boys, the works carried, and enemy routed. These
little fights resulted in no check to our advancing columns. The head
of the column would halt to let the rear close up, and before that was
done, the advance guard would have cleared the way, and the column
again set in motion.

Such too, was the case when fallen trees or destroyed bridges
obstructed the road. The pioneers had usually cleared away the
impediments before the column had closed up, and no stoppage on this
account was experienced. Notwithstanding this arduous march down to the
great sea, the soldiers were not in the least dispirited. They wanted
for nothing to eat or wear, and it seemed to them more of a gala day
than one of fatigue.

Before closing this chapter, we will give a summary of events from the
time we left Lee and Gordon's Mills until the close of the year 1864.

The total casualties of the Eighty-sixth Illinois, during this time,
the most eventful period of its history, were:

Recruits 16
Transferred by promotion 1
Transferred to other regiments 26
Discharged 9
Ordinary deaths 7
Killed in action 45
Missing 25
Deserted 6
Wounded in action 113
Wounded accidental 8
Died of wounds 10
Surrendered from desertion 1
----
Aggregate 267

The beginning of 1864 found us near Chattanooga with an army nearly
equal to our own to contend with; the end of it found us in Savannah,
snugly encamped near the great sea. The whole year had been resplendent
with victory. Atlanta and Milledgeville and Savannah had fallen, and
the anaconda of Yankee vengeance had almost extinguished the lights of
rebellion. Success seemed mixed with doubt when the year began; when it
closed, bright and buoyant was the hope of our armies on land and sea.

Sherman had pushed from the mountain districts of the north to the
level lowlands of the south; no army having ever met with more signal
success than his. No difficulties had been more successfully overcome,
at any time or age, than by his exultant army. With determined zeal and
firm tread it marched from one victory to another.

If it failed in driving the enemy at one or two or three trials, it was
still fearless and determined. And he was a brave and