James and Janes move to IL

Becki, my grandaughter, helped one day at the FHL downtown.  We found some land records which have helped place James and Jane in a geographical area.  And then Jana and I recorded some collateral information that has proved helpful in tracing the movements of the Bruces and Jenkins in SC and Georgia.  We three found some land lotteries from 1832 in Cherokee Georgia that helped find census sources for James and Jane Bruce. 

Then I was reminded of the story my Grandmother told.  She was daughter of Mary Elizabeth Bruce Radley and William Radley.  Mary Elizabeth Bruce is daughter of James and Jane Bruce. Here is the story.
James Madison Bruce and Jane Jenkins married in 1839 in Lumpkin CO, GA. By the 1850 Census they had $250 of real property in Cherokee CO GA. And they were living next door to Shepherd Jenkins, a possible relative to Jane. By the 1860 Census in GA, Cherokee, Cross Roads, they had $2000 of real property and $1930 of personal property (possibly some of that in slaves?).


Then we see them again in the 1870 Census, 600 miles away in Neoga, IL with only $100 in real property.

So why the move to IL and why did they end up with much less property and wealth?

My Grandma Byler, Mary Elizabeth Bruce Radley's daughter, told the story of how her parents, the James Madison Bruce family, had their cotton picked in one night, in the dark, with only lanterns for light, worried someone would find out what they were doing. They had it loaded on the train and they all got on the train  and moved 600 miles away to Neoga IL. They left the land and the slaves. (I'm still trying to sort that out with land and probate records. So far nothing.)

This makes some sense when we understand that in 1863 Sherman's march from Chattanooga TN to the Georgia coast went right through Atlanta (Remember Gone With The Wind?) Sherman and his army burned, pillaged and ruined the country-side in a 50-90 mile wide swathe, with his 90-100 thousand man army.
So, I'm thinking that since our Bruce's were just south east of Atlanta, they probably heard of Sherman's army coming in 1863, and packed up and left for IL.   
 
It appears form records of the Civil War soldiers, that James Madison Bruce and his brother, Hugh Callaway Bruce,  may have been in the Confederate Army from Georgia. 
 
As far as I know, the land was lost to James Madison Bruce and family.  There is some indication that he gave some inheritance to another Bruce family which remained in Georgia.  More research needs to be done on this.   
I am thankful for all the help on this family.  Anitra