Ebenezer Creek facts for kids
Ebenezer Creek is a small river in Effingham County, Georgia. It flows into the Savannah River. This creek is famous for a sad event that happened during the American Civil War. Many formerly enslaved people drowned there in December 1864.
Contents
The March to the Sea
During the American Civil War, Union General William T. Sherman led his army on a long journey. This journey was called "Sherman's March to the Sea." As the army marched through Georgia, thousands of enslaved people escaped their owners. They joined the Union soldiers, hoping to find freedom. Many of these people eventually went back. But hundreds stayed with the army as it got closer to the city of Savannah. Confederate soldiers, led by General Joseph Wheeler, were also nearby. They often attacked the Union army's rear.
The Tragedy at Ebenezer Creek
A Difficult Crossing
On December 8, 1864, a part of the Union army, called the XIV Corps, reached Ebenezer Creek. Brigadier General Jefferson C. Davis was in charge of these soldiers. His engineers quickly started building a floating bridge across the creek. While they worked, Confederate cavalry fired at the Union lines from a distance.
By midnight, the bridge was ready. General Davis's 14,000 soldiers began to cross. Over 600 formerly enslaved people were with them. They were eager to cross too. But General Davis gave an order. He told his officers to stop the freed people from crossing. The freed people were told they could cross later. They were told a Confederate force in front of them needed to be cleared. This was not true.
The Bridge is Cut Loose
As the last Union soldiers reached the other side, a terrible thing happened. General Davis's engineers suddenly cut the bridge loose. They pulled it onto the eastern bank. The freed people on the western bank realized they were trapped. They knew Confederate soldiers were close by. A wave of panic spread through the crowd.
They rushed forward into the icy water. Old and young, men, women, and children, all jumped in. Some could swim, others could not. Many quickly drowned in the cold, rushing water.
Efforts to Help and Confederate Arrival
On the eastern bank, some Union soldiers tried to help. They waded into the water as far as they could. Others chopped down trees to help people reach the shore. Some of the freed people tied logs together. They made a simple raft. They used it to rescue others and carry them across the creek.
While these brave efforts were happening, Confederate scouts arrived. They fired at the Union soldiers on the far bank. Then they left to get General Wheeler's main force. Officers from the Union army ordered their men to leave. The march continued. The freed people kept trying to cross on the raft. But when General Wheeler's cavalry arrived in full force, many were captured again. Those who had not made it across, or had not drowned, were re-enslaved.
After the Event
General Davis's orders made some Union soldiers very angry. Major James A. Connolly and Chaplain John J. Hight were two of them. Major Connolly wrote a letter describing the events. This letter was later published in newspapers. The Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, spoke to General Sherman and General Davis about the incident. This happened in January 1865. General Davis said his actions were necessary for military reasons. General Sherman supported him.
In 2010, the Georgia Historical Society placed a historical marker near the creek. It remembers the sad event of 1864.
