around.

Thursday Dec 22 1864

Moved out and marched through Savanah and went into camp for the night 2 miles from town.

Dec 23 recounts saddling up and moving down the Thunderbolt, slightly south of the city and going into camp "in good Baracks" and resting and sleeping on the 24th.

Sunday Dec 25 1864

Enjoying Christmas, plenty of fish and austers (oysters)and whiskey.Remain here some time very light duty. A Gen Review in the advance of 17 A.C. The Sec of War Stanton was the review officer on the review with Gen Kilpatrick Division of Cal.The rest of the entry is almost unreadable but it seems that the command changed to a Col. Spencer.

Although the statement is made at the beginning of the diary that it will cover from Rome to Savannah, the diary covers the period until the end of the war and the mustering out. I will cover this period at a later date.

Extracted By: E.D. Wilson