General William Tecumseh Sherman issues the first orders (Special Orders No. 120), from Kingston, Georgia, Bartow County directly related to his "March to the Sea." Over the next few days the city of Rome will be destroyed and track from Atlanta to Chattanooga will be torn up, some transported to Tennessee for later use, some twisted into Sherman's hairpins or Sherman's neckties and left by the side of the railroad.
Thursday - Nov. 10, 1864
The Burning of Rome. General John Corse orders infrastructure in Rome, GA destroyed if it could be used for war. Among the buildings burned were two depots, warehouses, and a grist mill. Corse requests permission to destroy the towns of Cedartown, Van Wert and Buchanan, south of Rome. Sherman tells Corse to wait, effectively sparing the towns.
Etowah and Stegall Station - Major James L. Orr of the 42nd Indiana Regiment in his diary reported: Cartersville, Ga. Nov. 12 - 1864.
This day about 11 o'clock the last train north on the Georgia R. R. left for Chattanooga and R. R. connection with U. S. was thus severed. The telegraph operator took out his instruments & left early in the a.m. At 12 Gen. Sherman arrived -- hitched on his pocket instrument & probably that may be the last link binding us to the north. We are now adrift for a great raid. But whither? Quien sabe? Fair.
