Throughout Sherman's March to the Sea, thousands of people escaping slavery attached themselves to the Union army's various infantry columns. Most eventually turned back, but those that remained were looked on as "a growing encumbrance" as the army approached Savannah in December 1864.[1] Complicating the situation, Confederate cavalry under General Joseph Wheeler were actively harassing the Federal rear guard during this period.[2]
Ebenezer Creek massacreEdit
On December 8, 1864, the 14th Corps of Major General William Sherman's Union Army, under Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis, reached the western bank of Ebenezer Creek. While Davis' engineers began assembling a pontoon bridge for the crossing, Wheeler's cavalry approached close enough to conduct sporadic shelling of the Union lines.[3] The Confederate scouts of General Wheeler's army had shadowed the March to the Sea Campaign, preying on the stragglers in the crowd of "Contrabands". Contrabands is what escaped slaves during the civil war were referred to.[4] These refugees had joined Union Army on the march after escaping slavery in hopes of food and protection. By midnight the bridge was ready, and in the early morning of December 9th Davis's 14,000 men began their crossing. Over 600 freed people were anxious to cross with them, but Davis forbid the passage of contrabands due to the possibility of combat ahead. In reality, no such force existed. As the last Union soldiers reached the eastern bank on the morning of December 9, Davis's engineers abruptly cut the bridge loose and drew it up onto the shore.[5]
On realizing their plight, a panic set in amongst the freedmen, who knew that Confederate cavalry were nearby. They "hesitated briefly, impacted by a surge of pressure from the rear, then stampeded with a rush into the icy water, old and young alike, men and women and children, swimmers and non-swimmers, determined not to be left behind."[6] In the uncontrolled, terrified crush, many quickly drowned. On the eastern bank, some of Davis's soldiers made an effort to help those that they could reach, wading into the water as far as they dared.[7] Others felled trees into the water. Several of the freedmen lashed logs together into a crude raft, which they used to rescue those they could and then to ferry others across the stream. [8]
While these efforts were under way, scouts from Wheeler's cavalry arrived, fired briefly at the soldiers on the far bank, and left to summon Wheeler's full force. Officers from the XIV Corps ordered their men to leave the scene, and the march was resumed. The freedmen continued their frantic efforts to ferry as many as possible across the stream on the makeshift raft, but when Wheeler's cavalry arrived in force, those refugees who had not made it to the eastern bank, or drowned in the attempt, were slaughtered or crushed by the stampeding horses of the Confederate calvalry, and those that were kept alive were returned to slavery.[9]
AftermathEdit
Historical marker, erected by the Georgia Historical Society in 2010.
Davis's orders infuriated several of the Union men who witnessed the ensuing calamity, among them Major James A. Connolly and Chaplain John J. Hight.[10] Connolly described the events in a letter to the Senate Military Commission, which found its way into the press. Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton pressured Major General Sherman regarding the situation. Sherman could not allow what had happened at Ebenezer Creek to happen again and had to find a solution. Davis defended his actions as a matter of military necessity, with Sherman's full support. [11] Sherman's solution came in form of Special Field Order No. 15.
In 2010, the Georgia Historical Society erected a historical marker titled "March to the Sea: Ebenezer Creek" near the site, recognizing the 1864 tragedy and its outcome.
ebenezer, creek, tributary, savannah, river, effingham, county, georgia, about, miles, north, city, savannah, during, american, civil, incident, creek, resulted, drowning, many, freed, slaves, contents, background, massacre, aftermath, notes, references, exter. Ebenezer Creek is a tributary of the Savannah River in Effingham County Georgia about 20 miles north of the city of Savannah During the American Civil War an incident at the creek resulted in the drowning of many freed slaves Contents 1 Background 2 Ebenezer Creek massacre 3 Aftermath 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksBackground EditThroughout Sherman s March to the Sea thousands of people escaping slavery attached themselves to the Union army s various infantry columns Most eventually turned back but those that remained were looked on as a growing encumbrance as the army approached Savannah in December 1864 1 Complicating the situation Confederate cavalry under General Joseph Wheeler were actively harassing the Federal rear guard during this period 2 Ebenezer Creek massacre EditOn December 8 1864 the 14th Corps of Major General William Sherman s Union Army under Brigadier General Jefferson C Davis reached the western bank of Ebenezer Creek While Davis engineers began assembling a pontoon bridge for the crossing Wheeler s cavalry approached close enough to conduct sporadic shelling of the Union lines 3 The Confederate scouts of General Wheeler s army had shadowed the March to the Sea Campaign preying on the stragglers in the crowd of Contrabands Contrabands is what escaped slaves during the civil war were referred to 4 These refugees had joined Union Army on the march after escaping slavery in hopes of food and protection By midnight the bridge was ready and in the early morning of December 9th Davis s 14 000 men began their crossing Over 600 freed people were anxious to cross with them but Davis forbid the passage of contrabands due to the possibility of combat ahead In reality no such force existed As the last Union soldiers reached the eastern bank on the morning of December 9 Davis s engineers abruptly cut the bridge loose and drew it up onto the shore 5 On realizing their plight a panic set in amongst the freedmen who knew that Confederate cavalry were nearby They hesitated briefly impacted by a surge of pressure from the rear then stampeded with a rush into the icy water old and young alike men and women and children swimmers and non swimmers determined not to be left behind 6 In the uncontrolled terrified crush many quickly drowned On the eastern bank some of Davis s soldiers made an effort to help those that they could reach wading into the water as far as they dared 7 Others felled trees into the water Several of the freedmen lashed logs together into a crude raft which they used to rescue those they could and then to ferry others across the stream 8 While these efforts were under way scouts from Wheeler s cavalry arrived fired briefly at the soldiers on the far bank and left to summon Wheeler s full force Officers from the XIV Corps ordered their men to leave the scene and the march was resumed The freedmen continued their frantic efforts to ferry as many as possible across the stream on the makeshift raft but when Wheeler s cavalry arrived in force those refugees who had not made it to the eastern bank or drowned in the attempt were slaughtered or crushed by the stampeding horses of the Confederate calvalry and those that were kept alive were returned to slavery 9 Aftermath Edit Historical marker erected by the Georgia Historical Society in 2010 Davis s orders infuriated several of the Union men who witnessed the ensuing calamity among them Major James A Connolly and Chaplain John J Hight 10 Connolly described the events in a letter to the Senate Military Commission which found its way into the press Secretary of War Edwin M Stanton pressured Major General Sherman regarding the situation Sherman could not allow what had happened at Ebenezer Creek to happen again and had to find a solution Davis defended his actions as a matter of military necessity with Sherman s full support 11 Sherman s solution came in form of Special Field Order No 15 In 2010 the Georgia Historical Society erected a historical marker titled March to the Sea Ebenezer Creek near the site recognizing the 1864 tragedy and its outcome Notes Edit Foote p 649 Miles p 128 Miles p 136 Living Contraband Former Slaves in the Nation s Capital During the Civil War nps gov National Park Service Retrieved May 27 2023 Miles p 138 Foote p 649 Foote p 650 Miles p 139 Miles p 140 Miles p 139 Sherman ch XXIIReferences EditFoote Shelby The Civil War A Narrative volume 3 Red River to Appomattox New York Random House 1974 ISBN 0 307 29044 1 Miles Jim To The Sea Revised Ed Cumberland House Publishing 2002 ISBN 1 58182 261 8 Sherman William T Memoirs of General W T Sherman permanent dead link 2nd ed D Appleton amp Co 1913 1889 Reprinted by the Library of America 1990 ISBN 978 0 940450 65 3 External links EditBetrayal at Ebenezer Creek Civil War Times Ebenezer Creek Historical Marker erected 2010 32 21 42 8 N 81 14 14 1 W 32 361889 N 81 237250 W 32 361889 81 237250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ebenezer Creek amp 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