THE EARLY YEARS

JAMES C. BARRS

(JAMES CAMPBELL BARRS)

By G-G Grandson Al Barrs, Jr. Revised October 19, 2005

James C. Barrs was born in 1821 to Arthur Barrs (Born 1792 in Lenoir County North Carolina to John Barrs, Jr. and unknown mother.) and Nancy Campbell-Barrs (Born 1793 in Lenoir County North Carolina of Irish parents. Sarah Campbell was born about 1765.). James C. Barrs was born on the Barrs family's plantation located in Twiggs County Georgia started by his father Arthur Barrs.

James C. Barrs was the second oldest son of six children; three sons and three daughters of Arthur and Nancy Elizabeth Barrs. James C. Barrs grew up on his father's Twiggs County Georgia plantation. In later life he would become and 'Overseer' for another plantation owner in Lowndes County Georgia, a Mr. Samuel Porter, would become a general store owner and started a town named Barrsville in Columgia County Florida.

James C. Barrs’ youngest brother, William W. Barrs, was born in 1824 in Twiggs County Georgia. He and his wife Lauraney Wood-Barrs lived out their lives in The Nankin District of Brooks County Georgia. He was a prominent and prosperous farmer. William and “Raney” are buried in the Columbia Primitive Baptist Church cemetery in The Nankin District, as are many Barrs descendants, relatives and related family members. I believe GGG Grandmother Nanch Campbell-Barrs and her oldest son Isaac L. Barrs are buried in unmarked graves at the head of William W. and Lauraney Barrs.

James C. Barrs’ older brother, Isaac L. Barrs, was born in 1820 in Twiggs County Georgia. 
He married Elizabeth Hinson, had 4 children, lived next door to William W. Barrs in The Nankin District, 
Brooks County Georgia until his untimely death at age 30 in August 1850. He probably worked with 
William.

James M. Barrs, a cousin to Isaac L. Barrs, James C. Barrs and William W. Barrs and son of their 
Uncle Dempsey Barrs, was born in 1829 in Twiggs County Georgia. He enlisted in the CSA July 1863 
in the 5th Florida Infantry Company 'I', Wakulla County, Florida (The Wakulla Tigers). He went to 
Wakulla County with James C. Barrs to operate Salt Works at the mouth of the St. Marks River and 
Gulf of Mexico. He was listed by the CSA as 5' 9" dark skin and hair, blue eyes and occupation Farmer. 
He was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg July 2, 1863. He mustered out April 26, 1865, returned to 
Port Leon in Wakulla County FL, married Elizabeth Prince in 1865 and returned to a life of farming. 

One of three Barrs sisters, the youngest child of Arthur and Nancy Barrs, Juliann (“Julia”) Barrs was 
born in 1938 in Twiggs County Georgia. The other two Barrs daughter's names are unknown. Since 
they were older than Julia I believe the had married in Twiggs County GA before their father Arthur’s 
death in 1843 and before the rest of the Barrs family moved to Lowndes County GA after Arthur Barrs 
death in 1843 in Twiggs County GA. Julia Barrs married Daniel Farnell in Madison, Madison County 
Florida in 1858. They lived in Hamilton and later Lafayette County Florida. Dan Farnell died in Lafayette 
County Florida in 1910 and is buried in the Day Lafayette County FL Cemetery.  We are unsure of when 
Julia Barrs-Farnell died or where she is buried.

James C. Barrs' father, Arthur Barrs, owned considerable farmlands in Twiggs County Georgia in the 1830s and worked the plantation with sixty-five slaves during the late 1830s. By 1940 all but 4 of Arthur's slaves had been transferred to his youngest brother, James Barrs' (Born 1795 in Lenoir County North Carolina) household. Arthur Barrs was in poor health.

 Arthur's wife, Nancy Campbell-Barrs (Mother Sarah Campbell), had assumed the head of household role by time of the 1840 Federal census enumeration. We believe Arthur Barrs was extremely ill by 1840 and could no longer manage the Barrs plantation and had turned it over to his youngest brother James Barrs. Arthur Barrs died in Twiggs County Georgia in 1843.

We believe the Barrs family of Twiggs County Georgia moved south to Lowndes County Georgia in the mid-1840s and shortly after Arthur Barrs had died in Twiggs County GA.

In 1850 James C. Barrs and his wife, Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs, (Born 1821 in Lenoir County North Carolina to William Land) and three of his children, including my Great Grandfather Issac Newton Barrs were living in the household of Samual Porter. James C. Barrs was listed as the "Overseer" for Mr. Porter.

James C., Barrs' Mother Nancy Elizabeth Campbell-Barrs and his youngest Sister, Julia Barrs, were living in the household of Nancy's youngest son William W. Barrs, who had not yet married, in 1850.  There was also an Elizabeth Barrs in the 1850 Lowndes County Georgia Federal Census Report who was living next door to William W. Barrs’ home. This Elizabeth was the wife of the first of the oldest son of Arthur and Nancy Barrs, Isaac L. Barrs, born 1820 and died AUG 1850 in Brooks County Georgia. 

This Elizabeth Hinson-Barrs had three sons named Joseph age 4, Francis age 3 and James T. age 3. Francis and James T. may have been twins. This Elizabeth Barrs had one daughter named Martha age 1.

During the mid-1850s James C. Barrs took his family, other family members and slaves to the mouth of the St. Marks River in Wakulla County Florida to manage and operate Salt Works on the Gulf of Mexico.  One son, Henry J. (Andrew or “Ander” to his Grandchildren) Barrs, was born to James C. Barrs and Martha Elizabeth Land-Barrs in Wakulla County Florida in 1857. “Ander” Barrs bought Federal Homestead Act land in Lafayette County Florida and is buried in an unmarked grave in the Day Lafayette County Florida Cemetery. He was married at least twice.

Remnants of these Gulf of Mexico Salt Works still exist even today. These particular ones are located on the southeast side of the St. Marks River at the Gulf of Mexico. The evaporation ponds are still visible on aerial and satellite maps today.

Salt was a valued commodity in the pre war between the states and even more so during The War.  Salt became and invaluable resource for the Confederate States of America military establishment during the War Between the States.

Its primary use was to preserve meats and particularly pork (Salt Pork, Bacon, Shoulder, Ham and Sausage), which was a major food resource for the Confederate States of America soldiers and sailors.  Salting and smoking pork to reduce or postpone decay was the only safe means for preserving meat during this period. The Confederacy had no means to can food as did the Federals. Many Union soldiers died from improper preserved and canned food during The War. Their cans were soldered with lead solder and many unwary soldiers died of lead poisoning, but not from the barrel of a rifle. Many died from food poisoning.

During the fall of the year of 1862 Union gun boats and Union marines shelled and raided the Salt Works along the Gulf of Mexico and destroyed the evaporators and buildings that James C. Barrs, his family, relatives and slaves were working. James C. Barrs, most of his family and slaves returned to Nankin Brooks County Georgia after the Salt Works was destroyed.

On February 1, 1861, probably on his way back from a trip to Wakulla County Florida to Brooks County Georgia, James C. Barrs detoured through Tallahassee Leon County Florida, which is situated north of Wakulla County and bought 320.12 acres of land in northwest Taylor County Florida.

The legal description of James C. Barrs’ Taylor County property follows:

Brooks County was divided from Lowndes County in 1858 while James C. Barrs and his family were still in Wakulla County Florida. Prior to his return to his home in Nankin there was a state line dispute between Georgia and Florida resulting from issues relating to the Spanish secession of Florida to the United States. The dispute was over about a section wide of land along the Florida and Georgia borders.  We believe James C. Barrs thought he was living in Florida in 1861 when he bought the Federal Homestead land in Taylor County FL because his Land Patent states his home as Lowndes Florida, when in fact it had changed in his absence to Brooks Georgia.  

James C. Barrs volunteered on at least three different occasions to serve the Confederate States of America in a military capacity. He may have also received an exemption early in the War Between the States because of his occupation, supervising the making of salt in Wakulla County Florida. We know James C. Barrs in the late 1850s supervised the making of salt in Wakulla County Florida at the mouth of the St. Marks River and the Gulf of Mexico. Salt was a valuable commodity used to preserve food stocks.

James C. Barrs volunteered in the fall of 1861 for the Brooks County Militia, which became a part of the 81st Battalion in the spring (February) of 1862. He enlisted in the 11th Georgia Calvary State Reserves. He then enlisted again on May 6, 1864 in Quitman, Georgia in Company E, 1^st Regiment (Symon's) of the Georgia Infantry State Reserves CSA for the duration of The War. This was to be his final enlistment before his capture by General Sherman’s troops at Ft. McAllister Georgia.

James C. Barrs and his brother, William W. Barrs, served together first in the Brooks County Militia. The Brooks County Militia was called into service during the spring of 1862 and became a part of the 81st Battalion in which officers were elected and commissioned by the Governor on March 4, 1862.

Then James C. Barrs and his oldest son James Henry L. Barrs (Born 1845 in Lowndes County Georgia) along with his brother William W. Barrs rode their horses to Quitman Georgia, 12 miles from their home in Nankin, to enlist in the CSA 11^th Georgia Calvary Reserves for a 6- month enlistment. He was 43 years of age when he enlisted.

Finally, James C. Barrs enlisted on May 6, 1864 again in Quitman, Georgia in Company E, 1^st Regiment (Symon's) of the Georgia Infantry State Reserves, CSA for the duration of The War. He, along with the entire CSA garrison of Ft. McAllister Georgia were attacked by vastly superior forces of Union General Sherman's army at the end of their "March to the Sea" campaign and were over run after fierce hand-to-hand combat and captured at twilight on December 13, 1864.

He was then assigned to a Union Military Provost Hospital in Hilton Head South Carolina with Typhoid Fever and later was transported to the infamous Union Military Prison (Barracks 14), Fort Delaware for the duration of The War. He was released in 1865 after taking The Oath, "to never aging take up arms against the United States of America."

James C. Barrs, born 1821 and Martha Elizabeth Land born, 1821 had the following children:

James Henry L. Barrs born 1845 in Lowndes County GA d. in Citrus Co FL

William Taylor Barrs born 1848 Lowndes County GA d. in Dade Co FL

Isaac Newton Barrs born 1849 Lowndes County GA d. Lafayette Co FL

Francis Marion Barrs born 1852 Lowndes County GA d. Suwannee Co FL

John Wesley Barrs born 1853 Lowndes County GA d. Columbia Co FL

Henry J. Barrs born 1857 Wakulla County FL d. Lafayette Co FL

Permelia Barrs born 1859 Brooks County GA d. Columbia Co FL

James C. Barrs' CSA Military Service

FROM 1860-1865

James C. Barrs, along with his brother, William Barrs, was in the Brooks County Georgia Militia as part of the 81st Battalion during 1861-62. He then enlisted August 4, 1863 at age 42 in Quitman, Brooks County, GA in Captain Wiley W. Groover's 11^th Georgia Calvary, Georgia State Guards of Company "D" Confederate States of America for a regular enlistment of six months, as did his oldest son James Henry L. Barrs (Born 1845 in Lawndes County Georgia.) and his brother William W. Barrs.

James C. Barrs was 5' 7" tall, had a dark complexion, dark hair and blue eyes. He was admitted to Hospital #2, Savannah, GA on August 18, 1864 for a lengthy illness (Typhoid Fever). He was furloughed home on September 19, 1864. He was "demoted" to Private upon returning to his unit.

He was captured at twilight, along with the rest of the Fort McAllister garrison, on December 13, 1864 and sent to Hilton Head Provost Hospital with Typhoid Fever to be treated and await transport to a Northern Military Prison.

Fort McAllister Battle

THE LAST BATTLE OF FORT MCALLISTER GEORGIA 1864

Fort McAllister had withstood eight attacks from the Union Navy prior to General Sherman's land assault with overwhelming and superior numbers of troops.

"UNDAUNTED: The History of Fort McAllister, Georgia"

By William Christman

ABSTRACT

Fort McAllister is an earthwork that was built by the Confederate States of America during the War Between the States. The fort stands near Richmond Hill Georgia and has been cited as the best example of earthworks built by the Confederates. Fort McAllister is located on Genesis Point, a small bluff that overlooks the Great Ogeechee River.

The fort acted as the right flank anchor in the line of earthen fortifications that protected the post city of Savannah Georgia. From its position on Genesis Point Fort McAllister is within ten miles of the Atlantic Ocean and fifteen miles due south of Savannah.

Confederate forces expected Fort McAllister to provide the following services:

●The fort was to deny the Union Navy its passage up the Ogeechee where troops could land and then march on Savannah.

●The Atlantic and Gulf Railroad, a major supply and communications line, crossed the Ogeechee above the fort and needed the protection of the earthwork.

● Fort McAllister protected cotton and rice plantations along the Ogeechee. In fact, the fort was named after the McAllister family who owned Genesis Point during the war.

Eight separate naval attacks by Union forces (some intense and some limited to a few shots fired) failed to subdue Fort McAllister or gain them passage beyond the work. Then on 13 December 1864 it was attacked from the rear.

Excerpt: Pg 58 - 72

While Fort McAllister experienced a major refit, the Union Army put a new plan for Southern defeat into action. The 60,000-man Union Army of the Tennessee, under the command of the fiery, red and grey-bearded Major General William T. Sherman, began a march through Georgia and the heart of the Confederacy.

General Sherman intended to capture Atlanta, a railroad and munitions center some 270 miles northwest of Savannah. Once that was accomplished, Sherman then planned to march through the rest of Georgia and destroy both the war making potential of the state and the will of her people to continue the fight.

Sherman captured Atlanta in September 1864 after a grueling campaign. On the following 15th of November, the victorious Army of the Tennessee began its well-known "March to the Sea," cutting a sixty-mile wide path of destruction and desolation through Georgia. At this point, Georgia had given about all she could to the Confederacy in manpower and equipment. The effective Union blockade had almost completely stopped the Confederate blockade-runners, which caused the war-ravaged South great suffering. Additionally, the best fighting men in the state were either dead or too few to put up any effective resistance to Sherman's army. All hope for Georgia and the Confederacy was vanishing fast.

Although Sherman kept the Confederates guessing about his true intentions, they reasoned he would definitely make his way for Savannah where he could hope to be re-supplied by sea. The Southerners began to prepare the city for the attack they believed would happen.

Confederates reasoned that Sherman would approach Savannah from the northwest because his army was located in that direction. Consequently, the Confederates strengthened earthworks that protected Savannah along its western approaches. The large artillery pieces already in place there were augmented by forty-eight field pieces. Additionally, Georgians flooded the low, flat rice lands that lay beyond the western line of defense with two to six feet of water to hinder the advance of Sherman. Finally, the men obstructed or cut all railroad and roadways coming into Savannah from that area as well.

The commander of the forces in Savannah was native Georgian, Lieutenant General William J. Hardee, CSA. Hardee's stellar record of service to the Confederacy certainly inspired hope for their city in many Savannians. However, the less than 10,000 troops that existed to defend the city against Sherman's assembled masses seemed to dim those hopes. To make matters worse, old men, boys, and even convicts and prisoners of war constituted most of Hardee's troops. None the less, the Savannians stood ready to fight; however, Sherman's army wanted food more than a fight. On 10 December 1864, Sherman's army arrived in front of Savannah. The Federal proximity to Savannah did not signal the end of their campaign; Sherman had a sure fight ahead of him no matter how lopsided it seemed. But, before the fight could occur, the Union troops desperately needed food and supplies. The need for supplies and communication lay in the fact that the Federal supply and communications lines back to his base in Nashville were voluntarily cut by Sherman when he left Atlanta. He did this to allow his army to move faster. Sherman and his men marched from Atlanta to Savannah and sustained themselves by living off the land for the most part. But by the time they reached the Savannah area, the Yankees were quite low on food and supplies. This fact, coupled with lack of forage in the Savanna area, forces Sherman to think about how to re-supply his army---quickly.

Sherman was also hampered by severed communications lines. His departure from Atlanta had marked his last correspondence with President Lincoln and the North. During the entire march, no official word on the condition or the whereabouts of the Army of the Tennessee was head in Washington. Sherman, therefore, needed to hear from his superiors and report his won status and intentions.

Sherman knew that Federal ships lay off shore in the waters around Savannah---including Ossabaw Sound---awaiting word for the arrival of the general and his army at Savannah. The most obvious route to Ossabaw Sound was the Great Ogeechee River. However, Fort McAllister stood in the way.

The distance between Fort McAllister and Savannah, coupled with the small number of troops to defend the city, left General Hardee with two choices: Evacuate Fort McAllister, or keep the garrison there in hopes that it could somehow, miraculously, deny Sherman's overwhelming forces access to the Ossabaw Sound. The garrison remained at the fort.

Accordingly, Major Anderson's men took measures to make Fort McAllister a more formidable foe for the Union Army. Troops arrived to assist the Emmett Rifles---Clinch's Light Battery (Captain Nicholas B. Clinch, CSA), and Companies D and E of the 1st Regiment Georgia (Militia) Reserves (James C. Barrs' regiment). The fort's garrison now numbered around 230 men.

The men also cleared the trees behind the fort to a distance of nearly a mile for a clear line of fire, and the wooden buildings were torn down so the Federals could not use then for cover. Now, the area behind the fort would not provide any cover to Union troops. To further impede a land attack, the Confederates laid a row of abattis (A defensive obstacle formed by felled trees with sharpened branches buried in the ground at an angle facing the enemy) in the open area. The most deadly obstruction however was the artillery shells that were placed just under the surface of the ground at the foot of the glacis. (A gentle slope or incline that runs downward from a fortification) Anyone walking over these land mines (or "torpedoes" as they were called) would set off an explosion, severely maiming or killing its victims. Lastly, the Georgians dismantled the mortar battery to prevent its usage by the Federals.

The Southerners also undertook measures that would hopefully allow the garrison to survive a prolonged siege. The fort received 220 pounds of hard bread and 1000 pounds of bacon shortly before Sherman's arrival---enough to supply the garrison for one month. Other supplies include candles, salt, molasses, and 40 gallons of whiskey. On 9 December an additional fifteen days supplies came to McAllister from Savannah.

However determined the Confederates were to deny the Yankees possession of Fort McAllister, Sherman was equally determined to make contact with the Union fleet. On 8 December, Captain William Duncan, USA, of the 15th Illinois Cavalry, with two scouts, boarded a small boat on the Ogeechee at King's Bridge, above Fort McAllister. The Union soldiers intended to make contact with the Federal ships in Ossabaw Sound and convey Sherman's condition and plans. The crew traveled only at night to prevent capture. They managed to pass Fort McAllister unnoticed. After a harrowing experience, Duncan and his men arrived in Ossabaw Sound and boarded U.S.S. Flag on 11 December 1864. Now the Union Navy knew of Sherman's presence near Savannah.

On 12 December, the Union Army rested its left wind on the Savannah River; its right wing lay near King's Bridge on the Ogeechee. General Sherman rode down to King's Bridge, which had been destroyed by the Confederates. The engineers completed a new bridge that evening.

With King's Bridge rebuilt, Sherman intended to use it for his next operation---an assault on Fort McAllister. Sherman decided to give the assignment to one of General Howard's most trustworthy officers; Brigadier General William B. Hazen, USA. Sherman wrote:

        I gave General Hazen, in person, his orders to march

        rapidly down the right bank of the Ogeechee and without

        hesitation to assault and carry Fort McAllister by storm.

        I knew it to be strong in heavy artillery, as against an

        approach from the sea, but believed it open and weak to

        the rear.

 
        I explained to General Hazen fully on his action

        depended the safety of the whole army and the success

        of the campaign.

Sherman could not have chosen a more capable man. William Babcock Hazen commanded the 2nd Division of General Howard's XV Corps. Hazen, just 34 years old at the time, was a West Point graduate. "On the battlefield," said one account of Hazen, "he was alert, self assured, concentrated, brave and capable."

General Hazen commanded the 2nd Division, which consisted of nearly 4000 men from five states, many of whom had seen action since the early stages of the war. General Sherman felt a special attachment to the 2nd Division. He proudly noted that Hazen's men made up "the same old division I had commanded at Shiloh and Vicksburg, in which, I felt a special pride and confidence."

Early on the morning of Tuesday, 13 December 1864, the 2nd Division crossed the Ogeechee at King's Bridge. Hazen remarked, "The lovely road of shells and white sand under Magnolias and wide branching Live Oaks draped in long, hanging moss."

While Hazen enjoyed some of the sights on his long journey down to Fort McAllister, the Georgians at the earthwork experienced some indications of the forthcoming action. Major Anderson noted: "About eight o'clock, a. m. desultory firing commenced between the skirmishers of the enemy and my sharp-shooters."

Along their route, Hazen reported passing:

        ...the old McAllister mansion, called Strother Hall... There

was their home, but now they had gone. Major General

Judson H. Kilpatrick's Cavalry had been there before us,

and the contents of the house were strewn upon the floors

or scattered about the lawn...The Negro servants showed

no disposition to put things right again, thinking perhaps,

that it would only invite further mischief.

As the Federals passed the old Hardwick town site, they came upon a narrow causeway that was bordered by the Ogeechee on one side and a marsh expanse on the other. Unknown to the Federals, however, the Confederates had planted torpedoes on the causeway. A mounted Confederate picket guarded the causeway. General Hazen wrote of the Union encounter with the picket: "About a mile from the fort we came upon the advanced picket, who, though mounted, was captured by a sudden dash of my topographical officer...and my orderlies..."

Once captured, the Confederate told everything. Major Anderson frustratingly wrote:

        "The picket imparted the fact that the causeway was

        studded with torpedoes in time to prevent their explosion.

        He also acquainted them with the strength of the garrison,

        and the best approaches to it."

After the Federals had removed the torpedoes, Hazen left eight regiments as the causeway and proceeded with the remaining three brigades (nine regiments) toward the fort. During the late morning, some of the Union troops came within sight of the earthworks. During the Union approach, activity between the two opposing forces heated up somewhat as gunfire was exchanged between the two hostile forces.

About two miles across the Ogeechee lay a rice mill owned by D. Cheves. There, General Sherman, General Howard, and Sherman's staff waited for Hazen's attack to commence. Sherman wrote:

        On reaching the rice-mill at Cheeve's [sic], I found a guard

        and a couple of twenty-pound Parrott guns, of Dr. Gres's

        battery, which fired an occasional shot toward Fort

        McAllister, plainly seen over the salt-marsh, about three

        miles distant. Fort McAllister had the Rebel flag flying and

        occasionally sent a heavy shot back across the marsh to

        where we were, but other wise everything about the place

        looked as peaceable and quite as on the Sabbath.

        The signal-officer had built a platform on the ridge-pole

        of the rice mill.

Leaving our horses behind the stacks of rice-

        straw, we all got on the roof of a shed attached to the mill,

        where from I could communicate with the signal-officer

        above and at the same time look out toward Ossabaw Sound

        and across the Ogeechee River at Fort McAllister.

At this point in the day, Major Anderson came to a logical decision. Having heard no word from Hardee in Savannah meant the options for Fort McAllister were few. Anderson concluded:

        I determined under the circumstances and not withstanding

        the great disparity of numbers between the garrison and the

        attacking forces, to defend the fort to the last extremity...

By this time the Confederates began to fire their field guns at the distant Federals, but with little effect. Hazen began to deploy his skirmishers and sharpshooters despite the Southern cannonaded. The skirmishers advanced "at a run [and] readily approached within 2000 yards [of the fort], and by throwing themselves flat on the ground were well concealed by the high grass, and could pick off the Confederate gunners at their leisure, readily silencing the fire of the fort."

Another account of the sharpshooters said:

        I shall never forget...how Sergeant J. A. Saunier, when

        we reached a point near enough to fire, said 'Watch me

        make the Jonnies get off the works,' and he brought to

        his shoulder his trusty rifle and open the fire...

The garrison quickly began to feel the effect of the sharpshooters.

Major Anderson noted:

        The guns being en barbette, the detachment serving them

        were greatly exposed to the fire of the enemy's sharp shooters.

        To such and extent was this [the] case, that in one instance,

        out of a detachment of eight men three were killed and three

        more wounded.

The Federal skirmish line was very heavy, and

        the fire so close and rapid that it was at times impossible to

        work our guns. My sharpshooters did all in their power, but

        were entirely too few to suppress this galling fire upon the

        artillerists.

As the sharpshooters continued their harassing fire on the beleaguered Confederate work, the 2nd Division slowly deployed around Fort McAllister.

Hazen ordered his men to move no closer than 600 yards to the work---just out of the effective range of the Confederate rifle fire. The Federals were determined to form a semi-circular line around Fort McAllister and pin the fort in against the Ogeechee. The predicament of the Confederate garrison prompted Major Anderson to note:

        It was evident, cut off from all support, and with no possible

        hope of reenforcements from any quarter, that holding the

        fort was simply a question of time. There was but one alternative,..

        death or captivity.

While Anderson contemplated the hopelessness of his situation, the Yankee soldiers continued to envelop the Southern fort. Sergeant Saunier of the 47th Ohio Infantry wrote:

        The 47th Ohio was in the advance of the division...

        At about 12 Meridian, our regiment arrived within

        about one-half mile of the fort, in a piece of timber.

        The regiment formed in a line of battle and was ordered

        to remain there on the banks of the Ogeechee River, and

        the division formed on us.

Another account of the deployment was from Y. R. Davies, of the 70th Ohio Infantry. He wrote:

        In a southerly direction from the fort lay an open field,

1000 yards more or less in width and almost perfectly

level. There was no fence, but it was skirted by a pine

forest, at the edge of which the 70th Ohio was drawn up

in a line of battle, with another regiment on its right and

one on its left.

Hazen deployed his division with the 2nd Brigade on the extreme left,

the 3rd Brigade in the center, and the 1st Brigade on the far right.

While his men enveloped the fort, Hazen decided against an appeal to the rebel's better nature. "I made no formal demand for surrender," wrote Hazen, "believing that it would merely advertise our intentions, and be met by a boastful refusal."

However, the Georgians did their best to hinder the Yankees. A Union soldier's account recalls the effectiveness of one Southern bullet:

        While waiting for the First and Third Brigades to come

        into position about the fort, and while making observations

        as to the ground and fortifications over which we were

        soon to charge, a rebel bullet came flying at us, which

        struck Captain John H. Groce of the 30th Ohio, killing him

        instantly, and wounding Colonel W. S. Jones, commander of

        the 2nd Brigade.

Colonel James S. Martin, leader of the 111th Illinois Infantry Regiment, received orders to assume command of the 2nd Brigade almost immediately after Jones fell wounded.

Although the number of Federal troops may have seemed overwhelming, their assignment to capture Fort McAllister would prove difficult to set up. The difficulty lay in the fact that the immediate territory surrounding the fort was not compatible with large troop movements. The ground to the right of McAllister was "cut through by deep streams" and marshland, which caused the 1st Brigade to experience extreme difficulty in positioning itself to attack the fort. General Hazen wrote:

        The Right Brigade found itself behind a long stream, or

        sluice, and was a long time getting across and into position.

        This was especially annoying, as Gen. Sherman's last injunction

was not to find myself behind any creek, so that we could

get forward.

Meanwhile, across the Ogeechee, and anxious General Sherman watched as the winter sun slowly sank in the west. Sherman feared night would set in before his men could carry Fort McAllister, thus his army would be deprived of much needed supplies for yet another critical day. One account described the scene at Cheves's Mill:

        The sun was now fast going down behind a grove of Water

        Oaks...General Sherman, from his position at the rice mill

on the opposite side of the river, walked nervously to and

fro, turning quickly now and then from viewing the scene

of conflict, to observe the sun sinking behind the tree tops.

No longer willing to bear the suspense, he said: "Signal

General Hazen that he must carry the fort by assault

to-night, if possible." The little flag waved and fluttered

in the evening air, the answer came: "I am ready and will

assault at once!"

While Sherman communicated with Hazen, he was pleasantly surprised by the appearance of a Union vessel down the Ogeechee below Fort McAllister. Sherman noted:

        The sun was rapidly declining, and I was dreadfully impatient.

        At that very moment some one discovered a faint cloud of

        smoke and an object gliding, as it were, along the horizon

        above the tops of the sedge toward the sea, which little by

        little grew till it was pronounced to be the smoke-stack of

        a steamer coming up the river...Soon the flag of the United

        States was plainly visible, and our attention was divided

        between this approaching steamer and the expected assault...

The gunboat pushed its way up the Ogeechee in hopes of finding Sherman's army, since its presence was reported to the Union Navy through Captain Duncan's brave endeavor several days earlier. The crew aboard the gunboat saw a signal platform atop Cheves's Mill and immediately discovered that the men on the building were Union soldiers.

The gunboat's men sent a signal to Sherman:

"Who are you?"

        "General Sherman," came back the reply.

        The boat asked: "Can we run up? Is the fort taken?"

        The signal station sent: "No, Attack underway."

About the time General Sherman and the Navy exchanged signals, the 2nd Division drew up for battle. Shortly before the attack began, the commander of the 70th Ohio gave a pep talk to his men:

        Col. [H. L.] Phillips, standing in front of the regiment, said:

        "My comrades, knowing that you have been prompt in the

        discharge of every duty, I deem it a waste of words to urge

        upon you the importance of continuing to do so." Then pointing

        to the fort, he continued: "You see what is before you, and you

        know your duty."

        These words were hardly spoken when John Compton, the

        color-bearer, who, up to the fall of Atlanta, had been detailed

        as regimental teamster, therefore had never been directly

        engaged in any of the numerous battles, approached Col.

        Phillips and said: "Colonel, you know I am not used to this kind

        of work; please excuse me." He asked "John, were it in my

        power God knows I would gladly excuse every man in this regiment."

General Hazen decided that three regiments from each brigade would actually assault the fort. The other nine regiments were to be held in reserve if needed "---an overwhelming force for the work at hand."

The time was 4:45 p. m. General Hazen felt it was time for the attack to get underway. He wrote:

        I waited until nearly sundown, and then, the Right Brigade

        still being reported not ready, determined to assault with

        the other six regiments. Each officer and man was instructed

        to advance rapidly, but in order until the enemy opened, and

        then to charge with a rush, every man for himself.

The 'assembly' was then sounded by the bugle three

successive times, followed by 'forward', and as with a

great impulse the line advanced. To my great surprise

and joy, the Right Brigade, under Col. Theodore Jones

moved out accurately at the same moment. It had crossed

the stream and formed inline just in time to  receive the order.

The final battle of Fort McAllister had begun. T. W. Connelly of the

70th Ohio described the advance:

        A warning answer came from the enemy in the roar of heavy

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