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Photo Gallery: Iron Springs
Marker text:
On the night of Nov. 17, 1864, the Right Wing (15th and 17th Corps) of
General Sherman's army, which had marched south from Atlanta on Nov. 15th on
its destructive March to the Sea, reached Jackson and camped in and around
the town. Hq. Right Wing, Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard, USA, and the headquarters
of both corps were established in Jackson. Elements of the 17th Corps
(Blair) moved forward to Iron Springs and camped here on the road to
Planters' Factory (Ocmulgee Mills) at Seven Islands (5 miles SE), the point
which had been selected for the passage of the Right Wing over the Ocmulgee
River. G.A. Smith's division of the 17th Corps, with the pontoon bridge
train of the Right Wing, camped near Worthville (7 miles NW). That night,
the 29th Missouri Mounted Infantry seized the ferry at Seven Islands and
secured both banks of the river for the passage.
Next morning, the 1st Missouri Engineers passed through Iron Springs with
the pontoons and, by 1:00 P.M., two bridges were ready and crossing
operations had begun. Late that night, the 17th Corps having cleared Iron
Springs, the Artillery Brigade arrived and went into camp. Although both
bridges were in use day and night, heavy rains had made the roads so
difficult that the passage was not completed until the afternoon of the
20th.
018-4 Georgia Historical Commission 1957
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