The Federals withdrew to Nashville after the Battle of Franklin and General John B. Hood's army followed. The Confederates spent two weeks entrenching outside Nashville but it is unclear just what Hood believed would happen. He was out manned two to one and facing an enemy who had had two years to fortify the city.

   After a week of ice storms and sub-freezing weather, Union general George Thomas attacked on December 15. Hood arrayed his army with Alexander Stewart's Corps on the left, Stephen D. Lee's (36th GA, 42nd GA) in the center, and Benjamin Cheatham's on the right. The attack fell on the Confederate left and by the end of the day Stewart's Corps was wrecked. The men retreated to a second defensive line a mile to the south and reformed in a stronger, more compact line on a series of hills. The order was now shuffled from left to right to Cheatham - Stewart - Lee. Thomas repeated the previous day's plan: feint on the Confederate right and attack hard on the left. Once again he succeeded and, near sunset, Cheatham's Corps broke and fled the field. Lee's Corps, which was in good shape having avoided the disaster at Franklin and having seen little combat the day before, was able to hold firm and allowed the army time to withdraw in some order. What was left of Hood's army fell back in the rain to within 16 miles of Franklin that first night, Spring Hill the second. Federal cavalry pursued them and badly hurt Carter L. Stevenson's rear guard division (36th GA) in actions on December 17 and 18. Through Columbia and Pulaski, Tennessee and Lexington, Alabama the army retreated back the way they had come. On Christmas Day they crossed the Tennessee River at Bainbridge near Florence, Alabama and continued the march to Tupelo, Mississippi finally going into camp a mile and a half north of the city. Hood went into Tennessee with approximately 39,000 men and arrived at Tupelo with 19,000. On January 13 He resigned and the army was ordered to the Carolinas to oppose Sherman. Lee's Corps, with Carter Stevenson commanding, was first to leave. They boarded a train on the morning of January 23, except for a portion of the 42nd that was detached to guard a wagon train to Columbus, Mississippi. The men camped that night in Okolona, left the evening of January 24, rode all night, and arrived at Meridian, Mississippi sundown January 25. They camped here for two days before riding the train through Demopolis and arrived at Selma at 2 p.m. January 28 where, three hours later, they boarded a steamboat bound for Montgomery, Alabama and arrived the following evening. From Montgomery they rode to Columbus, Georgia then Macon and Milledgeville over the course of two days. Marched from Milledgeville to Sparta then Mayfield Station where they boarded another train to take them to Augusta. After arriving the evening of February 4, they marched through town to the South Carolina depot then boarded yet another train that same evening and rode overnight to Branchville, South Carolina. They disembarked the next morning and marched to the Edisto River line around Binnaker's Bridge on the South Edisto River. When the Yankees forced the crossing here on February 9, the 42nd skirmished then fell back toward Orangeburg Court House and built breastworks. The Yankees forded the North Edisto River on February 11 and the Confederate forces withdrew from Orangeburg the next day. They marched until they could board cars to Kingsville, South Carolina [1] where they again took up defensive positions but Columbia was abandoned February 17 after the Yankees crossed the Congaree River. The men rode to Camden then marched toward Chester Court House and camped at Fairfield Court House. On February 21 Stevenson's men waded the Catawba River and entered North Carolina. Two days later they joined Joe Johnston's army near Charlotte.

   General William T. Wofford who had commanded the 16th and 24th GA had been wounded at both The Wilderness and Spotsylvania Court House in May. He was at home in Cassville recovering from his wounds when Georgia governor Joe Brown asked him to assume command of the Subdistrict of Northern Georgia, of the District of Georgia, Department of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida as of January 20, 1865. His job was to defend Georgians from rogue forces, looters, and guerrilla attacks which he did by rounding up stragglers, deserters, and any available men in north Georgia. [2]

   General Wade Hampton's cavalry (Cobb's Legion) rode out December 7 on a night that many thought the coldest they could remember to intercept Warren's V Corps who were trying once again to cut the railroad south of Petersburg. Neither side was much interested in fighting in a sleet storm so without much of an attack, Warren withdrew. Yankee stragglers burned and looted homes of civilians in the area around Hicksford [3] leaving the occupants to the freezing cold. When caught, these men were dealt with harshly. Hampton's men repaired the railroad tracks and camped at Belfield. In mid-January the dismounted troops from Pierce Young's Brigade (Cobb's Legion) who were in Georgia acquiring new horses were told to report to him at Augusta. Around this time Hampton left Virginia with the remainder of Cobb's Legion Cavalry for Columbia, South Carolina. They skirmished with Yankee cavalry at Angley's Post Office, Williston and White Post, then at the bridges over the North Edisto River at Orangeburg where Hampton was given overall command of Carter Stevenson's men. After the Yankees crossed the North Edisto, the men retired to Columbia where Young's men slowed the Yankee advance as best they could. By agreement on both sides, Columbia was surrendered without a fight; however, the city still went up in flames. Sherman both denied and admitted culpability while Union general Henry Slocum remarked "A drunken soldier with a musket in one hand and a match in the other is not a pleasant visitor to have about the house on a dark windy night". As Sherman continued north, Hampton's cavalry shadowed the Yankees and captured or killed any "bummers" they could while skirmishing at Hanging Rock, Cantey's Plantation, Little Lynch's Creek, Stroud's Mills, Big Black Creek, Blaken, and Himsborough before finally abandoning South Carolina at Cheraw on February 27. By this time Cobb's Legion Cavalry totaled 246 men.

   In Virginia the siege continued. The 7th GA was positioned in the trenches along the Darbytown and Charles City Roads south and east of Richmond. The 9th GA Lt Artillery was no longer light as they were now manning the heavy guns at Chaffin's Bluff on the James River. Between them was Wofford's Brigade (16th GA, 24th GA, 3rd Battalion GA Sharpshooters all now commanded by Dudley DuBose) south of New Market Road. Rations on a good day consisted of a pint of corn meal and an ounce or two of bacon. When they could, soldiers traded tobacco with the Yankees for coffee and sugar. Wofford's Brigade was now down to 20% of its original strength so, like many others, was consolidated from ten regiments to six. The 16th Battalion Georgia Cavalry was back in east Tennessee/southwest Virginia where it gained troopers from other units and was reorganized into the 13th Regiment Georgia Cavalry with the name backdated to May 1864. But it was regimental strength on paper only. Lt Col Samuel J. Winn and many of his men were likely home at this time due to furloughs, a need for remounts, or desertions. The 35th GA spent the winter northeast of Petersburg on the Appomattox River.

   In early December the 12th Georgia Battalion (formerly the 12th GA Lt Artillery) left the Shenandoah Valley to join Lee's army in the trenches around Petersburg. They were now part of Colonel John H. Baker's Brigade (formerly Evan's) of Clement Evans' Division (formerly John B. Gordon's). The only combat seen during the siege by Gwinnett troops over the winter was February 5 - 7 at Hatcher's Run eight miles southwest of Petersburg. Union general Ulysses S. Grant sent cavalry with support from parts of two infantry corps to capture or destroy supply wagons coming in to Petersburg. Evans' Division helped stop the Federal advance but once again the Confederate line was extended and thinned.

Thomas Maguire (Promised Land) [4]
   December in the Promised Land started pleasant but quickly turned wet and cold and there was enough rain to become a problem for the mills in the area. Winter saw a constant stream of visitors to and from his house: family, friends, and a surprising number of paid guests. Maguire also tells of helping the neighbors and receiving help in kind.

   Dec 1 "pleasant weather … no reliable news of the Yankees. Rob Wilkinson came here after dinner"
   Dec 7 "it promises to be a dry day … Mary Janes steer is sick so there is no hawling this morning … Self sowing wheat."
   Dec 8 "Rain last night … Elizabeth got a load of collards from Mrs Doby. Hands putting them out in the garden … John E was well Thursday week and was looking for fighting every day. The Yankees are said to be below Augusta"
   Dec 9 "Mary Jane here with Ben Thomason … Albert gone to help Mrs Rice kill a hog. The trees are all covered with sleet and its quite cold ... No work going on. Have but little wood to make fires but we have plenty to eat - so far … Sleeting up to bead time."
   Dec 10 "Every thing covered with sleet. Many of the trees breaking down. Limbs falling in every direction. No work going on ... The sleet is now falling from the trees and the ground is slippi and disagreeable."
      Dec 11 "Sunday … To make fires is all the go now. Mr Mayfield came here hunting a mule that was stolen from him. Lent him my over coat & comfort. Several soldiers came here and wanted to stay all night. Sent them all down the River … this is the worst space of weather we have had this winter"
Dec 12 "Every thing fast frozen this morning … little or no work done to day"
   Dec 13 "Heavy frost this morning. No plowing can be done for some time … five soldiers here on their way to Atlanta. They staid all night ... no news reliable from Shermans army. hawled up some wheat with Mr Lees cart."
Dec 21 "Sargent Steward of company C [6] came from VA brot a letter from James H.C. … letter dated 13th Dec …Mr Stewart will go back early next month … it is quite cool snoing occasionally. A Mr Shomake stoped to stay all night."
   Dec 22 "Sunday Dick gone to mill. Got a pack of meal. Mill is drownded. Will get the balance this evening. Albert helping Mary Jane to build a stable and Dick gon to help Mr ___ to kill hogs … Women spinning. Mr Shoemake left after breakfast"
   Dec 23 "Andrew gone to mill with 3 bushells of corn and 3 bushells of wheat and old wagon wheel to Mr Owens shop to have repaired … to cold to work out … no news from the Yankees that is reliable … Mrs Lucky stoped to stay all night. She had a paper of the 18th … It is hard to get milling done. The late rains got the mill out of order"
   Dec 24 "Clear and cool. Mrs Lucki left after breakfast. Andrew gon to mill other boys killing hogs … finished plowing in wheat … gave the boys until next friday as hollydays. Little or no preperation for Christmas is being made."
   Dec 25 "Christmas day … not much fuss this morning by the little ones about Christmas. not like it used to be in other years. Sarah E. and Mary Rice took Slocum and Mr Baggetts mare and road of to Davids without saddles. Raty and Tomy are here trying to find Christmas. It commenced raining a little before 4 Oclock the prospect of bad weather is good … a Mr Smith came here was stalled on the hill this side of the creek he brot his step daughter to stay all night."
   Dec 26 "Cloudy and likely for rain … Mary Jane and little folks here and several others. Edny Anderson came here in the evening and staid all night … Rob & Thos Wilkinson here. Mr Baggett brings good news if true, that Sherman is himed up and cannot possibly get away … Mr Ragsdale here to dinner … self working on buggy singletree."
   Dec 27 "Edna still here with Robt & Thos Wilkinson Thos and Raty Weaver Ady & Thos Anderson. … Robt & Thos Wilkinson went to Conyers got no mail. Mail comes to Lithonia Wednesdays & Sundays."
   Dec 28 "Mary Jane here … Report says that Savannah is gone up … David Anderson here this evening. Had a heavy rain last night"
   Dec 29 "very cold this morning clear and wind blowing from the north … Sarah E Amanda E and Cora A gone to Mary Janes … This is the last day of the Holidays. Savannah gone up shure enough. we have a report that Capt Weaver is dead. was killed with shell hope it is not true"
   Dec 30 "the weather more pleasant hawling up oats and fire wood. Robt Josie & Alpha Wilkinson came here this evening"
   Dec 31 "Rained and snowed last night and is very cold this morning. Mr Lester called here this morning on his way from Atlanta. Report is that Hood is raiding and a raid of Yankees are going through South Carolina … Dick is helping Mr Baggett to finish plowing. Hands hawling up corn … this is the last of the old year. I hope that the new year we will have better times and better news … did not get all the corn hawled up to day it was too cold. So ends the year 1864. cold enough for any body"
   Jan 1 "… Robt and Josie left for home after dinner. Self wrote 3 deeds for Mr Jarrell ... Mary Jane is here and there is but little doubt about Putnams death"
   Jan 3 "Raining this morning. Killed 6 hogs this morning … totale 1110lbs it is said that Mr Steward will be here to night on his way to Richmond Va"
   Jan 4 "cool and pleasant weather. Hands hawling up wood, salted up meat ... Putnam is dead"
   Jan 6 "rained nearly all night … rained several times to day. Mr Anderson here this evening he left in the rain"
   Jan 8 "Sunday cool and nearly clear … Dr Bond & Wife here to dinner Catherine Anderson and David here also"
   Jan 9 "at dark Mr Steward Father and Mr McWilliams and two boys came to stay all night. Raining heavy and rained all night"
   Jan 10 "Raining this morning all the water courses is up very high … Mr Steward and company is water bound … I fear I will loose some fincing by the floods David is come back from the creek the waters is over the foot log he has gone to the River to see it I expect it is up very high after dinner I and several others went down to the Bridge the water had been up to the fals arch and was then falling … so there is no danger of the Bridge this time Ann Catherine Anderson started home at 3 Oclock Sarah E Emma & Cora went with her every thing is drying off finely"
   Jan 11 "… Albert & Dick gone to help Mr Freeman to kill hogs Andrew trying to get some meal other hands not doing much"
   Jan 12 "pleasant to day … the Mills are all out of order and meal is hard to get"
   Jan 13 "sent Andrew to Born's Mill this morning Robt Wilkinson came here yesterday on his way to Atlanta to join a company Mrs Richards here last night … finished carrying up corn … no meal but what we can borrow"
   Jan 14 "Andrew gone to Borns Mill and Dick to Chupps with corn … tight time for bread but hope we will make out. the news from Hoods army is bad … it is a glumy time for the Confederacy at present"
   Jan 15 "Sunday after breakfast went in Buggy to Davids got him then on by Dr Bonds to Mrs Evans to Steadhanes to the Rail Road and on to Lithonia back by Mrs Johnson and home … had a cool and pleasant trip of it Dr Bond came here and staid some time no news paid Julius Johnson $400 for a mule … Robt Wilkinson is here back from Atlanta not having joined a company"
   Jan 16 "… after dinner I went to Thos Born's with David Allen Cornwell and Rube. got 3 yearlings of ours that the Yanks drove off paid for feeding them $15 called on Mary Jane got some matches and William"
   Jan 17 "cool and pleasant borrowed Mr Freemans cart & steers to hawl up oats and then wood"
   Jan 18 "… found another Sow and 8 pigs this morning and 2 hogs this is good for us Mr Smith left to day at 10 Oclock charged him nothing … in the evening Margaret and Robert Wilkinson and Mary Jane Weaver came here to stay all night all well with boath families. fixing to kill hogs in the morning … Mr Nebut [?] and Mr ___ and 2 negro women called to stay all night Mr ___ is from Augusta and going to Atlanta … Charged them $15"
   Jan 19 "cloudy and cool Nebutt & co gone before day. Killed 4 hogs Mary Jane left after breakfast … this last killing will make 1783lbs light rashions … fixing fincing and taking up rails of the road where the Yanks put them down."
   vJan 20 "hands salting meat Andrew gon to Mill … Mr Anderson here Thos & Robt Wilkinson here … hand shucking corn and thrashing oats"
   Jan 21 "cloudy and raining nearly all day. I have concluded to go to Augusta to morrow if it is dry weather. found another Sow and pigs. have now 4 Sows and 19 pigs "
   Jan 22 "Sunday raining last night and is at it this morning. Mr & Mrs Anderson and Mary Jane here to dinner"
   Jan 23 "after breakfast Thomas Wilkinson and I left for Margarets got there by dinner time"
   Jan 24 "clear and very cold after breakfast we left for the circle got there about 12 Oclock no carrs running there went on to Rutledge got there about 2 Oclock and found a carr gon away after a while carrs came back I got on board and of for Madison got there before dark had to wait till passenger train came up about 9 Oclock then put out for Union Point got there at 12 Oclock Slept with William Anderson and a Capt Tod paid $5 then got on the freight train and of to Augusta where we got at 4 Oclock … put up at Sisters"
   Jan 25 "went to see John J. he went with me to Mr Bryson's. Told him to sell my cotton then walked about the streets very cold weather"
   Jan 26 "Viewed the City in several places found it much injured by the flood sold cotton at 90 cents glad to get cleare of it at that price"
   Jan 27 "bought some little things. Found every thing very high nothing of great interest although conciderable excitement in the city about the Yankees"
   Jan 28 "Bought cotton & wool cards soda[?] shirt thread and needles and several other little articles"
   Jan 29 "Sunday … up early got breakfast and off for the depo Mr Mullen & boy with me. found John J there after waiting a long time the train put out for the up country I bid the friends good by and rowled off. Glad to get away. Passed 2 trains of Hoods soldiers on their way to Augusta got to Madison at 7 ½ Oclock went to Mr Campbells and staid all night was kindly treated and my trunk sent to the depo in the morning and no charge"
   Jan 30 "after breakfast went to the depo. Waited some 2 hours got on the train loaded with iron and off for Rutledge [7 miles] got there before 12 Oclock hired a Buggy and put of for the circle [6 miles]. met Thomas Wilkinson some 2 miles from Rutledge got on board my Buggy and on for Margarets where we got a little before sundown"
   Jan 31 "after breakfast left with Thos for home got there before 12 oclock … glad to be at home wonce more. a Mrs Lester and a Mr and Mrs Sims staid here all night … thus ends my trip"
   Feb 1 "our lodgers left soon this morning I charged them $5 a piece Thos Wilkinson also left I gave him $5"
   Feb 2 "a Mr Granvell wife and 2 children and Mr Neblet stayed all night"
   Feb 3 "our lodgers left before breakfast. raining all day hands doing but little. this is a bad time for Farmers to work"
   Feb 5 "Sunday raining this morning wrote a letter to the Postmaster on the Georgia Rail Road carrs to send the Rockbridge Mail by the Circle & Covington. Mr Nebut Lashe[?] and Peck came to stay all night ... Elizabeth went to Mary Janes to stay all night"
   Feb 6 "our lodgers left at day light paid me $7 a piece for supper and bead raining at dark"
   Feb 7 "a Miss[y?] Hendon staid here last night on her way to Augusta. It rained all night and is at it this morning with sleet on the Trees nothing to do for the hands but shuck corn and thrash oats … it snowed and rained to day so we had all sorts of weather"
   Feb 8 "Killed 3 hogs this morning … total 610lbs Mis Hinton left this morning while it was raining"
   Feb 9 "snow on the ground very cold weather hands salting meat and spinning"
   Feb 10 "last night a Mr Sherman staid here he is hunting corn … Capt James White [7] came here this morning on his way to Mr Scots in DeKalb Co to see about a Mule he baught and that is claimed by another party Mary Jane is also here Albert and Dick gon to Mr Baggetts to help him rowl [cogs?] and Will gone to help Mr Jarrell [Jarrett?] to kill hogs Andrew gone to Mill. Mr Marcus L Gordon [8] came here this evening … he is home on furlow"
   Feb 11 "Dr Bond came here last night I gave him $1000 to pay for a horse he baught for me he would try and send Mr Martin after him this morning … the new horse came up in the evening with Mr Martin. The horse is poor and looks bad but he is young there is great room for mending Mr Martin & Dr Bond was here to supper"
   Feb 12 "Mr M L Gordon and Mother was here in the evening. Paid Mr Owens $12 for fixing wagon wheel"
   Feb 13 "hands not doing much sent some of them to fix up fince around Ford field … cloudy and likely to rain or some other bad weather. At dark a Mr Whitworth an old Cherokee soldier called to stay all night. He lives in Walton Co Ga"
   Feb 14 "… Mr Whitworth left after breakfast … raining before dinner and freezes as it falls this is the worst spell of weather we have had this winter. Mr Lee came here in the evening for wagon & steers to help up nobusiness hill sent Albert and Dick to help up … 2 soldiers here from Va staid all night one of them lives in Cobb the other in Gordon Co. sleeting at bead time"
   Feb 15 "raining a little this morning. The ground covered with ice. No getting about untill it thaws … it is said the Yankees have cut the South Carolina RR and are fighting"
   Feb 16 "This is a pleasant day … Mary J here this evening … I now think we can plow tomorrow"
   Feb 17 "commenced sowing oats this morning [in Ford field] … Miss Hannah is here on a visit … soldiers came here to stay all night"
   Feb 18 "the good weather continues … report to day says there was fighting at Akin SC the Yankees driven back … Soldier Bradbery left after breakfast … a Mr Powel staid here last night from Atlanta going to Athens"
   Feb 19 "… some of Whealers cavalry are here taken up Diserters and Straglers this is a good thing they took up several all of them are camped at the bridge. I hope they will take up every Straggler in the country for they are needed in the Army"
   Feb 20 "…Albert and Andrew hawling rocks to make up the watter gates at the creek. have Mary Jane's steers … the Cavelry has sent of several presinors this morning to Covington … Sowing pease Mustard and other things in the garden … last night 2 women staid here one a Miss Tuning"
   Feb 21 "…hands hawling rails … Pery Henry was here this evening"
   Feb 22 "… it commenced raining in the evening raining at bead time. a young Mr Jones staid all night. Sarah Edny and Miss Rice and 2 Miss Bagwell went to Mary Janes to a carding"
   Feb 23 "Raining this morning. Sent hands to thrashing oats and Shucking corn … a Mr Car stoped here to stay all night"
   Feb 24 "raining this morning watter corses must be up raining at dinner time and likely to rain all day … it has been raining now for 2 ½ days and likely to continue all night. Sent the boys to the creek to save the timber I hawled to fix the watter gate"
   Feb 25 "raining this morning … we had 2 Kentuckians here yesterday evening they staid till near bead time on of them was a Mr Anderson and likely some kin"
   Feb 26 "nearly clear this morning … we will likely heare of damage beeing done by the flood"
   Feb 27 "pleasant weather … after dinner Self went to the Henry old place and appraised Milton Henrys estate ... commenced raining at dusk. To Morrow Milton Henrys property will be sold. I may get the horse if he does not go two hight"
   Feb 28 "a Mr Arnel staid here last night and left after breakfast. Rained all last night and is at it this morning … baught an old saddle at the sale paid $55 the horse brought $1555 I did not get him … 2 soldiers staid for supper they left in the morning for Lawrenceville."