At  Griswoldsville  there  was  a  sharp  engage-
ment (Nov.  22,  1864)  with  a  portion  of  Har-
dee's troops  sent  up  from  Savaunah,  and  sev-
eral brigades  of  militia.  The  Confederates
were  repulsed  with  a  loss  of  twenty-five  hun-
dred men.  Howard  could  have  talcen  Macon
after  this  blow  upon  its  defenders,  but  such
was  not  a  part  of  Sherman's  plan.  The  Na-
tionals were  attacked  at  the  Oconee  River
while  laying  a  pontoon  bridge,  but  the  assail-
ants, largely  composed  of  Wheelei-'s  cavalry,
were  defeated.  Kilpatrick  made  a  feint  tow-
ards Augusta  to  mislead  the  Confederates  as
to  Sherman's  destination,  also  to  cover  the
passage  of  tbe  army  over  the  Ogeechee  Kiver,
and,  if  possible,  to  release  Union  captives  in
the   prison -pen   at  Millen.      Kilpatrick    and


THE   PRISOX-PEN  AT  SULLEN.
man's  front,  flauk,  and  rear,"  and,  "  be  trust-
ful in  Providence."  Benjamin  H.  Hill,  of  Geor-
gia, iu  the  Confederate  Congress  at  Eichmoud,
wrote  to  the  people  of  his  state,  "  Every  citizen
with  his  gnu  and  every  negro  with  his  spade
and  axe  can  do  the  work  of  a  soldier.  You
can  destroy  the  enemy  by  retarding  his  march.
Be  firm !"  The  representatives  of  Georgia  in
the  Coufederate  Congress  called  upon  their
people  to  fly  to  arras.  "  Remove  your  negroes,
horses,  cattle,  and  provisions  from  Sherman's
army,"  they  said,  "and  burn  what  yon  cannot
carry  away.  Burn  all  bridges  and  block  up
the  roads  in  his  route.  Assail  the  invader  in
front,  flank,  and  rear,  by  night  and  by  day.
