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SHERMAN'S

MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

&fott\ti an& Indents jf t\t Campip.

BY

CAPT. DAVID P. CONYNGHAM.

NEW YORK:
SHELDON AND COMPANY.
1865.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, In the year 1865, by
DAVID P. CONYNGHAM,
In tlie Clerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New York.

STEREOTYPED AT THE
BOSTON STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,
No. 4 Spring Lane.

JAMES GORDON BENNETT, ESQ.,
editor new york herald.
Dear Sir :
My connection with the Herald, as a member of that large and
energetic corps of War Correspondents which you established at the
commencement of the Eebellion, has afforded me the opportunity of
collecting the valuable historical materials which are laid before the
public in the following- pages. With feelings of pride and pleasure,
I avail myself of your kind permission to dedicate this work to one
who is justly esteemed the Nestob of Journalism in this Country.
Respectfully, Your ob't serv't, The Author.
New York, Sept. 10, 1865.

nncEODucriotf.

The Campaign of General Shekman in the West and South, which
is treated, of in the follcrwing pages, will be accorded a place in history
as the most important of the entire war. While the brilliant achieve
ments of the armies of the Potomac and the James around Richmond
contributed materially to the final success of the national cause, the
military operations inaugurated at Chattanooga, and brought to a
triumphant end in South Carolina, comprised a vital part of the grand
plan for the suppression of the rebellion — a plan conceived in con
summate wisdom, and. executed with a boldness and precision wholly
unprecedented in military history. We know of no single instance of
two great armies, a thousand miles "apart, acting in such perfect con
cert, with a view to attain one end, and accomplishing the purpose so
completely, as did the army of the Potomac and the army of the West.
The abandonment of Eiehmond, the surrender of Lee's army, and
the subsequent inevitable submission of General Johnston were the
results of their combined operations.
It might almost be said that while the left wing of the national
army under Grant was threatening Petersburg and Eiehmond, the
right wing, under Sherman, was sweeping round on the flanks of the
rebellion, and enclosing it in a net from which escape was impossible.
At the time when Sherman was known to be on his venturesome
march to the sea, it was a matter of speculation in the public mind as
to whether the capture of Eiehmond would fall to his lot, or that of
the general who was besieging it. It was subsequently proved by the
result, and admitted by the southern generals, that Sherman's bold
move through Georgia and the Carolinas cut off all chance of the
rebellion being maintained longer. It is not assigning undue impor-
1* (5) ^

6 INTRODUCTION.
tance, then, to " Sherman's March through the South," to say that it
was the most decisive campaign of the war.
The author of the following pages, having acted in the capacity of
army correspondent of the New York Herald with the army of the
Potomac during the latter part of the campaign which ended at Mine
Eun, joined General Sherman's army at Chattanooga in March, 1864,
and served all through his brilliant campaigns, as volunteer aid-de
camp and war correspondent.
The instructions of the Herald to its army correspondents were
brief, but comprehensive. They were simply these : To obtain the
most accurate information by personal observation, and forward it
with the utmost despatch, regardless of expense, labor, or danger.
Guided by thesg concise instructions, — with his horse, his revolver,
his field-glass, his note-book, blanket, and haversack, — the army
correspondent of the New York Herald started forth to share the
vicissitudes and hardships of the camp, the fatigues of the march, and
the" perils of the battle-field, to contribute his narrative to the history
of the great war.
It was thus that the materials for the present work were collected.
The writer was an eye-witness of all the battles, and most of the inci
dents, described ; and he may claim for the work, at least, the merit
of strict fidelity to truth. As it is no part of his design to give
a partial view of anything that transpired during the eventful period
over which the story runs, he has chronicled the facts as they occurred,
without detraction or exaggeration, believing this to be the duty of the
historian. The condition of the southern people, and the workings of the now
extinct institution of slavery, were but little understood iu the'north
before the late war called so many of its citizen-soldiers to the south.
As frequent opportunities of obtaining information upon these sub
jects necessarily came within the reach of the writer, several faithful,
and, he trusts, not uninteresting, pictures of social relations in the
Southern States will be found in this volume.

David P. Conyngham.

New York, September 10, 1865.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.
PAGE
En Route to General Grant's Army of the West. — Scenes and Stories in Louis
ville. — Romantio Histor7 of "Stud Reynolds." — Colonel Scully. — Tho
Defences of Nashville  11
CHAPTER II.
Sketch of Tennessee.— Lookout Mountain. — The Battle of Chickamauga. —
The Camp Breakfast. — The dead Captain. — His blighted Love  20
CHAPTER III.
Opening of the Campaign of 1864. — Disposition of the Armies. — Awful Con
dition of the People in Tennessee. — Battle of Rocky Face Ridge. ... 28
CHAPTER IV.
Headquarters ofthe Generals. — Sufferings of the Wounded. — The Enemy's
Position at Resaca  40
CHAPTER V.
Sketches of our Generals. — Personnel of Sherman, Thomas, Schofield, Hooker,
McPherson, Logan, and Geary  48
CHAPTER VI.
Battle of Resaca. — What it cost to take two Guns. — Terrible Scenes on the
Battle-field. — Our Losses  56
CHAPTER VII.
The Pursuit. — Our Army cross the River on Pontoons and Bridges. — Capture
of a Rebel Courier. — A good Trick of General Thomas. — Splendid Achieve
ment of General Sweeny. — Storming the Heights at Snake Creek. — Deeds
of individual Valor. — Sherman and the Lone Widow. — A Coup d'CEil from
Buena Vista. — Description ofthe Country. — Troubles ofthe Correspond
ents. — Personal Anecdotes of Sherman  . 66
(7)

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VIII.
A Carnival in the Camps. - Racing and Hunting Parties. - Stragglers and Ma
rauders. - Excesses of our Troops.- Murder of Rebel Officers. - Capricious-
ness of the Southern Ladies.— Mrs. Major Dash and Mrs. Captain Smart.—
Condition ofthe Poor Whites.— Incidents and Anecdotes. — Whites and
Blacks  >. .....". ¦  78
CHAPTER IX.
Scenes in Camp. — Stories by the Fireside. - How an Illinois Man sold a
Horse. — The Double-ender Gun.— Misery ofthe People. — The Hiding-
place in the Thicket, and the dead Girl  90
CHAPTER X.
Assaults and Skirmishes near Dallas and Allatoona. — Wood's Division storm
ing the Hill. — Cleburne's Rebel Division drive them back. — Gallant Attack
of General T. W. Sweeny. — Kenesaw Mountain. — General Frank P. Blair
arrives. — Personal Risks of our Generals. — Sherman shelling a Skulker.
— Attack on a Train, audits Consequences  99
CHAPTER XI.
Kenesaw Mountain. — Sherman commands a Battery. — Death of Bishop Polk.
— The March through the Mountain Passes. — Sherman's steam Scout. —
A friendly Visit, and its Consequences  Ill
CHAPTER XII.
A Chapter of Fighting.,— Johnston addresses false Words to his Men. — A
Disappointment to the Rebels. — Battle of Culp's Farm. — Death of General
Harker. — Hibernian Anecdote  12o
CHAPTER XIII.
Kenesaw. — Crossing the Chattahoochee. — Sherman outwits and outflanks
Johnson. — First Sight of Atlanta. — Cruelty of the Slave Dealers.  The
Story of the Negro Ostih.  Ul
CHAPTER XIV.
Our Cavalry at Work. — Hood replaces Johnston. — Their Tactics compared.
— The Battle of Peach-tree Creek. — Atlanta surrounded  154
CHAPTER XV.
Battle of the 22d .July,— Death of General McPherson. — His Life and Ser
vices. — Scenes among th? Dead and Wounded.  167

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVI.
Unsuccessful' Cavalry Raids of McCook and Stoneman. — Change of Com-
r manders. — Howard's Appointment and Hooker's Resignation. — The Battle
of Proctor's Creek  181
CHAPTER XVII.
Shelling Atlanta. — A Scout's Experience of Hanging. — The Lady Major. . 192
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Siege continued. — Sharpshooters fraternizing. — A Military Game of
Chess between Sherman and Hood. — Sherman wins the Game, and Atlanta
too. — Cavalry Raids of Kilpatrick and Wheeler. — The decisive Battle of
Jonesboro'. — Atlanta occupied by our TroopsJ .  198
CHAPTER XIX.
Atlanta ours. — Sherman's Entrance. — Feeling of the Citizens. — Sketch of
the City. — Buried alive in . a Bomb Proof. — The Citizens sent north and
south. — An inhuman Fiend  213
CHAPTER XX.
A new Campaign. — Battle of Allatoona. — Sherman signalling from Kenesaw
Mountain. — Who planned the Campaign and March through Georgia, Sher
man or Grant ? — The Conflagration of Atlanta  227
CHAPTER XXI.
The March to the Sea commences. — How the Army supplied itself. — Sher
man among his Men. — Sack of Madison. — Negro Auxiliaries. — Farm-yard
. and.Plantation Scenes.  ". . . .... . .239
CHAPTER XXII.
^'he Army in Milledgeville. — Flight of the Government and Legislature.—
A mock Session in the Capitol. — Our Cavalry Movements. — The Jew and
the General. — The Way Sherman's Army lived on the Country. . . .253
CHAPTER XXIII.
Howell Cobb's fast Mare.— Joe, the Forager.— Contrabands. — Capture of
Fort McAllister  • • •  270
CHAPTER XXIV.
Evacuation of Savannah. — Surrender to General Geary.— His just and con
ciliatory Government. — Description of the City  289

10 CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXV.
The March into South Carolina. — Bummers. — Shooting Bloodhounds. — The
Pets of the Army  30°
CHAPTER XXVI.
Description and Appearance of South Carolina. — Visit to Woodlands. . . 318
CHAPTER XXVII.
Description of Columbia. — The City on Fire. — Dreadful Scenes in the Streets.
— Who is responsible. — Sufferings of the Planters' Families  329
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Cheraw. — Crossing the Pedee. — Kilpatrick's Fight with Wade Hampton.—
Fayetteville. — Communication with the Seaboard  350
CHAPTER XXIX.
The Battles of Averysboro' and Bentonville. — News of Lee's Surrender. —
Interview between Sherman and Johnston. — Homeward Bound. . . . 360

APPENDIX.
I. Sketch of the Life of General Sherman  367
II. Organization of General Sherman's Staff and Armt. . . 382
III. The Surrender and Parole of General Johnston's Army. . 384
IV. General Sherman's Testimony before the Committee on the
War  394
V. Speech of General Sherman at St. Louis  427

GENERAL SHERMAN'S
MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER I.
EN ROUTE TO GENERAL GRANT'S ARMY OF THE WEST. — SCENES
AND STORIES IN LOUIS VILLE. — ROMANTIC HISTORY OF "STUD
REYNOLDS." — COLONEL SCULLY. — THE DEFENCES OF NASH
VILLE. In the spring of 1864 I started to join General Grant's army
in the "West, which then lay cantoned around Huntsville, Chat
tanooga, and Knoxville. My connection with the army was that
of a war correspondent — a position which I had previously filled
with the grand army of the Potomac.
Arriving at Louisville, the military system of passports began
to stare me in the face ; but having a letter from General Burn
side to General Schofield, then in command at Knoxville, I was
proof against the repeated and inexorable demand of " Your
pass, sir."
At Louisville I put up at the Gault House, and, of course,
was shown the very spot where General Jeff C. Davis (not the
rebel Jeff, but the Union general) shot General Nelson. This
was a very prolific subject for the guests. As a dernier ressort
I have always found it on the table. It appeared to be part
and parcel of the dessert, and led»to strong debates, some jus
tifying and some censuring the act. ' One thing was certain —
that Nelson, though a thorqugh soldier and stanch Union man,
was a blustering, insolent naval martinet. At Stone River he
performed the most heroic acts of valor and savage acts of cru-

12 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
eity. His bravery is respected ; but he atoned for his insolence
by his life.
The hotel was pretty full of officers ; some, who were on duty
in the city, gayly strutting about in all the pomp of power ; oth
ers, less demonstrative, were hastening to the front to join their
commands, for the spring campaign was expected soon to open.
Vast preparations in the way of hurrying supplies to the front
were being made, and all officers were ordered to join their
commands at once.
General Grant had just been appointed lieutenant general
and commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States,
and General Sherman had been appointed his successor as com
mander of the division of the Mississippi. Officers lolled
around, some smoking their cigars, some enjoying the fragrance
of a meerschaum ; but with all the war was a prolific subject,
and grave battles and guerilla adventures were discussed and
related. " They counted Sherman crazy," said a little fiery captain
with an ugly scar on his face, " because he could see farther than
others. He said that it would take two hundred thousand men
to crush out the war in the south-west ; but I ask you who was
right?" continued the captain, taking his cigar from his mouth,
and looking around him to see if any one questioned his asser
tion. " And didn't he come up in time by a rapid march from the
Mississippi to relieve Chattanooga, and make Longstreet clear out
from Knoxville ? " said another officer, approvingly.
" I tell you what, gentlemen," said a gay, handsome-looking
young colonel. " Only for Governor Johnson we would not
have much to fight for here ; for when Buell thought to evacuate
Nashville, Andy Johnson insisted on retaining it ; and after
Buell had drawn off his troops, he still • retained it with what
available militia he could muster. I command his body-o-uard
the 10th Tennessee ; and I tell you, the rage and despair of ' the
governor at the idea of evacuating Nashville was a caution to
rebels. ' Colonel Scully,' he said, ' WhUe we have one man
left we must hpld Nashville.' "

CALAMITIES OP WAR. 13
: " And old Andy did it, too," said a long Tennesseean captain,
who wore a slouched hat, long boots with pants stuck inside
them, and had altogether the negligent air of a man ready and
willing to carry on war on his own account, as well as Uncle
foam's. I have remarked that the Kentuckian and Tennesseean troops
and officers have been superior skirmishers and scouts, while
they possess a strong repugnance to regular drill and discipline.
This is partly owing to their training at the beginning of the
war, and how much each man depended on self-reliance and
pluck. When the gallows was the reward of loyalty in Ten
nessee, each man lived in fear of his neighbor, and slept with
his ¦ bowie knife and revolver, under his head. Brother's hand
was raised against brother's, and the rebels, while in the ascend
ancy, used their power with merciless cruelty, while the Union
men retaliated, exacting blood for blood. Thus was Tennessee
converted into one vast battle ground, not only by contending
armies, but also by private factions and individuals.
Every county, town, and almost every hamlet has been the
scene of some fierce struggle, bloody- drama, or savage murder.
Towns and villages were laid waste, homesteads desolated,
nothing remaining but blackened ruins and red graves to tell their
bloody history.
Fire-eating politicians, and ranting preachers, whose mission
was not from above, "fired the southern heart" ofthe poor
white trash with a fanaticism that made them savagely thirst for
the blood of their nearest neighbor.
"Despite such terrors, despite death, there were found brave,
uncompromising men, whose creed was the union of their
country, and whose faith in the right never faltered, though
hunted down by Vigilance Committees and bloodthirsty guerril
las. Though they saw their friends dangle from some tree,»
their homes in ruins, their families poor wandering outcasts,
or perhaps laid in some bloody grave, still they never yielded to
seduction or force. " God andtheir Country," was their motto.
Never ha's a nobler heroism been displayed, nor a truer
national devotion, than by the faithful people of East Tennessee.
2

14 Sherman's march through the south.
It was worthy the days of William Tell. History will speak
of them with admiration ; romance and poetry will couple their
names with the deeds of heroes, and unborn generations will
crown their praise.
" I tell you what, colonel," said the tall, gaunt captain,
" Andy Johnson is a trump ! " and the captain struck the table
with his clinched hand by way of emphasis. "I know him
¦well, — I hail from near Greenville, and was raised just beside
him, — his firmness and determination to all the small-souled,
blue-blasted Secesh around. Only for him we could scarcely
maintain the unequal contest, when the devils were hanging and
butchering men, women, and children. But didn't we pay them,
eh, colonel?" and he addressed himself to a middle-aged man
with sharp features and quick eye, who sat beside him.
The colonel was dressed as if he had thrown on his clothes in
a hurry, and had not had time to button them. As he wore no
insignia of rank, we were rather incredulous whether he ad
dressed him so in joke or according to rank.
As the colonel replied only with a nod of acquiescence, I
asked, —
" You don't mean to say, friend, that they killed women and
children ? "
" Don't I, though," and he squirted a volume of tobacco juice
across me. " Reckon, stranger, you were never up in Tennes
see, about, our 'ere part."
" Never," I replied.
" Well, if business let you, go there, and jist ask the people
there, and in the few gibbets you'll see the Secesh receipt for
making rebels ; that's all. At Knoxville they hung poor old
Harman and his boy, and dragged Haun from his young wife
and babe. Scarcely a day passed but some one was strangled
amidst the curses and jeers of as drunken a set of ruffians as
ever graced hell.
" In Jefferson County, Colonel Leadbetter, who was a southern
Yankee, a Maine man, and as unprincipled a ruffian as ever
butchered a helpless prisoner, hung Fry and Henry from the
limb of a tree so close to the track that the passengers could

STUD REYNOLDS. 15
kick and strike them, which they did even while the breath was
in them.
" I had a taste of their mercy myself. I was in that dirty jail
up in Knoxville, and was thrown into an iron cage, with vermin
and filth for my companions, because I shot the leader of a cut
throat gang who attacked my house. I had too many friends to
hang me ; so they sent me with another batch off for Tuscaloosa,
with the intention of killing us on the way. Beyond Athens
they stopped the train, and ordered us out into the woods to rest ;
we knew what that rest meant, I tell you. As soon as we got
out, I called out, ' Boys, they are going to shoot us ; let us fight,
and not die like dogs.' I struck the man near me, seized his
musket, shot down another, and in the confusion darted through
the woods.
" That little band fought like devils ; but they were all killed
except myself and three others. We escaped, Heaven knows
how. " I had my revenge. A few months since we captured a body
of guerrillas near Cumberland Gap ; and among them I recog
nized my former captors. Well, I forgot to turn over that
eleven men."
"I reckon, cap, you gave them close quarters."
" As close as you, col ; and that was too close for their friends
to find them."
" Mercy," I exclaimed, " you didn't murder them ! "
" Well, I gave them in charge to the sergeant, who was one
of those that escaped with me. He says they escaped ; any
way, they were never seen afterwards ; Stud Reynolds always
forgets to bring in his prisoners."
" Who is this Stud Reynolds?" I asked ; " short as I have
been in this region I have heard much of his daring exploits."
" I guess you look upon him as a regular raw head and bloody
bones," said the captain, nodding at the little colonel.
" I have heard much of his cruelty and desperation ; he must
have suffered terribly to be such a bloodthirsty persecutor of
the rebels."
" Guess he has," said the captain, standing up and laying his

16 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
hand upon my shoulder, as he shot a squirt of juice over my
head. " Look you here, stranger."
I looked into his face. There was a savage earnestness in the
compressed lips and glaring eyes that almost made me quail.
" Look here ; " and he tightened bis grasp like a yice.
" Tell me stranger, if you had a kind wife and fair daughter,
wouldn't you love them ? "
"Certainly." " It's but, human natur. Well ! Stud Reynolds had a wife,
a good woman ; he had a daughter, as fair and gentle a girl as
ever blessed a parent's care. Stud loved them ; that was
nat'ral ; wasn't it? Because Stud was a Union man, he had to
sleep out in the woods, little dreaming that the foul fiends
would injure his innocent ones.
" One night a pack of those hell-hounds came to ;his house.
The leader of that gang was a rejected suitor of. Miss Reynolds.
He asked the girl that night to elope with him, or he would
hunt down her father like a coon, and bring dishonor and shame
upon herself. Her reply was, ' You are a bad man. I could
never love you ; besides, I am the promised wife of another.'
" Brave, noble girl ! The devils tore her out of the house ;
and because her mother clung to her to save her, a devil —
a fiend of hell — shot her through the breast, and then hurried
the insensible girl, with her mother's hot blood spattered over
her, into the woods.
" The father returned home to find his house burned down, the
body. of his wife in ashes, and his outraged daughter a maniac."
While the captain was speaking, the colonel clapped his
hands to ¦ his face, and wept.
"That man" — and he pointed to the colonel — "is Stud
Reynolds, and I was to be the husband of that girl. Do you
wonder, then, what we do ? "
" O, it is fearful."
"Yes, it is; but who began it? We have dogged and
tracked every one of these fiends. We have made their lives
a hell,, and their death a torture. I have tied the arch devil
himself to a tree, and lit slow fagots around him, while the

STUD REYNOLDS. 17
men made a target of his body, at long range, and a bonfire of
his house. It was the death of a dog, and such he got."
So that quaint little man beside me was the notorious Stud
Reynolds — the Jibberryssee of Tennessee, whose name was
a terror to guerrillas, — who stealthily stole on them in their
houses and in their camps, and whose knife pierced their heart*
as they slept around the watch-fire.
No doubt his provocation was great.
A few weeks afterwards I met him in Knoxville. He was
just after capturing the infamous guerrilla Captain Reynolds. I
was paying a visit to Governor Johnson. I think it was at
Horace Maynard's house. Colonel Reynolds, or, as he is more
familiarly called, Studj came in to. report progress.
" So, colonel," said the governor, " you have captured Rey
nolds ? " . ... ,
" I reckon so, governor. He is caged."
"Well, colonel, it is not true, after all, that you never take
a prisoner, as is said of you."
" Couldn't help it, governor ; " and Stud held down his head,
as if ashamed of this act of clemency. " I'll tell you how it
was. You see, I knew where they were, and that they had their
horses tied near a shanty, where they were having a big time
of it, with a barrel of rotgut, and a dance with the girls. I sur
rounded the hors"es, knowing that they would run for them.
As soon as they got the alarm, they rushed for the horses, and,
bang we slapped into them, turning up their heels. ' Captain
Reynolds, the cowardly skunk, hid behind a log, where some
of my men took him prisoner ; and as they did not wish to shoot
him, and a crowd had collected, I thought it was as well to
cage him. I assure you it wasn't my fault, governor ; " and
Stud looked as if such, .an unusual act of mercy was a reproach
on him. ¦ '
" Well » well, colonel, it is well to, get rid of these cutthroat,
guerrilla scoundrels ; but it is not right nor soldierly to shoot a
prisoner, no matter how great the provocation."
Stud looked a little abashed ; but I could plainly see that he
did not coincide with the governor.. ....
2*

18 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
" And are such acts of barbarous cruelty and savage retal
iation committed here ? " I asked of Colonel Scully, as we
steamed next day for Nashville.
" Undoubtedly, sir. I have often heard of Stud Reynolds's
story ; but scenes as bad are every day being enacted under my
own eyes, and we are powerless to prevent them. The country
is infested with guerrilla bands, who keep out of the reach of
our troops, but then murder and pillage all before them.
We sometimes make fearful retaliations, and I am afraid
the innocent too often suffer with the guilty. Lately, my
major's father, a Dr. Moore, was savagely butchered in his
house by these ruffians. The major took out a squad of men
to scour the country for them. They shot several men against
whom they had information. I am afraid guilty parties them
selves too often give information against loyal men, and some
are too apt to act upon it."
" Then you think innocent men are often shot down by their
own party ? "
" I fear so."
" It is a sad state of things when society is so disruptured."
" We have no society here. At the inception of the rebellion,
the Union and Secesh parties were nearly balanced in Eastern
Tennessee. The Secesh party took the initiative, and shot down
their Union neighbors in order to intimidate the rest. A reign
of terror followed, in comparison to which the Bastile, and all
the horrors of the French revolution, were mild. The Union
party soon recovered themselves, and retaliated with a ven
geance, imbittered by former sufferings."
"What do you think of slavery in Tennessee, colonel?"
" It is already dead, sir. Nothing can galvanize its corpse.
It was a deadly disease. I came down here with pretty strong
slavery proclivities, until I saw its workings, its debasing
nature even on the whites themselves. I now abhor it as a
damnable institution. Only a few weeks since, a case occurred
in the street where I lived that sickened me with slavery. A
lady had a slave, a pretty mulatto woman, of about thirty
years. This woman had a smart, intelligent child, of about

COLONEL SCULLY. 19
eight years. The mistress bad sold the boy to a trader from
Alabama, though her own blood and the blood of a distin
guished senator flowed in that boy's veins. Chloe wept, and
besought the mistress not to separate them, — to keep both or
sell both. It was no use. At night Chloe and the boy were
missing, and, on searching an outhouse, were found dead, with
both their throats cut. Such are the blessed effects of slavery."
The colonel kindly invited me to his quarters in Nashville.
This gave me an opportunity of inspecting all the forts and
works around the city.
The colonel's regiment, 10th Tennessee, was a splendid body
of troops, and nearly one thousand strong. I have often seen
them drilled and reviewed, and I am not surprised that Governor
Johnson felt so proud of his fine-looking body-guard.
The chief works about Nashville are Fort Gillem,* called
after General Gillem (it was designed and garrisoned by my
friend Colonel Scully ; it has embrasures for seven field-
pieces and six light guns) ; Fort Morton, called after Brigadier
General Morton, who was killed at Petersburg, mounts thirty
guns, commanding the Franklin and Hillsboro' pikes ; Fort
Negly, after Major General Negly, who, at one time, com
manded the post of Nashville ; Fort Cassina, on College Hill ;
Fort Houston, after Mr. Russell Houston, a thorough Union
man. He owned the site, and some rebel, taunting him,
said, —
"See what your friends are doing — tearing down your house
to build a fort ! "
" Let them. If the Confederacy succeed, I don't want the
house ; if the Tederals win, they will build me a better one."
Another work was Fort Andrew Johnson, on Capitol Hill,
so called in honor ofthe governor, now President Johnson. In
addition to these, there were several redoubts, batteries, and
minor forts, making Nashville a strongly fortified city. So
Hood found it when he rashly butted up his troops against it.
In a few days I left for Chattanooga. The road along was
guarded by'posts and strong stockades, and appeared flanked
by broken locomotives, wagons, and cars, the joint work of
guerrillas and frequent railroad accidents.

20 SHERMAN'S MARCH- THROUGH? THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER II. -
BKFTOII OF TENNESSEE. — LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN. — THE BATTLE OP
CniCKAMAUGA. — THE CAMP BREAKFAST. — THE DEAD CAP
TAIN.— HIS BLIGHTED LOVE.
The State of Tennessee was first settled by a party of ad*
venturers from North Carolina, who built a fort at Loudon, in
1757, to protect themselves from the Indians, different tribes of
whom«occupied the fertile region of country along the 'Tennes
see and Holston Rivers, extending back as far as the mountain
borders of Carolina. Of these the Cherokees were the most
powerful and numerous tribe. Our border states, such as
Kentucky and Tennessee, were harassed by the Indian tribes)
and the settlers embroiled in continual and bloody struggles
with their savage neighbors. ; ¦ :
The first colony at Fort Loudon were soon expelled, or
butchered by their merciless foes. Despite all this, the forest
gave way to the axe of the sturdy pioneer, and hamlets and
towns soon dotted the landscape.
In 1796 Tennessee was admitted into the Union as a state.
Several of her children figured in the war of independence, and
she played a very honorable part in the war of 1812.
The landscape and scenery of Tennessee are magnificently
grand, and need but be known to entitle her to the privilege of
being called "The Switzerland of America." The Cumber*.
land Hills rise to an elevation of almost two thousand feeti
Their appearance forms a striking feature in the beauty of the
landscape, their shaggy sides bristling with forest trees, while
the granite and marble peaks and cliffs glitter in the sunshine
like sparkling diamonds.
In the valleys below, the mighty Tennessee River winds its!

PHYSICAL FEATURES OF TENNESSEE. 21
way through fertile plains, through rich plantations, through
wild forests, and bold, towering rocks, from its source in Vir
ginia, cradled among the, Alleghanies ; through the State of
Tennessee, among the Cumberland Mountains ; through the
Cotton plantations of Alabama ; through the rich fields of Ken
tucky, until it rests in the bosom of the mighty Mississippi at
Paducah. Tennessee has rich mineral products, such as coal, iron, cop
per, and even gold; and at no very distant day she is destined
to become one of the leading states of the Union. She cannot
help it.
With a salubrious climate, a soil of unbounded fertility,
immense water power, great, though undeveloped, mineral re
sources, — such is her inevitable destiny
From the summit of Lookout Mountain what a magnificent
panoramic view is presented ! Beneath your feet lies the scat
tered and rather dirty little town of Chattanooga, a place
almost unknown before, but rendered memorable now. As far
as the eye can reach, flows the magnificent Tennessee, with its
wooded banks, its bold, rocky cliffs. Stately and grandly it
winds in serpentine bends', sparkling, as we now see it, beneath
the rays of a bright sun.
A rich valley, miles in length, open to your view, bounded
by Mission Ridge, with its woody crest, recalling some proud
recollections of victory, and Chickamauga, with its dark record
of defeat and disaster.
From this point I could trace the path and dark ravines
through which Cross's regiment of East Tennesseeans crawled
down the mountain to give way to a rebel gun which was
placed on the very crest of the towering rock, looking down
with its brazen throat on the devoted town, camps, and in
trenchments of 'the Federal lines.
The battle of Chickamauga, though one of the most desper
ate struggles of the western campaign, was one of the most
disastrous. For three long days, against heavy odds, the Fed
eral troops fought with dogged desperation.. At length, over
powered and defeated, they. fell back to Chattanooga, where

22 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
they strongly intrenched themselves. The defeat might have
been disastrous, had not the cool courage and military genius
of one man saved the army, perhaps the nation. That man
was General Thomas. The same imperturbable leader cleared
the road for Sherman's sweeping raid ; for had Hood captured
Nashville, Sherman's raid would avail nothing. Thomas very
quietly laid his plans, and caught the impulsive Hood in his
meshes. The battle of Chickamauga was fought between a creek of
that name and Pea Vine Creek, and about eight miles west of
Ringgold. The battle-field extended about ten miles. I have
been informed by a spectator, who had been through most of
our great battles, that on that terrible Sunday night, September
20, 1862, the field presented one of the most fearful, ghastly
sights of all war's sad pictures.
" On the morning of the 18th," said my friend, who was an
attache of the press, " I had a hurried breakfast with some
officers of McCook's staff. We could distinctly hear the picket
firing with a scattered artillery fire. It was evident that the
battle had commenced. Aids were riding to and fro, and col
umns of troops were slowly and steadily advancing to the front.
A young, bright-eyed, fair-liaired captain, named Stenton, looked
after them, sighed, and remarked, ' Do you know, but it makes
me feel bad when I see all these brave fellows advancing in
proud, serried lines, and then — what a mass of crushed and
torn humanity they will be before night ! ' ' Pshaw ! Stenton,'
said a dashing young major, 'don't be scaring us with such
gloomy pictures ; the dose is bad enough; man, without making
us taste it beforehand.'
" ' Stenton appears gloomy,' said another ; ' I guess his lady
love has jilted him. Cheer up, Stenton, old boy ! '
" ' Well, I confess,' replied Stenton, affecting a laugh, ' I feel
somehow depressed. I suppose, gentlemen, I need not say to
you, who know me so well, that it is not fear.'
" ' Certainly not, old boy ! But here comes the general ; let
ns get ready to mount.'
" On Sunday night," continued my friend, " I rode over a

THE WOUNDED OFFICER. 23
part of the battle-field. The pale moonbeams glittered on the
ghastly faces of the dead, with their glassy eyeballs turned
towards the heavens, and their frames distorted into every con
ceivable posture. The ground was piled with dead, dying, and
wounded — men and horses. Small arms were strewn around ;
broken artillery carriages and caissons made up the desolating
picture. I was passing near a creek when my horse shied at
some bodies that blocked up the stream. I pressed him over,
but he still snorted, and refused to advance. I heard a feeble
voice call to me from among the mangled pile of dead and
wounded. ' Mr.  , take me out of this,' groaned the voice.
I removed two or three bodies from a young officer ; his dress
and hair were so covered with dirt and puddle that at first I
did not recognize him.
" I dragged him out, and laid him on the bank, and gave him
a drink from a flask of brandy which I carried.
" This revived him. He opened his eyes and looked at me.
' Mr.  ,' says he, ' I am dying.' As soon as he spoke I
recognized my young friend, Captain Stenton.
" ' Stenton,' I exclaimed, ' my dear friend, I fear you are ;
but what's to be done ? The troops are retreating ; we can't
remain here.' ' I know that ; leave me here ; but take these
and send them as directed ; ' and he pulled two letters and a
locket from his breast. ' Send these letters ; one is for my
dear mother, the other is for one I loved with a hopeful, boyish
love ; but it was but a dream ! For their sakes I would like to
live ; but then, my country called me, and I gladly resign my
life for her sake.'
" He pressed the blood-dyed locket to his lips, and remained
silent for some time. I lifted his head ; he was breathing
heavily, a bullet having passed right through his lungs. He
opened his eyes and murmured, ' Won't you send them ? and
bury me with this locket on my breast. How I loved her,
and my dear mother ! Tell them so. I knew I'd fall to-day ;
something told me so ; so I had these letters written before
hand.' Again he tried to raise himself, and said, ' I hear the
, noise of artillery and troops passing : who are they ? '

24 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
" ' Ours retreating.'
" ' Too bad, too bad : and for this we died ! Go, my friend,
and leave me.'
'"I do not like to leave you behind me : do you think you
could bear being removed ? '
'"I'd sooner, I'd sooner : then I'd be buried with this on my
breast ; and he pressed the locket to his lips.'
" Wagons, ambulances, caissons, and artillery were by this
time hurrying by in mad confusion. I tried to stop the ambu
lances ; but they were all full, and the drivers too excited to
stop. At length a caisson stuck in the heavy road. By bribes
and entreaties I induced the driver to take poor Stenton on the
box. I tenderly placed him on it, wraping my poncho around
him, and made two of the men sit beside him to keep him
steady. I then mounted and rode after them.
'" As we approached the main road the confusion was intense,
— drivers swearing, ambulances and wagons striking against
one another, officers and men hurrying to the rear. To
heighten this confusion an occasional shell burst near us, and
there was a general cry that the rebels were pursuing. It was
one of those scenes common to the retreat of a discomfited
army. Beside the narrow road I noticed a dead horse, with his
feet ground off by the wheels of the passing wagons. An
officer's uniform between his feet drew my attention. I dis
mounted, and found the legs of a man beside the horse's, crushed
and broken from the same cause.
" I suceeeded in pulling him out ; but he was dead. Aa I
could find no wounds upon him, he must have been caught by
his fallen horse, whose head was knocked off by a round shot,
and smothered and crushed to death. I at once recognized
him : it was the young major of the morning. After laying
his body beside a tree, I mounted" and rode after my friend.
When I came up I found that the men had left the box, scared
by the shells, and the driver was swearing and whipping his
jaded horses for bare life. The captain was dead : his head
hung over the box, and was crushed against the wheel. His
light golden hair hung down, clotted with gore oozing from
his dripping wounds and crushed head.

CHATTANOOGA. 25
"He was dead. I could do nothing for him. I laid his
body, with the locket over his heart, to rest beside many a
brother officer who had fallen upon that bloody field.
" I sent the letters to that dear mother, who wept for her
faired-haired young soldier boy, and to that loved young heart
whose warm impulses and cherished hopes were so rudely
blighted." This was the story my friend told me of Chattanooga, as we
sat together ou Lookout Mountain and viewed with our glasses
the surrounding country, which appeared torn, and gutted, and
ridged by contending armies.
" Where we sit now," said my friend, " is near two thousand
feet high ; and yonder is Missionary Ridge, from where the
rebels dated their despatches while besieging Chattanooga ; it
is one thousand feet high. As you see, Chattanooga is in a
deep basin, completely surrounded by hills and the Tennessee
River. From this point, in a clear atmosphere, you can see the
mountains of four states, though the Blue Ridge of North
Carolina and the mountains of Alabama are near sixty miles
away. The ascent from Chattanooga is by a winding road that
twines round the hill to its highest point, one mile to the rear of
Lookout Point. On the summit of the hill is a pleasant little
village called Summertown, a favorite resort for invalids, who
there seek shelter from the intense heat and malarious, effects
of the low grounds.
"This pile of rocks, where we sit, and which looks some
thing like an old Cromlech or Druid's altar, so often found in
England and Ireland, is Lookout Point. It is a glorious spot,
as much from its locality as its memories. And when bronze
statues will have lost the story that made them historic, and
history itself will have become almost merged into fable, that
mountain will stand forth as a monument of the heroism of the
men that could climb such a hill in the face of plunging round
shot and bullets, and the iron hosts that crowned them.
" Men will say that there were giants in those days ; and so
there were, if not in body, at least in invincible courage. If I
had my will to affix a name to this mountain, I would rebap-
3

26 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
tize it. I would call this rough-jointed pile of rocks Hooker's
Point ; and as for the valley beneath us, where General Geary
rallied his troops for the final charge, I would call that Geary's
Valley. Neither title would be inappropriate.
"It was a glorious victory for Hooker. Fresh from the
army of the Potomac, he had a new field to operate in, new
victories to gain and a late disaster to retrieve, and nobly did
he succeed. We have heard of Hooker's battle in the clouds.
It is true that a dense fog obscured the plains and valley, and
that the ringing minie bullet and plunging shot of the rebel
batteries came whistling and hurtling through dense fogs and
obscure clouds that shut out the mountain top from our view.
" I will tell you about Chattanooga. The rebels at once saw
its advantage as a grand strategic point, and consequently one
of their earliest military movements was to occupy and for
tify it.
" For two years they stoutly held it as a pivot for their dep
redatory army which radiated to Tennessee, Georgia, and
Alabama. At length they were forced to give it up to Rose
crans, with his army of the Cumberland, which entered Chatta
nooga on the 7th September, 1863.
"Bragg, finding himself outnumbered and outmanoeuvred,
was forced to evacuate. The army of the Cumberland was
reenforced by the 11th and 12th corps, under Major General
Hooker, which, afterwards consolidated, formed the 20th corps.
" Hooker's first appearance ou the western battle-ground was
by a night attack on Brown's Ferry, two miles from Chatta
nooga, in which he was remarkably successful.
" He followed this up by driving the enemy from Raccoon
Mountain and Lookout Valley, which gave us the initiative,
and might 'be put down as a set-off against Chickamauga. We
soon obtained possession of the railroad between Chattanooga
and Bridgeport, secured our supplies, and only needed the pos
session of Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge to give us a
secure base to commence the campaign of 1864.
" I have said that this point should be called after Hooker.
I also state that Missionary Ridge should be called Sherman's

"Sherman's ridge." 27
Ridge ; for there, with his brave 15th corps, with which,
wearied, exhausted, and prostrated, as it was, with a march of
several hundred miles, he met the repeated assaults of the ene
my, and finally overcame them. I say it should be called
' Sherman's Ridge.'
" The battle of Ringgold concluded the campaign of 1863."

28 Sherman's march through the south.

CHAPTER III.
OPENING OF THE CAMPAIGN OF 1864.— DISPOSITION OF THE AR
MIES.— AWFUL CONDITION OF THE PEOPLE IN TENNESSEE 
BATTLE OF ROCKY FACE RIDGE.
From the vast preparations making on all sides, it was evident
that the campaign of 1864 would be the most vigorous and des
perate of the war. General Easton, Sherman's quartermaster
general, was stationed at Nashville, superintending the ship
ment of stores and supplies for the army. Sherman himself
had taken up his quarters there, and seemed to infuse his restr
less energy into all his officials.
Stores were rapidly pushed forward to Knoxville, Chatta
nooga, and other points. There were similar indications of a
grand campaign in the army of the Potomac, and it was evi
dent on all sides that a fierce struggle was impending both in
Virginia and Northern Georgia.
The following were the relative positions of the contending
armies at the opening of the campaign : The rebels held Tunnel
Hill and Daiton, with cavalry confronting Cleveland, Ringgold,
Huntsville, and Decatur, also the Virginia line of railroad be
yond Bull's Gap, while the Federal posts occupied Knoxville,
Loudon, Athens, Cleveland, Ringgold, Bridgeport, and Hunts
ville. Sherman himself estimated- the rebel army, comprising
Hardee's, Hood's, and Polk's corps of infantry and artillery,
at about fifty thousand, with Wheeler's cavalry at ten thou
sand,— total sixty thousand,— while he set down his own force
as follows : —

SHERMAN'S FORCES. , 29
Army ofthe Cumberland, Major Gen. Thomas com'g.
Infantry  54,568
Artillery  2,377
Cavalry  3,828
Total  60,733
Guns  '  130
Army ofthe Tennessee, Major Gen. McPherson com'g.
Infantry  22,437
Artillery  1,404
Cavalry  624*
Total  24,465
Guns  96
Army ofthe Ohio, Major Gen. .Schofield com'g.
Infantry  11,185
Artillery  676
Cavalry  1,697
Total  13,559
Guns  28
Grand total  98.797
Total guns  254
On the morning of May 6, these armies were grouped as
follows : that of the Cumberland, near Ringgold ; that of the
Tennessee, near Gordon's Mills, on the Chickamauga ; and that
of the Ohio, near Red Clay, north of Daiton, on the Georgian
line. Sherman had lately issued an order that the railroads should
be used exclusively for military purposes, thus depriving thou
sands, who were living on government rations, of support..
He believed the safety and support of his army paramount to
all other considerations. He had'a long campaign before him, a
long and uncertain line of communications to guard from a vigi
lant enemy. " Let the citizens go south, or to the rear ; I can
not leave my army at the mercy of every raiding party ; the
campaign must open with thirty days' surplus rations at Chatta
nooga." This was Sherman's logic. And good logic it was
for the safety of his army, but fatal, in their terrible starving
condition to the unfortunate sufferers of East Tennessee.
3*

30 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
A hegira of poor, forlorn refugees then commenced, followed
by human sufferings that might appall the angels. The distress
and starvation were terrible throughout Tennessee, and many
who had stood the fiery ordeal of battle now succumbed to the
pale spectre of starvation.
The 1st of May was appointed for one grand simultaneous
movement of the army under the following commanders : The
army of the Tennessee, under Major General J. B. McPherson,
comprising the 15th and parts of the 16th and 17th corps,
then stationed in and around Huntsville, Alabama ; the army
of the Cumberland, under Major General Thomas, comprising
the 14th and 20th corps, and stationed around Chattanooga,
Tunnel Hill, and Daiton ; and the army of the Ohio, under
Major General Schofield, comprising the 4th and 23d corps,
stationed at Knoxville, Strawberry Plains, and Bull's Gap.
General Kilpatrick had assumed command of the cavalry
division of the army of the Cumberland, stationed at Ringgold,
with General Stoneman in command of the cavalry corps in
Kentucky. Georgia, like Tennessee, being the theatre of some of the
most stirring events of the late rebellion, has attracted the
attention of the world by the fierce nature of the conflict that
has desolated her cities and homesteads, and converted her
fertile fields into one vast cemetery. Now, when that strife is
over, and we are cultivating a better and more amicable acquaint
ance, it is well that the people of the North should know some
thing of her resources and capabilities.
The State of Georgia lies between thirty and thirty-five de
grees north latitude, and eighty-one and eighty-four degrees
west longitude, and covers an area of about sixty-three thou
sand square miles, or over forty millions of acres.
Its soil and climate are varied, the latter changing from the
cool breeze and salubrious air of its northern frontier, bordering
on Tennessee and Carolina, to the torrid, fever-producing cli
mate that prevails along the swamps and bayous towards the
southern coast, bordering on the Savannah and South Carolina.
In like manner her soil varies, in quality, from the rich allu-

WEALTH OF GEORGIA. 31
vial land and rice plantations along the Savannah and Alata
maha Rivers, to the red, rich, loamy lands, producing cotton,
tobacco, and grain, of the middle .portion, and the poorer, but
more hilly, picturesque, and healthy regions bordering on Ten
nessee and North Carolina.
It has some very fine navigable rivers, such as the Savan
nah, the Alatamaha, the Chattahoochee, and several others,
which we shall have occasion to notice more fully. These
rivers are, for the most part, of a clay-red color, owing to the
nature of the soil, and the shores of the lower rivers are abun
dantly inhabited by alligators, snakes, and other reptiles.
Georgia was one of the original " thirteen states of the
Union," and was colonized by General Oglethorpe in 1773, and
was thenceforth continually at war with the Spaniards or In
dians. Savannah was an important position during the revo
lutionary war, and was captured by the British in 1778. Only
as late as 1838, the great Cherokee country came into the
possession of the whites.
On the whole, Georgia possesses unrivalled sources of wealth
and power, and is destined for a glorious future of material
wealth and political power.
In the first week in May a simultaneous movement of the
armies of the Potomac, under General Meade, and the armies
of the West, under General Sherman, took place. While the
former were engaged in the bloody conflicts of the Wilderness,
the latter were repulsing Johnston and his army from Daiton,
Rocky Face Ridge, and Resaca.
On the 1st of May General Sherman removed his head
quarters to Chattanooga, and a general movement commenced
for the purpose of concentrating around Ringgold. On the
3d, McPherson's army was quietly conveyed by rail from
Huntsville to Chattanooga.
We now held the principal gaps of Taylor's Ridge, while
Johnson's division of the 14th corps lay at the eastern mouth
of Ringgold Gap, threatening Tunnel Hill.
Howard had occupied Cleveland with the 4th corps, and was
now inarching towards Tunnel Hill, followed by the 23d corps.

32 Sherman's march through the south.
On the night of the 7th these corps bivouacked in a valley
about two miles from Tunnel Hill and four from Daiton.
On the 4th General Sherman broke up his headquarters at
Chattanooga, and moved to Ringgold, announcing that he in
tended making the campaign without a tent, and by a general
order cutting down baggage and transportation to the lowest
possible figure. The whole army was now in motion, the cam
paign was fairly inaugurated. Howard and Palmer were
closing on Tunnel Hill, forcing back the enemy to Buzzard
Roost. Hooker was moving through Hickajack and Gordon
Gaps. McPherson was bringing up the rear with his lines
extending from Gordon's Mills to Villanow.
The enemy made but slight resistance on Taylor's Ridge,
through which the Tunnel passes. Our columns were moving
through the valleys on their flank, threatening to cut them off
from Daiton and Resaca. They fell back to the strong position
along the Rocky Face Ridge.
We now held Tunnel Hill, and had trains running right up
to the troops with supplies. On the morning of the 8th the
whole army lay in front of the Mountain, McPherson with the
15th corps, and Dodge's division, 16th corps, on the right;
Hooker next, Palmer's 14th corps next, Howard on the left
centre, and Schofield on the extreme left. General Elliot's
cavalry was occupied covering our flanks and keeping open
communication. Stoneman's cavalry had not yet come up,
while Kilpatrick was feeling the enemy's outposts along Dog
wood Valley.
Rocky Face Ridge, which the rebels defended with such
dogged pertinacity, is a long, abrupt continuation of the Chat-
toogata range of mountains, running in a south-westerly direc
tion from Daiton to Rome. It is about fifteen hundred feet
high, and so precipitous in places that the rocks present a
smooth, perpendicular front from twenty to fifty feet highr thus
forming a natural and impregnable fortification. Its top and
sides are sparsely covered with trees and brushwood.
An immense gorge, called Buzzard Roost Gap, opens through
the mountain. Through this run the common road, the Chat-

buzzard roost gap. 33
tanooga and Atlanta Railroad, also Mill Creek Stream. The
rebels dammed the gorge, forming a large reservoir of water
some sixteen feet deep, with which they boasted that they could
drown our army beneath them. They strengthened this strong
natural position by artificial works of the most formidable kind.
All the heights around bristled with cannon, and were dotted
with rifle-pits. To the right of this gorge is Buzzard Roost,
being about eighteen hundred feet high, and almost inaccessible
from its rugged nature. During the five days we lay in front
of this mountain, flocks of buzzards hovered over it, scared by
the roar and din of battle beneath, yet wheeling round and
round like birds of ill omen. On the whole, the entire position
is perhaps one of the strongest an army could occupy. As I
have stated, Howard's and Schofield's columns had moved from
Catoosa Springs, east of Taylor's Ridge, and on the evening of
the 7th reached the foot of Rocky Face Ridge. Stanley's
division pressed up the valley to Buzzard Roost Gap in order to
connect with the 14th corps, with Schofield's corps extended
towards the eastern point of the ridge.
The enemy skirmished briskly with our advance during the
afternoon of the 7th. We were endeavoring to take up our
position to assault the enemy on the following day, if prac
ticable, or at least to draw their attention from McPherson's
movement on their flank. On the night of the 7th, General
Harker conceived the bold design of dragging a section of artil
lery to the crest of the hill on the enemy's flank, which he had
gained by his assault in the evening. In this movement he was
supported by McClean's brigade of General Judah's division,
23d corps. The horses were unhitched from the guns, ropes
were tied to them, and hundreds of volunteers rushed to the
willing task. Pioneers cleared the timber and brushwood, and
levelled the rocks in their advance. So steep was the ascent
that the men had to grasp the projecting cliffs and roots with
one hand, while they hauled with the other. All this time our
skirmishers and sharpshooters were keeping up a brisk fire on
the enemy, in order to draw their attention from the movement.
After much toil we succeeded in gaining the crest and getting

34 Sherman's march through the south.
,he guns into position, much to the surprise of the enemy next
Horning. I have seldom witnessed so splendid a panoramic view as that
seen from the summit of Rocky Face Ridge. The men had
cleared away the forest timber and brushwood, and had piled
up barricades of the loose rocks. The rebel works commanding
Buzzard Roost Gap, and. the ridge of the hill, were but a few
hundred yards from our pickets. Night had now set in, the din
and roar of battle had ceased, except the occasional whirring of
a minie bullet fired by the pickets, and the boom of a gun bid
ding the enemy " good night." A thick fog rose up from the
valleys, obscuring the mountains ; but through this sparkled the
glare of innumerable camp fires from the valleys, looking like
so many huge fireflies glowing beneath us, or the flickering
lamps of a city seen from a distance. The metallic sound of
the rifle, the whir and the crash of shot and shell, and the whiz
zing hum of the minie had ceased. The encouraging shouts and
cheers of battle, the death groan of the dying and wounded, had
sunk into repose and given place to the solemn stillness of night.
We had broken the tender branches from the trees, and placed
them over the sharp rocks for our beds, sure to select the safe
side of some projecting cliff or stately pine. As we lay down,
I could hear the tramp of our sentries marching up and down,
the men as they conversed in a hushed tone, some recounting
the events of the day ; others in solemn groups joined in prayer,
while from some obscure nook a regular devil-may-care fellow
hurled a defiant song at the enemy. The latter quietly lay
behind their works, apparently heedless of our proximity. The
moon floated over our heads, its silvery light struggling to pierce
that hazy mist. There, on our rough beds, on that mountain top,
some fifteen hundred feet high, we slept as soundly as if pil
lowed on a couch of eider down. Our wearied frames forgot all
in the sweet oblivion of sleep.
The thick haze of the morning was clearing away, the sen
tries still marching on their beats, and the men standing beside
their guns, as I awoke. The sun was rising along the eastern
horizon, with its fiery beams trying to pierce the thick fog. The

THE PRAYER MEETING. 35
fog gradually cleared away, revealing the densely wooded val
leys extending far away in the distance, the numerous hills, and
mountains with their towering peaks and shaggy sides. The
expiring camp fires and the tents of the enemy lay, as it were,
at our feet. We could almost look into their intrenchments, and
count their numbers as they deployed beneath us.
We had a bird's eye view of Daiton, Resaca, and several
other towns and villages, while numerous streams sparkled with
the morning beams like polished mirrors. This might be a very
pleasing sight for us if we were mere tourists ; but the grim can
nons, and the lines of troops with their glittering bayonets beside
us, reminded us that our mission was not one of peace and refine
ment. To impress us more forcibly, the noise of the booming
cannon and the whirring bullet soon rang upon our ears, herald
ing in another day of slaughter.
It is strange how soldiers will joke even under the most try
ing circumstances. As we were not allowed to light fires in
order to conceal our position from the enemy, the men had noth
ing but hard tack for their supper, and some, more fortunate than
others, had water in their canteens. A man of the 125th Ohio,
an amateur preacher, had some of his comrades collected around
him in solemn conclave ; and with hushed breath he was exhort
ing them to repentance, drawing their attention to their com
rades who had fallen that day, telling them that such might be
their own fate to-morrow.
" Arrah, in sure, what are ye whishpering about?" said an
Irish soldier, coming up to the group.
" Praying, Paddy, praying ; trying to get to heaven," replied
one of them.
" And will that take ye's there ? "
" Certainly," said a wag ; " what better preparations can we
make than praying and fasting?"
" Devil a doubt of it ; sure ye's fifteen hundred feet nearer
heaven now than ye were in the morning, any way, and I think
a good many of us will die pretty high up in the world to-mor
row, please God," was Paddy's reply.
A sharpshooter had taken down several of the enemy by the

56 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
bllowing plan. He lay behind a barricade of rock, through
vhich he had an opening for his gun. He dressed up a stick
vith an old coat and hat, and would occasionally raise this over
he barricade, when the rebels were sure to pop at it, and then
¦aise up their heads to see the result, thus offering targets to the
iharpshooter, which he seldom missed.
As I lay upon my branch couch, I was continually disturbed
)y the low, piteous moans of a wounded man. The moon was
shining bright, and the troops lay around us buried in sleep. I
mew it was not safe to walk through the lines at night for fear
)f getting shot as a spy ; however, I could not resist that suf
fering appeal. I got up, picked my way through the prostrate
ines until I came to the edge of a cliff. The moan seemed to
Droceed from a gorge beneath me. Grasping tree branches and
roots, I jumped from rock to rock until I landed on a kind of
platform. There I found a soldier lying on his face with a huge
•ock across his feet. The poor fellow was nearly speechless. I
rolled off the stone, which had caused him much suffering. I then
;urned him on his back, placed his knapsack under his head, and
jave him a drink from his canteen. This relieved him very
nuch ; and I learned that in the assault of the evening he was
ihot through the breast, and lay down on this platform, when the
•ebels hurled down large rocks upon them, one of which fell on
lim. I stanched the wound in his breast, and on examination
[ found that his leg was badly fractured. I remained some time
vith him, listening to the poor fellow's little stories about his
nother and his home, and how he should like to see them again ;
md should he die, would not I write to them, and tell mother
hat " I died a soldier and a Christian," said the brave lad, for he
vas a mere boy. Next day he died under the scalpel knife, and
'. wrote to his mother that her noble boy died " a soldier and a
Christian." The previous evening, while riding near the field* hospital of
he 105th Ohio, a shell, thrown from the rebel guns on the hill,
rarst among the patients, killing some of them. It is hard
mough to see strong men stricken down in battle, but there is
omething narrowing in seeing poor helpless wounded wretches
tilled, as it were, twice.

ROCKY FACE RIDGE. 37
General Sherman had ordered that a heavy demonstration
should be made all along the enemy's lines on the morning of
the 8th of May. Schofield, on the extreme left, moved cau
tiously down the eastern side of the mountain, in order to draw
the enemy's attention from Geary's attack on Mill Creek. The
whole of Newton's division, of the 4th corps, had ascended the
ridge during the night to support Harker. About 10 o'clock,
Schofield ordered the 23d corps to wheel round and move in line
of battle along the valley which separates the ridge from a par
allel range. The corps moved in echelon ; General Judah's
division extended in double line of battle, connecting with Har-
ker's brigade on the ridge. General Cox's division moved along
the slope and crest of a hill on the left, the front being protected
by heavy lines of skirmishers. The rebels having fallen back,
General Judah had made arrangements to assault. This move
ment was contingent upon the cooperation of Harker's troops
on the top of the hill, but his advance was retarded by the des
perate nature of the resistance he encountered, which rendered
him barely able to hold his own. The ridge rose cliff over
cliff, as it receded towards the enemy's lines, so that Harker's
advance was a continuation of desperate assaults. The roll of
musketry from the hill top rang incessantly for over an hour, the
enemy contesting every inch, every tree and rock, with deadly
obstinacy. As he approached the gorge, a wall of rocks, bristling with
guns and bayonets, vomiting forth a continuous volcano of lead
and fire, checked him, compelling him to raise barricades to
protect his bines.
Connecting with Harker's right, but extending down Dog
wood Valley, west of the ridge, Generals Stanley and Woods,
of the 4th corps, made repeated assaults upon the ridge, which
were met by a fierce fire from behind every cliff and rock.
Huge rocks were even rolled from the top of the ridge,
which came down plunging from crag to crag, crashing and tear
ing among the trees, and sweeping through the advancing lines.
Later in the day Croft's brigade, of Stanley's division, sup
ported by Mitchel's and Morgan's brigades, of Davis's division,
4

38 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
14th corps, succeeded in driving the enemy from a strong po
sition in front of Buzzard Roost.
Hooker's corps, while on the right of Palmer's 14th corps,
was hotly engaged all the afternoon. Ross's brigade, sup
ported by Colonel Woods' brigade, of Butterfield's division,
participated in the assault on Buzzard Roost.
Meantime Geary's division had moved to the right, in order
to attempt the passage of Mill Creek Gap, and thus flank Dai
ton, which was only about three miles distant. Colonel Ire
land's brigade had been detached to support Kilpatrick in
covering McPherson's flanking column, leaving only' Colonel
Jones's and Candle's brigades to execute the order.
Mill Creek Gap is accessible by a road winding from Hall's
Mill through a depression in the mountain. It was a formi
dable position, strongly defended.
About 3 o'clock in the afternoon, Candie's brigade in ad
vance, supported by Jones's, moved up the sides of the moun
tain, under cover of a fire from Knapp's Pennsylvania battery.
The enemy stubbornly resisted all the time, but were steadily
driven back to the crest of the hill. In this gallant charge of
Geary's division, through a dense wood, up a steep ascent,
scrambling through rocks and tangled underbrush, many a brave
fellow fell. It was the dashing game and heroic achievement
of Lookout Mountain again. ,
Near the crest of the hill a palisade of abrupt cliffs checked
their advance. Behind these lay lines of rebel troops. Against
this our men made five consecutive assaults. Officers and men
struggled up, one by one, and grappled with the enemy in a
hand-to-hand conflict. Some succeeded in reaching the plateau.
Some were hurled over, dragging the enemy in their death em
brace, and in their fall displacing rocks, which crushed and tore
through the toiling, surging ranks.
At length they gained a landing. Alas ! it availed them
little ; for a volley of canister from a covered line of fortifica
tions on their flank soon cleared the rocky stage. Again was
the charge repeated : again were their lines swept down. Sei>
geant Hamilton, of a New Jersey regiment, and only ten men,

ROCKY FACE RIDGE. 39
defiantly held their position until another column filled up the
place of those who had fallen. General Geary, not having
troops enough to attack the batteries, and seeing the impossi
bility of keeping the ridge, exposed to such an artillery fire,
drew off his troops at 8 o'clock in the evening. His loss
was — officers, three killed, fifteen wounded; privates, fifty
killed and two hundred and fifty wounded.
Meantime McPherson and Kilpatrick's cavalry were swing
ing around on Daiton, threatening to cut the railroad between
that point and Resaca.
This ended the heavy fighting around Rocky Face Ridge. It
was evident' that the enemy's position was too strong to be
taken by assault, and that Sherman must resort to some stra
tegic movement.
The 10th and 11th of May were spent in slight skirmish
ing and demonstrations to draw the enemy's attention from
McPherson's flank movement, and give us a chance of follow
ing him up with supports.

40 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER IV.
HEADQUARTERS OF THE GENERALS. — SUFFERINGS OF THE
WOUNDED. — THE ENEMY'S POSITION AT RESACA.
During the five or six days we lay in front of Rocky Face
Ridge, the different corps and division commanders had their
headquarters contiguous to their commands. Major General
Howard, who commanded the 4th corps, had his unassuming
quarters of fly tents in the rear of his command, and under fire
of the enemy's long-range guns. Several shells fell quite near,
creating some commotion in the camp, without disturbing How
ard in the least. Howard had ridden out in front of his lines,
when he got struck by a spent ball. Meantime Sherman called
at his quarters, and being told that they expected the general in
every moment, he sat down, when whir-r goes a shell ; and
another bursting quite near the quarters, some of Sherman's
staff felt anxious about him, and suggested that it would be as
well to go, as Howard was not likely to return soon.
Sherman, in his nervous, fidgety way, was walking about,
and spying General Howard, he exclaimed, " Here comes How
ard ! " As the latter rode up, Sherman said, " I say, Howard,
do you know but you are the politest man in the. army?"
" Indeed, I wasn't aware of that, general."
" Well, it's so. Here I am, in your absence ; and though
you were not here to receive me, I have got the warmest recep
tion I have experienced for a long time ! "
" Why, general, you need not thank me for it, but General
Johnston ; his compliments were so overpowering that one of
them came near killing me ; " and he pointed to his pants torn
by the bullet.
Thomas's headquarters comprised a most gorgeous outlay of

SOLDIERLY FORTITUDE. 41
tents of all kinds ; wall tents, Sibley tents, fly tents, octagon
tents, and all kinds of tents. Every officer had a tent ; almost
every servant had a tent ; while the adjutant general's tent was
a sort of open rebellion against all restrictory orders. A kind
of caravan, full of pigeon holes, and covered over with an
immense fly, was one of its most peculiar features. Sherman,
on the contrary, had but one old wall tent, and some three or
four flies, for his quarters.
Whether it was that General Thomas felt sore at the con
trast, or General Sherman did not like the example set by
General Thomas, he could never let slip an opportunity to pass
a joke at Thomas's expense.
He would frequently rein up his horse in front of Thomas's
quarters, and ask, -" Whose quarters are these? "
" General Thomas's, general," would be the reply.
" O, yes ; Thomastown — Thomasville ; a very pretty place,
indeed ; appears to be growing rapidly ! " and he would chuckle
and ride off.
One thing that has forcibly impressed me, in the many bat
tle-fields I have been through — how heroically men undergo the
most excruciating torture, almost without a murmur. A soldier
thinks it an act of cowardice to cry or moan ; and the suffering
that wrings one or the other from his brave bosom must be
fearful indeed.
" Won't you keep quiet? and don't be making a fool of your
self," I heard one wounded soldier say to another.
"0,dear me, I can't help it ; my arm is torn off," was the reply.
" Your arm ! " said the other, with contempt, " why, my leg
and arm are torn off, and I am making no fuss about them."
It is in the hospital that a soldier's courage is tried. Men ,
with the most fearful wounds will coolly ask, " Well, doctor,
must you take it off? " alluding to some shattered limb. ,
" Well, I fear so, my fine fellow."
" Don't mind, doctor ; go at it ; the sooner it is over, the bet
ter. It's going in a good cause."
Piles of legs and arms would be strewn about the new sub
jects, many of whom would be earnestly discussing the merits
4*

42 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
of the battle, while waiting their turn to come under the sur
geon's hands.
War hardens the hearts of men, and renders them insensible
to the sufferings of others.
This is partly owing to the uncertainty of life, and to the
fact that each man holds his life, as it were, in the palm of his
hand ; besides, a soldier thinks it weak to mourn a fallen com
rade, no matter how dear. A painful instance of this came
under my observation. A sergeant, a truly brave fellow, who
had a brother deeply attached to him, was shot dead near me.
The brother stooped down over his fallen kinsman, and find
ing him dead, coolly emptied his cartridge-box into his own,
remarking to me, " Poor James ! wasn't he a brave soldier,
captain ? " and then moved on with his comrades.
The tract of country over which we now operated is extreme
ly fertile, as well as picturesque.
There are some very rich valleys lying in the shelter of the
Raccoon and Lookout Mountains.
The cultivated portions yield profitable returns of cereals
and grasses.
The country evidently abounds in mineral resources. Bitu
minous coal is found in large quantities, also iron ore. There.
are traces, too, of gold and copper.
As the mineral resources of Georgia and Tennessee have
never been developed, it is not well known to what extent they
exist. This picturesque region was formerly the hunting-
ground of the Cherokees, a remnant of which tribe still inhabits
the country between the Holston River and the frontiers of
Carolina. The march of the 4th corps lay near Catoosa Springs, where
they bivouacked for a night before their advance on Rocky Face
Ridge. These fine mineral springs are said to possess great healing
powers, and were much resorted to by invalids for health, and
the wealthy for pleasure. They were situated in an opening in
the forest. The lands about were tastefully laid out in plots
and walks, and a very fine hotel and several cottages afforded

43
accommodation. . Not far from this is a mound of loose stones,
raised to the memory of a Cherokee chief, who, in the war of
independence, saved the patriot army from a joint surprise of
the English and Indians by deserting and swimming across the
Chattahoochee River and apprising them of their danger.
The country was thinly inhabited, only small sections of land
along the roads being cleared.
Flowers and shrubs of the most gorgeous kind appear indige
nous to Georgia. Even at this early season the forests were
blooming with them, making the air redolent with their rich
odor. Where the flowers and shrubs were cultivated around
the houses, it was pleasant to see the bees and humming-birds
darting from one to another. It was peace in the midst of war.
General Sherman, finding the enemy's position too formidable
to be taken by direct assault, now inaugurated his flanking
tactics,- which have earned him the sobriquet of " the great
flanker." McPherson's movements would have rendered his
victory decisive had his assaults in front succeeded, for he
could have struck their broken ranks on the flank by wedging
in between them and Resaca.
This having failed, Sherman's object now was to reenforce
McPherson, at the same time leaving a sufficient force in the
enemy's front to keep them in check and follow up their retreat.
It was not practicable to make the flank movement on the left,
as the mountain range extended back towards the Oostanaula
River in broken ridges. The attempt would only bring the
flanking party into other gorges like Buzzard Roost. About
fifteen miles south of Buzzard Roost is a large gap or defile in
the mountain, called Snake Creek Gap, and within about seven,
miles of Resaca.
This was the objective point aimed at by McPherson, and
was the only available passage "for Sherman's army. McPherson
met little opposition from the enemy on his line of march. He
observed the strictest silence, every man being instructed not
to tell even their commands.
" To what corps do you belong ? " I asked of some stragglers
whom I met plodding along the road.

44 Sherman's march through the south.
"Corps is it? Sure we belong to Sherman's army. Do you
know old fighting" Billy ? "
" I asked you to what corps you belong."
" Cap, dear, it is too wet to tell you ; don't you see the state
we are in ? and we in such a hurry to get up before night. Let
us move on, Hugh."
On the 9th McPherson marched from Villanow "through
Snake Creek Gap, where they were opposed only by a small
party, which were soon routed by the 9th Illinois mounted in
fantry, in which skirmish their commander, Lieutenant Colonel
Philips, was severely wounded. General Dodge, commanding
the 16th corps, led McPherson's advance, and by a rapid move
ment secured the Gap, while Logan, with his 15th corps, passed
through. McPherson's army defiled through the Gap, marched through
Sugar Valley, and occupied, without opposition, a range-of hills
overlooking Resaca and commanding the railroad bridge across
the Oostanaula. These hills were occupied by Logan and Dodge
at 8 o'clock in the morning. Sherman's instructions to Mc
Pherson were imperative to take Resaca and destroy the rail
road bridge.
McPherson, finding several good roads leading north and
south, thus endangering his left flank, while he could find no
safe road to advance his army on, — besides, the enemy seemed
to be strongly intrenched, and in force around Resaca, — got dis
couraged, and rapidly fell back at night, under a pitiless storm,
to the southern mouth, of Snake Creek Gap.
This retrograde movement of McPherson's has been censured
very much ; for had he intrenched himself in his new position,
he could keep Johnston's army at bay until he would be reen-
forced. Had he held this point, his force would have full com
mand of the town and railroad, thus compelling Johnston to
make a detour to the left in order to cross the riv.er — a thing
which he could not well do, through impracticable roads and
pressed by a superior army.
A squad of the 9th Illinois remained after the troops as skir
mishers ; and so little was the opposition they met that they

SUFFERING OF THE TROOPS. 45
succeeded in tearing up some of the rails and cutting the tele
graph wires, and then safely returned to camp next day.
Sherman had now decided to debouch, with the bulk of his
army, through Snake Creek Gap, leaving Howard to keep the
enemy in check and follow up their retreat. The rest of the
army was to follow up the army of the Tennessee on the night
of the 10th ; but a fierce thunder and rain storm set in, thus
retarding the movement. The 11th, too, was excessively wet,
cold, and unpleasant.
Some of our troops who had marched from Ringgold to sup-
pprt McPherson suffered severely. Their blankets became so
wet and heavy after the previous day and night's rain and mud
they threw them away. They had no cover, neither would the
green, saturated wood, light ; so they had to suffer all night with
cold and hunger, having but the poor shelter of the dripping
pines. " This is a comfortable bed," said a bright-eyed boy, who
was stretched upon a pile of brush to keep him from the ground,
while some of his comrades were vainly trying to light a fire
beside him, their effort being rewarded with thick volumes of
smoke. " An', haven't you a nice mattress anyhow ? "
" Yes ; but the roof leaks dreadfully."
" Well, don't mind ; there is one comfort ; I guess a goad
many of us will have hospital accommodations to-morrow."
" Boys, let us get up a song ; it will do us good," said
another. " No, let us have prayers, and thank the Lord for all his
favors, though we have had no supper," said a cynic.
They compromised the matter by praying and singing to
gether. In this light-hearted way did this grand army bear
hardships and hunger that might dishearten the most patriotic.
The contest for Rocky Face Ridge had now subsided into a
straggling fire, which we kept up to cover our flank movement.
It was not, properly speaking, a battlg, though in the days of
the revolution, or the war of 1812, it might be dignified with
that title.

46 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
We live in an age when thousands of men have been pitted
against each other in the most deadly strife, when battle fol
lowed battle in rapid and painful succession, and when armies
have been recuperated as fast as decimated. Personal as well as
political animosities imbittered the combat. One party fought
for the great principles of free government and national unity ;
the others, many, no doubt, under the mistaken notion that
they were fighting for their liberty, their homes, and their altars.
Both sides fought gallantly; one with frenzied desperation,
the other with a firm purpose and resolute perseverance.
Their ministers prayed loudly, and called on God to smite the
opposing hosts and protect the right.
In such a struggle, excited by religious and political fanatics
and fire-eaters, no wonder that the result was one of the blood
iest wars that stain the pages of history. Before it, the wars
of the Roses, of Charlemagne, and even of Napoleon himself,
pale into insignificance.
It is true, this was considered no battle, though our total loss
would number near one thousand, and our lines extended nearly
twenty miles. Hooker's corps, the 20th, was now close up to
McPherson, and Palmer's corps, the 14th, and Newton's di
vision of the 4th corps, Howard's, had followed, moving by the
right flank ; Schofield came next with his 23d corps.
On the night of the 12th and morning of the 13th General
Johnston fell back from Rocky Face Ridge and Daiton with
the main portion of his army, leaving a small force behind to
check our advance.
Resaca was now threatened by Sherman's main army, which
was massed in Snake Creek Gap and Sugar Valley, closing in
on Johnston's rear. His present position was no longer tenable ;
so he concentrated all his force at Resaca, in order to meet
Sherman's attack on his flank.
On the evening of the 13th sharp skirmishing ensued along
the lines, the enemy resisting our attempt to take up our posi
tion. General Osterhaus^with his division pushed forward, and
occupied a hill on the right of the road overlooking Resaca.
We could plainly distinguish the enemy's lines and works.

GENERAL KILPATRICK WOUNDED. 47
Their wagons and ambulances lay packed right in view, while
their huge trains were laboring up and down to the bridge.
Captain De Grass, of the 15th corps, soon got his guns into
position, and opened on them, driving them under shelter. The
skirmishers along our front were keeping up a rattling fire.
General Kilpatrick had brilliantly skirmished all day in front
of our advance, for the woods and hills were full of rebel sharp
shooters. A bullet whizzed from every tree and crag, bringing
down his brave men. On he passed, driving them back from
point to point, until at length the dashing Kilpatrick fell, badly
wounded through the thigh. Colonel Murray then assumed
the command of his men, and vigorously continued the pursuit.
Herron's division, of Logan's corps, had a brisk engagement
with the enemy, who disputed their advance into position.
Kilpatrick was wounded near a cross road, where a board in
forms you that it is " three miles to Calhoun Ford." At this
point Giles A. Smith, marching in double quick, moved to the
right, while Morgan L. Smith deployed along the Calhoun road,
on the right of the Resaca road. Herron connected with
Osterhaus. This was the position of the 15th corps on the
night of the 13th. The other corps had not yet taken up
position.

48 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER V.
SKETCHES OF OUR GENERALS. — PERSONNEL OF SHERMAN, THOMAS,
SCHOFIELD, HOOKER, McPHERSON, LOGAN, AND GEARY.
Sherman, attended by one staff officer and an orderly, had
ridden up the valley to the front. He was anxious and nervous,
as was evident from the fierce manner he pulled at his unlit
cigar, and twitched that strange, coarse face of his.
His ride through the" lines created no enthusiasm. His old
15th corps alone brightened up, and looked the better for his
presence. They fully knew — " Old Billy."
Sherman was, at all times, too cold and undemonstrative for
the men to love him. They had unbounded confidence in him,
and believed whatever he did was right, and that is all. If
sent on any expedition, no matter how hazardous or apparently
useless, their only reply was, — " Well, boys, if Old Billy said
so, it's all right."
McPherson by his noble bearing and dashing appearance,
Hooker by his fine martial presence and princely air, Logan
by his dashing, kind -manner, might create enthusiasm among
troops, but Sherman or Thomas never.
On the morning of this day, the following incident occurred.
Sherman was anxiously engaged maturing his plans the
previous night. Next day, wearied and sleepy, he sat on a
log, beside a shady tree, to rest himself, and soon fell asleep.
He had but a single orderly with him ; and few of the men, as
they marched by, knew that he was Sherman.
" Is that a general? " asked one of the men.
" Yes," said the orderly.
"A pretty way we are commanded when our generals are
lying drunk beside the road ! " exclaimed the soldier, walking
off in disgust.

COLLOQUY OF THE ¦ GENERALS. 49
" Stop, my man," said Sherman, jumping up ; for Sherman
sleeps with one eye and one ear, too, open, and heard him.
" Stop, my man. I am not drunk. While you were sleeping
last night, I was planning for you, sir ; and now I was taking a
nap. General Sherman never gets drunk, sir."
The soldier slunk away, and never minded a sleeping general
again. Sherman had ridden up to the front, and a council of generals
was held at that little cross where the road branches for Resaca
and Hilton. He alighted, walked up and down beside tbe group
for some minutes, and then turning to them, exclaimed, —
"Johnston has evacuated Rocky Face and Daiton, and is fast
massing around Resaca."
" So I understand," replied Logan ; " I have heard so from
prisoners captured by Kilpatrick's cavalry, and have sent an aid
to you with the account."
" Ah, Kilpatrick, is he much wounded?"
" Rather badly, general ; shot through the thigh."
" Ah, sorry for it ; but, Logan, I have heard that news before
you, and, of course, expected it. Johnston is too wily to let us
get in behind him. Well, it was the only way of getting them
out of that d — d place ; but they will make a desperate stand
here ; it is a strong position. I know every inch of country
here ; you know I was a military professor down here at
Marietta. Well, we must get them out of this too. McPher
son, had you held this position when you first occupied it, they
would find themselves in a nice trap."
"General," replied McPherson, " I found my flanks exposed,
and open to them by good roads, whilst I had not a single road
by which reSnforcements could come up, if attacked ; so I fell
back to a stronger position."
" 0, psha ! It can't be helped now, though."
As I cannot repeat every word said at that council, I will
only state that they decided on a vigorous attack on all points.
McPherson was to guard the Oostanaula, and open on Resaca ;
if possible, throw a portion of his forces over it, and destroy
the bridge. 5

50 Sherman's march through the south.
Schofield was to support Howard, who was now thundering
after Johnston, while Hooker, supported by Palmer, was to
make a vigorous assault on the range of hills west of Resaca.
This was a strong post, and, in fact, the key-stone of the rebel
position. While they are engaged in council, I will sketch them in
detail. Major General William Tecumseh Sherman is near six feet
high ; but his spare frame gives him the appearance of being
over this. His face is rather sharp and angular, and cov
ered with a short, grizzly beard, of a sandy color. His eyes are
piercing, with something of a harsh, cruel expression about
them. His manner of speaking is rapid and rather sarcastic.
His hands are continually twisting about, and his features
twitching, as if suffering from pain.
As a soldier, he has been wonderfully successful ; he has had
the wisdom to avail himself of the counsel of others, and to
draw his own conclusions, and act energetically upon them.
Though some of his movements savored of rashness, when
calmly weighed, they showed the good judgment and military
genius that conceived them.
Hooker assaulted the enemy at Pumpkin Vine Creek by his
orders, and though pretty well used up, succeeded in developing
the enemy's position, and drawing their attention from McPher
son's attack on Dallas.
Again, the assault on Kennesaw, in which the noble Harker
fell, might appear rash and uncalculating ; but had it succeeded
it would have split Johnston's army in two, and thus exposed it
to wholesale destruction. I think he displayed more judgment
in his march through Carolina, from the admirable manner in
which he baffled and confounded the enemy, than in any other
of his campaigns. In manner he is rather dictatorial, even to
his generals. He gives his orders in a blunt, decisive fashion,
without any courteous prefacing, and in such a way as to make
it evident that they are to be obeyed.
When once he forms an opinion, he acts upon it with an
unbending, uncompromising resolve.

CHARACTER OF GENERAL THOMAS. 51
He has little reserve in concealing his opinions of other
officers ; and, if displeasing tp him, he handles them in a bold,
caustic manner, keeping them in torture as long as possible.
When unbent, and enjoying the sociability of a convivial
hour, he is rather agreeable ; can laugh" heartily, and contest
the palm for joking with Father Abe himself.
I once heard an officer, who had just spent an hour with
him, listening to his keen, comprehensive views of the war, and
to some of his raciest tales and anecdotes, say, —
" Well, after all, Sherman's bark is worse than his bite."
On the whole, he is a cold, ascetic, nervous, irritable man,
who commands admiration more for his brilliant qualifications
as a general, than for any good or amiable traits he possesses as
a man. Major General Thomas is quite the reverse of Sherman, both
in manner and appearance. He is tall, stout, with brawny
frame and shoulders. His head is slightly bent forward, as if
drooping with thought and care. His hair and beard, which he
wears cut pretty short, are rather dark, and slightly sprinkled
with gray. He is about fifty years of age, and looks his age
fully He is very reserved ; speaks little. His cold, phlegmatic
features never wear a smile, or, if he smiles, "he smiles in such
a sort as if he mocked himself, and scorned the spirit that could
be moved to smile at anything."
As a general, Thomas is calm and cautious ; does everything
by rule ; leaves nothing to chance. He makes his arrangements
for a battle with caution and foresight, and is sure to have every
column and division move with clock-work regularity, and strike
at the proper time and place.
Nothing disturbs or unnerves him.
At Chickamauga, when our right and centre were crushed,
and McCook's and Crittenden's forces were falling back in full
retreat, shattered, broken, and routed, Thomas was as cool as
if nothing was going wrong.
He was resolved to hold the left at all odds. The enemy
massed their troops against him, and repeatedly assaulted him ;

52 Sherman's march through the south.
but he held that position all that long afternoon, despite the
repeated assaults of Bragg, and the masses hurled against him,
thus saving the army from what before seemed an irretrievable
defeat. Again, at Nashville, he was calmly making his preparations
to meet Hood, while Schofield was slowly falling back, all the
time holding Hood in check with only two corps, thus giving
Thomas time to mature his plans. And when Hood lay down
before Nashville to besiege it, the President, Grant, and the
country were surprised and becoming disheartened because
Thomas was not attacking him. Thomas heard all this, knew
all this, but he followed his own inclination. The cry was loud
against him. An order was issued to relieve him from com
mand. All this did not move him until he had his arrange
ments made, and then he swept down upon Hood, crushing up
his army, and totally destroying the rebel forces in the south
west. Major General Schofield, commanding the department of the
Ohio, is a middle-sized, stout man, of very pleasing appearance
and address. His hair is rather short — his beard long and
flowing. He, too, is rather taciturn and retired, but possessed of a
great deal of vigor and judgment.
His services as an officer have been rather brilliant. In
Sherman's campaign, he commanded the 23d corps. This
corps had been recently made up of raw, undisciplined material
from Tennessee and Kentucky. Schofield soon remodelled it,
so that it rendered as efficient service as any other corps during
Sherman's Atlanta . campaign. The masterly manner in which
Schofield, with only two corps, the 4th and 23d, checked Hood's
advance, as he fell back to Nashville, stamps him as one of the
great generals of the day. His defeat of Hood, at Franklin,
was the first crushing blow to his army, which was so admi
rably followed up at Nashville. These were followed by his
subsequent military services and able administration of affairs
in Carolina.
Major General Joe Hooker, the beau ideal of a gentleman

hooker, m'pherson, AND HOWARD. 53
and a soldier, is of a noble, portly appearance, with fine
features, and a complexion soft and clear as a woman's.
He is kind and courteous to all, without compromising his
dignity. He was beloved by his officers, almost adored by his
men, who, on account of his well-established bravery, called him
" fighting Joe."
His career of a soldier would have been a brilliant record of
dashing exploits — of noble victories — had not Chancellorsville
thrown its dark blot upon him. Well-informed persons attribute
our disastrous failure there to Halleck's interference. Be this
as it ^iay, Hooker bears the odium.
There is no doubt there was a jealous clique bent on ruining
him, even at the cost of the welfare and honor of their country ;
and they partly succeeded.
Hooker's services in the west were of the most brilliant
nature. His charge at Lookout Mountain, Avhere the roar and
din of battle was high above the fogs and clouds in the valley ;
at Resaca, where he crushed in the centre of Johnston's army ;
at Pea Vine Creek, where with his single corps he charged the
bulk of the rebel army ; and before Atlanta, where he repulsed
the mad assaults of two rebel corps, — will stand forth in
history as some of the noblest exploits of the war.
Major General McPherson, commanding the army of the
Tennessee, was a noble-looking man, of fine, dignified appear
ance. He was a courteous, refined gentleman, an educated
general, and brave officer. His hair and whiskers were dark
and flowing, his features well defined and expressive. He had
fully the confidence of General Sherman, as a general, and took
a distinguished part with him in all his great battles, until he
fell on that fatal 22d of July, in front of Atlanta, in the thirty-
sixth year of his age.
Major General 0. O. Howard, then commanding the 4th
corps, afterwards the army of the Tennessee, is a man of slight
frame, and apparently delicate constitution, of a grave, pleasing
demeanor, and of most affable and courteous manner. He has
served all through the war, lost his right arm at Fair Oaks,
under McClellan, commanded the 11th corps at the battles of
5*

54 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. He was then sent to the
west, and when the 11th and 12th corps were consolidated into
the 20th, he got command of the 4th corps. He is a man
imbued with -a deep spirit of religion, and a true sense of his
great responsibility.
His religious example and precept had a most salutary effect
on his troops. He might be justly called the Havelock of the
army. He was indefatigable in the discharge of his duties,
and attentive to the wants and wishes of his men.
As a soldier he has won a high reputation, both for his cool
bearing in danger, and his judgment in the disposition of
his troops. His military services with Sherman, all through
Georgia and the Carolinas, have been remarkably brilliant and
successful, and mainly contributed to the great results.
General John A. Logan, or, as he was more familiarly called,
" Black Jack," is of middle stature, compact, well-knit frame.
His face is regular, but almost bronze, showing unmistakable
evidence of his Franco-Celtic lineage.
He has a glorious pair of dark eyes, that scintillate beneath
his heavy brows, and dark hair. A heavy, curved mustache
covers his well-formed mouth. Such is his appearance, and his
fighting qualities are in accordance.
Logan and his 15th corps have been through almost every
battle-field of the west ; and wherever his banner floated, down
went the enemy's. His military career is a full record of
dashing heroism, from Shiloh's bloody field to Johnston's sur
render in North Carolina.
Though Logan is a civilian general, despite the prejudices
existing against such, his military genius could not be over
looked ; so he rose to the command of the army of the Ten
nessee. There are men who are soldiers by inspiration. Lo<*an is
one. West Point may mould him, and instruct him in the rudi
ments of war ; but it could not infuse into many the spirit and
military genius of John A. Logan.
He, and Brevet Major General John Geary, who commanded

GENERAL GEARY. 55
the second division of Hooker's corps, were strong evidences
of this.
Geary, too, was a civilian general, and won fame and
reputation upon field after field, — upon the bloody crest of
Lookout Mountain, upon the rugged cliffs of Mill Creek, —
though every action that many a trained West Point veteran
should feel proud of. Of civilian soldiers, he and Logan stand
amidst the foremost.

56 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER VI.
BATTLE OF RESACA. — WHAT IT COST TO TAKE TWO GUNS. — TER
RIBLE SCENES ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. — OUR LOSSES.
Resaca is situated on a bend of the Oostanaula River, which
curves towards the east. It is a small place, of little importance
except what it has historically acquired from the great struggle
enacted there. It is on the north bank, and a station of the
Western and Atlantic Railroad, and about eighteen miles south
of Daiton.
Across the peninsula formed by the bend of the river the
rebels had thrown up a strong, continuous line of intrench
ments, strengthened by fortifications. Both their flanks rested
on the river, thus forming a kind of semicircle, with the river
for its arc.
The Oostanaula River is formed by the junction of the Cone
sauga and Coosewattee, which meet in Cass County, and form
a junction with the Etowah at Rome.
On the morning of the 14th the rebels held a strong position
behind Camp Creek.- At an early hour skirmishing opened on
the right of our line, and soon extended along our front.
Toward noon, Howard, who was pressing on the enemy's rear
in their retreat from Daiton, succeeded in effecting a junction
with Schofield. Our whole force was now in line. Howard
occupied the extreme left, his flank resting on the railroad ;
Schofield joined his right ; Hooker had wheeled from the right
and fell in on Schofield's right ; Palmer, next, with Logan and
Wood, with two divisions of the 16th corps, on the extreme
right. Sherman had ordered a pontoon bridge to be thrown across
the Oostanaula at Day's Ferry, in the direction of Calhoun.

BATTLE OF RESACA. 57
Sweeny's division, of the 16th corps, was ordered to protect
it. General Gerrard was ordered to advance his cavalry from
Villanow across the Oostanaula, and, if possible, break the
railroad between Calhoun and Kingston. General McPherson
had crossed. Camp Creek, and made a lodgment close on the
enemy's flank.
On the afternoon of the 14th, General Schofield moved his
column in line of battle, through a dense wood, with the inten
tion of piercing the enemy's centre. General Judah, command
ing the second division, advanced on the right, with General
Cox supporting on the left. Judah moved his column rapidly
over, an open valley, then through a thick wood, until he reached
an open space which divided him from the enemy. Owing to
the slowness of his movements, or to the impracticable nature
of the country, Cox's advance was not as forward as Judah's.
As Judah deployed his column out of the woods, a valley of
some five hundred yards in width separated him from the ene
my. Judah, believing that Cox was advancing simultaneous
ly with him, or thinking that the enemy were not in force on
the other side, or acting from imperative orders, charged right
across the valley, when one dense, continuous, withering fire
opened from masked batteries and concealed lines on the other
side. His first line was broken, and fell back on his second.
This rallied under the fierce storm of shot and shell, and
advanced, but was also broken. After repeated attempts to
form his lines and rally, Judah was forced to fall back to the
shelter of the woods and works in his rear. Owing to the
abrupt, impracticable nature of the ground, he was not able
to place his artillery in position to cover his advance. By this
time the wood had been cleared away from the crest of the hill,
and our artillery got into position. I was then acting aid and
captain on General Judah's staff. My horse was lamed by a
piece of rock, splintered by a round shot, striking him in the
leg, and I was leading him to the rear, when I met Major, now
Colonel Wherry, of Schofield's staff, riding in.
" Good God, Captain C," he exclaimed, " where is Gen
eral Judah ? "

58 Sherman's march through the south.
" He is at the front, trying to rally his broken line," I replied.
" I want to see him ; where are the rest of his aids ? "
" Two of them are there near that rock ; " and I pointed
them out.
He rode over to them ; they refused to go in, and he turned to
me, exclaiming, " What will I do ? "
" Well, major, my horse is lame ; dismount an orderly, and
I will go in."
He did so. I went in, accompanied by the brave, dashing
Major Wherry. We succeeded in reaching Judah's position
between the contending batteries, though shot and shell were all
the time ploughing through the ranks, and mowing down the col
umns and trees around us. Judah persisted in keeping his
position, but wished Hovey's Indiana division to come to his
support, and requested me to lead it in. While riding out to do
so, a rifle bullet glanced off a tree, and struck me in the breast.
Fortunately, I had a book stuffed with papers inside my vest,
which turned its course. It stunned me, however, and for a
moment I lay senseless beside a tree. Having .recovered my
self, I rode forward, and brought in Hovey's division to Judah's
support. For this act General Schofield warmly thanked me, and
General Judah presented me with a most complimentary letter.*
It was evening. Cox's division had now become fully en-
' gaged. The battle had grown pretty hot on the left. Both Cox
and Judah were so badly pressed that they could scarcely hold
their position, had not General Stanley's division, of Howard's
corps, come up to our support, swinging round on the left so as
to extend his line toward Daiton. Stanley became fiercely en
gaged, and made a desperate resistance ; but the enemy had
* Cedak Spkings, Ga., May 18, 1864.
Captain D. P. Coktngham, Acting A. D. C.
Captain : — I cannot disrupt the associations that bind me to my personal staff,
without thanking you for the many services you have rendered me. Tho gallant
manner in which you have conveyed my orders, under a heavy fire, during the
fearful prdenl to which my division was subjected on the 14th instant, not only
commands my acknowledgment and admiration, but attests my long confirmed
opinion that the Irish soldier is the nonpareil of a Boldier.
With the best wishes of your chief for your future success and welfare,
I am truly yours, J. H. Judah, Brigadier General V. S. A.

BATTLE OF RESACA. 59
massed their troops in this position, and strove hard to turn our
flank. Sherman, seeing the severe nature of the attack on this
position, had ordered Hooker to move two of his divisions, that
were in reserve, to support Howard and Schofield. Stanley's
troops had made a splendid resistance ; but wearied from a long
march, and overpowered by numbers, were gradually losing
ground, when Williams's division, of the 20th corps — a portion
of the old 12th corps — had come to their support. They dash
ingly threw themselves to the front, beating back the enemy
with fearful slaughter, and retaking a battery that had been
wrested from Stanley's division.
While this stubborn conflict was raging on the left, McPherson
was busily engaged on the right. He had thrown Logan's corps
across the creek, and occupied the heights on the east bank of
the stream, overlooking the town. This movement had not
been accomplished without hard fighting. The rebel batteries
along the heights poured a dreadful storm of shot and shell upon
Logan's advance. McPherson, in order to neutralize this, had
placed batteries on the heights on the west bank of the stream,
annoying the rebel batteries, and thus giving a chance to Logan
to charge across the stream, and take possession of the ridge of
hills commanding the rebel position around Resaca. In this
day's battle the enemy had been foiled in attempting to turn our
left flank, and had lost some important positions on their own
left. In fact, Logan had succeeded in turning it, and exposing
Resaca, and also their line of escape across the river.
It was generally stated and believed that a portion of Polk's
troops from Mobile had arrived in the course of the day, and
were hastening up to Johnston's support.
The country around was a succession of mounds, or large
hills. The rebel line of battle extended in one circuitous line
around these. The crest and slopes of these hills were sheltered
by forest trees, which concealed their batteries and fortifications,
the underbrush giving shelter to their skirmishers and sharp
shooters. During the night and early morning, Hooker had
massed Geary's and Williams's divisions under cover of a strong
hill on his front ; Butterfield had not yet taken up position.

60 Sherman's march through the south.
The rebels had now occupied a strgng position ; stronger,
even, than on the former day, and the battle of the 15th
threatened to be a desperate one. Their lines were now
considerably depressed, but protected by strong works on the
left flank, by a deep stream and marshy banks on the centre, and
by the Oostanaula on the right. In this position Johnston had
drawn up his troops in line of battle, scarcely three miles in
extent ; while our line, occupying the outer line of a semicircle,
was much more extended. Hooker was ordered to assault and
take the position in his front. It was a strong one, protected
•by natural and artificial impediments of the most formidable
kind. Sherman had ordered it to be taken, and taken it must be.
It was a lofty elevation of hills, covered with a dense growth
of timber and brushwood. Every nook and corner was bur
rowed with rifle-pits and intrenchments. Hooker's line of bafc-
tie advanced from the south-west, barely skimming the western
base of the hill, and then crossed a deep valley in a more north
erly direction, extending to a commanding elevation we had
gained the previous day. ,
It was noon before Butterfield's division got into position.
.Hooker had now arranged his columns. Butterfield's division
was deployed in columns by brigades. For some time, Hooker
was at a- loss to know which range was occupied by the enemy,
and"which to attack ; but they soon discovered themselves by
opening on us from the hill on the' left of the road. Colonel
Woods's brigade, of Butterfield's division, charged the enemy's
position on the left, while General Ward's brigade charged that
on the right, supported by Colonel Colburn's brigade. The col
umn on the right advanced up the hill steadily, bravely, as if on
parade, driving back the rebel sharpshooters and skirmishers to
their works. Over the hill they swept ; down the valley in double
quick time ; across it, raked by a withering fire from the rebel
artillery ; up the opposite hill towards its base, where they met
a regular shower of shell and bullets ; yet on they swept, plunged
through the woods, striving desperately to gain its ascent. Colo
nel Colburn's brigade was now advancing to their relief, when
a conflict of the most awful kind ensued for that hill. The reb-

BATTLE OF RESACA. 61
els here unmasked several batteries, which staggered our columns
for a moment by the shower of canister they poured into our
lines. In the dense thickets, Colburn's men opened fire on
Ward's- brigade ; but some officers rushed to the front, and cor
rected this mistake. Ward had now gained the hill, and charged
on the works, but fell, wounded. Colonel Harrison now led on
the brigade. Their general fallen, their ranks broken, the gal
lant fellows had to fall back to the shelter of another hill.
A correspondent relates the following incident : " As we were
falling back, the rebels, thinking that we had been repulsed,
cheered lustily. This stung the gallant color-bearer of the
127th Illinois, named Hess. Springing back to the embrasure,
he floated the colors defiantly at the enemy. Brave fellow ! his
death atoned for his rashness. A rebel shot him through the
heart. Other hands took up the flag with a similar fate."
Colonel Woods's brigade encountered but little resistance in
its first advance ; but on gaining the crest of the hill, he found
the timber cleared away on the other side, thus exposing his
lines to an open fire from the enemy. Large masses of troops
had moved across the open fields between the Daiton road and
the railroad, as if attempting a flank movement. This was but
a feint to cover a real attack ; for soon a whole division burst
on Colonel Woods's front. They came charging up the clear
slope in double quick, and with a fierce yell. Woods's men
reserved their fire until they came right up to them, and then
poured a deadly volley into the column. They faltered, rallied,
charged ; but the same deadly fire thinned their lines, and drove
them back. Again the rebels rallied, and would have crushed
Woods's columns, had not General Knipe's brigade just then
come to their assistance. Knipe charged directly into the rebel
columns at the point of the bayonet.
Though la,rgely outnumbered, his gallant brigade returned
volley for volley, and bravely maintained their position until
their general fell wounded, when the column steadily fell back,
bearing their general with them. They also brought back a
number of prisoners, and the battle-flags of the 38th and 58th
Alabama. Our batteries all along our front continued all day
6

62 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
pouring the deadly storm of lead upon the enemy, in order to
cover the charges of Hooker and Logan.
As night approached, Hooker reenforced his front, and re
newed the charge, with the most brilliant results, driving back
the rebels from their works, capturing four guns, a number of
flags, and seven hundred prisoners.
The brunt of the battle fell upon Butterfield's and Williams's
divisions, which fought splendidly.
Geary's division was but slightly engaged, being held in
reserve. No serious engagement took place all day at any other point
of the line.
They all skirmished briskly with the enemy, in order to dis
tract their attention from Hooker's assault.
The skirmishing in Logan's front, oh the right, brought on a
sharp engagement at that point.
Night had set in. The ground was strewn with the dead
and wounded. Our men slept beside their arms, for the rebel
lines were quite close to them. The living, the dying, and the
dead slept beside one another. We could hear the stealthy
tramp of moving troops, and the rumble of wagons.
There was much conjecture as to whether the enemy were
retreating, or bringing forward supports and artillery to renew
the conflict in the morning.
During the day's battle we had temporarily seized a rebel
battery, but were unable to hold it ; but succeeded in dragging
two guns from the embrasure, and into a trench near the works.
As we did so, the rebel batteries opened a converging fire on
the spot, and compelled us to retreat ; so the guns lay there
between both lines, and neither side dare touch them. Some^f
our men organized a volunteer party to bring in the guns at
night. They clubbed together in a little valley near the fort,
and waited until everything was silent, except the mournful cry
of the whippoorwill, the groans of the wounded, and the tramp
of the sentry.
They then stole to the fort, tied ropes to the pieces, and were
dragging them away, when the rebels jumped up and fired on

SAD SCENES ON THE BATTLE-FIELD. 63
them. The rebel batteries, having the range since the previous
evening, swept across the little fort. Our pickets fired ; our
skirmishers fired ; and soon our columns had sprung up, seized
their arms, and opened a fierce volley through the dark woods ;
they did not know where, or for what. Our batteries, too,
took up the horrid din, and the whole combined to make the
night hideous with the unearthly shrieking and hissing of shells
and bullets.
Covered by the confusion, the rebels commenced retreating ;
and ere morning dawned their main body had crossed the
Oostanaula. After some time the firing ceased ; the wearied
troops again lay down beside their arms to repose.
On the following morning I went to see that point where our
troops fought so desperately, and grappled in a hand-to-hand
death conflict with the foe.
The work was a lunette, just on the crest of a hill, and well
masked by some trees and brushwood around it.
This was thickly strewn with the dead and wounded. Inside
and around the work rebel and Union officers and men lay piled
together ; some transfixed with bayonet wounds, their faces
wearing that fierce, contorted look that marks those who have
suffered agony. Others, who were shot dead, lay with their
calm faces and glassy eyes turned to heaven. One might think
they were but sleeping.
Others had their skulls crushed in by the end of a musket,
while the owner of the musket lay stiff beside them, with the
death grip tightened on the piece.
Clinging to one of the guns, with his hand on the spoke, and
his body bent as if drawing it, lay a youth with the top of his
head shot off. Another near him, his body cut in two, still
clung to the ropes.
Can a rescued nation sufficiently revere the memories of such
heroes ?
Men writhing in pain, men stark and cold ; broken caissons,
rifles, and bayonets ; bloody clothes and torn haversacks, with
all the other debris of war's havoc, were the price we paid for
these two old cannon.

64 Sherman's march through the south.
A battle-field, when the carnage of the day is over ; when the
angry passions of men have subsided ; when the death silence
follows the din and roar of battle ; when the victors have re
turned triumphant to their camps to celebrate their victory,
regardless of the many comrades they have left behind ; when
the conquered sullenly fall back to a new position, awaiting to
renew the struggle, — isa sad sight. It is hard to listen to the
hushed groans and cries of the dying, and to witness the
lacerated bodies of your fellow-soldiers strewn around, some
with broken limbs, torn and mangled bodies, writhing in agony.
How often has some poor fellow besought me to shoot him, and
put him out of pain I It would be a mercy to do so, yet I
dared not.
Piled up together in a ditch, near a battery which they sup
ported with their lines, I found several rebel dead and wounded.
I dragged some of the wounded out under the shelter of the
trees. The ghouls of the army were there before me ; they had
rifled the pockets of the dead and wounded indiscriminately.
I gave many a poor fellow a reviving drink, amidst silent
prayers. In one place I found a mere boy of about fifteen. His leg
was shattered with a piece of shell. I placed his knapsack
under his head. Poor child ! what stories he told me of his
mother, away down in Carolina; and his little sisters, how
glad they would be, now that he was wounded, to see him home.
They never saw him home, for he went to the home where
the weary are at rest.
I came up to the corpse of a rebel soldier, over whom a huge
Kentuckian federal soldier was weeping.
"My man," I exclaimed, "why do you weep over him?
Look at your comrades around you."
"True, sir," he replied, wiping his eyes; and pointing to a
federal soldier near, he said, " There is my brother ; this man
shot him : I killed him in return. He was my bosom friend.
I loved him as a father loves his child."
Next morning, as we were removing our wounded to hos-

FEDERAL AND REBEL LOSSES. 65
pital, I saw a group collected. I rode up, and found that they
were some raw troops jeering and insulting rebel wounded.
They belonged to Hovey's Indiana division. Veteran troops
will never do this, but share their last drink and bite with
them. I rated them pretty roundly, and ordered the cowardly
sneaks to their regiments. After another battle or two, these
very boys would feel indignant at such conduct.
I then helped the doctor to put them in ambulances. The
poor fellows' gratitude well repaid me. One man's brain was
protruding through his wound. We left him, thinking he could
not live long. I went there the following evening, and found
him still living.
Our loss in the battle of Resaca was pretty heavy. We had
four, generals wounded — Kilpatrick and Willech badly, Man-
son seriously, and Hooker slightly.
Our total killed were about five hundred ; some two thousand
wounded, and about five hundred missing.
I have no means of fully ascertaining the rebel loss ; but it
must be as large as ours. For the most part they fought under
cover. Our captures were eight pieces of cannon, a large stock of
small arms and commissary stores, besides the cheering effect
the victory had on our troops, and the demoralizing influence
on Johnston's. Resaca was, in truth, the first great battle of the
campaign. Here the enemy, aided by every advantage of
ground and position, made a stand. A fair but desperate
conflict ensued, and the enemy were whipped. From that day
our army felt they were to be victorious ; Johnston's, that they
were to be defeated. 6*

66 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER VII.
THE PURSUIT. -OUR ARMY CROSS THE RIVER ON PONTOONS
AND BRIDGES. — CAPTURE OF A REBEL COURIER. — A GOOD
TRICK OF GENERAL THOMAS. — SPLENDID ACHIEVEMENT OF
GENERAL SWEENY. — STORMING THE HEIGHTS AT SNAKE
CREEK. — DEEDS OF INDIVIDUAL VALOR. — SHERMAN AND THE
LONE WIDOW. — A COUP D'OEII, FROM BUENA VISTA. — DESCRIP
TION OF THE COUNTRY. — TROUBLES OF THE CORRESPOND
ENTS — PERSONAL ANECDOTES OF SHERMAN.
General Johnston had pontooned the river just below the
bend. He could not cross his trains by the regular road bridge,
as the noise would reveal the movement. The troops crossed
at several ferries, the major portion over a foot bridge laid
beside the railroad bridge.
The rebels had left behind them four guns, in addition to
those captured the previous day, immense stores of ammunition,
several thousand stands of small arms, a large amount of com
missary stores, and all their dead and wounded. They de
stroyed the railroad bridge, but had not time to demolish the
road bridge near it.
The pursuit commenced early next morning. McPherson
had crossed over at Lay's Ferry, and the foot bridge left by the
rebels. General Thomas had to lay down some additional
bridges, and followed up right in the rear of the retreating
army. General Schofield had to make a wide detour to the left,
and crossed the Connasauga and Coosawattee, which form the
Oostanaula at Fite's and Field's Ferries. Our cavalry were
close upon the rear of the rebels, but were not in sufficient
force to bring them to a stand.
The troops effected the crossing of the rivers in very good time.

PURSUIT OF THE REBELS. 67
McPherson had his pontoons already established. The rebels,
in their haste, had left the road bridge and a foot bridge stand
ing. Schofield, however, had to ford or pontoon the two rivers.
All this was done with such despatch that the whole army was
in pursuit by noon the following day. It soon became one con
tinual skirmish between the rear guard of Johnston's army and
our advance. His intention evidently was to cross the Etowah,,
fall back to the strong range of the Alletoona Mountains, and
there, with his lines extending from the railroad to Dallas, give
us battle.
Near Adairsville, — which, by the way, is a pretty village
eighteen miles south of Resaca, — Wood's division, of the 4th
corps, came upon Hood's and part of Hardee's corps where
they were intrenched, with the intention of checking our ad
vance. They opened a heavy artillery fire upon our lines.
General Wood formed into line, deployed heavy bodies of skir
mishers, and a very brisk little fight ensued, which continued
all the evening. The enemy retired after nightfall.
On the 17th Butterfield's division, of the 20th corps, drove
the enemy from Cassville. Hooker pressed on, driving them
from Calhoun, which village presented nothing but ruined and
shattered housed, the inhabitants having fled at our approach —
some to the" woods, others into the rebel lines. These had been
pretty towns, with their neat, white houses, and trim flower
gardens, before the scourge of war had swept over them. The
country around is extremely fertile, and many a wealthy planter's
mansion and farmer's homestead formed bonfires for our de
stroying army.
The stubborn fight made by Johnston at Adairsville was for
the purpose of protecting some wagons and artillery, which he
wanted to get off by rail. His main army at this time was but
a few miles ahead. Next morning the 4th corps marched
through Kingston ; in the afternoon they encountered a slight
opposition from Cheatham's division and two regiments of
cavalry. Meantime Hooker had moved by River Creek, reconnoi
tring south, and striking the railroad between Kingston and

68- SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Cassville. Butterfield's division was ahead, and encountered
the enemy at Cassville, and kept them at bay until Williams's
and Geary's divisions came to his support, when the whole
corps formed into line, and drove the enemy from the town,
after a very hot contest.
The 20th and 23d corps had a slight skirmish with John
ston's flank. The 23d corps occupied the extreme left, harass
ing the enemy's flank. The 4th and 20th corps occupied the
centre. The 14th corps came in on Hooker's right, while
McPherson operated on our extreme right. Davis's division
of the 14th corps had already moved on Rome, occupying the
town with slight opposition.
At Rome we captured a small steamboat on the Coosa River,
large quantities of supplies and cotton, and several founderies,
all of which were destroyed. Rome is a beautiful little city,
embowered amidst trees, and full of pretty flower gardens.
Most of the families had fled. All the able-bodied negroes,
men and women, had been carried off. The inhabitants must
have left, in hot haste, with the garrison, for provisions and
furniture were untouched in the houses ; and some of them
looked as if the ladies had just gone out to pay an evening
visit, and meant to be back to tea.
, Our men soon changed the appearance of things, liberally
helping themselves to anything they wanted, and then destroyed
the rest, and in some cases the houses with them.
On our march a courier from General Johnston to his chief
of cavalry, General Jackson, was captured. The despatch was
asking information of Sherman's movements on his flank. The
poor fellow appeared much terrified, made a generous confes
sion, and looked upon himself as booked for the other world.
General Thomas dressed one of his scouts in the officer's
clothing, and sent him off with the despatch. The brave fellow
succeeded in his hazardous mission, and returned with valuable
information. Our trains were now following up the army as far as Kings
ton and Rome, though Wheeler was threatening our communi
cation. On the 24th ho made a dash on a train of about sixty

SPLENDID CONDUCT OF SWEENY'S COMMAND. 69
wagons belonging to Schofield, which was going to Cassville
with surplus baggage. He captured the wagons, but had to
burn them, as our cavalry was pressing him ; but he took away
most of the teams. His men here acted with great cruelty, for
we found some of our men with their brains dashed out, and
we were told that they were butchered after being captured.
Though not crediting all such reports, I cannot ignore them
all, for I have met too many savagely butchered myself.
I believe that none of those acts have ever been committed
with the cognizance of the superior officers. I give them credit
for more humanity on both sides. In all civil wars, and par
ticularly in one carried on with such bitter rancor as this, there
must have been many savage acts and brutal murders perpe-
" trated. Our march and battles were characterized by many
personal exploits of foolhardy daring that cannot be sur
passed. The crossing of the Oostanaula at those points where the
enemy' remained to dispute our passage was a noble achieve
ment. General T. W. Sweeny, commanding the second di
vision, 16th corps, had received orders to move -to Lay's Ferry,
a point south of Resaca, and take possession of the opposite
bank. Johnson's brigade, Walker's division, Hardee's corps
was fortified on the opposite bank, and opened a galling fire on
the advancing troops, who had to charge over an open field to
'the shelter of some rail fences, and a regular fire across the
river ensued.
Meanwhile pontoon boats were launched in Snake Creek, a
tributary of the Oostanaula, and six companies of the 66th Illi
nois and 81st Ohio were ordered to cross in them. The boats,
with about three hundred soldiers, pushed down the stream,
when a regular storm of rebel bullets whistled around them,
toppling some into the water, more into the boats. On they
push, blazing away at the enemy in return. The rebel bat
teries now open, throwing round shot and shell .among them,
ploughing up the water around, and, in some cases, tearing
through their crowded masses.
At length they gained the shore, and with a shout of triumph

70 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
and derision the brave fellows rushed up the banks, firing as
they advanced ; then charging right on the enemy, breaking
and routing them. Thus did these gallant western men open a
passage across the river for Dodge's command.
A private soldier of the 66th Indiana swam the Oostanaula,
at Lay's Ferry, during the night, passed the pickets at the other
side, scaled the rebel fort, pulled down a battle flag, res warn
the river, returning safely to his comrades with, the flag as a
trophy. Near Cassville three soldiers belonging to the 23d corps were
somewhat behind their command, and not being able to get up
to it at night, bivouacked in a small farm-house aside from the
road. - About the middle of the night they heard a great noise
outside, and on looking out discovered the yard full of rebel
cavalry. They were betrayed by the people of the house, all
of whom they found had left while they were asleep. One of
the cavalry, thinking to nab them quietly, gently opened the
door, when one of the soldiers ran him through. His com
rade's fired one volley into the house, the bullets passing
through the rotten planks that formed its sides.
The men lay quietly in the most secure positions, and fired
out, and then immediately shifted to another corner, the rebels
pouring a volley of bullets through the place they had left.
This game was played for some time, when those outside, find
ing that they were paying too dear for it, resolved to burn down
the house, though the family protested against it. The house
was set on fire, and the dry timbers began to blaze about them.
Nothing was now before them but certain death, and they were
resolved to sell their lives as dearly as possible, when an unex
pected deliverance came. A squad of Stoneman's cavalry,
passing near, heard the firing, and hastened to the spot. They
attacked the besieging party in the rear, soon putting them to
flight, and released their friends.
Johnston had now succeeded in crossing the Etowah, burn
ing the road and railroad bridges near Cartersville. Here
General Sherman halted his army for a few days to give it time
to rest, and to bring up some supplies.

INTERVIEW WITH A POOR WIDOW. 71
General Thomas's army lay around Cassville, General Scho
field's at Kingston depot and the Etowah Bridge, with General
McPherson's about Kingston. In this delightful and fertile sec
tion of country, which we found a garden before us, but left a ,
wilderness behind us, the army now halted to rest, and to pil
lage, too.
It was amusing to observe Irow the soldiers imposed on the
innocent people by giving them forged vouchers. General
Sherman, attended only by a single orderly, rode by a small
plantation house, where he went in and sat down. The old
lady was quite communicative, and Sherman entered into con
versation with her.
" Well, have the boys taken much from you? "
" Almost all I have. Sherman was here ; he is a right nice
un ; the poor man said he was hungry ; so I got him something
to eat ; and as he said they were starving, he took a ham and a
chicken, but he left me something he called a purtection paper,"
and she pulled a dirty, scribbled scroll from her breast, and
handed it to Sherman. It read, —
" Sergeant Take-them-all gives general protection to this
poor, lone widow, with her husband in the army, and to her
helpless chickens and roosters ; that is, what's left of them."
" And what did the boys say to this?" asked Sherman, who
could not help smiling at this novel protection.
" Well, your fellows only laughed at it ; it 'pears like they
have drefful little respect for their general."
" I am afraid so, madam. If you give me some paper I'll
write one they won't laugh at."
" And are you an officer ? "
" Yes, ma'am."
" May be you'd have a piece of backer, or a chew ; the sol
diers didn't leave me a blast."
" Don't use them. Here is a cigar, and a pass that won't
be laughed at ; " and Sherman mounted and rode off.
While the army is resting, we will devote a brief space to the
general appearance of the country, its soil, climate, and geo
graphical position.

72 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Walker County, through which we had just campaigned, is
south of Tennessee, and was laid out from Murray County in
1833. Its general appearance is hilly, or rather mountainous, inter
spersed with rich valleys of great fertility, covered with a
dark, mulatto soil. It has several very prominent mountains,
generally running from north to north-west, the principal
of which are Taylor's Ridge, — commonly called Rocky Face
Ridge, — Lookout Mountain, overhanging Chattanooga, John's
Mountain, and White Oak Mountains.
These are separated by some fine valleys, among others
Chickamauga, the scene of Rosecrans's memorable fight; Ar-
mucha Valley, where Sherman's army sat down before Johns
ton's intrenched position,, along Rocky Face and Buzzard Roost ;
and Dogwood Valley, where Schofield advanced, threatening-
Johnston's flank.
It has no towns of importance, Ringgold, Rossville, and Vil-
lanow being the leading ones. All these are small places, but
remarkably neat and picturesque.
They have become rather historical from the stirring scenes
of which they have been the theatre.
This county has been called Cherokee Georgia ; and some of
the tumuli and remains of the Cherokee settlement are still
extant. This county is remarkable for its many eaves, the
most remarkable of which is Wilson's Cave, which is second
only to the Mammoth Cave of Kentucky.
Its great mineral springs are its most remarkable feature,
and possessed pf strong medicinal qualities. They are situated
at the foot of Taylor's Ridge, and are about fifty in number, all-
located within a space of less than half a mile.
Twelve of these, and the chief ones, are grouped together in
less than a quarter acre. These springs held a high reputation
among the Indians; and the beautiful- valley has been justly
called the " Vale of Springs."
The waters are strongly mineral, combining chalybeate, red,
white, and black sulphur, iron, magnesia, and salts, in various
combinations. The scenery immediately around the springs is rather of the

BUENA VISTA. 73
sylvan order ; but an hour's walk brings you to the mountain,
whence you have a view of as picturesque, lovely, and romantic
a region as the eye could rest upon. The wood has been
cleared from the top of Taylor's Ridge, from which point there
is a magnificent stretch of mountain and valley scenery. This
is called Buena Vista, and appropriately, for a good view it is.
Here, wearied and fatigued, I slept that summer night of the
7th of May, after helping to drag up that section of artillery
to Buena Vista. Here, next morning, I took a bird's-eye view
of the camps of the contending hosts, their expiring watch-fires,
and their marshalled troops, awaiting the battle. Here, on this
point, crowded hundreds of Harker's and Newton's men who
were not engaged, anxiously watching the battle raging along
the ridge and beneath. How earnestly they watched our
advance down Dogwood Valley, as we were steadily driving
back the enemy's skirmishers and sharpshooters. And when
we dashed into that thick wood beneath, and our huzzas, and
the ringing sound of our rifles, told that we were still forcing
back the enemy, what a shout went up from Buena Vista !
When we emerged from the wood with flying colors, the enemy
driven back on their main lines, that shout rang over us, louder
even than the din of battle. The men on the summit flung up
their caps, and they came down upon us like a shower.
Never before had there been such a party on Buena Vista —
never before had there been such a bloody drama played there,
and, I trust, never will be again.
Chattooga County, in which Sherman's army was now rest
ing, is next to Walker.
It is rather a beautiful country, even richer in soil than
Walker County, and full of hills and valleys, equally fertile and
picturesque. It derives its name from its principal river,
Chattooga. It has some splendid plantations, with their wealthy home
steads, and numerous negro surroundings. Summerville is the
capital of the county ; but we left this on our right flank.
Adairsville and Kingston are small but interesting villages.
We found them pretty well deserted.
7

74 Sherman's march through the south.
At Cassville, in Cass County, a pleasant spot, the rebels made
a decided stand ; and consequently it suffered considerably.
Floyd County now lay before us. Johnston had placed the
Etowah between Sherman and himself. The Taylor Ridge of
mountains continue in a south-west direction through Floyd,
dividing the waters of the Chattooga from the tributaries of the
Oostanaula. The Altoona range of hills cross these in a westerly direc
tion. This being a strong natural position, protected by water
and mountain and hill range, Sherman justly conjectured that
Johnston would avail himself of it.
Floyd County differs little from the others either in soil or
scenery. Its chief rivers are the Oostanaula and Etowah, which, unitr
ing at Rome, form the Coosa. From Rome, the Coosa flows
through a rich valley, with beautiful wooded hills and slopes
on both sides.
Rome itself is a handsome little town, situated upon an eleva
tion overlooking the river. It did not suffer much from the
troops, as we only paid it a passing visit. It is about eighteen
miles from Kingston, and is destined to become a flourishing
business place. It also has several mineral springs, the most
important of which is Cove Spring, on Little Cedar Creek.
These gush out from a mountain, forming a pretty considerable
creek. Having so far given a topographical description of the country
through which we had operated, I will continue to describe its
various features as I chronicle the advance and subsequent
achievements of the army, which I left enjoying itself along the
banks of the Etowah.
Sherman had his headquarters at Kingston. Here he issued
the following order, which rendered the position of newspaper
correspondents in the army very uncomfortable. Kingston, Ga., May 20, 1864.
.... What the commanding general does discourage is
the existence of that class of men who will not take a musket

the reporter. 75
and fight, but who follow an army to pick up news for sale,.
speculating on a species of information which is dangerous to
the army and to our cause, and who are more used to bolster
idle and worthless officers than to notice the hard-working and
meritorious, whose modesty is generally equal to their courage,
and who scorn to seek the flattery of the press.
W. T. 'Sherman, Major General.
This was by no means complimentary to the press or its
representatives, and made the position of correspondents very
unpleasant. Every stuck-up jackanapes of an officer, with
more assurance than brains, who had lately left the counter
or workshop, thought he was privileged to insult gentlemen,
and men of learning. However, I must say that no true gen
tleman in the service ever attempted to do so. I have reason
to know that even Sherman's own staff, with the exception of
one or two, censured this order. His brother-in-law Gen
eral Ewing, Surgeon General Moor, Major General Barry, and
other gentlemen of his staff, disapproved of it.
As for his adjutant general, Major Dayton, he could not
afford to be courteous to a representative of a newspaper.
A respectable member of the associated press once called on
him for permission to telegraph just a few lines to relieve the
anxiety of the country after an important movement.
His reply was, —
"No, sir. What the h — 1 do we care about the country?
You should go to Washington for news. This is no place to
come looking for it ? "
Had Sherman issued an order prohibiting correspondents
from accompanying the army, I would respect his strength of
character ; but he knew too well that the war was a matter
of history and public interest ; that the country was liberally
pouring forth its treasures and its blood to suppress treason, and
that it would not allow the press to be gagged, and thus shut
them off from the most reliable and expeditious source of infor
mation relative to the fate of their friends, and the success of
their cause in battle.

76 Sherman's march through the south.
Thus exposed to petty annoyance from some worthless fops
" clothed in a little brief authority," several correspondents left
the army.
This order was unworthy of Sherman. Intelligent corre
spondents had too much respect for themselves and their papers
to write anything derogatory to the interest of the army, and if
they did, he had his redress in his own hands.
Sherman's abrupt manner of dealing with parties whose
business was distasteful to him gave rise to a good many
amusing stories about him.
On one occasion a deputation from some commission waited
on him for transportation to bring up supplies, and particularly
tracts and Bibles to the soldiers.
" Tracts and Bibles, gentlemen," he replied, " are very good
in their way, but rations and ammunition are much better.
Now, I can't encroach on them."
He was right, for most of these agents were mere hangers-on,
living on the country, and giving the supplies to officers and
quartermasters to propitiate them, and not to the soldiers, for
whom they were intended.
On another occasion Sherman was dining with Howard. A
sanctimonious parson present thought the occasion demanded
an extra strong grace. With eyes and hands raised piously
towards heaven, he was in the midst of it, when Sherman, who
sat at the other end of the table unconscious of the chaplain, was
bitterly denouncing some officer, and wound up by bringing his
hand slap on the table, and exclaiming, —
" Hang the man ! Will he ever stop ? "
The chaplain, thinking the expression to apply to himself, let
fall his hands, and became almost petrified. There was a sup
pressed titter around the table, and the chaplain did not recover
his composure for the evening.
Sherman was at times convivial, and would tell, with the
richest humor, racy stories connected with himself, and the
many strange characters he had come across.
" I tell you," he said one evening to a party of us at dinner,
" I have met more men afflicted with cotton on the brain than

THE JEW. AND HIS COTTON. 77
any other disease. Some time since a chaplain wrote to me for
permission to go south, because, as he had numerous acquaint
ances there, he could buy plenty of cotton if he only had per
mission to bring it through the lines. I didn't mind this.
Some time afterwards, I got another letter from the same party,
renewing the request, but making an offer to give me half the
profits. I at once ordered him beyond the lines ; and only that
I believed he was not quite sane, I would have dealt harder with
him. "At Memphis," he continued, "I was completely pestered
about cotton. A little Jew had somehow managed to get into
the rebel lines, and buy cotton from private parties, who agreed-
to send it to some neutral point outside their lines. Our cavalry
met them, and brought in the cotton, the parties having no
authority for dealing in it. The Jew came to me in a great
fright. " ' Ah, monseer jenral, de cavalry took mine cotton.'
" ' What right had you to go beyond our lines to buy cotton ? '
" ' Jenral, I knew de cotton vas dere ; and I knew de good
government vants it ; so I said I'd buy the cotton, and bring it
in to you.'
" ' You paid for it, then ? '
" ' Yes ; tree tousand dollas down in de gold.'
" ' That is, you gave three thousand dollars to the rebels to
use against us.'
" ' No, jenral ; it vas for de cotton.'
" ' Well, it's all the same ; it went into their hands ; and now,
as you were so good to them, I order you to pay the same
amount to our government, or else I will swing you out of a
tree.' " ' And can't I keep de cotton? '
" ' Not a pound of it. It's confiscated.'
" We had no more Jews speculating in cotton after that."
7 * •

78 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER ,VIII.
A CARNIVAL IN THE CAMPS.— RACING AND HUNTING PARTIES.—
STRAGGLERS AND MARAUDERS. — EXCESSES OF OUR TROOPS.
— MURDER OF REBEL OFFICERS. — CAPRICIOUSNESS OF THE
SOUTHERN LADIES.— MRS. MAJOR DASH AND MRS. CAPTAIN
SMART. — CONDITION OF THE POOR WHITES. — INCIDENTS AND
ANECDOTES. — WHITES AND BLACKS.
The section of country occupied by our encamped army
extended some twenty miles, embracing Rome, Kingston, Cass
ville, and several other minor places. We had established
strong posts at Ringgold, Tunnel Hill, and Daiton ; also con
necting posts to guard our lines of communication.
The country around was very fine, the weather favorable,
and the officers and men seemed inclined to employ their days
of rest with amusement and recreation.
Races were got up, hunting parties formed ; also foraging
and visiting parties.
Generals and officers, in their gayest uniforms, rode from
camp to camp, making it a pleasing and exciting scene.
The most of the plantation houses were abandoned by their
owners, who were either hiding in the woods until we should
pass, or had gone on with the rebel army. Old men and 'women,
with decrepit negroes, and squalling picaninnies, were the only
persons at home.
The lying press of the south, and all other sources from
which they drew information, had so poisoned their minds with
stories of our savage and cannibal acts that they trembled at
our approach, and looked upon their total destruction as certain.
Unfortunately the wanton acts of some of our troops gave color
to this. In all large armies there is a class of cowardly ruf
fians who are sure to slink from battle, and whose only object is
plunder."

LIVING ON THE COUNTRY. 79
Owing to the wooded nature of the country, and the vast ex
tent of our lines, these fellows had too many opportunities of
gratifying their thieving propensities.
General Sherman had issued an order that the army, as far
as practicable, should live on the country.
The soldiers took this as a license for each man to rob and
pillage as much as he could ; and in truth too many of them
seemed well inclined to obey this special order.
For several days a most disgraceful scene of rifling houses,
breaking up furniture, ripping up bedticks, and, after making a
general mess of things, then firing the houses, ensued.
This was somewhat modified by regular parties being de
tailed, under command of officers, to forage. Even these often
committed the most wanton excesses. I was one evening riding
out towards our picket lines, and passing near a house, she!
tered in the trees, I heard cries and screams, as if from women
in distress. I drew my revolver, and rode into the yard ; and
what a sight met my view ! The yard was covered with the
debris of furniture, beds, and bedding ; dead poultry and pigs
lay around, while soldiers were making desperate charges on
others that had not yet fallen. All the beehives were rifled, and
the infuriated bees were flying about like so many little demons.
I even saw a man wearing the shoulder-straps of a captain,
with his hands full of things, rush through a back door at my
approach. To add to the savage scene children were rushing
about, screaming for their lives ; and on going into the house I
found four miserable women huddled together in trembling fear.
It took some time before I could convince -them that they were
safe. They were in such a frenzied state, that I remained some
time, and put a guard on the house.
Such scenes were of too frequent occurrence ; and it often
happened that the rebel cavalry came upon these pilfering strag
glers while they were rifling some houses, and of course they
had no mercy to expect.
On the left of our lines, just outside our picket station, was a
very tempting plantation house ; still, the men felt a little deli
cacy in visiting it, as it was pretty close on the rebel lines.

80 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
At length a party of volunteers resolved to try the experi
ment. So they started off in the evening, being favored by the
darkness, first having contrived to get the countersign, so that
they could return.
It happened that the old planter, a Mr. Hordel, had a son,
an officer in Wheeler's cavalry. The young man, being sta
tioned near, availed himself of the opportunity to visit his family.
He, together with two other officers, were in the house when
our volunteer party surrounded it.
They were quietly, and, as they thought, securely, sitting
around the parlor fire, telling of their hairbreadth escapes and
adventures. Mr. and Mrs. Hordel and their three blooming daughters
were the willing auditors.
There must be something strikingly interesting in the adven
tures of young Hordel's brother officers, who, by the by, were
two fine-looking fellows ; for two of the young ladies seemed
wonderfully pleased at them, and with greedy ears devoured
their discourse, and gave them for their pains a world of sighs.
A scout crept softly from the party abroad to the window,
and looked through the partially open shutters. He soon re
ported progress.
What to do now was the question. The front door was
locked. The servants were in the back yard, and would give
the alarm, should they try to get in that way ; and the officers
had their revolvers beside them on the table. What was to be
done? It was at once agreed to surprise them from the rear, but
to leave three men at the window to fire on the officers if
necessary. Two men slipped around, got into the kitchen, but
were stoutly encountered by two of the rebel officers' orderlies.
The young officers, hearing the noise, jumped up, and soon a
shot from the hall told them that they were surprised.
They grasped their revolvers, and had drawn their swords,
when the men at the window fired. One of the officers fell
dead, while old Mr. Hordel, who had just at the moment
jumped up, received the bullet aimed at his son. The third
bullet took effect on one of the young ladies.

CONDUCT OF SECESH LADIES. 81
The men outside joined their comrades, and fired through the
windows. Hordel and his living friend rushed into the hall,
and joined their orderlies, resolved to sell their lives dearly.
A fierce fight ensued ; and as the men outside had set the
house on fire, there is no knowing how it would end had not
the third orderly, who was outside at the time, made his escape
back to a rebel cavalry post, and hurried them up.
They surrounded the party, and killed every man of them
except one, who made his escape into our lines, with a most
exaggerated report of how they were surrounded, eaptured, and
then butchered. I learned these true particulars from a negro
who was in the house at the time.
As a general thing throughout the south, we experienced
the most inveterate hate on the part of the ladies. They were
bitter against us, and full of the most absurd prejudices. They
hated the Yankees ; but still, in many cases, they softened down
wonderfully ; and when we remained any little time, they
actually became warm converts to the Union.
When first we entered a town they scarcely showed their
pretty faces at all ; or, if they did, they wore such a scornful
expression that we could well dispense with them.
They tried all those petty modes of annoyance by which
ladies can so well show their dislike. You were sure to hear
rebel airs floating from Secesh pianos and fair Secesh vocalists.
After a little time they began to mix more freely. They
vowed that Captain Smart and Major Dash were ducks of young
men. Certainly they could not be Yanks, they were so noble-
looking, generous, and polite ! Really, though they did not
like them, they were too agreeable and too much like gentlemen
to be treated rudely. Then they sang so well, and danced so
divinely, they should like to meet them. No ; they positively
could not be mere vulgar "Yanks."
Some of the ladies brightened into sunshine and smiles.
"The bonny blue flag" gave way to "The star-spangled ban
ner ; " and the farce ended by the prettiest, but most violent of
the Secesh ladies, becoming Mrs. Major Dash and Mrs. Captain
Smart.

.82 Sherman's march through the south.
After all, we can hardly wonder that the southern ladies
should have exhibited so bitter a spirit. Raised up as they
were in luxurious indolence, with slaves to anticipate their every
whim, with pampered tastes, and a strong impression ingrafted
upon them in childhood that labor of all kinds was dishonorable,
the lesson of poverty came home to them with fearful force.
Shut out from all communication with the outer world, they
were now deprived of all the luxuries of life, and could barely
command its mere necessaries. The price of tea — one hundred
and twenty dollars per pound in Confederate money — precluded
the very thoughts of it. Coffee was proportionally scarce and
dear. Of sugar they could always raise a rough supply from
the cane and sorghum.
Their horses were taken for the use of the army, their
carriages were rotting in the coach-houses, and their dresses
were unfit to appear in public.
¦ They had worn out their fine silks and rich dresses ; and such
articles now, if they could be got at all, could be only obtained
at fabulous prices. So they had to clothe their dainty figures
in linsey-woolsey. And because all the able hands, black and
white, were gone to the war, either to fight or work in the
intrenchments, they had either to labor or to starve.
Their colored servants became sulky and unmanageable, and
ardently longed for the approach of the Yankees, whom they
looked upon as their friends and deliverers.
Their mistresses, now powerless to coerce them, had to cajole
and coax them ; while the servants, conscious of their in
creasing power, gave them as little work, and caused them as
much annoyance, as possible.
In their blindness and ignorance they set the Yankees
down as the cause of all this ; as the murderers of their broth
ers and husbands, and the destroyers of their peace and happi
ness. They could not separate cause from effect. Their only
argument, as I heard it expressed, was, " Why don't, the Yan
kees let us alone? Why do they endeavor to oppress and
conquer us ? "
There was another class in the south, who comprised the bone

CONDITION OF THE POOR WHITES. 83
and sinew of the war, and who, though living in the basest
degradation, were not sensible of it. I mean the poorer classes,
or, as they are more commonly called, " the poor white trash."
These were scattered over the large plantations, tolerated
to squat down and till a few acres in some remote corners, in
consideration of the. political influence their votes gave their
masters. They were too ignorant to, know that they were
greater slaves than the bondmen whom their masters daily sold.
They learned their politics from their fire-eating masters ;
from ignorant county newspapers, which, of course, chimed
with the planters, who supported them ; and from preachers,
who doled out whole volumes of sedition, instead of preaching
the gospel, and whose only orthodox creed was blind submis
sion, to the will of the slave owners.
In such a school, and under such circumstances, can we
wonder at the condition of the non-slaveholding whites ? They
tilled their arid plot, raised a .little corn and rye, and, with a
few half-starved hogs, which prowled through the woods, they
managed to support their miserable lives and half-naked and
wholly uneducated children.
As a relief they frequent the dram, shanty, where they dis
cuss bad politics and drink worse whiskey.
The planters have given the rudiments of trades to their
slaves, and they do their work. They will not, therefore, em
ploy a white man. If they must employ such, it is sure to be
some northern man that has settled among them. The very
negro servants look down on them with contempt, for they feel
that they are much more useful and have more influence.
I had a good instance of the relative values of the black and
white races in the south from a colored servant of General
John Logan.
Dick was an excellent servant, and was formerly a slave in
some part of Northern Georgia. Like thousands more of his
class, Dick thought the day of jubilee had come with the Yan
kees, and turned over to them.
" Dick," said I to him, " was your master kind to you?"
" 0, bery much, massa ; massa bery kind."

84 Sherman's march through the south.
" Did he give you plenty to eat and wear?""
" Bery much, massa ; plenty eberyting."
" Never whipped you? "
" Neber whipped dis nigger."
" Then why did you leave him? "
Dick stopped for a moment ; then drew up his burly figure to
its full height, and exclaimed, " Massa, I had a wife and two
children. I have seen oder nigger's wives and children torn
from their homes and sold. Why not mine ? Massa, I wanted
to be free ; dis nigger wanted to own hisself."
Dick's logic was sound. Slavery is a bitter draught ; and
though, in my opinion, the negro was physically better cared for
as a slave than he can be during that transition state through
which he is now passing, still, I thank Heaven that slavery is
abolished. It was a curse to the south, and a degradation to
the north.
But to Dick's story.
" I believe, Dick," I said, " a black man was of more value
in the south than a white man."
" Yah, yah ! " exclaimed Dick. " White man no 'count dere ;
dis nigger worth fifteen hunder dollars, white man nothing."
" Why, then, Dick, it was better to be a black man than a
poor white one."
" Lor bress ou, massa ; poor white no value. Massa was
sinking a well. It was down bery deep, and Pompey working
hard at it, when neighbor Miller comes along, and says, ' Am
surprised you leave Pompey down dere ; dat will sure cave in.
Hire a poor white man.' Massa sent me for one, and put him
in dat ere well in place of Pompey ; when, sartin enuff, de well
caved over iim ; and Massa Miller says to massa, ' Now see, I
am the lucky man to you ; I saved you twelve hunder dollars ; '
and dey went in and had a drink, and left poor white man dere."
This was Dick's story, and I believe it was a true one, for I
have seen too many instances of the selfish cruelty of planters
to their poor white neighbors.
No wonder that such men, so poor and wretched, should wish
for some change. They knew that any alteration in their cir-

THE LAND MONOPOLY. 85
cumstances could not be for the worse, and all parties, planters,
parson, and politicians, told them that if the south attained its
independence, their condition would be greatly improved ; and
they rushed into a war to cut their own throats. I once asked
a planter, " Why don't you try to educate the poor of the south,
and better their condition ? "
" It is hopeless, sir ; they are an indolent, good-for-nothing
race." The answer reminded me of a similar one which I once got
from an Irish agent, who was clearing off the poor tenants by
wholesale. " Why don't you give these people a lease, and en
courage them to remain at home ? "
" Why, sir, if we gave them leases they would become too
independent to vote for the landlord ; the only way is to keep
them down, sir ; keep them down ! "
I pondered on his words, and thought therein lies the secret
of Ireland's grievances.
Another of the great evils of the south was the land monop
oly. A man had no status who did not own several slave's and
several hundred acres, no matter though the former were old
and feeble, and the latter covered with wood and underbrush.
They were the true criterion of the social standing of the own
er. I met a lady in Kingston who complained bitterly of her
destitute condition. Her husband was a doctor in the rebel
army, and the owner of some ten thousand acres of land and
some twenty slaves. He had tilled as much of that vast tract
as his few slaves could manage, leaving the rest of it a wilder
ness. He had, perhaps, two hundred acres tilled out of the
whole ; yet he would not dispose of any of it, except to a few
poor white squatters, who were eking out a miserable existence.
His dignity and prestige would suffer if he parted with it ; so,
like the dog in the manger, he lay in his own way, and in the
way of others. It was rather amusing to hear his little wife,
who was now forced to bustle about and help herself, deplore
her fallen state ; and of course the Yankees were held responsi
ble for her condition.
" My husband had twenty thousand acres of land, and slaves

86 Sherman's march through the south.
at his beck ; and look at me now, sir, without a servant !" she
exclaimed. " It's hard, madam, but you have brought it on yourselves.
We did not want to come down here, had you not forced the
issue upon us."
"No, sir; why don't you let us alone ? We'll die before we'll
be Yankee servants. You have taken all our slaves, and now
want to make slaves of ourselves."
" Such is not the case ; we are fighting for the maintenance
of the Union ; we have not taken one of them ; all that can are
following us. We cannot nor will not prevent them."
" They are all gone, the ungrateful wretches, except the chil
dren and a few old ones, and two the master took along with
him, — I am sorry that he did not take the whole batch, — and
we so kind to them."
" Why, then, did they leave you, madam?"
" I am sure I don't know."
" They wanted to be free, madam."
" I am sure they were free enough. We never sold but two
of them, and we had reared them up idly, and I am sure we
had a right to get something out of them. One of them thought
to get married to my waiting maid, Chloe, and as we did not
want that,, we sold them."
" Are the colored people affectionate to each other? "
" Very much so, indeed. It is strange how they take to one
another, and fret when any of them are sold away."
" Just so, madam. What would you say if you were sold
away from your husband and children — what would you say if
you were separated from the man you love ? "
"Who dare do it?" said the little woman, defiantly.
" And yet you do it to them ; do you believe they are human
beings with divine souls, like you?"
" Don't exactly know ; guess they may."
" And your Bible tells you, ' Do unto others as you would
they should do unto you ;_' they have deep affections, as well as
you, and are you justified in disregarding all these fine feelings ? "
" O, that's different ; they are black folks, poor ignorant

TALK WITH A SOUTHERN LADY. 87
creatures. It's true they take it to heart very much, but then
they get over it."
" Just like you, madam ; if you iost your child or husband,
you would feel very much : but as people must live after all,
you'd get over it."
" But you don't compare the poor ignorant things to us? "
" Certainly not, madam. In some respects, perhaps in hu
man feeling and sympathies, they are your superiors ; and if they
areignorant, who made them so ? You exclude them from all edu
cation and chance of refinement, and then call them ignorant."
"We had better make gods of them, as you do; live with
them, eat with them, and sleep with them."
" There you are wrong. We want to give them a fair chance
to live, to own themselves and the fruits of their labor ; but we
do not make them socially our equals ;- it is you who do so."
" We, sir ; no, sir ! We are above that ; we tolerate them."
" Indeed, madam ; look through the window here ; " and I
pointed out a group of children at play ; some of the true Ethi
opian jet ; some looking as though they had been steeped in a
hogshead of tobacco juice ; more a rich mahogany color ; with
others so white that one could mistake them for the doctor's
children, only for their short, crispy hair. Who knows whether
they were or not ? " What do you think of them, madam? Is
there not equality between white and black ? And these are the
children you sell for slaves ; your own flesh and blood. No
wonder a judgment should come on you ! "
The little lady could not see it in this light ; and though the
wife of a doctor, with twenty thousand acres of land, she
smoked her pipe, and freely used her chopsticks and snuff, telling
us that " 'backer and snuff were tarnation scarce."
The besotted habit of indulging in tobacco and snuff, so pe
culiar to the lower and middle classes of the south, is equally
filthy and demoralizing. It is repugnant to a northern man's
sense of propriety and decency to see a pretty young girl swab
bing her teeth with dirty snuff, and then asking you for
" some 'backer."
I once stopped at a plantation house to rest. I was received

88 Sherman's march through the south.
by a young girlj as perfect a specimen of female beauty as one
could wish to see. She had hair like the raven, eyes like the
gazelle, and a bust and frame that might enrapture a Canova.
I took off my hat, and bowed in homage to so lovely a creature.
She eyed me for some time, assumed a most negligent attitude,
and then asked me, " I say, stranger, haven't you got any 'back
er you'd let a lady have ? "
" I don't use it," I said, in surprise.
" 0 h — 1 you don't, old chap ! then you might have a cigar
to make snuff. I hadn't a swab in a week : curse this d — d war."
My admiration for her beauty soon gave way to a sense of
disgust, and a deep hatred for a state of society which could
convert a temple so divinely fair into a receptacle for tobacco
juice, snuff, and filthy language.
Despite these nasty habits, you will find among the poorest a
good deal of homely honesty and hospitality. They will will
ingly share their last corn-cake with you.
On account of the great extent of most of the plantations,
houses are far apart ; school-houses few and far between ; and
therefore the poorer class are extremely ignorant ; their cloth
ing, during the war, at least, was of the poorest and meanest
description ; with the women, consisting of a cotton gown, lin-
sey petticoats, and no head covering. The men wear linsey
trousers, stuffed into dirty, heavy boots, a hunting shirt of as
many colors as Joseph's garment, all begrimed with filth, and
surmounted by a slouched hat or skin cap. Their houses are
generally log huts, badly put together, with sufficient interstices
to admit the rain, and let out the smoke, which too often escapes
from cavernous fire-places at the end. They generally consist
of but one room, with a rough floor of hewn logs. The fur
niture and contents of the hovel are composed of some not over
clean culinary utensils, such as a broken pan, a few filthy tins, a
dilapidated looking pot, two beds of corn shucks in a corner ; a
dozen squalid children of all sizes and colors ; a couple of half-
starved hounds, which show their bloodthirsty propensities by
hungry, wistful looks at you. A troop of strange skeletons
called hogs, or shotes, besiege the door with their clamorous

lower-class life. 89
-cries. The old ones, apparently sensible of the folly of expect
ing anything from creatures so wretched as their owners, have
betaken themselves to the woods in pursuit of roots and berries.
The owners disdain to work. It is laborious and disreputable.
Hunting and fishing are much pleasanter. By fawning and
sycophancy, they become the henchmen of young massa, acquire
drunken, dissipated habits, and live, swaggering and bullying
about, a burden to themselves and a curse to society. These
are the general characteristics of that class called the " poor
white trash " whom I have met all through Tennessee, Georgia,
and the . Carolinas, particularly in the latter states. I do not
include in this category the laboring poor whites. The men
who work for their living, though illiterate and poor, when con
trasted with the laboring classes of the north, compare favora
bly with the laboring classes of other countries. They are a
hard-working, plodding people, either working as farm hands on
the plantation, or cultivating their own little farms, remote from
the bustle of the world and the refinements of civilization,
raising the necessaries, and some of the luxuries, of life, enough,
at least, to support them. They know little of what is going on
outside of their own sphere, and must ask " the master " " Who
is president?" or, if there is a new one wanted, " Who will
we vote for ? " I expect many of them will keep voting for
Jeff Davis for years to come. Some northern philanthropists
are for extending the franchise to the emancipated negroes. If
they do so, be assured they are only throwing so many votes
into the hands of the planter, to enable him to reestablish the
power of tbe land-ocracy, and restore the political status of the
south. Many colored folks, no doubt, understand the impor
tance of the franchise ; but with four fifths of them it will be as
it was with the old nigger, who, when asked, would he not take
an oath to support the Constitution, replied, scratching his woolly
pate, "By de gor, massa, me hab no dejection to support her;
times drefful hard, massa ; hab 'nuff to do to support the ole
'oman and de children, I s'pect."

90 Sherman's march through the south.

CHAPTER IX.
SCENES IN CAMP. — STORIES BY THE FIRESIDE.— HOW AN ILLI
NOIS MAN SOLD A HORSE. — THE DOUBLE-ENDER GUN. — MIS
ERY OF THE PEOPLE. — THE HIDING-PLACE IN THE THICKET,
AND THE DEAD GIRL.
Many of my readers have not seen a vast army encamped.
What a sight it presents ! Here are some showy headquarters,
with their numerous surroundings of white tents. Look into
these and you will find that officers do not fare so badly even in
the field. Neat beds are contrived : some are cots ; others
lithe saplings or frames covered with a cotton tick, and plenty of
covering, probably contributed by some plantation house. On
one side is a table laden with books, a box of cigars, and most
likely a bottle of " commissary." These, with a looking glass
and the officers' equipments, compose the furniture of the tent.
Four flies form a mess tent ; and as the general and staff are
going to dine, we will just see what kind of fare they have.
It consists of stewed beef, hashed potatoes, and a couple of
-chickens, which the Georgian housekeepers were kind enough
to rear for them, and most likely a few bottles of old rye, which
the planters were kind enough to leave in their cellars for our
especial benefit — all these flanked by a respectable force of
negro waiters.
Officers and orderlies are always lounging or riding about
headquarters, which gives it a very gay and stirring appear
ance. At some distance from these are the less pretentious
headquarters of some brigadier general, or colonel, while a
little farther on are the modest tents of the rank and file and
company officers arranged in streets.

CAMP SCENES. 91
The men around these are collected in groups, listening to
long yarns beside the cook fire, pr are formed into little parties
playing cards, pitch and toss, or a thousand other games, known
only in the army ; others, are dining, grumbling at their rations
while dining on turkey. The cooks are busy around a huge
tin caldron, placed on the fire, in which a joint of bacon and
some peas are bubbling and bubbling around as if they were
patriotic enough to enjoy being eaten for the good of the sol
diers. A smaller vessel simmers near it, but as the lid is on it I
cannot see its contents — most likely a brace of chickens under
the wing of a fat turkey. This is the way our troops lived on
Sherman's campaign. You might ask where they got all these
good things? They will tell you, —
"Bedad, cap, hard tack and sour billy were thinning us down
like racers, and we sent Belzebub here [a full-blooded grinning
negro] to buy these little luxuries for us."
" The villain stole them, though ! "
" O, no, massa cap, this nigger sartain he bought dem ere
roosters," the hopeful Belzebub would grin out, as he resorted to
that infallible remedy of a negro in distress, namely, to scratch his
wool. The poor southern women will tell you that they forgot
to pay ; and I believe them. The rascals became quite epicu
rean in their tastes in Carolina, good things flowed in such
abundance on us.
One evening, in passing by the men while at supper, I over
heard one call to the servant, " Come here, you black imp of
Satan, and take this turkey ; I am tired of it ; and bring up that
'ere chicken."
The tents themselves had a very picturesque appearance,
scattered over hill and valley, in streets and in clumps, looking
like so many canvas villages, or huge gypsy encampments.
The groups of soldiers, the lines of soldiers marching to or
from picket, the sentries moving statelily on their beats, gen
erals and officers gayly dashing about, make a camp scene gor
geously imposing and impressive.
How greatly is the effect of a camp scene improved by night !
For miles around you the camp fires glitter and sparkle like the

92 Sherman's march through the south.
lamps of a city. If standing on a hill, one circle of dancing
lights and sparkling fireflies encompasses you ; while from the
valleys beneath you the fires also glow, and the noise of song
and merriment, of the harmony of music, floats around you.
In some places the fire has ignited the tall pines, and envelops
them in one sheet of flame, which leaps from limb to limb, and
feeds on the resinous trunks, presenting the appearance of thou
sands of fiery demons, or huge flaming pillars. Then the men
crowded around them, gambling and enjoying themselves by
their light, look like so many dark imps, keeping up some hell
ish orgy ; and the sentries, walking up and down with their
glittering rifles reflected by the fire, add to the sublimity of the
scene. The officers are in their tents reading, telling stories, or en
joying a drink or a cigar. What strong yarns are spun, what
a lot of peach brandy is consumed, particularly if a late dis
covery has been made, and many casks exhumed ; if so, all the
officers are collected in the mess tent, a huge fire glows in
front ; around this their servants are collected, all cheered by
the peach brandy, and highly amused at the antics of some six
young Ethiopian minstrels — servants and camp followers —
who are capering about in the most fantastic manner, singing
all kinds of negro songs, timing them by clapping their hands
together and on their thighs, thus keeping up the most dis
cordant harmony, all agreeing, " dat de day of Jubelon am
come." It was certainly a strange sight to see these poor youths
capering and jumping around to the no small amusement of the
officers and men, who laughed heartily, and so highly appre
ciated the fun of the thing, that they gave the peach to them
so liberally that they soon fell off, one by one. One lad made
a vigorous stand to maintain his position. He was a musical
genius ; could produce all kinds of sounds with his voice ; imi
tate a drum, a piano, a fiddle, and the Lord knows what. He
was so appreciated, and filled with vanity like any vain white
folk, he struggled on for a time, blending all the harmony of
the spheres in the most hissing manner, until at length all his

the "captain's" ruse. 93
vanity yielded to the potent influence of peach brandy, and he
fell down beside his brethren.
Improvident and thoughtless soldiers are full of fun and
drollery. Looking upon life as a very uncertain tenure, they
try and make the most of it. Their motto is, " Eat, drink, and
be merry, for to-morrow we die." You would hear more rich,
real stories and incidents of battle-fields, beside a camp fire,
from a jolly set of happy dogs, who, perhaps, might be shot the
following day, than you would your whole Ufe among your city
friends. They will lie like troopers, and, I am afraid, steal and
swear like troopers, too ; but then they make it all right by
fighting like troopers.
" I tell you, boys," said one of the men around the camp
fire, after taking a pull out of the fire-water bottle, " I once
made a good thing out of a strayed horse I cotched. You see,
when a poor private meets a streak of luck, if he blabs at all
he is sure to be tricked out of his chance. In making tracks
around the country, while serving in the cavalry, I came on a
regular snorter, a coal-black stud, and, taking it for granted
that his owner was a sneaking rebel, I brought him with me ;
and I thought I would keep the matter dark until I could sell
him ; but the general himself heard of him, and ordered me to
turn him over. I had to do so, boys ; and didn't I swear he'd
be the last horse I'd ever bring in ? Well, all the time the thing
was heavy wid me, and I felt bad about it. I was orderly to
Colonel Shnke, of the  Illinois cavalry, and he was laid up
with an ugly gash he got ; so I had my own way. The colonel
had a captain's old coat ; so I drew a pair of his long boots
over my pants, put on his coat, and turned out a very cred
itable lookin' captain. Knowing something of the bartering
business, I embellished my frontispiece, which is as bare as a
pole, with a fine pair of whiskers, made out of horse hair, and a
darling mustache, just of the same material. Having fust man
aged to get the countersign, I rode off through the woods to the
general's quarters. Of course, being a captain, no one minded
me. I tied my old horse under cover. The night was very
dark ; so I crept up close to the headquarters ; there, sure

94 Sherman's march through the south.
enough, were all the horses, with a whole lot of orderlies, en
camped around them. I had to wait till they went to bed ; and
there was no one there, but the sentry, who occasionally sat on
a pile of sacks, keeping watch all the time.
" ' I will be up to that fellow,' says I, and got behind and let
fall a bottle of whiskey, and then fell back to my hiding-place.
He soon picked up the bottle, looked at it, took out the cork,
and smelt it.
" ' Ain't I the lucky dog ! ' I heard him say. ' Some of the
officers dropped this here. Well, they may bid good day to it
now ; ' and he took a long pull out of it, and then sat down on
the bags and took another pull, and then got up, went his
rounds, and took another pull, and sat down again. I remarked
that after every pull he sat longer and longer, until at last he
fell asleep.
" ' Now is my time,' says I ; so I up and slips off the horse,
changes the saddles, and lets old rasper find his way home,
which I knew he would. I knew a colonel who wanted a- fust-
rate horse, and would pay a big price. He was in the 17th
corps. So off I started for his quarters next morning.
" ' Is Colonel Strunt in? ' says I.
" ' Yes, captain,' replied an orderly.
" ' I want to see him,' says I.
, The colonel soon walks out, hitching on his pants.
" ' Good morning, Colonel Strunt,' says I, saluting him.
" ' Good morning, Captain  .'
I saw he was at a loss about my name.
" ' Sweltonback, of the 4th regulars,' I replied.
" ' Captain Sweltonback. By George, but that is a splendid
horse you have ; just turn him 'around.'
The colonel was a great admirer of horse-flesh.
" ' A noble horse, sir ; but, colonel, I want to inquire, have
you any man named George Sweltonback in your brigade. I
have a brother in this corps somewhere.'
" ' Sweltonback, Sweltonback ! Well, I think not ; but I shall
inquire. Captain, wouldn't you be tempted to sell that horse?'
" ' Well, I don't like to part with him, as he is a great favorite ;

humors of the camp. 95
but as I am going out of service in a few days, sooner than take
him home, I'd sell him for a good sum.'
" ' What price do you set on him, captain ? '
" ' Well, I can't exactly say. You see I haven't my mind
made up. Would you think two hundred and fifty dollars too
much?' " ' It's a big price, captain ; but I like the horse. I will go
two hundred. I couldn't do more.'
" After much haggling I let him have the horse at two hun
dred dollars, drank heartily, rode one of his horses the most of
the way home, took off my beard, mustache, and captain's coat,
and went to my.quarters.
" The general kicked up a dreadful row looking for that horse ;
and when he came across Colonel Strunt riding on the identical
black horse, wasn't there a scene ? It was as good as a play
to see them. At it they went like two fishmongers, and I really
thought they would run one another through ; for I was present
at the interview."
" And how did they settle it? "
" I really don't know, for I soon after left. There was a
great fuss hunting up Captain Sweltonback, but he couldn't be
found." " That was a capital trick," said a little wheezy man who
seemed particularly attached to the bottle ; " but, by gorra, it
wasn't as- good as how Mick here eschaped from the tarnation
murtherers that kilt him."
" Tell us that, Mick," said the others by general acclamation.
" An' sure it was nothing worth talking about," says Mick.
" You see I went with a few of the boys to visit the neighbors ;
and the spalpeens, not having any liking for us, took us prison
ers, and kilt one of the boys. We kilt two of them, and they
said they'd kill another of us to make the number even ; and
faith and troth they selected myself, and made me sthand up
beside a three. Though I argued and rasonified with them,
there was no help ; so die I must. Faix, I had no liking for it ;
but that was no use at all. I had an old gun that was slightly
bent, and wouldn't throw fair for the life of you ; and I knew

96
there was two charges in it. All I ask of ye boys, honey, is to
shoot me with my own gun ; it would be a consolation to me.
Well, they agreed to please me, seeing I was about to die ; so
the fellow up and bobs at me ; but, murther, he an' I jumped
up in the air as if for a wager. That gun was a caution to
sinners ; it shot both ways, and kilt him deader behind than
me before ; but I let on being dead all the time ; and when they
kicked me to see if I were all right, I didn't sthir, but the blood
gushed from my side ; so they set me down for dead. Well, at
night I got up, borrowed one of the dead men's coats, and stole
away. The' rest of my comrades never came back ; so I believe
I. was best off, after all."
Women and children were dreadfully frightened at the
approach of our army. It was almost painful to witness the
horror and fear depicted on their features. They were schooled
up to this by lying statements of what atrocious murders we
were committing.
" Neither life nor virtue is sacred from these northern bar
barians ; the old and infirm perish by their bloody hands, while
lovely women — our wives and daughters — are reserved for
a fate even worse than death. Strike, men of the south, and
exterminate such polluted wretches — such living demons."
This is an extract from a southern paper. Is it any wonder,
then, that the country people trembled at our approach, and hid
themselves away in woods and caves ? I rode out one evening
alone to pay a visit to another camp which lay some six miles
beyond us. In trying to make a short way through the woods,
I lost the road, and rambled on through the forest, trying to
recover it. This is no easy matter, as I soon discovered ; for I
only got deeper and deeper into the forest. I then turned my
horse's head down a valley that I knew would lead me out on
a camp somewhere.
In riding along this, I thought I saw a woman among the
the trees. I rode in the direction, and saw her darting like a
frighted deer towards a thick copse of tangled briers, wild vines,
and underbrush.
Fearing some snare, I followed, with pistol in hand; and

FRIGHT OF THE INHABITANTS.. 97
heavens, what a sight met my view ! In the midst of the
thicket, sheltered by a bold bluff, were about a dozen women,
as many children, and three old men, almost crazy with fear
and excitement.
Some of them screamed when they saw me, and all huddled
closer, as if resolved to die together. I tied my horse, and
assured them that they had no cause for fear ; that I was not
going to harm them, .but would protect them, if needed. Thus
assured, they became somewhat communicative.
They told me that they thought the soldiers would kill them,
and that they hid here on our approach. Thinking that we
were only passing through, they had brought nothing to eat
or to cover them. They were here now near three days, and
had nothing but the berries they picked up in the woods. They
looked wretched, their features wan and thin, their eyes wild
and haggard, and their lips stained from the unripe wild fruit.
Some of them were lying down, huddled together to keep them
selves warm ; their clothes were all saturated from the dew and
a heavy shower of rain which fell during the day.
I do not think one could realize so much wretchedness and
suffering as that group presented. Some of the women were
evidently planters' wives and daughters ; their appearance and
worn dresses betokened it ; others were their servants, or the
wives of the farm-laborers.
There were two black women, and some three picaninnies.
Under the shelter of a tree, I saw a woman sitting down, rock
ing her body to and fro, as she wept bitterly.
I went over to her. Beside her was a girl of some fourteen
years, lying at full length. As I approached, she looked so
pale and statue-like, I exclaimed, —
" What's the matter. Is she in a faint?"
" Yes ; in one that she won't waken from,", said an old crone
near. " Dead ! " I exclaimed.
" Well, stranger, I reckon so ; better for her go, poor darling,
than have the Yankees cotch her."
It was so. She was dead. I understood she was delicate ;
9

98 Sherman's march through the south.
and the hunger and cold had killed her. So much were they
afraid of being discovered that they had not even a fire
lighted. I inquired my way to the camp, and soon returned with some
provisions. The dead body was removed, and the sorrowing
group returned to their homes ; but some of them had no
homes, for the soldiers, on the principle that all abandoned
houses belong to rebels, had laid them in ashes.

movements OF THE army. 99

CHAPTER X.
ASSAULTS AND SKIRMISHES NEAR DALLAS AND ALLATOONA.—
WOOD'S. DIVISION STORMING THE HILL. — CLEBURNE'S REBEL
DIVISION DRIVE THEM BACK. — GALLANT ATTACK OF GENERAL
T. W. SWEENY. — KENESAW MOUNTAIN. — GENERAL FRANK P.
BLAIR ARRIVES. — PERSONAL RISKS OF OUR GENERALS 
SHERMAN SHELLING A SKULKER. — ATTACK ON A TRAIN, AND
ITS CONSEQUENCES.
We had secured possession of two good bridges across the
Etowah, and had built some others. The army being recuper
ated and supplied with twenty days' rations, broke camp and
moved forward on the morning of the 23d May.
Johnston had now occupied the Allatoona Pass, his lines and
works extending along the Allatoona range toward Dallas.
The army of the Tennessee crossed the Etowah at the mouth
of Conasaw Creek, and moved .by the little town of Van Wirt,
on our right flank, and south of Dallas. General Davis's
division of the 14th corps had moved directly from Rome to
Dallas, following McPherson's route. General Thomas, with
the 4th and 20th, and part of the 14th corps, marched by
Euharlee and Burnt Hickory, crossing the Pumpkin Vine Creek,
on the main Dallas road.
General Schofield, with the 23d corps, was moving still far
ther on our left.
General Gerrard operated on the flank and rear of McPher
son's column ; General Stoneman, flank and rear of Schofield,
with General McCook guarding our rear.
On the 25th the 20th corps was well in advance on the centre.
Williams's division crossed Pumpkin Vine Creek on a bridge
partly burned by the rebels. Geary crossed about two miles
farther up, and Butterfield about a mile below — all converging
toward Dallas.

100 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
About three miles south of Pumpkin Vine Creek the enemy
opened suddenly, from the dense underwood that lined the roads,
at the head of Hooker's column.
A heavy line of skirmishers were deployed, driving the enemy
back, on the column which had filed into line of battle on the
right and left of the road. The country was hilly and densely
wooded, and favorable to a sudden attack by the enemy.
Hooker had but one division south of the creek ; the others
were not up.
The rebels made a fearful attack on Williams's division, but
were met with firmness, and a surging, uncertain fight ensued.
Williams was barely able to hold his position, for a large por
tion of both Polk's and Hood's corps were massed against him.
About five o'clock Geary's noble "White Star Division"
came to his support, and at once became engaged. Butterfield's
division deployed into line of battle, and Williams and Butter
field charged the enemy in the face of a fierce storm of bullets
and canister.
Their ammunition was nearly exhausted, and the troops were
wavering, when Geary's division, which, after the first assault,
had been thrown back in reserve, formed into three lines, and
advanced to their support.
Geary reserved his fire until close upon the enemy, and then
poured a deadly volley into them, which made them waver ; but
again they rallied, and the contest lasted until the darkness of
night separated- them.
Howard's corps was in the rear of the 20th, Wood's 2d
division in front, and rapidly hurried up to their support ; but
on account of the darkness, and a heavy thunder and rain
storm, were not able to get up in time to assist them. We
hastily threw up breastworks, and the men lay for the night
within four hundred yards of the enemy. The rebel troops
engaged were Stevenson's, Stewart's, and Hindman's divisions.
Sherman had ordered Hooker to make a bold push for New
Hope Church, a point where the Ackworth, Dallas, and Mari
etta roads meet. In trying to do so, Hooker had thrown out
one column as a feeler, and thus suddenly struck the enemy's
lines.

ASSAULTS AND SKIRMISHES. 101
During the night the 4th corps, Howard's, moved into posi
tion on the. left of Hooker's, with Schofield still on the extreme
left. Qn the right of Hooker came Johnson's division of Palm
er's corps, while McPherson was still moving on Dallas by the
extreme right flank.
Johnston had occupied the Allatoona Ridge, a range of moun
tains extending in broken spurs. He had established lines
along these, tending partly north-ea*t by south-west.
All the hills around were scooped, and grooved, and converted
into rifle-pits and batteries.
Our lines were formed in conformity to those of the rebels,
but somewhat longer, and threatening to outflank them.
The country here was very poor. Deep, dark valleys, high,
barren ridges, all full of underbrush and forest trees, were the
general characteristics.
The 26th passed off with heavy skirmishing along our front,
both armies trying to secure favorable positions.
Our lines were pretty well established on the morning of the
27th,' and the scene opened with a desultory fire between the
sharpshooters, growing brisker as the day advanced.
Batteries were established in Hooker's front. These were
covering a section in front, which occasionally opened on the
enemy. A rebel brigade of Pat Cleburne's division made a dashing
assault on the advance guns, believing they were but partially
supported. They came on splendidly, as Cleburne's crack
troops always did, but were met by a concentrated musketry
fire, and a generous allowance of canister from the guns. They
staggered ; made another charge ;. were again mowed down,
and then fell back. Similar charges had been made at other
points during the day.
Johnston was looking out for a weak point to assault in force,
but he soon found that there were no weak points there.
In the afternoon General Thomas J. Wood, Commanding the
2d division, 4th corps, made a flank movement, wheeling round
the 23d corps. He was ordered to feel the enemy's right flank,
and if possible turn it. He had to march through a regular
9 *

102 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
jungle of trees and underbrush, which consumed the most of
the day. So it was close on night when he was able to form
into line and advance. Wood wished to defer the assault until
morning, but his orders were peremptory.
He formed his division into columns of double lines by bri
gades. General Hazen's brigade in front ; Scribner's brigade of
Johnson's division, 14th corps, supported Wood on the left.
It was an ugly place to advance. Steep hills, thick brush
wood, and a small road that crossed a stream leading up to a
place called Picket's Mills, were to be traversed.
The troops moved calmly and steadily up that hill, through
the matted wood, crossed the intervening ravine, and gained
the crest of the hill. One would think these fine fellows were
going to a parade, instead of to death, so calm and composed
did they look.
Having gained the crest of the hill, they halted to dress up
their lines, and then descended its sides into a deep ravine, which
separated them, by about one hundred yards, from the rebel
works. Across this they charged with a shout. The rebels
had all the time reserved their fire, and had lain down in their
intrenchments, to make us believe that they were not in force.
As our lines approached, they jumped to their feet. Two
masked guns belched forth on us, while a regular sheet of lead
and flame seemed to burst from behind the intrenchments.
Under this fierce storm our men rushed up to the enemy's
works, many of them sheltering themselves behind "them.
It was Cleburne's division that was there. This iron chief,
the Stonewall Jackson of the western army, and his famed
troops, seemed ubiquitous, for in the early part of the day he
was fighting away on our centre.
Our lines were shattered, our ammunition exhausted, and we
had to fall back.
The remnant of Wood's division intrenched itself, fearing
an attack from the enemy during the night. They also suc-i
ceeded in bringing in most of their dead aud wounded.
Major Hanson, of General Wood's staff, was among the
killed. He was a thorough gentleman, refined and courteous ;

WOOD STORMING THE HILL. 103
a true soldier, brave and chivalrous. He died as he lived,
a Christian and a soldier.
The loss in Wood's division was very severe, numbering
about thirteen hundred, all told. They made a desperate fight,
but they fought against every disadvantage.
Fatigued with a trying march, they had to charge over hilly
ground on strong intrenchments guarded by desperate troops.
I strayed around that hill-side, where we had laid our dead
and wounded that night. My horse could scarcely pick his way
through them, so closely were they lying ; yet the noble brute
picked his steps as safely as if it were clear day. It is
strange that a horse will not shy at dead men ; and you can
scarcely get him to pass one of his own species when dead.
He will walk through piles of dead on the darkest night
without touching a single man.
That assault of Wood's division was one of the fiercest I
have ever witnessed. One continued file firing was kept up all
through. No pattering of bullets, but one unceasing roar of
musketry ran along the lines for hours. The officers and men
did all that men could do -t— rallied, charged ; but all to no use.
Cleburne's division was too strongly intrenched. As the 124th,
41st, and 1st Ohio were bringing in the dead and wounded, the
rebels jumped from their works and attacked them. They fought
like so many tigers over their prey. When we gained that
bloody field we could then see how desperately we fought for
its possession.
Dead bodies were found lying just behind the rebel works.
The trees in the valley were cut through with bullets, just as if
mowed down. , The ramrods, fired in the hurry of the moment,
were stuck in the trees.
Captain Stenson, of General Howard's staff, was badly
wounded, and Howard slightly. General Howard and General
Wood remained on the ground until near day, seeing that the
troops were all safe and the wounded cared for, and then they
threw themselves down, but not to sleep, for shells came hur
tling through the trees, bursting near them. A piece of one
struck General Johnson, of the 14th corps, in the side, seriously

104 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
After much marching and manoeuvring, and considerable
skirmishing, McPherson had taken up his position in front of
Dallas. The enemy were not content to leave him inactive.
About three o'clock on the afternoon of the 28th they opened
an attack on Logan's pickets, and a very sharp contest ensued,
and was maintained with great obstinacy on both sides. The
enemy being largely reenforced, and Logan not sufficiently
supported, his advance had to fall back on the main lines.
It was evident from their manoeuvring and feeling our lines,
that the enemy meant to make an assault.
About five o'clock the rebels had massed in heavy columns,
and charged on General Harrow's division. The rebel column
moved boldly up the hill, exposed to a heavy artillery fire. Our
troops lay down in their works, letting the enemy come within
a few hundred yards of their breastworks, when they jumped
to their feet, and poured into that proud, defiant column volley
after volley, which made them quail and falter.
Again they rallied and charged, cheering one another on, and
dashing right up to our works. We had brought some guns
to bear on their flank, thus exposing them to an enfilading
fire. Despite this they doggedly persisted in maintaining their
position, actually charging right against the works. At length
they began to break off in detail, and soon the whole mass fol
lowed, making for the shelter of their works and the woods.
Scarcely had this assault been repulsed, when they renewed
it, in front of Osterhaus's line, repeating the same game with
similar effects.
After this there was a considerable lull in the storm of battle,
and we thought that the enemy had given up all hopes of re
newing his mad assaults ; but we were disappointed.
This time they had collected their troops for one more des
perate effort in front of Sweeny's division, 16th corps; but
they met a stubborn customer in Sweeny.
Was he, brave Tom Sweeny; — who had lost his right arm in
Mexico; whose desperate resistance at Stone River was the
turning-point of that important battle; who had earned the
name of " Bulldog Sweeny," so tenaciously did he hold his own,

GALLANT ATTACK OF GENERAL SWEENY. 105
or scourge the rebels in his fights, — was he now to yield to
twice repulsed columns ? Certainly not ; and Sweeny met their
assault with his characteristic dashing bravery, soon 'driving
them back in broken and disjointed masses.
Dallas is about twenty miles from the line of railway at
Marysville, and forty-five from Atlanta.
The operations around Allatoona and Dallas were not looked
upon in the light of a general engagement, but rather a succes
sion of heavy skirmishes — desperate assaults and repulses.
Johnston tried the assault on the right, and was repulsed with
great slaughter ; we repeated the game on the left and left cen
tre with equal success. The following days we had continual
heavy skirmishing and partial assaults along the lines, except
in front of McPherson's position, which the enemy desperately
assaulted. For,twelve days, which were enlivened by continued
attacks and heavy -skirmishing, we lay around the Allatoona
range. On the 1st of June General McPherson moved to his left, and
occupied General Thomas's place. Our left was then strength
ened, and swung around, occupying the woods leading to Al
latoona and Ackworth. General Stoneman's cavalry advanced
into Allatoona, at the east end of the pass, and General Ger-
rard's cavalry at the west end. Our infantry lines were now
closing up, and we had fully accomplished our work in flanking
the Alltoona pass.
Johnston, finding his position untenable, fell back to the Ken
esaw range of hills.s. Kenesaw itself comprised twin peaks,
rising boldly out of the valley, and Commanding the line of rail
way and the passes to Marietta. Extending on our right was
a range of hills, the highest of which are Pine Mountain and
Lost Mountain. These form one continuous, irregular link of
conical hills, with Kenesaw covering the town of Marietta, and
the railroad back to the Chattahoochee. The enemy now occu
pied these hills with a line fully twelve miles long. The crests
and sides of the hills were bristling with batteries, and crowds
of men, looking in thei distance like so many huge ants, were
busy felling trees, digging rifle-pits and intrenchments, and in,

106 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
every way making grand preparations for the impending strug
gle. Sherman moved by Ackworth, and established a base of
supplies' at the Allatoona pass. He placed a garrison here,
and had the railroad bridge across the Etowah built. He soon
had a large store of supplies up.
While at Ackworth we were reenforced by Major General
Blair, with two divisions of the 17th corps, and Colonel Long's
brigade of cavalry.
General Frank P. Blair is a man of considerable energy and
resolution. He is about five feet eleven inches high, with strong,
expressive features, covered with a long, sandy beard. Since
the time he joined Sherman, until the winding up of the cam
paign by Johnston's surrender, his military career has been very
creditable. In the campaign through South Carolina, a large
share of the fighting fell to the lot of his corps, the 17th.
Sherman calculated that these timely re enforcements would
supply his loss in battle since the opening of the campaign.
I expect, in every way, we must have lost, up to this, about
twelve thousand men. Perhaps- the enemy's loss was less, as
they for the most part fought behind strong intrenchments.
Several curious incidents, showing the danger to which our
generals were exposed, occurred at this time. General Hook
er's and Thomas's headquarters were very well under range
of the enemy's guns, so that shells were falling about pretty
fast. A piece of one went through General Hooker's mess tent,
and another carried off a camp stool he was going to sit on.
" Very impolite indeed ! " said the general, looking after it,
and getting another.
As for Thomas, I don't think he was ever guilty of perpe
trating a joke ; he is too grave and stoical for that.
Sherman, in his abrupt manner, says some good things. He
was standing near a battery one day, as we were shelling along
the line previous to Wood's advance, and with his glass was
closely examining the enemy's position. Seeing them getting
up a battery at a certain point, he turned to Captain De Grass,
and said, "Look here ; do you see that point on the right of the
wood?"

INCIDENTS OF A BATTLE-FIELD. 107
" Yes, general."
" Put a shell in them ; yes, put them in there ; they are trying
to start a battery there to sweep this point ; start them out of
it, you, first."
Sherman himself went to sight the first gun, and while doing
so a sharpshooter sent a bullet glancing along the barrel just by
his cheek.
" Ha ! close shaving, that ; well, let us pay them, back the
compliment — fire ! " and right went the shell bang among them.
" Very good, very good," said he with a grin ; " that kicked
up a dust, and some of their heels, too ; give them more of them,
with my compliments, captain." And away went Sherman's
killing compliments, compelling the rebels to give up the idea
of establishing their battery at that point.
A man almost dead with fear had crouched under the roots
of an uprooted tree. Sherman chanced to take shelter from a
fierce fire near by. When a shell burst close, the fellow would
writhe, and cry out, " O Lord ! O Lord ! if I get out of this,
I'll never be caught again. O, dear! O, dear! if I once get
home — O, it's dreadful ! I know I'll be killed ! "
Sherman was so amused at the fellow's cowardice, that in
order to increase his terror he would fling stones against the old
tree, when the fellow crouched closer, exclaiming, "''O, dear ! it
is awful ! it's dreadful ! I'll surely be killed ! "
" That's hard firing, my man," exclaimed the general.
" Hard ! O, it's fearful. I think thirty shells struck this tree
while I was here."
" It's all over now, my man ; come out." The trembling
wretch crawled out and looked about him. There was Sherman
standing quite coolly. When the man saw who his tormentor
was, he was nearly frightened as much as by the shells, and
darted right off for his command, not heeding the shells this time.
A battle-field is one record of stirring incidents and acts
of personal bravery, a few of which I will here relate. As
a class, the sharpshooters must use a great deal of caution and
strategy, both to shelter themselves and induce the enemy to
expose themselves. Some sharpshooters had taken down several

108 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
of our men from behind the shelter of some large trees which
protected them. But our boys resorted to a ruse. They sec
tioned off in twos, and took up favorable positions ; then one
would dart out from the tree. The rebel sharpshooter, believ
ing that he had a sure thing of it, would expose himself, and pop
at the other. This gave the comrade an opportunity of taking
a sure shot at the rebel, while the other's motions were so rapid
that he most likely escaped. The effects of fear, amounting
almost to insanity, sometimes developed in action, are very
extraordinary. In General Harker's brigade, the men were
under orders to advance, when a sergeant retired to his tent, and
shot himself through the head. I have known several cases of
the kind. It appears strange that a man from fear of going
into battle should kill himself. I have often seen men strip
themselves stark naked, and run crazy out of a battle-field. I
might suspect their sincerity, but I have seen them rush in this
manner, under fire, into the rebel lines. This is caused, no
doubt, by the stunning effect of shells bursting around them, and
killing their comrades. So great is the terror produced by the
explosion of several shells, that I have seen a horse that was
under a very heavy fire, tremble, the sweat at the same time
bursting out of every pore, and then drop down dead, without
being touched by ball or shell. I have also known some noble
instances of the affection of the horse for his master. An or
derly of General Logan's, while carrying a despatch, was shot.
His horse was a great pet, and would follow him and obey his
commands. As soon as the master fell, the horse stood up, and
turned round, and whined most piteously. Though the noble
animal seemed fully sensible of his danger, and would turn
about to shelter himself from, the shot and shell which were fall
ing around fast and furious, still he remained with the body
several hours. He would move away a little by times, and
neigh, as if calling for help, and when this failed, would again
return to the body. I have known several other instances of
affection on the part of the horse. A wounded horse looks at
you with the most piteous, upbraiding expression, as much as
to say, " It's all your doings ; I had nothing to do with it."

AN AMUSING OCCURRENCE. 109
Johnston's position was now a strong one, besides, he had been
reenforced by some ten thousand Georgia and Alabama militia.
He now occupied the last strong range of hills north of the
Chattahoochee. If driven from this he should fall behind the
river, thus relieving us from the harassing attempts made by his
cavalry and guerrilla squads, from his flank, upon our rear and
lines of' communication. We had to garrison the railroad
bridge on the river, important posts, and the different towns
back to Chattanooga. We had to leave a garrison at Tunnel
Hill, Resaca, Rome, Kingston, Allatoona, and other posts. This,
of course, considerably weakened Sherman's effective strength.
The militia, or one hundred days' men, soon relieved portions of
these. "The different garrisons, posts, and block-houses had to
be connected by a chain of pickets, to prevent squads of cav
alry from raiding on the line, and destroying it and the
telegraph wires. Still, they often succeeded in misplacing a
rail, or placing a peculiar iron crank upon it, thus throwing
the train off the track. This was a daily occurrence, and if
by any chance it failed, they would open fire from the thickets
of the forest on the train. Many passengers and soldiers got
killed this way. Many trains were thrown off, until the whole
line looked one lying-in hospital of invalid cars. I heard Sher
man oftentimes say, " That cursed line is more trouble to me
than to whip Johnston."
The following amusing incident occurred to me in one of my
dangerous trips on this road. We were crowded inside lug
gage vans and dirty cars ; outside them, in every place that a man
could be stowed, a man was perched. The soldiers on the top
had their pieces ready, looking out for breakers, while we,
inside, were busy with revolvers, and wishing that the rascals
dared make their appearance, just for the fun of the thing.
Among those loudest in praise of his own heroism was a sutler,
who, with a huge navy revolver, swore he was a match for any
six of the guerrillas. By some chance we had a lady travelling
with us, who appeared very much alarmed, and clung to the
valiant Jack Falstaff hero for shelter and protection. This
fired his courage. He told her to stick close to him, which she
10

110 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
literally did, by putting her arms around his waist. Really, it
was delightful to see her clinging to him, and to witness his bold,
defiant air, as much as to say, " Let them come on now if they
dare." We were passing above Resaca, in a gloomy section of
country, without a house within miles of us. We had passed the
military post a few miles, when bang goes a volley from the wood
at the cars. At the same time the locomotive ran off the track ;
but as it was going very slow, this was not of much consequence.
The volley was returned by the men on the top, some of whom
fell off, from the shock of the engine. We jumped up, and I
naturally looked to see if our brave hero was mowing down the
Philistines. All his courage had evaporated at the sound of
lead, and he lay sprawling at the bottom of the. car, making
frantic efforts with one hand to keep the woman between him
and the dangerous side, while with the other he was piling a
regular barricade of sacks of corn around him. I took up the
pistol, and could not resist the temptation of giving him a very
powerful application of my boot, which he must have taken for
a wipe of a shell, for he swore and prayed most vehemently,
and kicked most spasmodically. If he were under the opera
tions of a most powerful battery, he could not do it better. The
woman was almost frightened out of her life by his squalls and
antics. Our men soon formed, and drove off the guerrillas.
Fortunately, there was no one seriously injured, and the train
having been put to rights, we soon got off. Our friend of the
buskin courage was quite chop-fallen. He suffered most by the
solicitude of the woman, who wanted to know where he was
wounded. It was no use denying that he was, for she vowed
that she felt the piece of shell hitting him, and he wouldn't
halloo so, only he was badly hurt.

SHERMAN COMMANDS A BATTERY. Ill

CHAPTER XI.
KENESAW MOUNTAIN. — SHERMAN COMMANDS A BATTERY.—
DEATH OF BISHOP POLK  THE MARCH THROUGH THE MOUN
TAIN PASSES. — SHERMAN'S STEAM SCOUT.— A FRIENDLY VISIT,
AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
McPherson commanded the line of railroad between Alla
toona and Kenesaw, marching on parallel roads. General
Hooker was on the right, with Schofield a little retired, and
General Thomas in the centre, fronting Kenesaw. A heavy
fall of rain set in on the 13th and 14th, rendering active opera
tions impossible. A brisk artillery fire was kept up on different
parts of the lines.
Towards the right of our line were some strong positions.
Lost Mountain and Pine Mountain were separated by interven
ing hills. On these the rebels had established some batteries.
Sherman was manoeuvring in order to compel Johnston to fall
back from these natural ridges extending from Kenesaw, which
would throw open the road by Nickajack Creek, and give
him a better chance of flanking his left. On the morning
of the 14th some change had been made in our lines. The
fourth corps moved forward in the centre, closing up well on
Hooker. Skirmishers were thrown out in order to cover the advance
of our lines, and a few sections of artillery were placed in po
sition. The skirmishing was pretty brisk towards evening, and
the batteries opened a dropping fire on the rebel position.
Sherman rode up to a battery, and turned his glass towards Pine
Mountain. After taking a good view he turned to the officer in com
mand, saying, " Captain Simonson, can you send a shell right

112 Sherman's march through the south.
on the top of that knob ? I notice a battery there, and several
general officers near it.",
" I'll try, general."
The captain fired, and the general looked on with his glass.
" Ah, captain, a little too high ; try again, with a shorter
fuse ; " and up went the glass to his eye. Away went the shell,
tearing through General Bishop Polk in its course.
" That will do," said Sherman, shutting down his glass.
It is said that Johnston and Hardee were on their horses
beside Polk when he fell, and when the first shell came they
remarked, —
" It is safer to alight."
Polk smiled, and still staid surveying our position, and thus
met his death.
We knew that night that he was killed, for "our signal officers
had discovered the system of the rebel signals, which enabled
them to read the despatches along the enemy's lines.
When we took that hill, two artillerists, who had concealed
themselves until we had come up, and then came within our
lines, showed us where his body lay after being hit. There was
one pool of clotted gore there, as if an animal had been bled.
The shell had passed through his body from the left side, tearing
the limbs and body in pieces. Doctor M  and myself searched
that mass of blood, and discovered pieces of the ribs and arm
bones, which we kept as souvenirs. The men dipped their
handkerchiefs in it too, whether as a sacred relic, or to remind
them of a traitor, I do not know.
Thus fell Lieutenant General Leonidas Polk. He was born
in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 18*06. He graduated at West
Point, but soon after entered the Protestant Episcopal ministry,
and was appointed missionary bishop to Kansas and the Indian
territory. In 1841 he was appointed regular bishop of the
diocese of Louisiana.
At the breaking out of the rebellion he was appointed major
general, with command of the district of the Mississippi. The
battle of Belmont was fought, and Forts Henry and Donelson
fell, while the department was under his command. At the

LIEUTENANT GENERAL POLK. 113
battle of Shiloh General Polk had command of a corps under
Beauregard. He also served at Corinth.
Having the command of a corps under Bragg, he participated
in the movements through Tennessee and Kentucky. He fought
at the battle of Perryville, in October, 1862. Here he showed
wonderful presence of mind, for somehow getting into the Federal
lines he passed off as a Federal officer, actually ordering a regi
ment to cease firing. He served at Murfreesborough and Stone
River ; also during the fearful struggle of Chickamauga. On
account of some, difference with Bragg regarding that battle he
was relieved. In January, 1864, he was again in the field,
assuming the temporary command of the department of the
Mississippi, in place of Johnston, appointed to the chief command.
He commanded a wing of Johnston's army all through the cam
paign against Sherman, until he lost his life on Pine Kripb.
The 15th opened with an irregular artillery fire along the
lines, increasing as the day advanced. Our lines had pushed
considerably forward at several points. A part of McPherson's
command moved obliquely towards the left and the railroad,
and soon became engaged with the enemy. Harrow's division,
of the 15th corps, took up a position on their left, with Oster-
'haus in reserve. Towards evening McPherson's command
engaged the enemy in front, while Harrow, with his division,
wheeled to the right, forming a semicircle. He thus overlapped
an outlying detachment of the enemy, comprising the 31st and
40th Alabama. They had soon to surrender. Harrow then
fell back with his prisoners, and McPherson closed up his line,
shifting more to the left.
Sherman, finding that Johnston had occupied too extended
a line for his forces, resolved to break through it between
Kenesaw and Pine Mountain, and thus split his army in two.
Simultaneously with McPherson's movements the other corps
advanced, the 14th corps against the enemy's position on Ken
esaw ; Howard occupied Pine Mountain, and Hooker against
the enemy's intrenched position on Lost Mountain. This assault
of Hooker's was one of the most desperate and best sustained
of the many charges made on the enemy's position while occu-
10*

114 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
pying the stronghold of these mountain ranges. Lost Mountain
is a conical-shaped hill, separated by a ridge from Pine Moun
tain : this ridge runs obliquely, connecting with Kenesaw. The
enemy's left rested on Lost Mountain ; therefore this strong
position was of vital importance. It covered a valley or gorge,
which was the only outlet for our army to make a flank move
ment. Geary's second division formed into line of battle, and
moved forward in column by brigade ; Colonel Ireland's bri
gade being in advance, Colonel P. H. Jones's next, and Colonel
Candy's next. Geary's division was supported by the first and
second divisions.
Heavy lines of skirmishers were first thrown out in order to
develop the enemy's strength and position. These were closely
followed by the assaulting column, and a fierce fight ensued.
For a moment the column was checked, but again they rallied,
and charged with such desperate impetuosity that they soon had
possession ofthe enemy's first line of work, driving them towards
the crest of the mountain. Geary occupied the intrenchments
and strengthened his position. In the course of the evening
the enemy made several ineffectual attempts to regain their lost
ground. This was a noble charge of Geary's division, and was
right nobly sustained and resisted.
Colonel Ireland's brigade suffered heaviest, it having lost in
all about three hundred men. For a time it had to sustain the
whole charge, but was ably supported by Colonel P. H. Jones'B
— now General Jones — brigade, which dashed into its sup
port with that daring impetuosity which has characterized itself
and its brave young commander. Colonel Jones was wounded
at Pea Vine Creek, and had just returned in time to partici
pate in the present fight, in which he lost about two hundred
men. Colonel Candy's brigade lost about one hundred and
thirty men.
While Hooker was engaged on the right, McPherson on the
left, Howard moved on the centre, wheeling by Pine Mountain.
The rebels retreated from the hilly knob in front to the range
in rear, thus affording Howard only a chance of skirmishing
with them. Towards evening his troops occupied Pine Knob,

SOUTHERN SOLDIERS LOSING HEART. 115
where General Polk was killed. For the last three days we
had captured a large number of prisoners, in all about two thou
sand. Geary, in his assault, captured about one half of these ;
several of them had deserted into our lines. It is evident that
the southern soldiers were then losing heart in their cause. I
had been speaking to several of them, and they said, " The
newspapers and officers tell us we are going on well ; we can't
see it, though. Our lines are thinning every day ; our officers
don't care for our lives, but dash us upon your lines recklessly,
and get us butchered ; we are falling back every day ; if this is
going on well, I can't see it."
It is true that our army acted through the intelligence of the
mass ; theirs through that of their leaders. They appeared to
be mere puppets in the hands of the latter. The foreign ele
ment in their army was deserting very rapidly. On the 16th a
captain, three lieutenants, and fifty-five men came into McPher
son's lines near Big Shanty. They assigned as their reason
that they were tired of the war. They had served- for three
years, and did not want to fight any longer. They had been
conscripted, and did not want to fight at all against the Union.
Now, as they had got the chance, they deserted.
'.'O mein Gott ! " exclaimed a German, " we have got 'nuff
of de hunger, and de rout, and am tired of de ting."
I asked an Irishman how it was that he, who had come from
an oppressed country, could fight against the government that
gave him a home and a living.
" Begor, you see, sir," replied Pat, " we were down here
when the ruction was kicked up, and sure there couldn't be a
shindy without having an Irishman at one end or tudder : so
when we couldn't join the right side we had to fall in wid the
wrong." While around Big Shanty, Ira B. Tuttle, with some four
men, made a reconnoissance on the enemy's flank and rear.
They struck on a quartermaster's depot,, full of forage, some
sixteen miles south-west from Atlanta. They made an unex
pected dash on the concern, which was poorly guarded. They
captured the captain, a lieutenant colonel, and some five men

116 Sherman's march through the south.
who were lounging about. They secured their prisoners in an
out-office, helped themselves to some good horses and equip
ments, leaving their own sorry nags in exchange, set fire to the
store, which contained a large supply of corn and bacon, and
returned safely to their own quarters.
The success of our march has been unprecedented. Though
our progress had been checked by natural barriers, strong
enough to intimidate a less resolute general than Sherman, or
less daring an army than his, — though our march lay through
the mountain regions of Georgia, through bold, craggy hills,
where the men had to drag up their bodies by grasping pro
jecting rocks or branches, through deep defiles and tangled
brushwood, where the foot of man had never before disturbed
the solitude of the place, nor the'repose of snakes and crawling
reptiles, — still onward that gallant army pressed, driving before
them a stubborn enemy, who doggedly disputed every mountain
crag and pass, and whose unerring rifle, like that of the red
Indian, hurled death from every thicket. Napoleon's exploit in
crossing the Alps stands forth as the nonpareil of military
achievements. Napoleon's chief foes were the cold and snow.
Sherman had to encounter hills, some two thousand feet high, in
which a powerful enemy lay intrenched, and which actually
bristled with cannons and bayonets. Which is the nobler
exploit I leave to history to judge.
Johnston thought himself fully secure in the strong range of
hills near Daiton; but Sherman flanked him- here, and so
managed as to head him from the bold and defensible range
of the Chattagata Mountains, crippling him severely by the
desperate battle of Resaca. Johnston's next battle-ground was
the Allatoona Range. Here, too, he deemed his position
impregnable ; but he soon found that even the mountain fastness
was a poor security. When driven from this, after several
days' obstinate fighting, we hoped that he would fall back
behind the Chattahoochee, allowing us to debouch on the open
country lying between Marietta and the Chattahoochee; but
Johnston resolved to defend the strong position at Kenesaw
and the neighboring range of hills. Here they firmly in-

A SUCCESSFUL EXPEDIENT. 117
trenched themselves, their left and the batteries from Ken
esaw commanding the railroad, their right resting on Lost
Mountain, and commanding the pass by which Sherman could
debouch on their flank -towards the river. The rebel line
extended in a south-westerly direction, or rather almost directly
from east to west.
Our operations of the 15th and 16th towards the base of the
ridge made them fall back, not only from that point, but also
from Lost Mountain and Pine Knob.
The enemy kept their batteries on their right flank, com
manding the Marietta road, very silent. Sherman was at a loss
to know what guns they had there, to see how far an assault
was practicable. It was an important position, and McPherson
was close upon it.
No amount of artillery fire, or annoyance from our sharp
shooters, could bring them out.
Sherman struck on a plan. He ordered a locomotive to be
attached to three cars, and to put on full steam.
" Now," said he, " run that down the road like hell ! "
On she started, puffing, blowing, and snorting as if she were
bent on going right into Atlanta.
The rebels heard the noise of the fiery monster as she came
on, throwing sparks from her chimney, as if lashing herself into
fury. They sprang from intrenchments, redoubts, and forts,
coming to the conclusion that it was laden with troops making
a sudden dash into Marietta, on their rear. They opened at it
right and left. Every battery was soon playing away at the
monster, which, though perforated in several places, hissed and
shrieked the more, as if hurling defiance at them.
" That will do," said Sherman, walking away ; " I know
what they have there, now."
Whether the engine got knocked off the track, or got a shot
through her boiler, I can't tell. She did good service, however ;
for the enemy revealed guns enough to convince Sherman that
they were too strong to be assaulted there.
" The rebels now commenced threatening our communications.
Heretofore, any attempts were mere guerrilla efforts ; but on the

118 Sherman's march through the south.
morning of the 16th, the rebel General Wharton, commanding
a brigade of two thousand five hundred men, made a descent on
the road between Kingston and Daiton, capturing and burning
five freight trains laden with supplies. Reenforcements were
hurried up from different points, and arrived in time to prevent
them from doing any serious damage. They hovered about for
some time, threatening our communications.
While lying in front of Kenesaw, several days would pass
over without any fighting, unless a kind of duel between the
enemy's artillery on the hills, crests, and sides, and ours
beneath them, and some volleys between the pickets, simply to
keep their hands in practice, might be called fighting.
We were tired of this, and wanted a battle, or some other
excitement, to rouse us up. We were tired of watching the
course of the shells as they whirred through the air, and con
jecturing as to where they fell, or whom they killed.
" I tell you that fellow fell right in our second brigade," one
would say.
" Indeed, it didn't. It was more to the right," was the reply.
" Well, it was a whopper. I am sure it was a sixty-four-
pounder." " Pshaw, there is more of it. How the hell do you know?
Now, I'd take my oath it was only a twelve-pound parrott shell."
" But I am confident it was a sixty-four-pounder. Didn't you
hear the noise of it ? "
" How the deuce could they get up so heavy a gun there ;
but, whist; here comes another?" and as this fellow was evi
dently visiting us, we jumped up and hugged some trees most
affectionately, until he had paid his flying visit.
One evening, Colonel M  and myself thought the thing
such a bore that we decided on visiting some friends in the
20th corps. A camp is a very hospitable kind of place. From
the highest general down to the lowest full private, a drink is
the summum bonum of hospitality.
Our friend had just raised a barrel of strong apple-jack at the
expense of the natives. We found himself and his brother
officers in a large hospital tent. They had all come to con-

A CAMP VISIT. 119
gratulate the colonel upon his valuable discovery, and also to
taste said discovery. Some were joining in a rousing chorus,
with their tin cans and fruit cans full of the native, held up for
inspection, as they chorused, —
" We won't go home till morning."
Others, who had dropped off, were lying around, enjoying a
snooze. We were a welcome accession, and were received with
uproarious shouts.
It was getting dark, and a cold, drizzling rain was falling
when we started to return.
When we got into the camp of our own division, I remarked
the sentry at one post sitting under a tree, consoling himself
with puffing a long pipe.
" Colonel," said I, " that sentry hasn't challenged us."
" Where — re — is he, the rascal ? I'll have him up," hickuped
the colonel, who was stringent in the observance of military duty.
We turned back.
" I say, sir, — do you hear? "
" Well, I reckon I do," said the other, coolly knocking the
ashes from his pipe, and placing the gun, which stood upright
near the tree, between bis knees.
" Why th — h — 1 didn't you challenge us ? "
" Challenge you ; " and he took a long pull from the pipe.
" Catch me challenging two drunken officers ; you might have
a taste about you, colonel ; the night is raw ; " and he resumed
his pipe.
This was too much for the colonel ; so he turned around,
leaving the sentry in peace.
" This reminds me," as Abe Lincoln would say, of a similar
incident that occurred to me in the army of the Potomac. I
had passed a sentry on a very important advanced post without
being challenged. I turned around to reprimand him, asking
him why he did not challenge. ?
" Faith, captain," said he, presenting arms, " I didn't know
you.

120 Sherman's march through the south.

CHAPTER XII.
A CHAPTER OF FIGHTING. — JOHNSTON ADDRESSES FALSE WORDS
TO HIS MEN.— A DISAPPOINTMENT TO THE REBELS. — BATTLE
OF CULP'S FARM. — DEATH OF GENERAL HARKER.— HIBERNIAN
ANECDOTE. The duration and the fierce nature of the conflict of our cam
paign through Northern Georgia is unsurpassed in history.
Fifty days from the opening of the conflict we sat down in front
of Kenesaw. There were but few of these days that we
had not more or less fighting along our lines. The days were
followed by weary nights of incessant toil, oftentimes fighting
and building breastworks and intrenchments — weary nights
of restless anxiety, with the cold, damp ground for our bed,
sleeping on wet branches, sometimes on rails, to keep us from
the mud ; and then how often were our rude couches rendered
too hot for us by the pattering bullets which rattled around us !
The rebels disputed every inch of ground with a heroism
that has won our admiration, and has caused a feeling of regret
that such soldiers had not a better cause.
The 16th passed off quietly. On the evening of the 17th
heavy skirmishing opened in front of Stanley's division of the
4th corps. Harker's brigade, of Newton's division, and part
of Hazen's brigade, of Wood's division, were also sharply en
gaged. Towards night the rebels opened a fierce fire along
Howard's front, sending shot into our very camps and tents.
Bradley's and Bridge's batteries replied with effect.
On the left, near Big Shanty, Logan's and Blair's batteries
were also briskly shelling the rebel works on the hill.
Hooker, having repulsed them at Lost Mountain, was press-

A NIGHT ATTACK. 121
ing on their flank, while Schofield was swinging round on their
left, repulsing their skirmishers, and capturing a number of
prisoners. On the night of the 17th the rebels attacked our position.
It was a beautiful night. The soft moonlight, beaming from
the clear southern sky, floated through the forest trees, lighting
them up with a bewitching charm of beauty.
The air was calm and balmy, the sky without a cloud ; fire
flies, sparkling Hke diamonds, were flitting around. The cry of
the whippoorwill resounded through the forest ; and the croak
ing of the toads rose from the marshes like the tinkling of
sleigh bells. Houses that had been burned were yet shooting
forth their columns of fire and smoke.
Such was the night ! — a grand and solemn night ! Soon a
dropping shot along the line awoke the wearied soldier as he
lay on his rude couch. " It is nothing," he said, and lay down
to sleep again, only for. a moment, for a rapid musketry fire
ensued, and the wearied soldier opened his eyes and jumped to
his arms, for he knew it was a night attack. Our batteries
soon opened, hurling shell and canister into the rebel works.
The rebels had made a strong attack on McPherson's left,
where they vainly strove to regain their lost position, but were
repulsed by Logan's 15th corps.
The rebels wer&foiled in their night attack at all points, and
the horrid din of battle soon gave way to a placid stillness.
The toads resumed their music in the marsh, and the whippoor
will his in the forest. The tired soldiers again lay down to
rest, and dream of a home and fond ones they were never des
tined to see.
Towards morning a sudden rain-storm burst over us in a per
fect deluge. The maxim " When it rains it pours," is very ap
plicable to the south. Next morning the country was one
miserable swamp of slushy mire and water.
The rebels had fallen back and abandoned their front line of
works. General Howard ordered his whole line to follow them
up sharply. General Harker's brigade led the advance, and"
having come up with the enemy, and being reenforced by Wag-
11

122 Sherman's march through the south.
«*
ner's brigade, they charged forward, driving them from their
first line of works.
As we charged on the rebel skirmishers, they fled precipitately
back on their intrenchments. . A southern Charlotte Corday, a
modern Joan of Arc, jumped upon the breastworks, waved a
sword, and fiercely upbraided them with cowardice. There she
stood, defiantly waving a flag in one hand and a sword in the
other. Of course our men could have shot her down, but no
rifle was turned on the Amazon. Her reproaches drove many
a poor fellow back on our lines to certain death.
The women of the south have much blood to answer for.
Bitter and uncompromising, many a brother and lover their
sneers and scoffs drove into the army never again to return.
We thought the rebels were retreating, but they were only
wheeling round their left to prevent it being outflanked by
Schofield, who had wheeled round Pine Mountain, and was
pressing along the Dallas and Marietta road. McPherson,
too, was pressing closely on their right, and had taken posses
sion of a ridge beyond Big Shanty, and also of Bush Mountain.
Thus threatened on the flanks, they had to refuse their centre
and compress their lines, for Howard and Palmer were thun
dering at their centre. They could the more easily depress
their lines, as they had good works in their rear, on which the
citizens and negroes had been engaged for months.
All their works along Kenesaw were of a formidable and
scientific nature, strengthened by salient and traverse lines and
angles. From such positions, seemingly impregnable, have we
driven them since the opening of the campaign, day after day
and week after week.
Our skirmishers pressed on, and having developed their new
position, Newton's division on the left and Wood's famed
division on the right were thrown into line of battle, with
Stanley's division, to the rear of Wood's, held partly in reserve.
The 5th Kentucky, 6th Indiana, and 124th Ohio, Hazen's
brigade, and 32d Indiana and 25th Illinois, of Colonel Gibson's
brigade, were thrown forward in a heavy line of skirmishers by
General Wood.

an artillery duel. 123
On their left, Wagner's brigade and the 27th Illinois, of Hark
er's brigade, were also deployed, and with one gallant, united
effort they succeeded in capturing the enemy's first line of works.
Towards evening Captain Goodspeed's battery of five guns,
and Bridge's 6th Ohio battery, with sections from Bradley's and
Spencer's, opened a raking fire on the enemy, which was en
forced by a continuous fire of musketry from our skirmishers.
The rebel line, unable to withstand this concentrated fire, fell
back, leaving a large number of prisoners in our hands, also
Colonel Perdieux, 1st Louisiana battalion, and another colonel,
belonging to the 7th Mississippi, dead.
Their loss must have been very heavy. Captain Levy, who
was captured with his whole company, stated that his regiment
alone lost nearly eighty men.
Our loss was pretty considerable. The 4th corps alone cap
tured two hundred and twenty-seven prisoners ; Wood's noble
division capturing one hundred and ten of them.
At night the rebels fell still farther back to their works on
Kenesaw Hill.
We now occupied the house of a Mr. Wallace, on the Ma
rietta road, from which we had a fine view of the enemy along
the slope of Kenesaw. Generals Sherman, Thomas, Hooker,
Howard, and several others, had congregated here to watch the
effect of our batteries on the enemy's works.
The house and offices were used as a hospital, and military
operations were going on in the rear while the doctors were
busy amputating inside ; one party making cases for the oth
er. Captains Goodspeed and Bradley got their batteries into
position ; these, with Bridge's in front of Stanley's division,
opened all together on the rebel works, making the . hill
side a pretty hot place. The rebels soon replied with two
batteries from the slope and a section of heavy guns from the
crest. A regular artillery duel now ensued. The intervening valley
was one dense cloud of smoke, which rose in floating canopies
over the mountain.
We could see the sheets of flame, followed by volumes of

124 Sherman's march through the south.
smoke, jump out from the mouths of the brazen monsters, and
the loud, reverberating sounds echoed along the mountains and
valleys. An assault was now taking place ; this heavy artillery fire
was merely to cover it.
Stanley was charging the enemy in his front, while Wood
and Newton were hotly engaged on his right. The 20th corps
had by this time succeeded in crossing Noe's Creek, which had
been very much swollen by the late rains. Williams's division
had crossed, and was stubbornly engaged on the right. Palm
er's and McPherson's batteries were thundering away on our
left, while far away on our right the 23d corps was disputing
the passage of the swollen stream with the enemy. Early on
the morning of the 20th Wood's division, 4th corps, crossed the
creek and relieved Williams, who swung round to the right of
the 20th corps, thus connecting Geary's division with the 4th
corps. A slight tongue-^like ridge ran out in front of Wood's
division, which presented a first-rate position for a battery.
The 49th Ohio advanced along this hill, driving back the ene
my. Two guns were immediately dragged forward, and, under
the superintendence of General Wood himself, and his truly
chivalric adjutant general, Captain Bestow, were put into po
sition and brought to bear on the enemy. Stanley was heavily
engaged skirmishing all day ; and towards evening our bat
teries all along the front opened again on the enemy's guns
upon the hill, which were becoming troublesome.
Some fifty guns on both sides were belching away with all
their might and main within the short range of less than a
mile. We could see the shot and shell whizzing through the
air like so many imps of hell on their unhallowed mission, the
trees toppling over, and the rocks and dirt in front of the rebel
batteries flying up in the air.
Tho infernal din was increased by the incessant rattling of
musketry along the lines.
The rebels, finding that we were closing in on their flank, had
massed in the centre, with the desperate resolution of piercing
through the 4th corps.

obstinate fighting. 125
We learned from deserters that part of Hood's and Hardee's
corps had been massed in the centre with that intention. Under
shelter of the heaviest artillery fire, the rebels charged in massed
columns on Stanley's front.
Whittaker's brigade nobly met the attack, and repulsed them
with loss. They next tried their hand on Kirby's, where they
also met a stubborn resistance ; but after a fierce conflict of
nearly one hour, they gained some temporary advantage, and
took possession of a prominent knoll in our front. Cross's and
Whittaker's brigades again pitched into them, and a most
bloody conflict continued until after dark, with little success
on either side. Our position at night was thus : Wood's and
Newton's divisions had somewhat advanced, but Stanley's di
vision, having had to bear the brunt of the day's fighting, had
barely kept its own. Stanley was hard pressed all the afternoon,
and as he was over the creek and poorly supported, great anx
iety was felt about him ; but he kept his position until rein
forced, and then a ringing cheer along his lines apprised us that
he was all right.
Early on the morning of the 21st Wood's division moved
forward to recover the height occupied by the rebels the pre
vious day. Wood threw forward the 15th Ohio, which pressed
on the enemy, taking possession of the hill before the others
had come to their support. With it they captured a large
number of prisoners.
The fighting for the past three days had been very severe.
The air was hideous with one continuous roar of musketry and
artillery. Hooker„and Schofield were pressing the enemy well
on our right ; the latter had succeeded in crossing some of his
cavalry over Noe's Creek, thus threatening to turn the enemy's
left. By this time our lines were within five hundred yards of
the enemy at some points, and our flanks were partly encir
cling them.
The fighting in front of General T. I. Wood's divfsion,
4th corps, had been very" severe. The 15th Ohio, under Lieu
tenant Colonel Askew, and the 49th Ohio, engaged a superior
force on the contested hill, routed them, and soon established
11*

126 Sherman's march through the south.
themselves in their place, though eight rebel guns were all
ttie time vomiting shot and shell on their advance. General
Hazen's brigade and the 89th Illinois relieved them, repulsing
the enemy still farther. Howard was confronted by Cheatham's
troops. I have stated elsewhere that Johnston had sent his cavalry
to harass our rear, and that they had succeeded in tapping the
road between Kingston and Resaca. This attempt was much
exaggerated, and the rebel leaders made the most of it.
While in front of Kenesaw, Johnston issued a complimentary
address to his troops, and, as good news, stated that the railroad
was torn up, our supplies cut off, and our army starving, in
fact, on half rations for several days.
This order was being read to the troops, and was about re
ceiving a due amount of cheers and huzzas, when all stopped,
with their hats in their hands, ready to give the cheer ; they
listened a moment, and looked towards Big Shanty. What
could that shrill loud whistle, and that puffing and blowing,
mean ? It was the engine, and it seemed to be considerably
excited at all the lies the general was telling about it. The
men listened a moment, looked at one another, uttered hard
names, and slunk back to their quarters, while one loud, ring
ing cheer from our lines proclaimed that the boys were not
starving, despite Johnston's assertion.
Captain L. H. Levey, 1st Georgia, and sixty men, were cap
tured by our pickets. I asked the captain, " Don't you think
your cause hopeless ? "
" There are," replied the chivalrous captain, " about one
hundred thousand high-toned, chivalrie southern gentlemen
whom ye may extirpate, but can never subdue."
This sounded very fine ; but to spoil the chivalry of the thing,'
it turned out that the captain and his men were surprised on
the picket line and captured by a sergeant and seven men, who
frightened them into submission by pretending to have a whole
regiment at their back.
What forcibly struck us as we marched through the south was,
how fully impressed the people were with the notion that the

southern ignorance of the north. 127
Yankees were savages, some believed cannibals. This belief
was not confined to the poorer classes either ; so corrupted were
the minds of even the wealthier portions that they had not a
much better opinion of us. They fully believed that we were
coming wantonly to violate, destroy, or enslave them. On our
approach women and children fled in terror into the woods and
other places of concealment. If all the menageries and lunatic
asylums north, including the late Barnum's itself, were let loose
upon them, they could not be more afraid. By degrees they
ventured out, and became wonderfully relieved when they found
that we did not eat any of them. I heard an old lady, with
scarcely a tooth in her head, and shaking with fear and age,
say, " Well, well, the Lord be praised ; you'ns not so bad after
all ; the girls all ran away, afraid of you'ns fellows, but I
thought I'd stay ; and there, not one of you'ns have touched me
yet!" I went into a shanty where an old lady was sitting at one
side of the fire, comfortably enjoying a puff from a soldier's
pipe, and discussing the war question with the soldier, who
occupied the other side.
" And you tell me you'ns fellers have plenty backer, and
coffee, and snuff? "
" Plenty, ma'am, more than we can use."
"Dear me ! we'ns are badly off; haven't coffee, nor backer,
nor snuff. I wish this war was over ; when do you reckon it
will stop?"
" Can't say ; as soon as they stop fighting, or when we have
them all killed."
" Well, there is an almighty lot of ye critters in it ; I know
ye'll eat fthem up ; besides, you'ns fellows don't fight we'ns
fair." " How so?" said the soldier.
" Why, you'ns fight ind ways, and that's not fair," said the
old lady, drawing a very indignant puff from the pipe ; " besides,
you'ns have furruners fightin' for you'ns."
" Not that I know ; we are all either Americans or Ameri
can citizens."

128 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
" 0, you'ns can't come over me dat way ; wasn't them fel
lers here to-day from a place called New Jersey ? "
It is sad to witness the fearful sufferings of the people, par
ticularly the women and children, in those parts of Georgia
through which we have campaigned. As for the men, we
met but few indeed. All that were able to fight were con
scripted ; the rest were hid in the woods or caves ; some few
had the good sense to remain at home, and trust to the humanity
of the Yankee soldier. I am sorry to say that our men often
wantonly burned down the houses, destroyed their contents,
and drove forth their wretched inmates, houseless, homeless,
starving outcasts, to perish of cold and hunger. It is true that
such acts were not sanctioned, but stragglers and hangers-on,
who bring up the rear of a large army, destroy everything,
like a swarm of locusts, particularly when they find a place
deserted. I have met, in more cases than those I have already alluded
to, frenzied groups of affrighted, starving women and children
huddled together in the woods, where many of them perished
of cold and want.
Such sad pictures of old and young, gray-haired matrons and
timid girls, clinging together in hopeless misery, may be im
agined, but cannot be described. I have seen whole columns
of brave men melt away before the leaden storm of battle ; I
have passed through the whirlwind and carnage of many a
bloody field ; I have heard the groans of fearful agony from
the poor sufferers under the surgeon's knife, where piles of legs
and arms — the grim trophies of war — attested death's fearful
harvest. Yet all these did not move me as did the,si°-ht of
these poor, innocent, helpless miserables.
The morning of the 22d of June opened with brisk skirmish
ing on our centre, which continued all day, but became hotter
towards evening. About 4 o'clock our batteries opened on the
rebel works all along the range, to which the enemy vigorously '
replied. Battery after battery opened, until it became a perfect
storm of shot and shell, enlivened by the stirring interlude of
small arms.

BATTLE OF CULP's FARM. 129
-About 4 o'clock the enemy commenced massing in front of
Hooker, with the evident intention of attacking him.
The position of Sherman's army was — Schofield was on the
extreme right, moving down the Landtown road ; Hooker was
on his left, commanding the Marietta road ; Howard on the left
of Hooker ; Palmer next ; next came McPherson, extending in
front of Big Shanty and Bush Mountain, on the line of rail
road. On the evening of the 21st, Hooker ordered Geary to
advance his skirmish line, and press back the enemy's, which
he accomplished, though the rebels obstinately disputed a com
manding hill in his front.
Culp's farm is situated on the Powder Springs and Marietta
main road, and about five miles in a westerly direction from
Marietta. Contiguous to it are a handsome frame church, a
school-house, planters' establishments, including several negro
shanties, all of which give it something of the appearance of
a small village.
Extending from this, partly in a northern direction, is a valley
of reclaimed land, reaching some three miles in length and
half a mile in width. This comprises Culp's plantation, also
the plantation of a Mr. Greer, whose house is situated in the
middle of the valley, and was an important point of attack
during the engagement.
The land is rising on both sides, and is compressed in the
middle with a small, sluggish stream, fringed with trees ; run
ning at right angles with this stream is a deep ravine, with a
few thickly-wooded knolls scattered over the valley. This was
the 'field of the battle of Culp's farm.
Hooker, having ascertained that the enemy were in force in
his front, ordered General Williams to throw out a heavy line
of skirmishers to keep the enemy engaged while he was form
ing into line, and, if possible, to get possession of Greer's house
and the surrounding knolls.
Williams at once deployed the 123d New York, supported .by
the 46th Pennsylvania, 141st New York, and 5th Connecticut.
These advanced rapidly across the plain, and soon became
engaged. Hooker had formed line with Williams's division

130 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
on the right, Rogers's brigade on the right, General Knipe's
next, with Colonel Robinson's extending en echelon to the rear
on the right. Geary's division was to the left of Williams's,
but separated by over two hundred yards on account of the
ravine and the extended nature of the line. Colonel P. H.
Jones's second brigade closed up on the ravine so as to fill up
the gap. Butterfield's division was on the extreme left, held in
reserve. Hood's corps was hastily forming in front of the wood on the
other side. He had wheeled round the previous night from
Kenesaw, thus leaving Loring's corps — Polk's — on their ex
treme right, and Hardee in the centre.
1 Hood had formed into line of battle in the following order :
Stewart on the. right, Stevens in the centre, and Hindman on
the left — all massed on the centre, and formed into lines by
divisions front.
Our artillery was hurried to the front, and hastily got into
position. McGill's and Wheeler's batteries took up position in
front of Geary's line, and opened an enfilading fire on the
enemy. Captain Wheeler was killed beside his gun. Pinne-
gar's first New York and Captain Woodberry's were in front
of Williams's division.
Hood's corps had now formed in front of Williams's position.
Two brigades from Hardee's corps had taken up position in
front of Geary's. Two regiments moved along Powder Spring
road to turn Hooker's flank, he not being able to extend the
line to cover the road. Hood's column was now advancing in
magnificent order, as if on parade, with banners flying and
officers dashing from line to line. On they came in grand
array: — "Pew shall part where many meet ;
The earth shall be their winding-sheet."
On came that proud column, with heavy lines of skirmish
ers in its front. Our skirmishers fell back, but obstinately
disputing every inch in order to give our lines time to form,
and our batteries to get into position. Colonel P. H. Jones,
after a dashing brush with the enemy, now held Greer's house,

discomfiture of hood. 131
from which the rebels vainly and repeatedly tried to dislodge
him. As the column neared the stream, pressing back our
skirmishers with defiant cheers, our batteries along the hill
suddenly opened, vomiting shell and canister among them,
sweeping lanes through their ranks, and converting many a
cheer into a death-groan.
This raking fire from our batteries was fearfully thinning
their lines.
Stewart's shattered ranks were now hurled back on Stevens's,
who, for a moment, stemmed the torrent.
We could see their officers rush before the men with waving
sabres, striving to rally them, but in vain ; for our artillery and
musketry were showering lead like hailstones right into their
lines. After repeated assaults, the panic-stricken rebels,^ with
broken ranks, riderless horses, and trailing banners, fell back to
their works.
While the conflict was raging in front of Hooker, the regi
ments which had gone up the road to outflank him, did not fare
any better.
Schofield, hearing the firing, and apprised of what was going
on, hurried up. Hascall's division was in front, and the 14th
Kentucky, covered by two pieces of artillery, were thrown out
as skirmishers. They engaged the advancing regiments, and,
after a stubborn fight, repulsed them, thus covering Hooker's
right. The 14th Kentucky lost heavily, but left sixty-nine dead,
rebels in its front, and brought in thirty prisoners.
Schofield's main body soon came up to their support. Of a
small engagement, this was a crushing one. The rebel lines
were so exposed that their loss must be about a thousand,
while ours was very light.
It was a mad attempt on Hood's part to attack at such a
disadvantage. If we had the selection of our ground, it could
not be more favorable.
It must be that Hood was under the impression that he was
striking our right flank, and that Hooker was moving so care
lessly in column that he could outflank and crush him before he

132 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
could get into line. His sending the troops up the road con
firmed this ; but Schofield arrived in time to spoil that part of
the programme.
I rode over that battle-field when the conflict was ended.
Along the little stream ran a rail fence. The rebels had
crowded behind this for protection, but were literally mowed
down. The torn, bloody knapsacks, haversacks, blankets,, and
the frequent pools of blood around, were ghastly evidences of
how they suffered. The stream was actually choked up with
bodies, and discolored with blood. In the ravine, and around
the house where the rebels had crowded for shelter, their bodies
lay piled on one another.
On the 23d of June, the only fighting was in front of the
4th corps, where heavy skirmishing went on all day, enlivened
by an artillery fire from, at least, fifty guns. We had advanced
our skirmish lines close upon the rebels. Captain Dalger's
battery was threatened by the enemy. He was sent word that
he could get no support.
" I want none," he replied ; " I'll support myself."
And he did so, soon silencing the rebel battery in his front.
There was considerable activity in front of McPherson during
the 25th and 26th.
Our batteries, along the whole line, opened a brisk fire on the
rebel position, and our skirmishers crept up, as close as possible,
to the shelter occupied by the enemy.
Logan formed Harrow's division on the extreme left, and
moved cautiously on the enemy, covering his advance by a
heavy artillery fire. Harrow's advance was so rapid and well-
timed that he surrounded a rebel brigade lying in advance of the
woods, who durst not leave their shelter, and were all captured,
to the number of about three hundred. Logan also brought up
Morgan L. Smith's division, and took up an advanced position,
intrenching himself. Osterhaus also advanced by the left,
driving the enemy from their rifle-pits in his front. Blair,
whose corps lay between Osterhaus's division and the other
two divisions of Logan's corps, advanced his right far enough
to complete his line, connecting with Osterhaus's advanced

ACTIVITY OF THE CORPS. ,133
position. Dodge, who occupied McPherson's right, had also
pushed forward, and attempted at night to build a fort upon
a hill in his front, which resulted in a night fight that did not
prevent him from building his fort.
Thus we had our lines so far advanced preparatory to the
fatal assault of the 27th.
General Sherman had decided on assaulting Kenesaw, with
the resolution of forcing their breastworks, at a point where
success would give the largest fruits of victory.
He selected, as the chief point of attack, the left centre,
because, if broken through, the head of the assaulting column
would reach the railroad below Marietta, cut off the enemy's
right and centre from its line of retreat, and could overwhelm it ;
therefore General Sherman ordered an assault on the enemy's
position at two points south of Kenesaw, by Generals McPher
son and Thomas's commands. Precisely at eight o'clock, on
the morning ofthe 27th, General Logan, after forming his corps
into line of battle, advanced on the enemy's works, with orders
to capture, if possible, a small knoll at the base of the moun
tain. Though advancing under a heavy fire of musketry and
artillery, he succeeded in taking the first Hne of works, and
then the second, which he occupied.
On his left Legget's division, of Blair's corps, wheeled round
to the extreme left, and, supported by Gerrard's cavalry, made
demonstrations on the enemy's right, west of Marietta. This
was simply a feint to cover the main attack.
The 16th corps also made an attack on the enemy's lines in
its front, without gaining much advantage.
Logan's corps was pretty heavily engaged ; but finding that
the mountain was too steep and the rebel- intrenchments too
strong for assault, after a desperate struggle, he had to fall
back to the second line of works.
The assault on the right centre was equally unsuccessful, and
even more fatal.
Early in the morning, Baird's and Davis's divisions of the
14th corps, having quietly shifted during the night, moved in
on the right of Howard. Geary's division, of the 20th corps,
12

134 Sherman's march through the south.
had closed up on Davis, so as to engage the enemy at that
point. Williams's and Butterfield's divisions were on Geary's
right, with Schofield swinging round on the ¦ rebels' extreme
right. The programme was this : Newton was to open the ball by
an assault on a strong knoll west of Kenesaw, which was a
powerful position in the hands of the enemy, and from which
their artillery had considerably annoyed us. Stanley's and*
Wood's divisions were on the right and rear of Newton, some
what thrown back en echelon, but within supporting distance.
Newton's division advanced in column by brigade, the 125th
Ohio, Colonel Opdyke, covering the front as skirmishers, sup
ported by the 59 th Illinois.
Our lines had to advance through a dense wood, thence up a
steep ascent. The enemy were strongly intrenched behind
a breastwork, protected by an abatis.
Harker's brigade had the advance, Kemball's on his left, and
Wagner supporting.
The 125th Ohio, 74th Illinois, skirmished heavily with the
enemy for some time, driving them back on their main lines,
but were there received by a destructive fire of musketry. Our
bines followed up to their support, when two batteries opened on
our front and flank, aided by a shower of musketry in front.
Harker's men cheered, and dashed on ; but a decimating shower -
of bullets caused them to waver. Our officers rushed forward
to cheer them on ; but from concealed batteries and secure
breastworks the leaden storm came mowing them down by
scores. Our batteries were playing on the enemy's, but regard
less of this, the rebels gave all their attention to our advancing
columns, which soon gave way, and fell back in confusion.
General Harker led this charge in person. With his cap in his
raised hand, he cheered on his men ; and seeing them falter, he
rushed to the front, but soon fell shot through the side. Beside
him stood his adjutant general, Captain Ed. G. Whiteside,
who, though shot through the thigh, still urged on the men,
until his horse was shot under him, and he fell beside his noble
general.

LOSS OF GALLANT OFFICERS. 135
There were few more promising generals in the army than
Charles G. Harker. He was a native of Mulligan Hill, New
Jersey, and a graduate of West Point, and captain in the 15th
regulars. He distinguished himself at Chickamauga, where he
had his horse killed, and was rewarded by a brigadiership. He
was again w,ounded at Resaca, and had a horse killed under
him, also, at Mission Ridge. He was a brave, dashing soldier
and efficient officer, and was always foremost where duty and
danger called him. He fell in the prime of manhood, being but
twenty-seven years of age, but left after him a name that history
will record with pride.
Davis's division, 14th corps, was also heavily engaged on the
right of Newton, but was also repulsed. Geary's division,
20th corps, and Schofield's corps, were also engaged on our right.
We -were repulsed on all sides. Our loss was heavy in field
officers and men. Besides the gallant General Harker, Colonel
McCook, created general before he died, was mortally wound
ed ; Colonel Rice, 57th Ohio, severely. Our loss in rank and
file must be between two and three thousand ; while the enemy's
must be very slight, as they fought behind their works.
I spent the evening previous with the noble young Harker.
" So, general," said I, " you are to lead the advance to
morrow ? "
" Yes," said he, " I lead it, whoever returns."
• " I hope, general, your usual good fortune will attend you,
and that you will return safe."
" Well, I hope so ; a soldier should be always prepared to
die, though ; " then after a pause he said, " They are powerful
works ; we can never take them ; I will do my best, though."
I saw him when he fell. It was a matter of surprise to me
that he escaped so long ; for there he was, at the head of the
line, cap in hand, rallying the troops, who were falling on all
sides around him.
I helped to remove him from the field, and asked him, "Gen
eral, do you suffer ? Where are you struck ? "
He placed his hand on his side ; the pallor of death was on
his brow. A few hours more and he had breathed his last.

136 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
As Harker's brigade wavered in front of the rebel works,
the colors were lying on the ground, — bearer after bearer had
fallen, — when an Irish sergeant of the name of Kelly rushed
forward, seized the colors, tore away the abatis with his left
hand, jumped on the rebel works, planting the colors there, and
calling on his comrades to follow him. He was immediately
transfixed with bayonets and pierced with bullets. Finding
himself not supported, he jumped backwards, flung the colors
over his shoulders into the lines, calling out, " Boys, save the
colors ! " and then fell dead.
Next day General Johnston sent a flag of truce to Sherman,
in order to give time to carry off the wounded and bury the
dead, who were festering in front of their lines.
A truce followed, and Rebels and Federals freely participated
in the work of charity. It was a strange sight to see friends,
to see old acquaintances, and in some instances brothers, who
had been separated for years, and now pitted in deadly hostility,
meet and have a ^rood talk over old times, and. home scenes,
and connections. They drank together, smoked together, ap
peared on the best possible terms, though the next day they
were sure to meet in deadly conflict again.
Even some of the generals freely mixed with the men, and
seemed to view the painful sight with melancholy interest.
I saw Pat Cleburne, with that tall, meagre frame, and that
ugly scar across his lank, gloomy face, stand with a thoughtful
air, looking on the work his division had done ; for it was his
troops that defended the line of works in the centre, and com
mitted such fearful havoc on Newton's and Davis's divisions.
He looked a fit type of the lean Cassius. He was certainly to
the western army what Stonewall Jackson was to the eastern ;
and when be fell at Franklin, Hood's army had lost its ruling
spirit. An officer, speaking of this sad burial, said, " I witnessed a
strange scene yesterday in front of Davis's division. During
the burial of the dead, grouped together in seemingly fraternal
unity, were officers and men of both contending armies, who,
but five minutes before, were engaged in the work of slaughter
and death.

INTERVIEWS UNDER FLAG OF TRU£!E. 137
There were Generals Cleburne, Cheatham, Hindman, and
Money, in busy converse with a group of Federal officers, mostly
Tennessee officers, whom they had formerly known. Cheatham
looked rugged and healthy, though seemingly sad and despond
ent. He wore his fatigue dress — a blue flannel shirt, black
neck-tie, gray homespun pantaloons, and slouched, black hat.
At first he was very taciturn ; but this wearing off, he ' made
inquiries about old friends, particularly about those from
Nashville. General Mooney was less reserved. He was elegantly dressed,
as were also several other officers, who looked as if they wanted
to cut a shine on the occasion.
Captain Lee, from Columbia, broke the ice by asking Captain
Nixon, 14th Michigan, "Do you belong to Mizner's regiment
for some time stationed at Franklin and Columbia ? "
" Yes, sir ; I do."
" Then you are the man who was provost marshal ? "
" Yes, sir."
" It is well for you that we didn't get possession of that place
and you. I would have hung you ! "
" No, you wouldn't," interposed a red-haired, red-eyed major,
— Hawkins, — formerly deputy sheriff of Nashville, "for the
boys say their folks were better treated by these Michigan men
than by any troops ever stationed there."
" That's so," said Major Vaulse, of Cheatham's staff; " boys,
you have better whiskey than we have got ; " and the major
tried the ardent.
Colonel House was in charge of the burying party, and was
courteous and affable.
Under the shelter of a pine, I noticed a huge gray Kentuckian
rebel, with his arm affectionately placed around the neck of a
Federal soldier, a mere boy. The bronzed warrior cried and
laughed by turns, and then kissed the young Federal.
Attracted by such a strange proceeding, I went over to them,
and said to the veteran, " Why, you seem very much taken by
that boy ; I suppose he is some old friend of yours."
" Old friend, sir ! Why, he is my son 1 "
12*

138 Sherman's march through the south. .
" Your son? Good God ! how did it happen that you have
taken different sides ? "
" Well, sir, you see, like many other fools, I was carried
away by darn stories, at first. I was told this thing would be
over in a few weeks, and then we'd have a free country, and all
that 'ere stuff. Well, I'm darned if I believed a word of it ; but
then I had to join or kick the bucket, like more of my neigh
bors." "And your son?"
" Well, he had a kinder likin' for home ; but the d — d guer
rillas took everything his poor mother had ; so he joined you,
and is trying to support the old woman with his pay, and I fightin'
agin' him ! "
The strong man bent his head on his hands and sobbed.
" Don't, father, don't ! " said the boy, kissing him ; " I guess it
will be all over soon."
" I hope so ; I hope so, boy. We're fightin' agin' one an
other ! "
I have often witnessed scenes equally as sad and equally as
expressive of the horrors of a civil war, where father sheds the
blood of his son, and brother that of his brother.
Though I could fill volumes with tales of our pickets, and the
battle-field, I think the following was about as amusing a one
as I have witnessed.
While squads on both sides were engaged burying the dead,
two Irishmen met, who were old friends in the good days of
peace and union.
"Musha, God bliss my soul ! Jem Gleeson, is this you?"
said the rebel Irishman, dropping a body which he was drag
ging by the leg to the pit for burial, and giving the other a hug
that might do credit to a bear.
" Ar'rah, whisth ! is this yourself at all?" was Jem's reply,
returning the embrace with equal fraternity.
" By gor', it is my four bones ; but how the divil did you get
here? I thought you were safe an' sound in the ' ould dart.'"
" In .truth, I wish I was, Ned. Sure I don't know the day
I will go to some other dart. And you, my ould friend, may

A COMICAL SCENE. 139
be the one will send me there wid an ounce of lead in my
sthomach." " Be gor', that's too bad. If you could only call to me, I'd
shoot some other one in your place. But tell me, how did you
come here at all ? "
" Arrah, shure I came over the say ; and then such a lot of
frinds as I met in New York, every one persuading me I'd
make my fortune and become a gineral if I joined the army ;
and shure I thought they ought to know best ; so I took their
advice." Jem, seeing a canteen hanging by Ned's side, after exhausting
their mutual embraces, asked, " Have you got a drop of the
cretur' there ? "
" Faix, in troth, I have ; come over here beyond."
And they went and sat under a shady tree, where they had
another big shake-hands and a big talk about old times. They
drank one another's health, a health to absent friends, including
the " ould dart."
- They had quite a jollification of it ; so much so that they were
oblivious of the fact that the troops had fallen back to their
respective lines.
After a time they were seen to issue, arm in arm, from the
tree, both proceeding to our lines.
Ned's friends called out to him " to come back, or else they'd
fire on him."
"Arrah, hould your tongues," said Ned, waving his hat at
them ; " shure I must see my friend home, and then I'll go
back." When they approached our lines they stopped to have a part
ing chat and a dur a durish; and the best thing we heard was,
" Ned," from our man, " go home, now, and God purtect you ;
go like a good fellow (hie, hie, hie), and shure I have nothing
bad to say to ould Davis ; the divil isn't as bad as he is
painted ! " (hie, hie, hie.)
" That's thrue, Jem, I will ; but come wid me ; the boys will
be glad to see you (hie, hie, hie), and we'll (hie) get another
canteen (hie, hie). Come, Jem, let us go home " (hie, hie, hie).

140 Sherman's march through the south.
Ned and Jem looked at one another, then nodded, then shook
hands, and were parting, when our man turns back, and calls
out, " I say, have the boys a dhrop below?" •
" Faix, in troth they have ; and if you come down, I'll
drink ould Abe's health wid you ! "
This was too much for the other ; he couldn't refuse so hon
ored a toast ; so he was actually staggering back to join him,
when some of the men interfered, and sent each to his respec
tive command.

KENESAW MOUNTAIN. 141

CHAPTER XIII.
KENESAW. — CROSSING THE CHATTAHOOCHEE. — SHERMAN OUT
WITS AND OUTFLANKS JOHNSTON. — FIRST SIGHT OF ATLAN
TA.— CRUELTY OF THE SLAVE DEALERS. — THE STORY OF THE
NEGRO OSTIN.
Kenesaw Mountain, which will be the Waterloo of the
future tourist, and whose sides and valleys are one vast cem
etery of patriots, is made up of two high peaks, which almost
connect at their summits, and are about nine hundred feet high.
Looking at them from our lines beneath them, they have the
appearance of two immense mounds, surrounded at the base by
smaller ones, separated by fertile little valleys well adapted
to cultivation. The outline of the mountain rather curves on the
eastern side,' describing a kind of half circle, thence sloping
toward the west j where it loses itself abruptly in a small valley.
The base of the mountain is about five miles from east to west,
and about a mile in width. Its sides are covered with thick for
ests, brushwood, projecting rocks, and huge bowlders. The rebel
works around it were of the most elaborate kind, being all
protected by their high position, stakes, abatis, and chevaux de
frise in front, while traverse and salient lines shot out from their
main works. These lines of defence extended as far as the
summit, upon which were several batteries with guns located at
all commanding points, and sharpshooters ensconced behind
rocks, trees, and rifle-pits. It was impossible to take such a
position by assault.
Sherman did not remain long idle to muse over his repulses.
Finding the position too formidable to be taken by direct assault,
he resolved to outflank it. Owing to the hilly nature of the
country and the great distance from the river, this was not prac
ticable on our left. Ten days' rations were issued, and on

142 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
the night of the 1st and 2d of July, our troops cautiously
changed positions. McPherson wheeled round on the extreme
right towards Nickajack ; Gerrard's cavalry took McPherson's
place around Big Shanty and the eastern slope of Kenesaw.
Schofield was also threatening this point, while Stoneman's
cavalry were pressing on Turner's Ferry on the Chattahoo
chee. The effect of this move was instantaneous. Johnston
could not suffer us to cross the Chattahoochee, and thus head him
off from Atlanta ; so on the night of the 2d he evacuated Ken
esaw. We captured a large number of prisoners around Kene
saw, in all over two thousand. After Johnston's retreat, we
found several officers and men asleep. The 4th corps alone
captured three hundred, making in all, since the opening of the
campaign, for this one corps alone, thirteen hundred and sixty-
five prisoners. General Hazen's brigade captured a number
belonging to the 1st Georgian. Several of them came in vol
untarily, particularly the Irish and Germans. The 1st Geor
gian men stated that their regiment started nine hundred and
thirty-seven strong, and were now reduced by desertions and
the casualties of war to three hundred and thirteen. In fact,
the drain on Johnston's army had considerably reduced it, while
ours was made good by recruits. When we consider that we
had taken about eight thousand since the opening of the cam
paign, and how Johnston had been decimated by battle, desertion,
and sickness, it is evident that it was no longer the proud,
boasting army that confronted us at Kenesaw.
The army moved rapidly in pursuit. The 4th and 14th, with
two divisions of the 15th corps, followed up the centre towards
Marietta, the other columns moving on the right and left. We
struck Marietta about 8 o'clock in. the morning, the enemy rap
idly falling back in our front, making no fight, but keeping up
some skirmishing just to cover their rear. A provost guard
was immediately detailed to protect the town from plunder.
General Thomas came upon a chaplain, a hospital steward, and
some darkies pillaging a house, and at once placed the ill assort
ed lot under .arrest. Most of the inhabitants had fled, carrying
everything of value with them. Others, finding that the Yan-

MARIETTA. 143
kee barbarians were not going to destroy them, returned and
mixed with the soldiers. In the centre of the town is a splendid
hotel, which Sherman occupied as his temporary headquarters.
The military college, the court-house, the churches and private
buildings, were all spacious and of a most interesting nature.
Marietta was considered one of the prettiest and healthiest
towns in Cherokee Georgia. It is situated on an elevated plain,
and is twenty miles from Atlanta by the railroad. It has some
very good private and public buildings, is well laid out with good
spacious streets shaded by trees. The Military Academy, which
is situated on an elevation overlooking the town, is a very fine
building, and is well located, both as regards the health of the
pupils and the grounds for amusement and exercise. I am in
formed that General Sherman was at one time professor in this
institute. How little did he imagine then, when instructing his
pupils in tactics and manoeuvres, the building of forts, tangents,
intrenchments, and the like, that he would one day define these
lessons by practice around this very out of the way little town
in Northern Georgia. We found a good many of the houses
deserted. The terrible name and reputation of the Yankee had
scared the inhabitants. Those who remained appeared so terri
fied that it was painful to witness their looks. This soon wore
off, and they freely mixed with the soldiers, trading little arti
cles of barter, and talking over the stirring events transpiring
around them. Before we were an hour in the town, you would
see some wearied soldier sitting on a piazza with his rifle resting
between his knees, and he entertaining a group of interested
women and children with his adventures and campaigns. Be
side him is a bowl of milk, from which he occasionally quaffs a
deep draught by way of parenthesis. On a more fashionable
piazza, in front of a more fashionable house, some officers gayly
lounge. The young ladies of the house, rather tastefully dressed,
considering that the war has shut them in from the fashionable
world, think they have a right to enjoy their own piazza ; and
of course the officers pay all due attention to them, and they are
so surprised to find Yankee officers courteous at all, that they
enjoy the thing, soon get into good humor, and evidently become

144 Sherman's march through the south.
converts to the Union, at least to a man. Marietta had a pop
ulation of about five thousand. It had also four churches,
several hotels, schools, and stores, and was fast becoming one of
the most attractive and stirring towns io Georgia. From the
many advantages it possesses in climate, soil, and location, it is
destined to become a very important place.
When falling back, the rebels tore away the rails of some two
miles of the railroad between Big Shanty and Marietta, thus
retarding the advance of our trains.
The column halted, and rested for a few hours in Marietta,
for the day was intensely hot. We then resumed our march.
About three miles from Marietta, near Neal Dow Station, the
rebels made a stand in order to cover their rear, which was
badly pressed. Stanly's division, of the 4th corps, threw out
a heavy line of skirmishers, and also moved forward to the
front four pieces of artillery. Newton's division came up on
Stanly's left, and Wood on his extreme left. Some brisk mus
ket and artillery firing followed. The programme was, that
Schofield and McPherson were to attack on the right, while
Thomas was to make a demonstration to direct the attention
of the rebels from them while crossing Nickajack Creek, which
they were ordered to do at all hazards. Howard had so disposed
his troops as to be ready to assault the rebel advance work in
the morning, and therefore kept his artillery shelling them all
night. The morning of the 5th opened with brisk firing on both
sides, and about 11 o'clock the cannonading became furious.
Under cover of this, Stanly's division, 4th corps, in conjunction
with King's division, 14th corps, made a dashing assault and
succeeded in capturing the enemy's works. The rebels brought
up reinforcements from their main line, which were also re
pulsed. Wood's and Newton's divisions had now come up to
Stanly's support, and the rebels fell back. In this conflict,
Stanly and King lost about three hundred, among them, Colonel
William Stoughton, 11th Michigan, mortally wounded. Scho
field had met but little opposition in his front. He repulsed the
skirmish line thrown out to check his advance, and captured sev-

CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER. 145
eral prisoners. McPherson's column struck the enemy near
Nickajack Creek, and after a sharp engagement, routed them.
It was evident that Johnston only wanted time to get his
trains over the Chattahoochee, as also to take possession of the
strong line of works between Vining Station and the railroad,
bridge across the Chattahoochee. Next morning we resumed
our march, the 4th and 14th corps moving parallel, the former
along the line of railroad, the latter on the road contiguous.
Wood's division, 4th corp's, had the advance, and again encoun
tered the enemy near Vining Station. Hazen's brigade dashed
bravely forward, driving their skirmishers in confusion across
the river. The rebels barely had time tt cut loose the pontoon
and let it swing down the river, so closely was Hazen on their
heels. The Chattahoochee River is one of the largest and most im
portant in the State of Georgia. Its head springs, and those of
the Hiwassee, are in the Blue Ridge, towards the northern cor
ner of Habersham. It flows in partly a south-west direction,
and after a course of near four hundred miles, it unites with the
Flint River, thus forming the Appalachicola. It is navigable to
Columbus. It drains a large section of country. In some
places, where the country is level, it is low and marshy ; in other
places, where the lands are rolling, it is very rapid and pictur
esque. Gold has been found in considerable quantities in its
bed;, particularly towards its head waters. The water power
of the Chattahoochee and its tributaries has been turned to
practical use. We struck on several grist mills, saw mills, fac
tories, and tanneries, the most important of which was Roswell
factory, at Roswell, on Vickery's Creek. The cavalry seized
this while in full operation. It was employed making clothes
for the rebel army, and was consequently destroyed. There
were at the time about three hundred female' operators em
ployed in it, and it was feeling to witness how they wept, as
this, their only means of support, was consigned to destruc
tion. They were sent north, or wherever they chose. This
factory worked over four thousand spindles, and was certainly
the most important in this section of country. A little village
13

146 Sherman's march through the south.
called Roswell was rapidly springing up about it, comprising
several houses, a few stores, a church, and a female academy .:
The nature of the country around here is similar to that we
have passed. The surface is broken and rolling, presenting
some bold ridges and fertile valleys. The valleys of the Chat
tahoochee produce good cotton, corn, and wheat. The country
around is thinly settled, except in some locations, where the nafc-
ural fertility of the laud has induced settlers to locate. Here
little villages, or hamlets, spring up. Between Marietta and
Atlanta is a vast section of country, with but a few houses
scattered here and there. The forest yet blooms in all its
wild luxuriance, as it did some hundred years ago, when it
was the sacred hunting ground of the Indian, and resounded
with the sound of the chase or the wild war-whoop.
We occupied several important positions along. the river.
Gerrard's cavalry held the ford. He destroyed the factories
which had supplied the rebel army with cloth. A French flag
floated over one of these, but of course, under the circumstances,
it was not respected. Speaking of the owner, Sherman says,
" A neutral, surely, is no better than one of our own citizens,
and we do not allow our own citizens to fabricate cloth for hos
tile uses." General Thomas's flank now rested on the river,
near Pace's Ferry. General McPherson held the mouth
of the Nickajack Creek. Gerrard's cavalry, with New
ton's division, of the 4th corps, held Roswell, while General
Schofield moved from his position on the Landtown road on our
right, to Smyrna camp ground, near the mouth of Soap Creek,
on our left. Schofield seized Soap Creek Ferry, surprised the
guards, and captured several prisoners, and took up a strong
position on the east bank. So sudden and well-timed was Scho
field's move, that the rebels thought his troops were reenforce-
ments coming to join them by way of Decatur.
" I say, Yanks," they hallooed to our fellows across the river,
" how do ye get along there ? "
" Very well, thank you ; how do you get on? "
" Fus rate ; won't ye come over to see us? We'll give ye a
warm reception."

JOHNSTON OUTFLANKED. 147
" Well, the truth is, we have come a long ways to see you, and
you show us nothing but your backs, which, ain't very clean,
either.'' " We'll show ye something else in a few days more ; we're
waiting for reenforcements."
" And where in God's name will you get them, unless you
enlist the women ? "
" Wouldn't you like to know, Mr. Yank? Well, wait a
little." Deserters, too, told us that reenforcements were coming in.
A little time after, they found their mistake, for Schofield had
taken up a position commanding their right flank.
The army of the Tennessee wheeled round from the extreme
right to the extreme left, to follow in Schofield's track. Gen
eral Howard effected a crossing at Power's Ferry, and pontooned
the river. We had, by the 9th, a large part of our army thrown
across the Chattahoochee, above the enemy, and commanding
the roads leading to Atlanta. Johnston had intrenched himself
between Vining Station and the Chattahoochee Bridge. He also
had advance intrenchments and forts guarding the road at
Smyrna, with a tete du font at the river. The river forms a
deep curve here. Part of Johnston's army held these bends and
the bridge, while the rest guarded the fords on the eastern side.
There had been some heavy skirmishing during these move
ments, but nothing amounting to a fight. Wood's division, of
the 4th corps, moved down from Power's Ferry, along the bank
of the river, and dislodged the force there guarding Pace's
Ferry. A pontoon was immediately thrown across the river,
and the 14th corps passed over in a few hours. McPherson had
now left Johnston in quiet possession, and swung round to the
left. Thus we had our main army trains, wagons, and supplies
on the Atlanta side of the river, while Johnston was on the
other side in fancied security. Finding that his flank was turned,
and that Sherman was likely to strike direct for Atlanta, he has
tily crossed the bridge at night, destroying it after him. He had
all his trains and wagons over before. The crossing of the
Chattahoochee was one of Sherman's best movements. A less

148 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
experienced general would be likely to press Johnston in hig
works. Sherman knew the strength of these too well, and also
knew that by crossing far up on the left, and threatening a flank
advance on Atlanta, Johnston would give up his position, and
fall back to its relief.
True, such movements would not break up Johnston's army,
but it gave us a victory ; besides, Sherman and Johnston were
watching each other's movements, like two expert wrestlers, to
know who would make a slip, for they knew that to attack an
intrenched position was likely to prove a defeat.
The admirable way in which Sherman moved his army from
right to left, as if it were a single brigade or division, con
founded Johnston. To-day Schofield and McPherson were
threatening his left flank on the Sandtown road and Nickajack
Creek ; to-morrow they are operating at Roswell and Soap
Creek, several miles up, on his left ; and the first thing he
heard was, that they had crossed, and were moving down on his
flank, with the intention of cutting him off from Atlanta. So
bold and rapid was this movement, that even Johnston himself
was deceived by it, and looked upon the advancing column as a
friendly one.
Deserters and scouts informed us that the enemy were re
moving rolling stock and government property from Atlanta, and
that the utmost panic and confusion reigned there. I am sure
the roar of our cannon, as it thundered across the Chattahoochee,
hurried their work, and made many a southern heart tremble.
I can well fancy their feelings on the night of the 4th of July,
as Johnston's couriers hurried to and fro, cheering the fear-
stricken inhabitants with the news, that " the Yankees are
coming ; " and then came the booming of our cannons to con
firm it. It was a city of mourning, a city of tears and tribu
lation. General Howard had his headquarters at the house of a Mr.
Pace, after whom the ferry was named. He was a wealthy
planter, and had barely succeeded in getting himself and some
thirty negroes across the river when we came up. Behind his
house was a high hill, from the top of which Captain Morgan's

STORY OF OSTIN. 149
battery, 14th cavalry, was pelting away at the rebels beyond
the river.
From the summit of this hill we could plainly see the steeples
and houses of Atlanta ; also the smoke from the founderies in
the rear, and could almost look into the rebel intrenchments
beyond. We met a striking sight on the top of this hill — the mummy
skeleton of a soldier dangling from a tree, tied by a string of
hickory bark. In his pocket was his descriptive list and five
dollars in Confederate money. His name was T. B. Dunkin,
of some Alabama regiment. It is likely that he was some
unfortunate deserter, who hung himself. I have known men to
shoot themselves sooner than go into battle.
, Several of the men said he was a negro ; he was certainly
black enough to be one. Several other skeletons were discov
ered in the woods. It was almost impossible to know whether
they were those of white or colored people.
There is no doubt, when the negroes heard of the ap
proach of our army, they tried to make their escape to it, and
such as were caught were shot or hung. The following story
of the sufferings of a poor negro was too well authenticated for
me to doubt its truth. I give the real names of the inhuman
butchers in the tragedy. -
Near Nance's Creek, a few miles beyond the Chattahoochee,
lived a planter named Tom House. Tom had some ne
groes, and traded in their flesh by selling them out to other
planters. Among them was a very faithful hand, called Ostin,
whom he rented out to a man near Atlanta. Ostin's master
was a drunken brute, who ruled his slaves by kicks and flog
gings. Ostin, of course, came in for a liberal share of this
treatment. One evening his master came home from Atlanta in one of
his drunken fits ; he seemed to have a dislike for Ostin, for the
poor negro's piety and rectitude of life were a kind of censure
on him ; besides, Ostin, with' that privilege given by good mas
ters to their slaves, spoke to massa on the evil of his ways.
The overseer, finding that poor Ostin was in bad odor, re-
13*

150 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
ported him as keeping the hands idle by singing psalms and
the like.
" Send him to me," said the drunken master, " and I'll knock
the d— 1 out of that fellow."
Poor Ostin humbly presented himself.
" I say, you old scratch of a blasted nigger, why do you be
keeping my hands idle ? Is it for that I hired you ? "
" No, massa ; I neber keep de hands idle ; dis nigger work
like a hoss."
" Didn't Shinton tell me that you are always shouting your
blasted hymns among the hands ? "
" We only pray to the good Lord, massa, to lighten our work
here, and den take us to. glory."
" Come, you old woolly skunk, did I buy you to pray or to
work ? Now, if I hear any more of your -d — d stuff, I'll flog
the skin off your old bones."
" De Lor' says, massa, dat we can't deny him ; and dis ole
nigger won't deny the Lor' ; but dis poor nigger will work all
he can."
Why follow out the conversation between the drunken white
brute and the poor negro, whose faith was so firm in the " good
Lor' ? " Ostin returned to his cabin, and when the day's work
was over, was joined by his little congregation in a most pa
thetic hymn.
His master chanced to be passing by, and rudely broke in on
their innocent devotions, and most brutally kicked and abused
Ostin. He then tied him to a pole, and flogged him himself.
At night poor Ostin made his escape. He had a wife and child
at a Mrs. Ballinger's, near Nance's Creek. Hither poor Ostin
went. His wife opened her cabin door on hearing his well-
known knock ; he was all covered with blood and wounds.
The wife soon comprehended the matter, and clasped her hands
in. agony.
" Don't feel bad, Chloe," said poor Ostin ; " massa drunk,
don't know what he's do, an' de good Lor' tell us to forgive
those that don't know what da do."
« But he'll kill you — he bad man."

STORY OF OSTIN. 151
" No, Chloe," said Ostin, thoughtfully. " If I stay here, de
massa send me back, and he whip me to death ; they say our
savors are comin', and I go meet de Bridegroom."
Ostin had made up his mind, and no persuasion of Chloe's
could shake his resolution. So, after providing himself with a
hoecake and some food in his wallet, he took an affectionate
leave of Chloe and their little picaninny and started off.
Ostin reached the banks of the Chattahoochee before day, but
had to conceal himself in the brakes until night would come
round again. He knew the country well, and he thought that by
travelling by night and lying concealed by day, he could escape
to our lines, which were then in front of Resaca.
Poor Chloe did not sleep that night, expecting every minute
to hear the pursuit ; nor was she long kept in suspense, for
early in the morning Ostin's master, Mr. House, a planter
named Giles Humphreys, and a Mr. Wemyss, rode up to the
house, accompanied by bloodhounds. Wemyss made his living
by keeping bloodhounds for hunting down runaway negroes.
He had such a keen relish for the business, it was said he could
smell out a negro himself. With unparalleled refinement they
made Chloe give them an article of Ostin's clothing to help
the scent.
The party was joined by several young bloods and idle ne
groes, for such a hunt promised to be exciting, and created
considerable interest. Mrs.. Ballinger entered warmly into the
spirit of the thing, treated the party liberally to fire-water.
Being fully primed, off they started. The hounds soon took up
the scent, and made the woods ring with their bloodthirsty cry.
Poor Ostin heard this. It was his death knell, and as the
hounds approached him, he ran along a creek to baffle their
scent, and then lay down in the water with barely his head
above it, and screened by overhanging branches.
The dogs were put at fault for some time, but were too well
trained to the game to be thrown off the track. They ran up and
down the river several times, snuffed around, and searched every
hole and corner, all the time encouraged by the pack of human
brutes behind them, who were impatient to satiate their thirst
with blood.

152 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
After a long search they discovered poor Ostin, and dragged
him out like a drowned rat, amidst the jeers and curses oftheir
ruffianly followers.
The poor fellow appealed for mercy, showed his wounds' in
proof of how he was treated, said he would be a faithful ser
vant if Massa House would keep him himself; but poor Ostin
was appealing to hearts of stone. Several negroes had fled to
the Yankees of late ; it was necessary to make a frightful ex
ample. Ostin was tied to a tree ; his back was placed against it ;
his hands swung round it, and were pinioned to it. In this condi
tion the hounds were first let at him, to give them a taste of blood.
Here an incident occurred that showed even the bloodhound to
be capable of more kind feeling than a depraved planter.
Among the dogs was an old hound, which was a great favorite
with Ostin, who always fed and cared for it. When the other
dogs fell to tearing the poor wretch, this dog fell on them, and
was only removed with considerable difficulty. They next
lighted fires about him, but his wet clothes would not burn.
While this horrid sacrifice was going on, a woman, half
naked and frantic, bounded in among them. It was his poor
wife, who had followed the hunt, and had now come up. She
threw herself upon the maimed and lacerated victim, every
embrace only tearing open his wounds. Despite this affecting
sight, the groans of the poor, suffering wretch, and the plead
ings of his unfortunate wife, poor Ostin was made a victim
to intimidate others. The only mercy they showed him was to
suspend him from the limb of a tree. No wonder that we dis
covered skeletons in the woods ; no wonder that slavery brought
its own curse with it.
Chloe returned home, became pensive, and would not work ;
but that Christian lady, Mrs. Ballinger, sold her down in Mont
gomery, Alabama, and retained the child. It is said that this
lady kept her hand in practice by flogging some mulatto girls
she had.
It is hard to credit that any person could be guilty of such
savage cruelty ; yet I heard the story from several. In this
neighborhood was another man, named Newson, who punished

CRUELTY OF NEWSON. 153
his negroes by nailing their ears to a tree. After flogging one
negro, he tied him naked to a tree, and left him there for the
flies and mosquitos to feed on his lacerated flesh.
This man was looked upon as a monster of cruelty. His
study was how to devise new modes of torture. He took par
ticular delight in flogging his negroes himself. I must say that
such savage demons were the exceptions. I have met negroes
who seemed to be actually petted by their masters. There
were many kind, good masters, whose interest and feelings of
humanity induced them to treat their slaves with kindness ; but
there were some others, demons in human flesh, who only
wanted the power and the opportunity to gratify their hellish
passions.

154 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XIV.
OUR CAVALRY AT WORK. — HOOD REPLACES JOHNSTON. — THEIR
TACTICS COMPARED  THE BATTLE OF PEACH-TREE CREEK.—
ATLANTA SURROUNDED.
The all-absorbing interest felt in Grant's campaigns in Vir
ginia, and his movements before Richmond, for a time clouded
Sherman's stirring and brilliant campaign in Georgia. If the
importance of battles be rated by the thousands killed, we had
not so bloody, a scroll of honor to exhibit ; but if continual
fighting and incessant and exhausting marching amount to
anything, we, too, had suffered. It is true that about thirty
thousand would cover our whole loss since the opening of the
campaign until we sat down before Atlanta. That would
scarcely fill up one battle account in Virginia. I have had
some experience in marching and fighting. I have seen some
thing of the endurance of soldiers ; but I must say that Sher
man's campaign has surpassed my conception of man's capa
bility of endurance. Our march had been one scene of stirring
events and self-sacrifice, unparalleled in history.
Our wearied troops had not only to march and fight by day,
but were often disturbed from their fevered sleep on the wet
ground by the shots of the enemy and a night attack. When
repulsed, the men had to build new works and keep on the qui
vive. Yet these men, with their strong arms, stronger hearts,
and bronzed faces, were cheerful under the most trying priva
tions. True, they may have grumbled a little, now and then, when
disturbed from their sleep by the roar of the musket, or if
disappointed in their coffee, or some other of the little enjoy
ments of a soldier's life ; but then, after giving vent to their
spleen in a strong prayer or two for the Johnny Rebs, they

THE ARMY BEFORE ATLANTA. 155
would coolby fall into line, and, with stern looks and knit
brows, walk up to the cannon's mouth, not for the bubble
fame, but because it was their duty, and for the good of their
country. Though our men were pretty well exhausted when we
reached.the Chattahoochee, and much in need of some rest, the
sight of Jerusalem could not have a more inspiring effect on
the devoted pilgrim than the sight of Atlanta had on our
troops ; it seemed the long-wished-for goal, and all were eager
to rush on.
Having safely effected the crossing of the Chattahoochee,
General Sherman gave a rest of some six days to his army.
All this time was well employed in collecting stores at Alla
toona, Marietta, Vining Station, and other depots, improving
the railroads and bridges, and strengthening the guards along
our lines of communication.
Sherman now felt secure about Atlanta. Its fall was but a
matter of time.
Heretofore the operations of our cavalry were chiefly confined
to protecting our flanks, guarding our trains, and patrolling our
railroad lines.
Sherman now resolved to organize large raiding parties to
operate on the enemy!s rear and destroy their lines of commu
nication. Johnston's cavalry had made such attempts upon us with
very partial success ; and now the Mississippi Railroad, con
necting with Atlanta and Alabama, was exposed, and General
Sherman ordered General Rousseau to take command of the
large cavalry force concentrated at Decatur, Alabama.
Rousseau's force consisted of the 5th Indiana cavalry, Colonel
Tom Harrison ; 5th Iowa cavalry, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick ;
2d Kentucky cavalry, Major Eifort ; 4th Tennessee and 9th
Ohio cavalry, with two Rodman guns.
General Rousseau, commanding the district of Nashville, had
proposed to General Grant a concerted movement from Decatur
upon Selma, which he looked upon as vulnerable to a cavalry
attack. This proposition was not entertained at the time. Gen-

156 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
eral Sherman, seeing the necessity of destroying the railroad
between Montgomery, Alabama, and Columbus, Georgia, or
dered General Rousseau to make preparations for a raid on the
road between the above points, also at Opelika, the point at
which the Columbus road diverges from the Atlanta, West Point,
and Montgomery road, thus cutting off Johnston's army from
these two important sources of reenforcements and supplies.
The force thus organized numbered about two thousand five
hundred, and had about a thousand Spencer repeating rifles.
With this expedition General Rousseau started from Decatur
on the 10th, and, According to instructions, pushed rapidly south
across the Coosa River, and thence struck directly for Opelika.
In this raid Rousseau had been remarkably successful. He
encountered the rebel General Clanton and whipped him ; passed
through Talladega, struck the railroad on the 16th, twenty-five
miles west of Opelika, tore it well up, also the branch line
towards Columbus and West Point.
Having fulfilled his instructions, he returned to Marietta with
only a loss of about thirty men.
Early on the morning of the 17th we broke camp around
the Chattahoochee, and moved forward, every heart throbbing
with the hope of entering Atlanta soon.
The French, in their fatal march through Russia, did not
look out with more longing desire for Moscow than we did for
Atlanta. The 4th corps advanced on the Atlanta and Roswell road,
the 23d corps upon the Decatur and Atlanta road, with the 14th
and 23d on the Pace's Ferry and Atlanta road. McPherson's
command was on our extreme left, with instructions to direct
his course against the Augusta railroad, east of Decatur, near
Stone Mountain.
McPherson marched on a right wheel, and reached the Au
gusta road the following day, at a point seven miles east of
Decatur, and with Gerrard's cavalry and Morgan L. Smith's
division of infantry, tore up about four miles of the road.
Next evening Schofield took possession of the town of Decatur.
Wheeler's dismounted rebel cavalry were pn our front, and

SKIRMISHING WITH HOOD. 157
annoyed us from the shelter of rocks, trees, and the forest
thickness. Wheeler himself had his headquarters in a farm
house near Buckhead Creek, about six miles from Atlanta. So
close was the 4th corps pressing him, that he had only just time
to leave before our troops came up.
The day was spent in skirmishing with Wheeler's cavalry
and Hood's rear guard, for the latter general was now in com
mand. After some sharp skirmishing, Schofield succeeded in effect
ing a crossing over Peach Creek.
The 20th corps had formed a junction with the right of How
ard's corps.
Next morning General Thomas J. Wood moved out towards
Peach Creek on a reconnoissance to develop the enemy's posi
tion. He advanced two brigades beyond Buckhead, and de
ployed a heavy line of skirmishers, which soon became engaged
with the enemy.
The rebels began to intrench, but our artillery and sharp
shooters soon made them move.
General Wood, having succeeded in driving the enemy across
the creek, sent two brigades over, which succeeded in driving
the rebels from their first line of works, and holding their
position. They also captured several officers and men of the
2d Tennessee, who reported Hood's main army only a little in
their rear.
The creek was too deep and wide for any great force to cross
over. Brigadier General Hazen at once undertook the building of
the bridge, which had been destroyed by the rebels in their
retreat. General Hazen, to the cool daring of the soldier, the reflec
tive judgment of the wise general, combined a large share of
engineering skill.
While engaged personally on the bridge, his provost marshal,
Captain S. B. Eaton, was badly wounded at his side by a
sharpshooter, and Major Parkes, of the 79th Indiana, was also
wounded in the leg.

158 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Stanley effected a crossing on the left of Wood, and Hooker
on the right.
Peach Creek runs somewhat in a westerly direction, and is a
deep, turbid stream. At the point where Howard had crossed,
it is only about five miles from Atlanta.
On the morning of the 20th a general advance in the direc
tion of Atlanta was begun. By 10 o'clock the 20th corps had
reached a range of heights rising between the creek and the city,
and skirting the creek on its south bank. The 4th corps had
now occupied the centre, with Newton's division beyond the
creek, and connecting with Hooker's left, while Hooker's right
was supported by the 14th corps.
In the brilliant and desperate conflict that ensued, it was but
partially engaged. It eame up, though, in time to form a junc
tion with Williams's division, and take a part in the contest.
Before entering fully into the details of this fight, I will give
a short resume of the movements of the 20th corps the day
previous. Hood was now in command of the army. General Johnston
was removed, because he was not checking Sherman's onward
march, and because he would not engage to hold Atlanta at all
hazards. Jeff Davis had been at Macon, lately, painting the
Confederacy in a most flourishing condition. Among other
things he told his dupes that Johnston's falling back was merely
a stratagem on his part ; that when our communication would
be well cut up, he would pounce upon our army ; and that At
lanta should, and would, be kept at all hazards.
Wheeler's attempt to cut up the line in our rear gave color to
this ; and now, in order to keep up the drooping hopes of the
Confederacy, it was necessary to make a desperate blow to hold
Atlanta. And because Johnston refused to sacrifice an army
to do this, he was removed, Hood put in his place, and a new
mode of campaigning inaugurated. Johnston proved himself a
wise and prudent general, when, finding himself not able to
contend against his antagonist in the field, he was keeping his
army compact and well in hand for any opportunity that his
wily enemy should afford him. Hood was a brave man, but a

JOHNSTON AND HOOD. 159
rash one ; all his strategy lay in desperate fighting. This
might do well enough if he were superior in numbers, or had
the means of replenishing his ranks ; but with a decimated
army, and no means of replenishing it, it was certain destruc
tion. This he fully proved by his attack on Hooker on the
20th of July, on McPherson on the 22d, on Howard on the
28th, and in his insane attempt to capture Nashville, where
Thomas gave the final blow to himself and his army.
Had he followed Johnston's programme, or had Johnston
retained command of the army, he would have fallen back
toward Macon, giving us the option of garrisoning Atlanta, and
contenting ourselves with a trifling victory, or following him
up. It took about eighty thousand men to guard our lines
of communication to Atlanta. It would take about eighty
thousand more to Macon, and thus absorb our whole army.
Well, should we follow them up, could they succeed in cutting
off our supplies, we were ruined, or, should Sherman make one
mistake, such a wily general as Johnston would be sure to take
advantage of it.
Hood first weakened his army by mad assaults, and then
went on a wild-goose, chase to Nashville with what remained,
opening the road for Sherman's grand raid, which showed the
weakness of the Confederacy, and broke its backbone.
On the morning of the 19th, Geary's division, 20th corps,
was ordered to advance. Williams's and Ward's divisions were
ordered to hold themselves in readiness to follow Geary's.
General Ward had taken command of the third division,
General- Osterhaus having gone home on sick leave. The
20th corps was encamped, at this time, on the Buckhead road,
about two miles from Peach-tree Creek, and six miles due
north from Atlanta. Geary advanced to the creek, repulsing
the enemy in his front. The rebels destroyed the bridge over
the creek, which was about twenty feet wide and five feet deep.
The enemy took up a strong position on a range of hills on the
other side. After a careful survey of the position, Geary
resolved to make a crossing. He got his artillery into position,
so as to cover the crossing-

160 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH' THE SOUTH.
The pioneers having ready the materials for laying the
bridge, our artillery opened, and our sharpshooters advanced
along the creek, under cover of the fire. A hastily constructed
bridge was constructed, and Colonel Ireland rapidly threw
his brigade across, and charged the enemy's flank. The whole
division soon followed to his supportvand succeeded in taking
up a position beyond the creek. Meantime the 4th corps was
effecting a crossing at Collier's Mills, and the 14th at Howel's
MUls. On the morning of the 20th, Williams's division crossed on
the same bridge as Geary's, and Ward's farther on the left.
About 11 o'clock, Colonel Candy's brigade, Geary's division,
advanced nearly a mile across a ridge, and established a line
there. This hill was on the flank of a ridge held by the rebel
skirmishers. General Ward soon attacked their position, and met a stub
born resistance.
The 13th New York battery (Bundy's) was placed in front
of. Candy's brigade, and enfiladed the rebel lines. Colonel P.
H. Jones (now General Jones) sent out the 33d New Jersey,
under Lieutenant Colonel Furratt, to support Ward's skirmish
ers and to fortify the bill. General Geary and staff were out
reconnoitring, and soon perceived the enemy massing in column
for an assault.
The divisions and brigades were formed into line as fast as
possible. Candy's brigade occupied the advance left of Geary's line,
Jones's the right, and Ireland's in reserve. Williams's division
was on the right of Geary, Ward's on the left ; both somewhat
refused, forming a kind of semicircle, with Geary's division as
the apex.
Newton's division, of Howard's corps, had fortunately moved
to the right the night previous, in order to connect with Hooker,
and was now thrown back en echelon, his left resting on the
creek. „ They had barely time to throw up hurried breastworks
of rails in their front, and bring their artillery into position,

FIGHTING AT CLOSE QUARTERS. 161
when the enemy swept over the plain "and burst on their front,
next on Geary's front and flank, actually wedging between his
right and Williams's lines, thus swinging on his rear. Colonel
Jones at once wheeled round by brigade front, Colonel Candy
doing the same, thus exposing the enemy to a cross fire. The
fighting here was close and desperate for some time, the enemy
striving to crush Jones's and Candy's brigades, and thus pierce
our centre and double up our flanks. Our troops, on the other
hand, fully sensible of the imminent peril of the movement,
fought with desperate determination, resolved to hold their
ground until the lines could close up and support them.
Jones's noble brigade, admirably led and fought by its brave
commander, was nearly decimated, and could not hold out much
longer ; Candy's brigade, too, was fearfully thinned, when Wil
liams's left closed up on the enemy, thus placing them between
an enfilading fire. A desperate fight ensued, the troops, on both
sides, being exposed, and fighting at close quarters. At some
points it was a regular hand-to-hand conflict. Williams suc
ceeded in throwing his whole division on the enemy's flank,
which was soon compelled to give way, and was actually mowed
down while retreating over the plain to their ' works. In
this short and desperate struggle we lost some valuable officers,
among them Captain Thomas H. Elliot, adjutant general to
General Geary. Captain Elliot was a native of Philadelphia,
son to Colonel K. Elliot. He was a good officer, of splendid
executive ability, a thorough gentleman, and refined scholar.
Geary suffered much, during the war, in staff officers, all of
them being either killed or wounded. CaPtain Newcomb, of
General Williams's staff, was also killed. Several field-officers
were either killed or wounded. Among the latter were Colonel
Jackson, 134th New York, and Lieutenant Colonel Furratt,
33d New Jersey, both of whom distinguished themselves during
the engagement.
Robertson's brigade, of Williams's division, engaged the enemy
on the flank, and lost severely. It made a noble fight, stemming
the rebel advance until the rest of Williams's division came up.
Colonel Loyz, of the 141st New York, was killed, Colonel
14*

162 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
McNelty lost an arm, and the brave Colonel McGroarty, of the
61st Ohio, was shot through the shoulder.
About 4 o'clock the rebels came on in massed columns against
Newton, without skirmishers, and with fierce yells they bore
down upon his line. Newton's division had but partly com
pleted their breastwork of rails, and had barely time to fall into
line and seize their guns, before Walker's and Bates's division,
of Hardee's corps, burst right on them.
The pickets guarding the interval between the right and left
had barely time to jump into the creek and swim for their lives.
For a moment everything was in confusion. Newton's line was
extended and weak, being thrown back to guard the bridges
across the creek.
Captain Goodspeed brought up his guns with great rapidity,
and placed them in position. They opened with canister, and
poured a deadly storm on the advancing enemy. The- gunners
worked with frenzied energy, pouring the leaden storm right
into their faces, and sweeping whole lanes through their ranks.
The rebels poured volley after volley.into our line, and, though
fearfully decimated, continued to advance. Officer after officer,
color-bearer after color-bearer, line after line, went down before
the sweeping storm of canister and bullets.
At length their line began to falter and get into confusion.
We renewed our energy with a sort of frantic rage, and soon
they wavered. One volley, one cheer from our men, and the
enemy broke and fled.
General Ward's division, on Newton's right, was struck at
the same time. Ward had just halted his men at the foot of a
hill, when he discovered that the enemy were gathering in his
front, evidently with the intention of making an assault.
Ward formed into line, and the enemy soon came pouring on
him. Ward at once advanced up the hill in his front, in order
to gain the crest before the rebels. Here the two columns first
struck each other ; and as both sides fought with muskets, the
destruction of life was fearful. Ward had previously sent his
artillery to assist Newton.
In Ward's front the men fought, at some points, at close

THE BATTLE DESPERATE. 163
quarters, the contending lines actually intermingling together,
and fighting hand to hand with the bayonet and clubbed rifles.
This continued for nearly an hour, the opposing lines surging
to and fro, until at length the rebels broke for the woods, leaving
a large number of prisoners.
The rebel charge next swept along to the right, striking
Geary's and Williams's divisions, which were also exposed, not
having time to throw up any works, for the rebel assault came
by surprise.
Palmer's 14th corps was partly intrenched on Williams's left,
and considerably refused, and consequently did not suffer much
during the fight.
Ward captured six battle-flags and a large number of prison
ers, besides strewing the field in his front with killed and
wounded. The" 26th Wisconsin took the colors of the 33d
Mississippi ; the 105th Illinois captured two colors, and the
129th Blinois one. Some of our men, being out of ammunition,
emptied the dead rebels' cartridge-boxes into their own.
Colonel Harrison, 129th Illinois, and four men, captured
three officers and thirty men of the 57th Alabama.
A boy about fourteen years old, named Ed. Harvey, 70th
Indiana, captured five men, and brought them in prisoners.
This battle was very obstinately contested on both sides.
The rebels got mixed up with our lines, when a regular hand-
to-hand death-struggle ensued. As soon as we recovered from
the first surprise, and got to form our lines, we mowed the
enemy down with fearful slaughter.
The battle of the 20th was desperate and stubborn. Hooker
was in marching column, and Hood thought he would strike
him unprepared. In this he partly succeeded. A large gap
intervened between Geary's and Williams's divisions, through
which he burst with his massed troops in admirable order. Our
troops, for a moment, gave way ; but, after recovering from the
first panic, formed and wheeled about, presenting two fronts to
the rebel column, which had now wedged through them. In
this manner a double fire was brought to bear on their lines, and
the slaughter was fearful. Along the deep hollow intervening

164 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
between Geary's and Williams's division the enemy poured
along in masses, but only to be mowed down wholesale.
Robertson's brigade, of Williams's division, hastened up along
the crest of the hill, and facing by the left flank, engaged them.
Geary's right struck them on the other side, and Knipe's
brigade had formed in line on the right of Robertson and in
conjunction with the 14th corps. The enemy also poured
down upon Knipe with the same fierceness and desperation they
exhibited at the other points.
At this stage the battle raged fiercely ; the air became dark
and heavy from the sulphurous canopy of smoke which hung
over the plain. Wounded men were borne to the rear by scores,
the blood flowing from their wounds. Even those sickening
sights, and the din of musketry, and -the thundering roar of ar
tillery, did not damp the ardor of the contending heroes ; for
fresh troops bravely advanced to fill the thinning lines which
were made by some patriotic hearts, the treasured pride of
many a household, sinking, quivering, upon the earth, to fill a
soldier's grave and rend a mother's heart.
This was the first of Hood's desperate assaults around At-
lanta ; and dear was the price he paid for it, and bloody the
harvest he reaped.
In their telegrams to General Sherman, General Howard
stated that he had buried two hundred, and that there was a
large number of wounded in his front ; and Hooker reported,
" I have buried four hundred dead, and at least four thousand
wounded lie in my front."
Sherman himself estimated the rebel loss at about five thou
sand, and ours at fifteen hundred. He says, " The enemy left
on the field over five hundred dead, about one thousand wound
ed severely, seven stands of colors, and many prisoners."
I think myself the rebel loss is over-estimated. Generals,
in making their returns, are seldom under the mark ; for the
greater the loss to the enemy, the greater is their victory. I
would set down our loss at about two thousand ; the enemy's at
least double that. As they were the assaulting parties, and
exposed, their loss must be severe.

ATLANTA SURROUNDED. 165
Next day (21st July) McPherson moved forward and es
tablished a line east and south of Atlanta, and within three
miles of the town.
Blair's corps, 17th, formed the extreme left, and rested south
of the city, his left flank being within two miles of the Macon
railroad. Logan held the Decatur road, his centre resting on it, with
Dodge on his right.
Palmer, Howard, and Hooker's corps swung round to the
right, forming an irregular semicircle. Hooker's right com
manded the Chattahoochee.
The enemy's lines were adapted to ours, their left extending
to the river, and covering the roads leading to Atlanta.
Gerrard's cavalry occupied a line along the Decatur, Cross-
Keys, and Lebanon road, protecting our supplies at Roswell.
Stoneman was norijh of the river, between the Sandtown road and
Vining's Bridge. Gerrard had sent forward a squad of cavalry
in advance, which succeeded in cutting the railroad near Stone
Mountain. We could see the heavy volumes of smoke rising
from the burning of the cross-ties and station-houses.
While Hooker was engaged with the enemy, our centre also
skirmished with them. General T. J. Wood'swung round on
the Decatur road after General Stanley. Stanley soon struck
the enemy, and, after some sharp fighting, drove them back
to the rear of a Mr. Johnson's house, about four miles from
Atlanta. Here the 40th Ohio and 21st Kentucky, which had
the advanee, struck on a strong line of rebels. Stanley hurried
up his artillery, and opened on the rebels with good effect.
Schofield had now connected with Stanley on the left, and
had swung round his left towards Atlanta, timing his move
ment with McPherson's.
On the night of the 21st, Schofield's right and McPherson's
left were within less than three miles of Atlanta, so that they
could actually rain in shell upon the devoted city.
Our army now surrounded Atlanta in a horseshoe form.
McPherson's command stretched beyond the Atlanta and Au
gusta Railroad, which he had torn up, thus cutting off one

166 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
source of supplies from the enemy, and preventing them from,
falling back to Stone Mountain. Our lines were drawing
tighter and tighter around the city. It was evident that it
would soon fall, unless Hood, by any more of his dashing
assaults, could burst through our lines and compel us to retreat.
This he tried next day ; but the effect was as crushing and
disastrous to him as his attempt on Hooker.

BATTLE OF JULY. 167

CHAPTER XV.
BATTLE OF THE 22D OF JULY. — DEATH OF GENERAL MCPHER
SON.— HIS LIFE AND SERVICES.— SCENES AMONG THE DEAD
AND WOUNDED.
Hood had now been reenforced by Stephen D. Lee, with
about four thousand of the Trans-Mississippi army, and about
ten thousand militia, which he had placed to garrison the
trenches in and around Atlanta. Johnston had been removed
for not fighting his army. Hood was resolved that he would
nol; give any cause of complaint on this score, and if by any
good fortune he should succeed, he would eclipse Johnston as a
general ; besides, things were in such a desponding state, that
even in case of failure his reputation could not suffer much.
At a council of war held on the 16th, at which Jeff Davis
himself presided, and Governor Brown, Johnston, and Hood
were present, Johnston was relieved of his command, and Hood
installed in his place. Next day Johnston issued a farewell
address to the army ; this was followed by an address from
Hood, and reckless assaults on our lines. Foiled in his desper
ate attempt on Hooker, under cover of the night he moved his
army from the front of our right wing, and transferred it to
our left. He seemed to understand our position thoroughly, for
he knew that on McPherson's left was a deep, unguarded gap,
through which he could move his columns with the bold inten
tion of outflanking our army. In this he was partly successful,
and might have been fully so, only for our superior numbers and
the desperate manner in which our troops fought. This move
ment of Hood's has been very much censured by military
critics ; to me, it appears a masterly one. Had he succeeded, —
and the chances were in his favor, — he would have broken our

168 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
left wing, and then he could safely capture our immense trains,
which were parked around the Chattahoochee, and follow this
up by an attack in rear on our right, or centre, while the militia
behind the strong works in front were able to keep our advance
in check. This assault appeared to me to have more wisdom in
its design and execution, than the assault on Hooker's lines. In
the latter the advantages were on the side of our army, as
Hooker's divisions were close, and he got into position too soon
for the rebels to obtain advantage. In the attack on McPher
son they succeeded in swinging their columns on our flanks and
rear, and under"- such circumstances few troops will withstand a
charge. I have seldom known a case where troops are out
flanked and enfiladed but they lose heart and break. Men are
judged, not so much by the wisdom of their acts or counsels,
as by the result. It was so with Hood ; he failed and is exe
crated ; had he succeeded, he would have been idolized.
On the morning of the 22d, Generals Howard and Hooker,
finding that the rebels had retired from their immediate front,
followed them up close to their first line of works, and captured
several prisoners and stragglers. They then - threw out strong
lines of skirmishers, and established their batteries in good posi
tions. The rebels kept pressing on Hooker's front in order to
cloak their assault on the left. Schofield, too, considerably ad
vanced his lines, and - skirmished with the enemy. Even the
wily Sherman himself was for a time deceived by this move
ment of the enemy. He thought that Hood was so prostrated
by his defeat on the 20th, that he was going to give up Atlanta
without striking another blow for it. But Hood was simply car
rying out that bloody programme, of which his assault of the
20th was an index.
General McPherson had .moved from Decatur with the inten
tion of joining the column that was closing around Atlanta, and
marched along the line of railroad with the 15th corps, destroy
ing it as he marched. Blair's corps, the 17th, was on the left
of Logan, and Dodge's, the 16th, on his right, .and connecting
with Schofield near the Howard House.
On the evening of the 21st, Blair's corps had a sharp engage-

DEATH OF GENERAL M'PHERSON. 189
ment with the enemy for the possession of a commanding hill,
called Ball Hill, south and east of the railroad. This we suc-
N ceeded in gaining, and it gave us a most commanding range of
the very heart of the city itself. General Dodge was ordered
from right to left to occupy this position, and make it a strong
general left flank. General Dodge was in the act of moving by
a kind of by-road for this point when the enemy struck him.
After the repulse on our right, Hood hastily swung round
Hardee's corps, followed by the others, on the flank and rear of
McPherson. This hurried and unexpected movement partly
took us by surprise. Unfortunately, McPherson had no cavalry
guarding his front or flank, for Gerrard was out on a raid to
Covington, on the Augusta line, and with instructions to send
detachments to break the bridge across the Yellow and Uleau-
hatchee River, tributaries of the Ocmulgee.
At daylight on the 22d, the pickets discovered the rebel
works in their front evacuated, as the enemy had fallen back to
their main lines. Preparations were made to advance our whole
line. Schofield's corps moved up first, and began to reverse the
abandoned rebel works. There was much conjecture as to what
this movement meant. Could it be that the city was evacuated ?
Scouts and deserters reported so. Several of the latter, no
doubt, came into our lines to confirm this report.
About noon.onr troops were still moving into position, Giles ¦
A. Smith's division occupied the left of Blair's corps ; in his rear
was General Fuller ; while General Sweeny's division brought up
the extreme rear. This was fortunate, as, had they been up and
in position, there would be no troops to check the headlong
dash of Hardee's corps, as it swept around our extreme flank.
The mystery of the falling back by the rebels was soon solved,
for about 2 o'clock Hardee's corps had completely got in on
our rear. Hardee made his assault on the rear of the 17th
corps, repulsing a brigade supporting the artillery, and captur
ing the battery. When the attack was made, General McPher
son was at Howard's House, in consultation with Sherman, when
he was apprised of the attack on his lines. The heavy roll of
musketry and artillery from the left fully confirmed this report.
15

170 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
He hastily rode off, despatching his staff officers and orderlies
to different parts of the lines with commands. He rode right
for Dodge's column, in which there had been some changes
made since morning. He passed to the left and rear of Gen
eral Giles Smith's division, which was Blair's extreme left. A
gap intervened between the 16th and 17th corps, through which
the general passed. Here he fell from the fire of the rebel
sharpshooters. His wounded horse returned riderless, and the
general's dead body was recovered in the course of the evening.
As soon as General Sherman learned the sad news, he at once
despatched an aid to General John A. Logan, instructing him to
assume chief command.
The death of McPherson was kept secret. He was too much
beloved to let his army know that he was no more, at such a
critical moment. At night, when his death was known, there
was one general feeling of grief and indignation. Strong men,
who unmoved saw their comrades fall around them, wept like
children. Logan coolly assumed the command, making no display, so
as to conceal the sad bereavement from officers and men. It is
said that when the battle was fought and won, General- Sherman,
looking down on the body of the dead chieftain, exclaimed, —
" Yes, yes ; it's aU very well, if we could only restore Mc
Pherson." About noon the fight was raging fiercely. Hardee had struck
Blair's left flank, overlapping it, and swinging round until he
struck Dodge's corps in motion. The fighting was desperate in
front of the 16th corps, the line of which ran partly at right
angles to the 17th corps. Sweeny's division hastily got into
line in the following order : Colonel Rice's brigade faced to the
rear, and Colonel Mersey's southward, with Morrill's brigade,
of Fuller's division, on Mersey's right. Soon the whole rebel
column burst upon them. The 14th Ohio battery opened on
their advance, hurling the deadly storm into their faces. The col
umn halted for a moment, and then defiantly came on. The rebel
line was now overlapping Dodge's command, and threatened to
turn his flank. He ordered the 81st Ohio^ Lieutenant Colonel

PROGRESS OF A BATTLE. 171
Adams, and the 12th Illinois, Colonel Von Sellar, to charge on
the rebel flank. These regiments moved through a valley, and
wheeling round the point of a ridge, suddenly burst on the
rebel flank, slaughtering them terribly, and capturing several
prisoners and two stands of colors. Sweeny was all this time
gallantly fighting his division, stemming the advance of Hardee's
corps. Morrill's brigade impetuously charged the enemy,
driving them back to the edge of the wood, but was soon over
powered and forced to fall back ; again it crossed the bloody
field to be again repulsed, but soon rallied, advanced, and held
its position.
At the same time Rice's and Murray's brigades were fiercely
engaged with the enemy. General Sweeny knew that in a great
measure the fate of the day depended on his division ; unless he
could check the rebel advance long enough for the troops to
take up position, they would overwhelm them, flank and rear.
With true Celtic chivalry he dashed from point to point, and if
he saw any part of the lines wavering, there he was, regardless
of shot and shell, encouraging and exhorting the troops.
The attack in front of the 17th corps was steadily made and
well sustained. After heavy hand-to-hand fighting, the rebels
succeeded in doubling in on the 16th, and capturing several
pieces of artillery.
Generals Giles A. Smith's and Legget's divisions were making
a stubborn stand against the enemy, who had swarmed upon
them._ They fought in the old intrenchments, and, being at
tacked in front and rear, had to fight, now on one side, then
jump over it and fight on the other side ; the men bayoneting
one another in the very trenches.
The attack on the centre was equally obstinate. Logan's
15th corps was fighting for life. Morgan L. Smith's division
was almost decimated, and was at length forced to retire. The
enemy had captured the most of our artillery, and driven back
our lines at several points. That brave young artillerist Cap
tain De Grass sat down and wept like a child for his guns, and,
as the enemy turned them on us, he could recognize their sound
amidst the din and roar of battle, and wondered how they could

172 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
be so ungrateful as to turn upon him. The celebrated battery
of twenty-pound Parrott's, and Murray's regular battery were
all in their hands.
Things looked gloomy now. McPherson was dead, our ar
tillery captured, our troops repulsed at several points, and the
stream of bleeding men that was going to the rear told the
deadly nature of the conflict.
General Sherman, accompanied by Schofield and Howard,
occupied a prominent position near Colonel Howard's house,
from which he could superintend the whole proceedings. On a
commanding hill near, he placed a battery of the 15th corps,
and another of the 23d corps, which commanded a converging,
enfilading fire on the enemy. He then sent word to General
Logan to mass his troops in the centre and charge.
" You must retake those guns," was his peremptory order.
Logan seemed to throw his own fiery spirit into the troops. He
often rode at the heads of the columns, to make them believe
the danger was not so great. Everything being ready, Wood's
first division, 15th corps, was ordered to lead the charge.
Wood swung his right around so as to envelop the rebel rear.
The rebel column, looking upon us as completely broken.
felt surprised that we should renew the conflict. They moved
out in column to meet the assault. Our remaining artillery
now opened, the batteries near Howard's house hurling shot
and shell among them. A confiding cheer went up from our
ranks, and on they swept. The contending lines were now so
close that the artillery had to cease — one wild cheer from our
lines, one sweeping charge, the men delivering a low and
- deadly fire into the advancing rebel columns as they came on.
The enemy's line staggered, paused, and fled before that glit
tering forest of bayonets.
This was the turning-point of battle ; we charged all along
the line. The enemy were soon scattered and broken, and
flying on all sides. We recovered all our artillery, except two
pieces. Our loss in this battle was about thirty-five hundred,
all counted. The enemy's loss was at least seven thousand.
Logan buried over two thousand of the enemy's dead.

HOOD'S DESPERATION. 173
Hood seemed to be well informed as to our positions, for he
selected the only available point by which he could wheel to our
rear ; besides, he knew that McPherson's immense wagon train
was left very poorly guarded at Decatur. He did not know,
though, that Colonel Sprague — afterwards General Sprague —
had gone with' his brigade to guard it.
Hood ordered Wheeler's cavalry to make a simultaneous
attack on the train.
Colonel Sprague, with his three regiments, met Wheeler's
attack with promptness and firmness. Though Wheeler had
two divisions of cavalry, mounted and dismounted, Colonel
Sprague, with a loss of two hundred men, repulsed them and
saved the trains.
On the whole, this was one of the most desperately contested
conflicts of the campaign.
Hood, like the ruined gambler, staked all on one throw.
His plans were well and wisely laid ; he surprised the cautious
Sherman, and had he less brave troops and indefatigable generals
to contend against, he would have succeeded. It was a desperate
game ; the stakes were great, and though he lost, he played his
hand well.
The body of McPherson, as I said, was soon recovered. The
rebels either did not know his rank, or had not time to remove
him, as the lines soon after surged from that point. Two of
our skirmishers, who saw the general fall, went over to the
spot. The rebel skirmish lines were quite near. The general
was scarcely dead when they came up. He was lying on his
face and breathing heavily, but unable to speak. They turned
him on his back'; he opened his eyes, and gave one parting look
and a smile, when lie saw they were his own men, and then
expired. It was reported that the rebels stripped the body ; this is not
likely, because, if they knew his rank, they certainly would
have carried him off.
One of the two men confessed to me, " You see, sir, we
knew we hain't no chance of staying there long, as they were
fighting all round us, but we did not want to let the poor gen-
15 *

174 Sherman's march through the south.
eral get into their hands ; so, though it went sore to our hearts
to strip our noble general, we cut off his stars and buttons, so
they would not know him. We then hid, and the rebels swept
over us ; they kicked me up, and took me along. They searched
me, and found the general's things with me, which one of them
transferred to his own pocket. I watched this fellow ; he soon
got knocked over ; I gave a jump and kicked about as if I were
shot too ; so they left me there. I returned, and knowing that
the dead rebel did not want the things any longer, I took them,
and staid with the general's body until it was removed."
McPherson was a great favorite in the army. Several of his
brother generals came to bid farewell to the remains ; many
were seen to weep as they turned away ; even the stern Sher
man's eyes were not dry. A victory was dearly bought at the
sacrifice of such a man.
Sketch of Major General McPherson.
Major General James B. McPherson, United States volun
teers, and brigadier general of the regular army, was born in
Sandusky, Ohio, in November, 1828, and was consequently in
his thirty-sixth year when he was killed. He graduated at the
head of his class at West Point, and entered the regular army
with the brevet rank of second lieutenant of engineers. He
was engaged in different military capacities, both in New York
and on the Pacific coast.
In 1861, when General Halleck was ordered to the depart
ment of the west, he was selected as aid-de-camp, with the
rank of lieutenant colonel. He was chief engineer in the expe
dition against Forts Henry and Donelson, and for his services
promoted to a brevet major of engineers. He served with Gen
eral Grant during his operations in Tennessee, and until after
the battle of Shiloh. He was again promoted for his services
at Shiloh to a brevet lieutenant colonelcy of engineers. He
was soon promoted to a colonelcy, and again assigned to Gen
eral Halleck. At Corinth he again distinguished himself, and
was soon after promoted to the rank of brigadier general of
volunteers. At the battle of Luka, September, 1862, General

m'pherson's life and services. 175
McPherson held a position on the staff of General Grant, and
distinguished himself at Corinth by carrying reenforcements to
the besieged garrison in October, with the enemy intervening ;
and next day, at the head of a division, he pursued the flying
column of the foe.
For his services he was promoted to the rank of major gen
eral of volunteers, to date October 8, 1862. He commanded
the column that moved on Lagrange, under Grant, in the fall
of 1862. He next commanded an expedition into Mississippi.
His history from this time forward is a history of Grant's va
rious battles and campaigns.
He was engaged at Fort Gibson, being then in command of
the 17th corps. Under his direction the Bayou Pere was bridged
and crossed, the enemy being followed up to Jackson, Missis
sippi. He again whipped the enemy at Raymond,^ repulsed
them after a severe fight, and again whipped them at Cham
pion's Hill.
In front of Vicksburg he acted a distinguished part, both as
a general and in the employment of his splendid engineering
qualities. After the fall of Vicksburg, General Grant, in rec
ommending his various officers for promotion, says of him, after
enumerating his many battles, " He is one of the ablest engi
neers and most skilful generals. I would respectfully but ur
gently recommend his promotion to the position of brigadier
general in the regular army." This was granted, and the
Board of Honor voted him a gold medal for his gallant conduct
during the siege of Vicksburg.
In February, 1864, he commanded a wing of Sherman's
army, during the expedition from Vicksburg to Meridian. On
Sherman assuming command of the military division of the
Mississippi, General McPherson was placed in command of the
army and department of the Tennessee, embracing the 15th,
16th, and 17th army corps. He thereupon removed his head
quarters to Huntsville ; and hence he commenced his movements
in the latter end of April, 1864, taking the right of Sherman's
army in the, Georgian campaign. On the 9th of May he occu
pied Snake Creek Gap, and the next day was within a mile of

176 Sherman's march through the south.
Resaca. Again, he encountered and routed the enemy at Pow
der Springs, near Dallas, inflicting a severe loss upon them.
At Allatoona he distinguished himself; also in the several
engagements around Big Shanty and Kenesaw Mountain. His
command did a great deal of heavy marching on the Chatta
hoochee, now threatening the rebel left on Nickajack Creek,
and then, suddenly wheeling on their right, crossing the river,
moving on Decatur, and destroying the Augusta line. After
such brilliant services, he met his death, I might almost say,
accidentally, in the desperate charge Hood made on his line on
the 22d of July.
In appearance he was near six feet high, of agreeable and
engaging manners.
His eyes were dark, his hair and beard, which he wore long
and flowing, rather dark brown. He was a man of noble,
stately presence, affable and courteous to all.
Though strict in the discharge of his military duties, he was
beloved by his officers and revered by his soldiers. In his fall
his soldiers lost their friend, the country a true patriot and wise
general. In this battle I had an opportunity of witnessing how little
personal animosity men who are engaged in deadly conflict
entertain for one another, and again how the terrors of death
itself cannot allay bitter personal hatred. Ambulances, with
the blood dripping between their boards from the wounds
of the poor sufferers inside, were hurrying to the rear. The
low groans and the piercing shrieks that issued from the
vehicles, as the victims were shaken about by the wheels
getting into some deep slough, or bumping against a tree,
pierced the very marrow in my bones. A long line of these
wagons was continually hurrying from the field to the hos
pitals. In passing one of these, I was stopped by an angry alterca
tion going on inside. The ambulance was stopped, and the two
wounded men, one of whom was a rebel, the other a Federal,
were found to be engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand encounter.
We wrenched the bayonets from their hands.

SCENES AMONG THE DEAD AND WOUNDED. 177
" Shame, shame ! " I exclaimed, "for wounded men thus to
butcher one another. You should not forget you are enemies
no longer."
"Should we, indeed? " exclaimed the Federal soldier. "I
hain't forgot it, though. I hain't forgot this here scoundrel
burnt the house over my wife and children up in Tennessee ;
he may thank his stars this leg and arm are shattered, or I'd
have pinned him to the wagon here."
It was true. The man's leg and arm were broken, and had
afterwards to be amputated.
"0, you are a fine fellow," sneered the other, who could
scarcely speak from a bullet-wound through the chest. " Only
for this ugly hole in my lungs, we'd see who could crow. I am
a poor wounded prisoner now. You can do as you like, but if
we met up in Tennessee, when you were on my track with your
bloodhound, it would be different. Answell, did you not kill
my brother and my father? and why should not I look for
vengeance ? "
" If I did, it was in fair fight. There was nothing of your
d — n skulking, murdering tricks about it."
Seeing the angry feeling between the two men, and that
nothing but more blood could satisfy it, we removed one of
them to another ambulance. Behind the ambulances were the
stretcher-bearers removing the wounded from the field. The
stretchers were dripping with blood ; and as they deposited
their gory burdens, some were senseless, some speechless, others
cheerful, and conversing about the battle, treating their wounds
very lightly..
On the other hand, some who were not dangerously wounded
were limping along on their muskets, hobbling to the rear.
It was no unusual sight to see a Federal soldier kindly
leaning on the arm of a Confederate one, who was less wounded
than himself.
These men appeared on the best possible terms, and almost
wondered why they should be fighting against each other.
As one had a canteen, they took several pulls out of it, and
tnen stopped, and discussed its merits. On the whole, some of

178 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
.these appeared to be the best possible friends. I met one
stretcher carrying a very fine young rebel soldier. Beside it
was a sergeant, who, as the bearers laid down their burden,
wiped the death-damp from his brow, and gave him a drink
from his canteen.
The sergeant seemed to suffer as much agony as the mute
soldier on the stretcher. I found they were brothers from
Tennessee, and had now, for the first and last time, met in four
years. The elder brother, who was now on the stretcher, was in
business in Augusta at the breaking out of the war, and, of
course, joined the rebel army ; the other, who remained at
home, joined the Federal army. In the charge on the works,
the sergeant had shot down this young fellow, who daringly
placed the rebel colors on our works. He then recognized him
as his elder brother.
I knew another case in this fight where the father shot his
own son.
When the rebels were charging upon our lines, a young
officer at their head was conspicuous for the desperate bravery
with which he was leading on his men.
"Will one of you shoot him down? or we are undone,"
exclaimed the officer in command.
A sergeant, who was remarkable for his crack shot, took
deliberate aim, and shot the rebel officer ; his men gave
way, and we occupied the ground. The dying officer was
brought within our lines, aijd the sergeant found that he
was his only son whom he had left in business down in
Charleston at the breaking out of the war.
This was too much for the wretched father ; so in the grand
charge that soon followed, he was conspicuous, and, with a
frantic desperation, rushed right upon the enemy, and fell with
his body actually perforated with bullets.
I will relate another case, of an Irishman who came to this
country in search of a long absent brother. One was north,
the other south, and both joined the contending armies.

THE GERMAN BROTHERS. 179
The day after the battle, a flag of truce was sent out in order
to bury the dead.
Our Irish friend was among the parties detailed ; and in one
of the bodies brought for interment he discovered his long-lost
brother. Another was the case of two Germans. One of our men,
detailed for hospital duty, had a young soldier brought in to his
care, whose leg had been just amputated. The poor youth was
still delirious, and dreamed and talked of absent friends in
Rhineland. Then he commenced raving about Karl, a long
absent brother, whom his parents commissioned him to find in
America. " 0, mine Gott ! " exclaimed Karl, covering his face with his
hands, " but he is mine broder."
And it was thus they met for the first time since Karl left
the other, a prattling babe in the old home on the Rhine.
All Karl's care could not save him ; but he was conscious
before he died, and had the poor satisfaction of knowing Karl,
and having a good talk about the old folks, and the grape-
clad cottage overlooking the river. Karl heard his last sigh
breathed, and bore his last wish to those at home.
He had his body interred beneath a branching cedar, and
placed a slab at his head, to tell his name and how" he died.
This even was a satisfaction to poor Karl, for he felt that his
brother was not huddled into the common pit, where hundreds
are flung in to rot together, but had a decent grave to himself.
It is an affecting sight to witness the removal of the dead and
wounded from a battle-field, and the manner in which the
foianer are interred. In some cases, deep pits are sunk, and,
perhaps, a hundred or more bodies are flung promiscuously into
it, as if no one owned them, or cared for them.
In other cases, where the bodies had been recognized, they
were buried with some semblance of decency. I was once
riding with a column over. a battle-field, in which the skeletons
of the hastily buried dead were partly exposed.
The arm and hand of a man protruded from one of these
sunken graves.

180 Sherman's march through the south.
" Arrah, Bill," exclaimed one Irishman to another, " could
you tell me what that man has his hand up for ? "
" Faith, in troth, I don't know, if it ain't for his back pay
and bounty," was the reply.
I have often met skeletons in the woods, with the bones
stretched out, and the old rotten knapsacks under the heads,
and the remnants of the clothes still clinging around the bones.
These were poor fellows who got wounded in the heat of
battle, and retired to the shelter of the forest. Here they lay ;
and not being discovered, and being unable to get away, they
died, inch by inch, for carrion birds to pick their bodies. What
must be the suffering of these poor fellows, with their festering
wounds, crawling with maggots, without a hand to tend them,
without a drop of water to cool their parched lips, with the
ravens and turkey-buzzards croaking around them, watching,
until they would be too helpless to defend themselves, to pounce
on them, and pluck out their eyes, or drag the quivering flesh
from their frames.
I have seen others; particularly at the battle of Chancellors-
ville, who fell, wounded, out in the woods, and who were
burned up when the woods took fire, and whom we could not
assist, as the rebel skirmishers and sharpshooters took down
every man who dared to put out his head.
Their shrieks and groans, as they writhed in the fiery furnace,
still ring in my ears.

DEFENCES OF ATLANTA. 181

CHAPTER XVI.
UNSUCCESSFUL CAVALRY RAIDS OF McCOOK AND STONEMAN—
CHANGE OF COMMANDERS. — HOWARD'S APPOINTMENT AND
HOOKER'S RESIGNATION. — THE BATTLE OF PROCTOR'S CREEK.
Hood's attempt on our left being frustrated, he fell back to
his inner line of works, while our lines tightened upon him at
all points. The works around Atlanta were of the most for
midable nature.
Deep lines of intrenchments, with forts and gabions, pro
tected by palisades, chevaux-de-frise, and pits, in their front,
faced us on all sides. In these were several sallying-points,
from which the skirmishers and sharpshooters could deploy.
Sherman too well comprehended the impossibility of taking
such works by assault ; so he devised a new plan of action. He
issued an order to the army of the Tennessee to be ready to
vacate its line, and to shift by the right flank below Proctor's
Creek, and move to our extreme right.
At the same time Generals Schofield and Thomas extended
their line towards the Augusta road.
Sherman's intentions were to swing the army to the rear of
Hood, so as to operate on the East Point road. At the same
time he .had in operation a great cavalry raid on the enemy's
rear. To General Stoneman he gave the command of his own
and General Gerrard's cavalry, making an effective force of
about five thousand men ; and to General McCook he assigned
the command of the cavalry returned by Rousseau, under com
mand of Colonel Harrison, and the 8th Indiana cavalry, mak
ing an aggregate of four thousand, or a total of about nine
thousand cavalry.
With these two formidable bodies, which were to act in
16

182 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
concert, — Stoneman to the left of Atlanta, by McDonough Sta
tion, and McCook on Fayetteville, — he expected to whip
Wheeler's cavalry, and destroy the remaining routes to Atlanta
by railroad. General Stoneman requested permission to be
allowed to proceed to Macon and Anderson to release the Fed
eral prisoners confined in those prisons. Sherman left this at
his own discretion, in case he felt he was able to do so after the
defeat of Wheeler's cavalry, but, at the same time, allowing
Gerrard? s cavalry to fall back in time to cover his flank.
Both cavalry expeditions started at the same time, and both
proved more or less a failure. McCook succeeded in returning
with his command, but with a heavy loss of both men and ma
terial. Stoneman had the most of his command cut up or
captured, while he himself remained a prisoner in the hands
of the enemy.
Before I proceed with the siege of Atlanta, I will give a
short account of those two expeditions, as they form an im
portant part of the campaign.
McCook' s Cavalry Raid.
On the morning of the 27th July, General McCook broke
camp at Mason's Seminary, near Sweetwater Town, on the
Chattahoochee. His command consisted of two brigades, com
manded by Colonel Cloxton and Lieutenant Colonel Torrey, and
also Colonel Harrison's command, which had lately returned
from Rousseau's raid, and comprised the 8th Indiana, 2d Ken
tucky, 5th Iowa, 4th Tennessee, and 9th Ohio.
McCook crossed Sweetwater on the main road leading to
Villaricka. After meeting some slight resistance in crossing the Chatta
hoochee, the command moved on two parallels for Palmetto,
skirmishing with Armstrong's brigade all the way.
At Palmetto they tore up about two miles of the railroad,
and burned about fifty railroad cars, a large supply of commis
sary stores, and over five hundred bales of cotton.
They next struck for Lovejoy, over nasty broken roads and
a very densely wooded country. On the morning of the 29th

m 'cook's raid. 183
they surprised a large baggage train, and burned about one
hundred and fifty wagons, and shot about six hundred mules.
Generals Hardee, Loring, and Stewart's headquarter wagons
were among the lot.
They next struck Fayetteville, where they captured over four
hundred men and officers, and thence marched for Lovejoy, on
the Macon line, destroying about two miles of the track and
telegraph wire.
According to the programme laid down by Sherman, Stone
man and McCook were to form a junction on the night of July
28th, on the Macon road, near Lovejoy, and effectually de
stroy it.
McCook now found that a large cavalry force intervened be
tween himself and Stoneman, while another force was pressing
on his rear, thus preventing the possibility of a junction ; so he
had to wheel by the flank for Newman.
Near Lovejoy, the 8th Iowa became engaged with the ene
my, and was soon supported by the whole brigade. Kelly's
rebel brigade had encountered them, and a sharp fight ensued,
with little advantage at either side.
McCook crossed the Flint River, near Whitewater Creek,
without opposition, though the enemy was all the time hanging
on his flank and rear. Near Glen Grove, the 4th Kentucky,
which formed the rear guard, and was commanded by Lieuten
ant Colonel Kelly, was attacked by two brigades of cavalry, and
after making a desperate stand, was repulsed with considerable
loss. The main body was all this time too hotly pressed
to come to their relief. Early next morning, August 1, the
advance struck Newman, but was there confronted with Roddy's
command, of about one thousand infantry, to which command
he had been lately transferred. These were on their way to
Atlanta, to reenforce Hood, and took up a position commanding
the main road, along which McCook was marching. The rebel
cavalry were now pressing McCook on all sides, with Roddy
blocking up his advance — rather his retreat. The 2d Kentucky
were deployed to open the road to the left of the town, so as to
allow the main body to swing round on Roddy's flank, and

184 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
force a passage towards the river. Major Starr commanded
this brilliant, destructive, but successful charge. After cutting
through Roddy's lines, they were confronted by a new bine, of
dismounted cavaby. Captain Mitchell, of McCook's staff, here
came up with reenforcements, and both combined charged on
the second line, and, after repeated assaults and repulses, suc
ceeded in breaking it. The second brigade had now formed
line in advance, and encountered an assault of the enemy,
which was sustained with desperate force, both by their mounted
and dismounted cavalry.
General McCook, finding himself sorely pressed, ordered his
ambulances and prisoners into a valley, under cover. The 8th
Iowa made here another charge, but, not being supported, were
mostly all captured. In their former charge they captured
Brigadier General Ross.
The enemy had now almost encircled McCook, who, seeing
his desperate situation, threw forward a heavy line of dis
mounted skirmishers, supported by mounted men, and a section
of artillery.
Our batteries opened a heavy fire of canister on the rebels,
checking their advance.
A desperate assault, headed by Colonel Harrison, and Gen
eral McCook's staff, was now made, which succeeded in repuls
ing the enemy ; but, unfortunately, the brave Colonel Harrison
fell into their hands.
The enemy soon rallied, and swept down upon our front.
General McCook ordered the 2d Indiana cavalry to meet the
charge, which they did with good effect.
The enemy were closing in their circle, and McCook, finding
there was no other way of escape but by cutting his way
through, spiked his guns, released his prisoners, abandoned his
wagons and ambulances, and rallied his command for one final
charge. It was gallantly made and desperately sustained ; but though
hundreds fell, the main part succeeded in cutting their way
through and through.
McCook, with his shattered command, succeeded in crossing

stoneman's RAID. 185
the Chattahoochee, near Bushy Creek, and reached Marietta
on the 3d of August, with about sixteen hundred men.
Large squads came in for days afterwards ; but numbers,
including one whole regiment, had been picked up by the enemy.
Stoneman's Raid.
Major General Stoneman started from Decatur on the morn
ing of the 27th July, with the following forces : —
First brigade, commanded by Colonel Adams ; the second
brigade, comprising the 5ih and 6th Indiana, Colonel Biddle ;
the 14th Illinois, 8th Michigan, and McLonghlan's Ohio squad
ron, formed the third brigade, commanded by Colonel Capron.
The command took the Georgia Railroad, towards Coving
ton, thence south by Monticello, capturing a large number of
horses, and about three hundred negroes, whom they mounted
on the prizes. At Macon a battalion of the 14th Illinois made
a dash on a station called Gordon, near the Oconee River,
destroying eleven locomotives and several trains loaded with
quartermasters' and commissary stores.
When near Macon, General Stoneman learned that all the
prisoners had been sent to Charleston the day previous, and the
garrison considerably reenforced. Up to this he had encoun
tered very little resistance, but now he found a strong garrison
in his front, with cavalry wheeling on his flank and rear.
Stoneman sent out heavy skirmish lines to develop the enemy's
strength, but soon encountered General Iverson's cavalry in
force. This was between Clinton and Hillsborough, and about fifteen
miles from Macon.
The countiy around here was very unfavorable for cavalry
operations, and he soon found Allan's brigade of infantry had
wheeled on his flank, and taken up position on the main road,
thus cutting off his retreat.
Armstrong's brigade of cavalry, comprising the 1st and 2d
Kentucky, had wheeled in on his left flank, thus completely
hemming him in. The 1st and 2d Kentucky, of Adams's bri
gade, encountered their rebel namesakes, and both fought with
16*

188 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
all the desperation of contending soldiers, embittered by personal
animosities. Stoneman now dismounted some of his troops,
who repeatedly charged the enemy in front, but were each time
repulsed. A panic seemed to seize the troops on all sides.
They were rallied by Stoneman and staff, who charged at their
head, but were driven back in disorder. Soon the enemy dashed
on his flanks, while the infantry and a battery kept sweeping
the lines in front.
Despite the example and exhortations of their officers, the
men refused to charge. Major Keogh, of Stoneman's staff,
dashed in front, trying to rally the men ; and having partially
succeeded, went right upon the enemy, but was met by a deri
sive cheer and sweeping fire.
He was soon deserted, except by some officers. This small,
Spartan band swept down upon the enemy, and for a moment
appeared successful ; but many a saddle having been emptied,
the gallant few returned, among whom was their brave leader,
Major Keogh.
The enemy were now sweeping the lines on all sides with
artillery, infantry, and cavalry. The led horses broke loose,
and the frightened negroes rushed frantically about, adding con
siderably to the confusion.
Stoneman now ordered all the commanders to rally their
troops, and cut their way through as well as they could ; as for
himself, he was resolved on surrendering. Several remonstrated,
Stating there was yet a chance of making their escape ; . but
he could not be prevailed on to do so. Major Keogh and sev
eral more refused to abandon him, though they saw a prospect
of escape.
Colonel Adams and his brigade made an escape almost
intact. Colonel Capron's brigade also made its escape, but
halted at night, and overpowered by sleep and fatigue, and, I
fear, by something stronger, too, they slept so soundly that they
only awoke in the morning to the clangor and clash of arms.
They had neither sentries, pickets, nor patroles out ; or, if
they had, they slept so soundly that they did not feel the rebel
cavalry sweeping over them.

FAILURE OF STONEMAN'S RAID. 187
One scene of wild confusion followed ; men jumped from
their sleep and rubbed their eyes, but were soon cleft down,
while others awoke in the other world. The majority of the
brigade was-either captured or slain ; only a small portion made
their escape. It is said that General Stoneman sat down on a
tree and wept.
This raid had proved a great failure, McCook succeeded
in doing material injury to the enemy, and, though surrounded,
cutting his way through, saving the most of his command.
Stoneman appeared to have got into a perfect trap, while his
men became unmanageable.
Indeed, some accounts state that they imbibed too freely
the apple-jack and peach brandy with which the citizens lib
erally supplied them.
Somehow there appeared to be a want of cooperation among
the different raiding parties that started under such favorable
auspices ; the only one that succeeded effectually being that of
Rousseau, who went out on his own responsibility. There was
to be a joint cooperation between McCook, Stoneman, and
Gerrard. McCook owed his safety to desperate fighting. General
Gerrard moved to Flat Rock, to cover Stoneman's movement to
McDonough. Here Stoneman was to join him ; but he wheeled
off towards Covington, and Gerrard had to return. Thus the
three columns were isolated, and afforded an easy prey to the
enemy, who seemed perfectly aware of our movements, and
was fully prepared to meet them.
Since the fight of the 22d, no important movements took
place in Atlanta. The usual daily amount of skirmishing and
artillery firing continued. We had pushed our works quite
close to the rebels at several points, and had got our lines pretty
well around Atlanta. Hood must have been considerably weak
ened after his late assaults on our lines. The battles of the
20th and 22d fully proved our superiority over the rebels in
fair, open fight. Though, in both cases, they took us partly by
surprise, unprotected by defensive works of any amount, which
gave them a decided advantage in the beginning of the fight,

188 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
yet they were ultimately repulsed with wholesale slaughter.
Had we got such an advantage over them, we would have
broken through their lines, crushed in their flanks, and swept
them before us. '
In the mountain regions, jungles, and defiles, through which
we had passed, their natural strongholds, aided by formidable
works, enabled them to annoy and often to repulse our advancing
columns ; but here the tables were turned. Hood was forced
to come out of his intrenchments and fight us on open ground,
or give us the chance of doing, what we ultimately did, namely,
wheel round to our right and destroy the only running line of
communication he had open.
About this time some important changes were made in com
manders. Major General O. O. Howard was appointed to the
command of the army of the Tennessee, in place of the lamented
General McPherson.
General Howard had seen much service, both in the army of
the Potomac and in the western armies. He served all through
the peninsular campaign, and lost his right arm at Fair Oaks.
He also commanded at Antietam, Chancellorsville, and Gettys
burg. Since his transfer to the western army, he served through
all its trying campaigns, and confirmed his high reputation as a
brave and efficient general. He succeeded General Granger in the
command of the 4th corps, and served with Sherman all through
the desperate and protracted campaign from Chattanooga, in
which his noble corps took a leading part, hanging fiercely on
the enemy's rear in their retreat from Rocky Face Ridge to
Resaca. General Howard is not only a cautious general, but
also a thorough patriot and practical soldier. Kind and cour
teous to all, his orders are obeyed with alacrity, while his
Christian example has had a most salutary effect on his com
mand. General Joe Hooker, feeling slighted at Howard's appoint
ment, who was his junior, resigned.
There is but one opinion regarding Hooker while serving in
the western armies. No man could do better. His gallant
corps, the ^Oth, distinguished itself in the present campaign, and

CHANGE OF COMMANDERS. 189
has suffered fearfully. Since the day it stormed the granite
heights of Lookout Mountain, until it hurled back the rebel
tide at Peach-tree Creek, it knew no rest. His men were
devotedly attached to him, and actually wept when he left.
The command of the 4th corps now devolved on Major Gen
eral Stanly, a well-tried and efficient officer. Stanly was
best known as a cavalry officer ; in this branch he had few su
periors. He distinguished himself with the 4th corps in its
many fights, and commanded that corps at the despeTate battle
of Franklin, where he got wounded through the neck.
Major General Slocum was appointed to the command of the
20th corps. General Slocum was then in Vicksburg, in the
capture of which city he took a prominent part.
General Slocum's reputation was best known in conjunction
with the old 12th corps, which he commanded in many a
stubborn battle in Virginia and Maryland. His services in the
west, though of recent date, had so far won the admiration of
General Sherman that he at once had him appointed to the
command of the 20th corps. General Williams was now com
manding the corps in his absence.
General Palmer also resigned the command of the 14th
corps, and General Jefferson C. Davis was promoted to that
command. General Davis was a dashing officer ; but his unfortunate
affair with the hectoring bully Nelson seemed to retard his
career. The Augusta line was now thoroughly broken up for miles,
cross-ties burned, and rails bent in all kinds of fantastic shapes.
There was no danger that it could be replaced, and Sherman's
object was to extend his right flank, so as to command the
Macon line, on the western side of Atlanta.
The army of the Tennessee broke camp on our extreme
left flank on the night of the 26th, and noiselessly marched
around our lines to the extreme right, to operate on the Macon
and Atlanta Railroad. Schofield now refused the left of his
line, and Kirby's and Taylor's brigades of the 4th corps took
up position on his extreme left, partly en -echelon, occupying the

190 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
old line of rebel works, thus preventing all chances of a flank
movement by the enemy on that point.
0 n the morning of the 2 7th Maj or General Howard received his
appointment as commander of the department of the Tennessee,
and, accompanied by his personal staff and his brother Colonel
Howard, who had served beside him from the first Bull Run
battle to the present time, proceeded to take charge of his new
command, now in line of march, and make preparations for the
coming battle, which appeared imminent.
Dodge's corps alone arrived in time to take up position on
the evening- of the 27th. General Howard, in person, located
them on the right, and considerably in advance of the 14th
corps, which had formed our extreme right. Early next
morning Blair took position on the right ofthe 16th corps, thus
extending our line within a few miles of the Macon line.
Logan took position on the right of Blair, but so refused as to
cover the right flank and prevent a repetition of the 22d.
Davis's old division of the 14th corps was expected up to cover
the right flank, but did not arrive in time.
Howard's line now was something in the shape of a horse
shoe, with the toe to the enemy, and resting on a wooded ridge
with partly open fields in front. Howard,, finding the enemy
making demonstrations, and fearing that they would strike him
before he got into -position, had to move cautiously until he
occupied the hill, which he at once intrenched.
A rebel battery was all this time playing on his advance.
General Logan was ordered to capture this. Logan threw for
ward his skirmish lines, and his sharpshooters soon silenced the
guns ; he also soon brought a battery to bear on that point.
General Howard, finding the rebels massing in his front,
with the evident intention of trying his flank, sent out his escort
as vedettes, for he had no cavalry, to watch the enemy's move
ments. About 10 o'clock he went to the right to reconnoitre,
and try to ascertain the point where the enemy were likely to
assault. On his right was an open plain, which his artillery
commanded ; so he felt satisfied they could not charge over that.
Soon after the enemy, in massed columns, burst on Logan's

REPULSE OF THE REBELS. 191
front. Two regiments, which Logan had sent out to capture
the guns, were first struck, and fell back to the main lines.
This encouraged the enemy to follow up the assault at this
point. General Howard ordered up his reserve to support
Logan, and prolong his right for fear of being turned.
The attack on Logan was fierce and heavy. One continual
fire of musketry and artillery ran along his line. The enemy,.
though repeatedly repulsed, still continued to charge upon his
lines, where they were literally mowed down ; some being bay
oneted, others clubbed.
After every assault they fell back, leaving in our hands tro
phies, such as colors captured, officers, and men. This desperate -
conflict continued, with slight intermission, from 11 to near 4.
The muskets of the troops got foul several times from the rapid
firing, and regiment after regiment, brigade after brigade, and
division after division, had to be replaced.
After sustaining several heavy repulses, and being severely
cut up and exhausted, the rebels fell back, leaving their dead
and wounded, several stands of colors, and a large number of
prisoners in our hands. General Logan handled his troops
admirably, behaving with great gallantry, and exposing himself
to the enemy's fire. After the battle, as he and General How
ard were riding along the lines, they were received with loud
cheers. The attack was chiefly confined to Logan's corps. Blair and
Dodge were only partially engaged, just enough to cause a di
version in favor of Logan. The heaviest fighting was along the
Lick Skillet road, which was occupied by Stewart's. and Lee's
corps. Our loss, all counted, was calculated at about one thou
sand. The rebel loss I should set down as over three thousand.
Among their wounded were Lieutenant Generals Stewart
and Loring, also Brigadier Generals Rector, Sphral, Brown,
and Walthall.

192 Sherman's march through the south.

CHAPTER XVII.
SHELLING ATLANTA— A SCOUT'S EXPERIENCE OF HANGING. -
THE LADY MAJOR.
While Howard's engagement was raging on our right, a
vigorous demonstration was taking place along our lines ; the
artillery had opened with shot and shell upon the city. Our
skirmishers pressed on the enemy's at various points. Indeed,
the skirmishing in front of the 4th corps swelled almost into
the magnitude of a battle.
Major General Stanly brought his artillery into position,
and kept up a warm fire.
General Thomas J. Wood's division captured the rifle-pits
in his front, one line of works, and about fifty prisoners.
From several points along the lines we could plainly see
the doomed city, with the smoke of burning houses and bursting
shells enveloping it in one black canopy, hanging over it like a
funeral pall.
The scene at night was sublimely grand and terrific ! The
din of artillery rang on the night air. In front of General
Geary's headquarters was a prominent hill, from which we had
a splendid view of the tragedy enacting before us. One night
I sat there with the general and staff, and several other officers,
while a group of men sat near us enjoying the scene, and spec
ulating on the effects of the shells. It was a lovely, still night,
with the stars twinkling in the sky. The lights from the camp-
fires along the hills and valleys, and from amidst the trees,
glimmered like the gas-lights of a city in the distance. We
could see the dark forms reclining around them, and mark the
solemn tread of the sentinel on his beat. A rattle of musketry
rang from some point along the line. It was a false alarm.

ATLANTA SHELLED. 193
The men for a moment listened, and then renewed their song
and revelry, which was for a while interrupted. The song, and
music, and laughter floated to our ears from the city of camps,
that dotted the country all round.
Sherman had lately ordered from Chattanooga a battery of
four and a half inch rifles, and these were trying their metal
on the city.
Several batteries, forts, and bastions joined in the fierce cho
rus. Shells flew from the batteries, up through the air, whiz
zing and shrieking, until they reached a point over the devoted
city, when down they went, hurling the fragments, and leaving
in their train a balloon-shaped cloud of smoke. From right,
and left, and centre flew these dread missiles, all converging
towards the city. From our commanding position we could see
the flash from the guns, then the shells, with their burning fuses,
hurtling through the air like flying meteors.
" I hain't no objection to be out of that 'ere place," said a
soldier in the group near us, who were also intently looking on.
" Rather hot, I guess," said another.
"A little too much so to be healthy, I reckon," was the
response. " What matter whether one is killed there or here ? We must
all die when our time comes," said a fatalist.
" I have no objection to wait for my time, and not go meet
it half ways," said the general's cook.
"You," said a patriot, with disdain, "you don't feel that it
is sweet to die for one's country."
" Be gor, then, as fpr myself, I'd sooner live for my country,
any day, than die for it," replied a wit from the Emerald Isle.
"Where is the difference?" replied the fatalist, who also ap
peared to be something of a deist, " we are all born to die ;
and must die ; death is but a sleep, a rest. What does it mat
ter whether we sleep to-night or twenty years hence ? We can't
die until our time comes."
" Then you think that we will all die at a certain time? "
" Certainly," replied the fatalist, gravely.
" Bosh ! then do you mean to tell me that all the men that
17

194 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
have been killed in this war would' die, had they remained at
home?" " Certainly not ; but the war was made for them, or, rather,
they for the war ; so they could not avoid it ; it i3 all fate."
" By George, I believe you're right," said another ; " at the
battle of Resaca my musket dropped out of my hand, and I
stooped to pick it up, and a cannon ball came over my head,
killing the two men behind me."
" All chance ; nothing more."
This philosophical conversation might have continued much
longer, had not a dark volume of smoke shot up from the city
in one vast spiral column ; and then came a dead, heavy, rum
bling report. One of the arsenals was blown up by a shell.
This was followed by a fierce fire, which shot up, almost simul
taneously, in different points. A cheer came from our batteries,
and was taken up along the whole line.
" War is a cruelty," said the general beside me ; " we know
not how many innocents are now suffering in this miserable city.''
" I'm dog gone if I like it," said a soldier, slapping his
brawny hand upon his thigh ; " I can fight my weight of rattle
snakes, scaramouches, or sneaking rebels ; but this thing of
smoking out women and children, darn me if it's fair."
" Psha ! " exclaimed an orderly near us, on whom the general
placed great reliance as a scout, and who went through some
hair-breadth escapes ; " the women are the worst of them ; one
of them put the rope once on my neck to hang me."
" Indeed ! how was that, Bentley?"
" At the battle of Peach-tree Creek I got captured, and was
brought before General Hood to be pumped ; and as he could
not get anything out of me, he had ordered me back to the other
prisoners, when an officer, attended by an escort, rode up and
saluted the general.
"'Ha! Mademoiselle Major, how do you do?' replied the
general, doffing his hat.
" ' Well, general ; ' and she jumped off her horse, throwing
the bridle to her orderly, and politely returned the salute.
" The she-major was strangely dressed ; she wore a cap

THE LADY MAJOR. 195
decked with feathers and gold lace, flowing pants, with a full
kind of velvet coat coming just below her hips, and fastened
with a rich crimson sash, and partly open at the bosom.
" In her belt she carried a revolver, and by her side a regula
tion sword. I looked at her ; her features were rather sun
burned, giving her a manly appearance. Only for her voluptuous
bust, little hands, and peculiar airs, I might have taken her to
bo a very handsome little officer of the masculine gender.
" As I gazed at her, she looked full into my face ; and turning
to the general, she pointed her whip at me, and asked, ' Who
is that fellow, general ? '
" ' A prisoner that has just come in — a dunce ; I couldn't get
a word out of him.'
" * Indeed, general, that is a spy ; ' and she again pointed her
whip at me.
'" O, no ; he is only just brought in captured.'
" ' That may be ; but he is a spy. I saw him at General
Johnston's, one day, and he was full of lying information, which
cost the general many a life.'
'"Is that so ? ' said the general.
" ' On my honor ; come here, Hartly ; ' and she called over
her orderly. ' Did you ever see that man before ? '
" ' Yes, Mademoiselle Major.'
"'Where?' '"At General Johnston's, where he was giving information
as a scout.'
" ' What have you to say to all this, my man?' said the gen
eral. " I had nothing to say, for it was true.
" ' What shall I do with him ; shall I hang him?' said the
general. " ' Give him to me,' said she, with a sweet smile ; ' I am going
to General Johnston's ; it might be well to take him there.'
" ' I make you a present of him,' said the general.
"After spending some time with the general in the tent, she
came out, and placing me between herself and her orderly, rode
off. When she came into the wood, she and her orderly alighted,

196 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
and she pulled out from under her dress a strong, but fine,
rope. " ' Sneaking dog of a Yankee ! ' she exclaimed, looking at
me with a vengeful eye, ' you hung the only man I ever loved ;
I swore I'd have vengeance. I have had it ; but I have it
doubly now, by giving you a similar death.'
" My hands, all this time, were firmly tied, so I was power
less. While the orderly stood with a pistol before me, she tied
the rope firmly around my neck, giving it several good pulls, to
make sure it was all right. They then helped me to get up on
the saddle of one of the horses, so as to have a fall, while the
orderly proceeded up the tree to tie the rope to a limb.
" Now was my time. While the orderly was climbing, I
flung my two hands across the rope, and snatched it from him,
jumped into the saddle, and drove my heels furiously into the
horse's side, which made him plunge and rear. She held him
bravely with one hand, while pulling out her pistol with the
other. Before she could fire, I got a chance, and struck her
with my heavy boot right in the face, spoiling her beauty, and
giving the dentist a job. She fell. The horse bounded off with
me, and I escaped.
" After that, I believe I would swear against women in gen
eral, had not a woman saved my life in return.
" I could not get off the mule chain with which she fastened
my hands, though I tugged until the blood was oozing out of
them, and my teeth filed almost to the gums. The cord, too,
was so firmly tied to my neck that I could not get rid of it.
There I was, like a half-strangled whelp, with all my creden
tials about me. I had no control over my horse ; so, fearing
that he would take me back to the rebel lines, I slipped from
him, and skulked away as well as I could. I got into a little
by-road, and thought I would venture up to a shanty where I
saw some nigger children playing around the door. They ran
in, frightened, when they saw my hands tied, and I trailing my
rope. " I followed them in, when — heavens, how I shook 1 — there
were two rebel soldiers, drinking some whiskey.

THE COMPASSIONATE LADY. 197
"'Hilloo!' said one, 'here is a d — d Yank, that cheated
the gallows ; well, I hain't against a man settling his accounts ;
so we'll take care of him until he gets another swing.'
" They questioned me, and taunted me with brutal jeers and
laughs. " At length they took me away ; and not having enough of
whiskey to get there, they called to another house for more.
To make the more sure of me, they locked me into a dark room
without any window, so that I could not possibly escape, while
they were enjoying their debauch.
" For a time I heard the drunken soldiers, noisy, and sing
ing ; and then they evidently had fallen asleep, for I heard
their loud snores.
" It was now a bit into the night. I presumed they had
made up their minds to remain where they were ; so I threw
myself down, and tried to sleep. Though death stared me in
the face, I had fallen into a sound slumber, when I felt myself
gently shook by the shoulder. I looked up, saying, ' I'm
ready ; ' but instead of the two drunken soldiers, a gentle young
woman stood over me, with a shaded light in her hands.
" ' Make no noise," she whispered, ' but get up.' I looked
at her as I sat up. She took a knife and cut the cord from my
neck, and then tried to open the chain.
" ' Your poor hands are all torn,' said she, compassionately,
as she unloosed the bloody chain.
'"Alas! yes,' said I; 'but Why do you try to save me?'
" ' Because I am a woman, and true to the instincts of a
woman, which is to save and not to kill. Poor boy ! some sis
ter or mother would fret for you. If you should ever meet one
in such a situation, do as much for him. Now go, but very
quietly.' " ' But you ! will they hurt you ? '
" ' No, no. I know them ; it would not do for them to quar
rel with me ; follow me.'
" I glided through the kitchen ; the two rebels were sleeping
beside the fire. I passed out, then imprinted a grateful kiss
upon my deliverer's cheek, fled, and got into camp next day."
17*

198 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XVIII.
THE SIEGE CONTINUED. — SHARPSHOOTERS FRATERNIZING. — A
MILITARY GAME OF CHESS BETWEEN SHERMAN AND HOOD.—
SHERMAN WINS THE GAME, AND ATLANTA TOO. — CAVALRY
RAIDS OF KILPATRICK AND WHEELER. — THE DECISIVE BAT
TLE OF JONESBORO'. — ATLANTA OCCUPIED BY OUR TROOPS.
In the beginning of August, the fighting around Atlanta had
settled down to a regular siege. Every day had its skirMish-
ing, its artillery duels, and an assault and repulse. Like another
Troy, the enemy fought outside their walls and intrenchments,
and many an amusing combat took place, particularly between
the skirmishers. I have often seen a rebel and a Federal soldier
making right for the same rifle-pit, their friends on both sides
loudly cheering them on. As they would not have time to fight,
they reserved their fire until they got into the pit, when woe betide
the laggard, for the other was sure to pop him as soon as he got
into cover. Sometimes they got in together, and then came the
tug of war ; for they fought for possession with their bayonets
and closed fists. In some cases, however, they made a truce,
and took joint possession of it.
It was no unusual thing to see our pickets and skirmishers
enjoying themselves very comfortably with the rebels, drinking
bad whiskey, smoking and chewing worse tobacco, and trading
coffee and other little articles. The rebels had no coffee, and our
men plenty, while the rebels had plenty of whiskey ; so they
very soon came to an understanding. It was strange to see
these men, who had been just pitted in deadly conflict, trading,
and bantering, and chatting, as if they were the best friends in
the world. They discussed a battle with the same gusto they
would a cock-fight, or horse-race, and made inquiries about their

TRADE BETWEEN YANKEES AND REBELS. 199
friends, as to who was killed, and who not, in the respective
armies. Friends that have been separated for years have met
in this way. Brothers who parted to try their fortune have often
met on the picket Hne, or on the battle-field. I once met a Ger
man soldier with the head of a dying rebel on his lap. The
stern veteran was weeping, whilst the "boy on his knee looked
pityingly into his face. They were speaking in German, and
from my poor knowledge of the language, all I could make out
was, that they were brothers ; that the elder had come out here
several years before ; the younger followed him, and being in
formed that he was in Macon, he went in search of him, and
got conscripted ; while the elder brother, who was in the north
all the time, joined our army. The young boy was scarcely
twenty, with light hair, and a soft, fair complexion. The pallor
of death was on his brow, and the blood was flowing from his
breast, and gurgled in his throat and mouth, which the other
wiped away with his handkerchief. When he could speak, the
dying youth's conversation was of the old home in Germany, of
his brothers and sisters, -and dear father and mother, who were
never to see him again.
In those improvised truces, the best possible faith was observed
by the men. These truces were brought about chiefly in the fol
lowing manner. A rebel, who was heartily tired of his crippled
position in his pit, would call out, "I say, Yank ! "
" Well, Johnny Reb," would echo from another hole or tree.
" I'm going to put out my head ; don't shoot."
" WeU, I won't."
The reb would pop up his head ; the Yank would do the same.
" Hain't you got any coffee, Johnny?"
" Na'r a bit, but plenty of rot-gut." ,
" All right ; we'll have a trade."
They would meet, while several others would follow the ex
ample, until there would be a regular bartering mart established.
In some cases the men would come to know each other so well,
that they would often call out, —
" Look out, reb ; we're going to shoot," or, " Look out, Yank,
we're going to shoot," as the case may be.

200 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
On one occasion the men were holding a friendly reunion of
this sort, when a rebel major came down in a great fury, and
ordered the men back. As they were going back, he ordered
them to fire on the Federals. They refused, as they had made
a truce. The major swore and stormed, and in his rage he
snatched the gun from one of the men, and fired at a Federal
soldier, wounding him. A cry of execration at such a breach
of faith rose from all the men, and they called out, " Yanks, -
we couldn't help it." At night these men deserted into our lines,
assigning as a reason, that they could not with honor serve any
longer in an army that thus violated private truces.
After their late bloody repulses, the rebels -seemed to lose
heart altogether, and the desertions were very numerous. While
on the Chattahoochee, a camp of rebel conscripts on the Hen-
dersonsville road, seven miles from Atlanta, was abandoned, and
nearly five hundred of them came into our lines.
As I have said before, we had now settled down to a regular
siege, pounding away at the beleaguered city on every side. Hood
had his intrenchments and forts garrisoned with militia, conva
lescents, and some worthless conscripts, and had kept the
veteran troops on hand to operate when required ; they, having
the arc of a circle to act on, could hurriedly move from point
to point.
Our heavy shelling was regularly replied to by the enemy,
who revealed some heavy guns. I weighed one projectile ; it
weighed sixty-four pounds. It had plunged in among our tents at
General Thomas J. Wood's headquarters, but fortunately did not
burst, but made a regular fuss and a scare, kicking up a whole
lot of puddle ; in fact, conducting itself like a miniature vol
cano. General Sherman, finding that the right of the anny of the
Tennessee did not extend to the Western Railroad, ordered
General Schofield to shift from the extreme left to the right, and
General Gerrard's cavalry to take up Schofield's place. Next
he ordered the 14th corps to follow, and move in on the extreme
right, below Utoy Creek. The aim of these movements was
to get possession of the railroad between Atlanta and East Point.

MILITARY GAME OF CHESS. 201
This accomplished, Atlanta should fall. Right before us, within
a few miles of our lines, almost within reach of our guns., runs
this great life artery of the rebel city. Once cut this jugular
vein, and Atlanta speedily falls. Sherman knew this well, and
therefore turned all his attention to it ; the rebels knew it well,
and therefore were exceedingly vigilant and active to resist all
our attempts upon it. They left their strong works to be guard
ed by the militia and conscripts, and followed up our move
ments with tho utmost promptness and daring. It was evident
now that the battle would not come off before Atlanta. Per
haps Sherman could take it by direct assault ; but we had learned
that assaults were always costly, even when successful. Sher
man was cautious and wary, pushing his skirmishers everywhere,
beating all bushes, and suspicious nooks and dells. Hood, on the
other hand, was watchful to counteract any movement of his wily
foe. It was a great game of chess. Hood had castled, and
Sherman moved to checkmate him. This had continued so
long that we were getting tired of it ; so the indication of a
new move on Sherman's part was hailed with delight. It ap
peared now that his tactics were to bring corps after corps from
the left to the right wing, in the hopes that the rebels would
draw off their forces from the city to oppose us, and thus leave
it open to attack on the north. But they, having the inner line,
and having been considerably reenforced, continued to keep their
wprks strongly garrisoned, and also to confront us at every ad
vance we made on their flank. Hood also seemed perfectly
conscious of all our movements, for when we threw a corps
with the greatest celerity on their flank, he hurried heavy masses
of troops to confront them. Their scouts must have been clev
erer than ours, or they were able to fathom our movements
through the tangled woods and ravines of the country.
On the 3d of August, General Schofield, having gained the
north side of Utoy Creek, prepared to make a lodgment there.
The creek is a deep, narrow channel, running east and west,
four miles south of Atlanta.. The banks of the creek are very
steep, and their sides are tangled with vines and bushes. Hob-
son's brigade, of Hascall's division, deployed, throwing their

202 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
flanks across the creek ; they soon became masters of the bridge,
capturing a captain and his whole command.
Had Schofield been supported next day by the 14th corps, he
certainly would have succeeded in getting in on the railroad, as
the rebeb had not yet taken up position, or intrenched them
selves. But two days were lost in a squabble about precedency
which gave the enemy full time to understand our move, and
counteract it.
General Palmer was ordered to report to General Schofield,
while acting in concert with him. This he refused to do, and
consequently the delay. It appears that Schofield was his
junior ; but a battle-field is no place to settle points of eti
quette. However, we had few such squabbles, as we were too
far from Washington for intriguing generals to flourish.
Palmer resigned, and Jeff C. Davis took the command ; and
on the morning of the 6th, the 23d corps wheeled to the right
of the 14th, in order to attack the enemy's flank, and thus
uncover the Macon line.
On the previous day General Reilley's brigade attempted to
force the rebel lines, and, after a stubborn fight, were repulsed,
with considerable loss.
Cox's division opened the attack early in the forenoon, and
was supported by the 2d divisions of the 14th corps, and
succeeded in establishing a line almost at right angles with
the creek.
A heavy-skirmish line was then thrown out in the centre, com
manded by Lieutenant Colonel Mott, 12th Kentucky, and charged
through a dense wood, though filled with rebel skirmishers,
driving them from their pits in fine style ; but they were soon
forced to retreat, as a heavy line opened upon them, and the
rebels, charging over their works, pursued them.
The 8th Tennessee, having got too far in advance, was sur
rounded, and mostly captured, with their colors.
The 2d division sustained the 3d, and also lost heavily, with
out effecting any material injury on the enemy.
We had gained no advantage at any point. We simply held
the creek, with our right reaching within three miles of East
Point, and about two miles from the railroad.

kilpatrick's RAID. 203
After the fight, the 23d corps held a position nearly at right
angles with the 14th corps, and facing southward, the 2d division
slightly refused to protect the flank, and rested upon a strong
and easily defensible ridge.
Our works now in front of Atlanta were formidable, and held
by very light lines. Indeed, they might be said to be impreg
nable. The same might be said of the rebel works confronting
us. We were thus far fairly matched.
On the 16th of August, General Sherman drew up his pro
gramme for the grand flank movement on the right, in order to
command the western line, and thus control the supplies of the
city. This was to commence on the 28th. This movement
contemplated the withdrawal of the 20th corps to the intrenched
positions around the Chattahoochee Bridge, and the march of
the main army to the West Point Railroad, near Fairbom,
and afterwards to the Macon road, near Jonesboro', to start
with fifteen days' provisions.
A larhe force of almost seven thousand cavalry, had wheeled
on our rear in order to cut off our -supplies, and was operating
near Adairsville, and had succeeded in capturing about eight
hundred head of cattle.
This movement induced Sherman to suspend the execution
of his plan.
He ordered General Kilpatrick, who had lately returned,
recovered* from his wounds, to collect all the cavalry he could,
and move on West Point and Fairbom, and there break the
railroad, and thence proceed to Macon. He could the easier
do this, as Wheeler was raiding upon the Chattanooga line.
Kilpatrick's Paid.
His forces comprised the 3d division of cavalry, over two
thousand strong, and Minty's and Long's brigades, of the
2d cavalry division, about the same strength.
Colonel Minty, in the absence of General Gerrard, com
manded the 2d division.
The expedition started on the 18th of August for their
rendezvous at Sandtown.

204 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Colonel Minty broke camp, and made Sandtown, under
shelter of the darkness, in order to cloak the movement from
the enemy.
To show how well informed the rebels were of all our
movements, a letter was captured on the 20th, dated the 18th,
giving Hood full particulars about the movement, its destination,
and the force engaged.
Minty arrived at Sandtown on the morning of the 19th,
reported to General Kilpatrick. and received his orders. At
night, the whole command, numbering five thousand men,
started forward, striking for the West Point Railroad, near
Fairbom. The rebel General Ross encountered the 3d division, and
checked its advance. Minty and Long moved to the front, and *
slowly drove the enemy back on Flint River. Here the
destruction of the bridge and depth of the stream checked our
advance ; besides Ross's and Ferguson's brigades were drawn
up in line on the other side.
Our artillery at once hurried up, and with the dismounted
skirmishers, soon cleared the bank, and our troops crossed
over. Minty hurried on to Jonesboro', a town on the Macon Rail
road, twenty miles south of Atlanta, the 4th Michigan covering
his front as skirmishers.
"" The rebels fell back to the shelter of the houses, from which
they opened a sharp fire on Minty's advance. Minty brought
up his artillery ; but the rebels vacated the houses, mounted,
and rode away.
Minty charged after them into the town. The third division
quickly came up, and commenced destroying all rebel property,
the depot, and some railroad stock. While so engaged, Ross
and Ferguson, who had been reenforced by some infantry from
Atlanta, at this time were forming south of them. Kilpatrick
moved east, towards Lovejoy Station, with the purpose of
destroying the railroad.
As we were leaving Jonesboro', more infantry came in
from Griffin. Next morning, the enemy followed us up.

kilpatrick's raid. 205
The 4th Michigan, having struck the railroad, commenced
tearing it up ; the 4th regulars were sent out to support them. ,
Before they could get into line, a brigade of infantry pounced
down upon them, sweeping over them, killing, wounding, and
capturing the most of those engaged in burning the tracks.
Long's brigade immediately came up, with artillery, and re
pulsed the rebels.
While engaged with the infantry, the rebel cavalry, compris
ing Ross's and Ferguson's brigades, swept down on our flanks.
Minty's brigade hastily formed on the right of the road. The
3d brigade formed in the same manner on the left of the road.
Kilpatrick was now completely surrounded. There was no
means of escape, but a sharp sabre, brave heart, and strong
arm. Minty was ordered to charge.
At the words, "Attention! forward! charge!" away went
his brigade, followed by a host of darkies, on pack-mules, who,
with kettles and pans rattling, and darkies flying for dear life,
almost made the scene ludicrous as well as grand.
On came Minty and his troops. The rebels were drawn up
behind a hastily constructed barricade. They met them with
a scattered fire, but, being unable to withstand the charge,
broke, followed by Minty's men, who cut them down by whole
sale on the retreat.
This gallant charge of Minty's brigade gave Kilpatrick time
to collect and form his scattered troops. It also deterred the
enemy from trying to bar his passage.
Minty's men captured three stands of colors, the 4th United
States two, and the 4th Michigan one. Minty had his horse
shot under him. The 3d division now struck for the McDon-
ough road. Long's brigade soon came into collision with
a brigade of Cleburne's division, and was repulsed. General
Long was here wounded. Kilpatrick now made the best of his
way back, and reached Cotton River on the night of tbe 21st,
where he bivouacked until next morning.
Thence he moved forward by South River, over which the
bridge was destroyed ; so he had to swim it, losing one man,
18

206 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
several animals, and some wagons. They reached Lithonia on
the following day, and on the next reached camp in rear pf our
infantry lines.
This raid was more brilliant than successful, effecting little
real good. As for the portion of the railroad they succeeded in
destroying, it could be repaired in one day.
Wheeler's Raids.
Hood, being repulsed in all his assaults, sent Wheeler's
cavalry to operate on Sherman's lines of communication.
Wheeler moved on our flank, with the intention of tapping
the Chattanooga line as far as possible from Sherman's main
army. Wheeler's first attempt was on Daiton, which had
a garrison of only four hundred men, commanded by Colonel
Seibold, who, in reply to Wheeler's letter demanding a surren
der, returned the following soldierly reply : —
I have been placed here to defend the post, but not to
surrender it. B. Seibold, Commanding United States forces.
Wheeler made a bold attack, his men swarming into the town,
and would have succeeded in crushing the little garrison, had
not Major General Steedman come to his rescue.
The garrison rallied out to support Steedman, and, joined by
Colonel Morgan's 14th United States colored troops, charged
on the enemy, soon clearing them out.
Wheeler had torn up some miles of the track near Calhoun,
and captured about fifteen hundred head of cattle, the most of
which were retaken, or stampeded.
He next moved round towards Cleveland, with the expecta
tion of destroying the Knoxville line, but was again met by
General Steedman, near Graysville, and well whipped. The
rebel cavalry was now divided into raiding parties, operating
on our communications at various points.
Major General Steedman commanded the district of Chatta
nooga, and rendered the most efficient services by keeping the

WHEELER'S MOVEMENTS. 207
line open, and sending forward troops to the different points
threatened, thus frustrating Wheeler's raiding assaults.
Wherever Wheeler threatened in force, there he was sure to
encounter Steedman in person, and to get well whipped to boot.
These important movements of Steedman's culminated in the
successful part he took in Thomas's great battle of Nashville,
where his troops were the first to strike Hood's flank, turn it,
and thus materially contribute to that crowning victory.
Though Steedman was reckoned one of our fighting generals,
his promptitude and exertions proved him also to be one of our
thinking generals.
The government fully appreciated his services, and placed
Major General Steedman in command of one of the most
important of the southern departments.
Rousseau's cavalry also contributed to frustrate the designs
of Wheeler and Morgan, and to restore our communications,
which, for a time, were interrupted.
We now come to Sherman's crowning victory — to that
great strategic movement which confounded Hood, and placed
Atlanta in our hands.
The works which Johnston had built around Atlanta, during
his slow but masterly retreat, were of the most formidable
character and strength. It was truly a city of intrenchments
and fortifications.
For some time it became apparent to Sherman that he could
not take them by direct assault, and also that the Western Rail
road was too well guarded to be effectually destroyed by cavalry
raids, or casual attempts.
On the other hand, it would take, at least, two hundred
thousand men to completely invest the place so as to prevent
sallies and cut off all communications, as the trenches were
garrisoned by old men, militia, conscripts, and mere boys, who
would do very well behind works, but would prove an encum
brance in the field.
Sherman's purpose now was to deprive Hood of this strength,
and the protection of his works, by compelling him to take the

208 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
field, or suffer his supplies to be totally cut off. Hood, then,
had no alternative. He should come out' and fight ; and in a
regular battle, the chances were largely in favor of our veteran
troops. In order to prevent Hood from falling back on our communi
cations, the 20th corps was to guard the Chattahoochee Bridge ;
and being strongly intrenched, there, it was capable of resisting
any attempt of Hood's in that quarter. This apparent retreat
of Sherman's was one of the most masterly movements of the
war, and was, for a few days, heralded forth to the world by
the rebel press, as a disastrous rout, attributable to the weak
ness of Sherman's army, and the injury inflicted by the raiders.
Our Flank Movement, and Battle of Jonesboro'.
The commanders of the armies of the Ohio, Cumberland, and
Tennessee, by orders from General Sherman, had sent across the
Chattahoochee River all surplus supplies, — wagons, horses, and
material not absolutely necessary for the expedition, — and had
loaded their best wagons with sufficient quantities of bread,
meat, sugar, coffee, and other necessaries, to last fifteen days,
and a good supply of ammunition.
These trains were quietly made up near Utoy Creek, in the
rear of the right of the main army.
General Kilpatrick moved to Carp Creek, while Schofield
covered the Campbelltown road.
General Slocum, who had now arrived from Vicksburg, and
assumed command of the 20th corps, occupied the works
around the Chattahoochee, with instructions to hold them at
all hazards ; also, to guard the packed trains, and the pontoons
across the river, as well as the depot at Vining's Bridge, and
Marietta. All dispositions having been made, on the night of the 25th of
August, General Stanly, commanding the 4th corps, moved from
the works on our extreme left, leaving a light skirmish line and
cavalry pickets to cover the movement. He wheeled to the rear
of our lines, south of Proctor Creek, touching on Utoy Creek,
and behind the right centre of the army of the Tennessee.

BATTLE OF JONESBORO'. 209
Gerrard's cavalry followed up, and took position behind
Peach-tree Creek, in order to cover our movements and check
the enemy, should they attack our rear.
General Howard followed, crossing Utoy Creek, and moving
by the most direct road towards Fairborn, halting at Carp
Creek. Thomas massed the 4th and 14th corps below Utoy Creek.
Schofield's command moved parallel with Howard's.
From Carp Creek, General Howard moved the army of the
Tennessee, in conjunction with Schofield's army of the Ohio,
directly for the West Point Railroad, in the direction of Fair-
born, Kilpatrick's cavalry heading his advance.
General Thomas's army followed in two columns, well
closed up.
Gerrard's cavalry brought up the rear, and had some light
skirmishing with the enemy. Our vast trains were well
guarded, and kept under cover as much as possible.
Thus, on the 30th, Sherman's army occupied the following
positions : —
Howard, on the right of the line, crossed the West Point
Railroad, near Fairborn, and then pushed forward in an oblique
direction for Jonesboro' ; Schofield moved in a more direct
line, crossing near Red Oak, for Rough-and-Ready Station, on
the Macon line ; Thomas, with the army of the Cumberland,
moved into the centre, filling up the gap between Schofield on
the left and Howard on the right. This gave our lines an
extension of about twelve miles.
Since Kilpatrick's raid, Hood had intrenched a corps of
troops around Jonesboro'. The remainder of his army was
at Atlanta. Sherman was, therefore, right between his two
armies. Hood was now at Atlanta himself, and looking on Sherman's
evacuation as a retreat, he sent a detachment of cavalry to
reconnoitre, which soon struck against Slocum, and got well
beaten. The citizens all rushed out to see our abandoned works, and
congratulated one another on their supposed victory. Rifle-pits,
18*

210 Sherman's march through the south.
intrenchments, and old camps were eagerly examined and
souvenirs brought home.
How short-lived was their joy ! It was but a new version of
the deluded Trojans and the wooden horse.
Hood soon awoke from his fancied victory, but it was too late.
Howard found the enemy in force at Jonesboro', and at
once intrenched himself, extending a salient angle within a mile
of the railroad.
Schofield and Stanly struck the railroad some five miles be
yond the East Point Junction.
At about 4 o'clock in the afternoon the rebels attacked How
ard's position. Their chief assault was on the 2d division, 15th
corps, now commanded by Brigadier General Hazen.
This officer formerly commanded a brigade in the 4th corps,
but in the translation of Major General Howard to the com
mand of the army of the Tennessee, he, knowing his worth
and great military acquirements, got him transferred to his
command, and assigned him to a division. He fully justified
his expectations, and, for his brilliant assault on Fort Pulaski,
was made major general.
Hazen's division met the assault with firmness, repulsed the
enemy, and took possession of a hill which commanded Jones
boro', and might be justly called the key of the position.
On this hill Hazen rested for the night, the other divisions
being on his right and left. The 16th corps, somewhat retired,
formed on the extreme right, and the 17th corps on Hazen's
left. The enemy lost sorely in men and officers in their attack
on the 15 th corps.
In Hazen's front alone the dead and wounded were actually
piled on one another. Hazen captured two flags and several
prisoners. Next morning, the 1st September, the 14th corps, under
General Davis, marched along the Macon line, destroying the
track for several miles, and about 4 o'clock took up position on
the left of the 15th corps, which was drawn up in line of battle.
The 14th corps was ordered to assault the enemy's intrenched
position. Cavalry and infantry steadily advanced, under a surg-

battle of jonesboro'. 211
ing fire of musketry and artillery. They had to cross a corn
field, then a deep ravine, and strike up a slope to the enemy's
works. The 14th corps stood the ordeal well ; swept over the
valley, charged right on the works, where a regular hand-to-
hand conflict ensued, which lasted for nearly two hours, but
finally terminated by our men gaining the works and capturing
two batteries. They turned these guns upon the flying rebels,
mowing them down by wholesale.
One of these batteries was Loomas's celebrated battery of
five guns, which had been taken from us at Chickamauga.
They also captured another battery of four' guns, several
battle-flags, and a large number of prisoners, including many
general officers, thus swelling our list of prisoners captured in
the expedition to about two thousand. General Govan and his
adjutant general were among the prisoners, General Cummings
among the dead.
It was now night. Our troops had closed around the town
to renew the attack in the morning.
During the night the enemy, finding it impossible to hold
Jonesboro', retreated along the Macon road in a southerly di
rection, and took up a position at Lovejoy's Station, seven miles
from Jonesboro', and twenty-nine miles from Atlanta. Here
they hastily intrenched themselves. Early next morning Sher
man ordered a rapid pursuit, and towards noon General T. J.
Wood, of the 4th corps, reached their new position, and gal
lantly assaulted it. General Wood was shot in the foot, but
refused to leave the field.
Sherman, finding that he could not prevent a junction between
S. D. Lee and Stewart's corps, issued orders to fall back to At
lanta, which was now occupied by Major General Slocum.
As soon as Hood discovered Sherman's real object, he at once
saw that his position was untenable ; and on the night of the
1st September he blew up all the magazines and ammunition,
destroyed all the supplies he could not remove, comprising eight
locomotives, and near one hundred cars laden with ammunition,
small arms, and stores, and then retreated. Next morning
General Slocum sent forward detachments from Ward's, Geary's,
and Williams's divisions on a reconnoissance.

212 Sherman's march through the south.
On advancing near the city they met no resistance. Finally,
observing that it was evacuated, they entered it about 11 o'clock,
on the morning of September 2, 1864. They were met outside
by a deputation, comprising the mayor, Mr. Calhoun, the high
sheriff, and some of the most respectable citizens, who made a
formal surrender of the city to General Ward, simply making
the following request : —
Brigadier General Ward, 3d Division, 20th A. C.
Sir : The fortune of war has placed the city of Atlanta in
your hands. As Mayor of this city I ask protection for non-
combatants and private property.
James M. Calhoun,
Mayor of Atlanta.
General Slocum arrived soon after, and took formal posses
sion of the town. A large share of government property, four
engines, and fourteen pieces of heavy artillery, fell into our
hands.

FEDERAL OCCUPATION OF ATLANTA. 213

CHAPTER XIX.
ATLANTA OURS. — SHERMAN'S ENTRANCE  FEELING OF THE
CITIZENS. — SKETCH OF THE CITY.— BURIED ALIVE IN A BOMB
PROOF. — THE CITIZENS SENT NORTH AND SOUTH. — AN INHU
MAN FIEND.
Atlanta was now in our hands, the crowning point of Sher
man's great campaign. Hood had been outgeneralled, out
manoeuvred, and outflanked, and was now trying to concentrate
his scattered army. On the night of the 1st, when the rebel
army was vacating, the stampede was frightful to those en
gaged, but grandly ludicrous to casual spectators.
Even war has its laughable scenes amidst all its horrors, and
the retreat from Atlanta was an illustration of that. Convey
ances were bought at fabulous sums, and when all were
crowded, those who could not procure any — men, women, and
children, old and young — followed the procession, bearing bun
dles of all contents and sizes. The delicate drawing-room miss,
that could never venture half a mile on foot, with her venerable
parents, now marched out, joining the solemn procession. Con
fusion and disorder prevailed in every place, considerably in
creased by the eighty loads of ammunition now blowing up.
Shrieking, hissing shells rushed into the air, as if a thousand
guns were firing off together. We plainly heard the noise at
Jonesboro'. How terrifying must it be to the trembling,
affrighted fugitives, who rushed to and fro, and believed, with
every report, that the Yankees were upon them — to slay,
ravage, and destroy them.
But yesterday, they had exulfingly gazed upon our abandoned
works ; to-night, how changed !
I had left Jonesboro' on the morning of the 2d, and being
provided with an escort of cavalry, through the kindness of

214 Sherman's march through the south.
General Gerrard, I started for Atlanta. There was no com
munication opened, as yet, between Sherman's army and At
lanta ; and as deserters and militia squads were along the
roads, the attempt was rather hazardous, and was attended
with some amusing incidents. We had twenty-one miles to
ride over an enemy's country. At one point a horseman came
out of the woods into the main road, and, seeing us, dashed off
at a fearful rate. Two men went in pursuit, and not being able
to overtake him, fired on him, which brought him to.
He turned out to be a full-blooded negro. I have never seen
such a scared animal in all my life. He could scarcely speak
when we came up ; but there he was, with his mouth and eyes
opened to their fullest extent, and the latter looking as if they
would roll out of his head.
" Have courage, man ; we are not going to kill you."
" O, massa, me done nothing, massa ; spare dis nigger,

massa

i"

He found it a great relief when we were not going to eat
him, and became quite communicative.
As we parted from him, one of the boys fell in love with his
horse, which was a fine animal, and borrowed him. I expect
he forgot to return him.
The people knew nothing of what had taken place ; they
thought that General Hood was yet in Atlanta, and it was
ludicrous to witness their terror when the Yankee cavalry
hailed them, and told them how things stood.
Two of the men, who were dressed in butternut jackets, rode
up to a house in search of refreshments. A lady was inside,
and they asked for something to eat and drink.
" Why, you scamps, you're worse than the Yanks ; you won't
leave we'ns a bit or a sup in the house. You'ns have taken
everything I have."
"O, well, get us something now, and we won't call any
more." " Won't you'ns ? Often you've said that. I wish the Yanks
come and cleared you'ns out."
"Well, madam, you have got your prayer; we are the
Yankee cavalry."

FEMININE LIP LOYALTY. 215
" Git out ; you'ns not."
" Come here ; " and he took her to the door, and pointed out
the men drawn up on the road.
" O, laws me, but you'ns are ; " and she clapped her hands
together, and nearly went into a fit with fright.
We called into another house, and asked for some bread and
milk, which the lady brought down. She was a very garrulous
old lady, and had a little too much lip loyalty to be sincere.
"We'ns are so glad to see you'ns, gentlemen; and if my
Johnny was here, he'd be so glad ! Eat enough, gentlemen.
Didn't you'ns ever hear of my Johnny ? "
" No, madam."
" Dear me, dear me ; I thought every one knew Johnny
McGowan. I wish you could see Johnny ; he'd be so glad to
see you."
" Is Johnny a rebel, madam? "
" O, dear me, gracious, no ; my Johnny is one of the best
boys in the country ; he wouldn't hurt a fly. O, gracious, no ;
Johnny wouldn't fire a shot for the life of him, for fear of hurt
ing any one."
"Where is he now, madam?"
" Gracious me, I don't know ; I think he is looking for
you'ns critters to help ye."
All this time some of the men were making a tour of inspec
tion about the rooms, and one of them telegraphed to me from
the door. I went with him into a room. The beds looked as
if they had been just slept in ; and on turning down the cov
erlets we exposed a little arsenal of rifles and small arms.
"Madam," said I, "what brought all these firearms here?"
" O, gracious me, you'ns won't mind them ; Johnny is such
a sportsman ; he's never tired shooting. Dear me, if you knew
my Johnny — I wished he was here."
" I wish so, too, madam ; and for fear he'd injure himself
shooting, we'll break these guns ; and when we are passing this
way again, we'll bring this Nimrod a small field-piece."
" O, dear, how kind ! and if you'ns let me know when you
are coming, we'ns will have dinner ready."

216 Sherman's march through the south.
We so fully appreciated her generosity that we took two fine
mules, and, not thinking the place very healthy, took our leave.
We reached Atlanta about nightfall. As we approached the
city, troops were drawn up before us, not knowing but we were
rebel cavalry. We floated a white handkerchief, and soon
joined old comrades, and were received with loud cheers, which
were redoubled when we told them all about the victory at
Jonesboro'. I at once went to report events to General Slocum, for we
were the first to reach Atlanta from Sherman's army.
Next morning Sherman resolved to retire to the defences of
Atlanta, there to give his wearied army time to recuperate,
after its unparalleled campaign of four months' marching and
fighting. His own entry was without parade or ostentation — no beat
ing of drums, no flaunting of colors, no firing of salutes, to
humble the pride of the conquered.
Sherman and staff, accompanied by several general officers,
simply rode through to his headquarters. There was not even
a shout or huzza to welcome him.
The citizens looked out from their doors and windows, eager
to catch a glance of the man whose name had now become so
famous. The soldiers lined the sidewalks, quietly looked on,
and passed their own remarks on " Old Billy."
Officers, mounted on prancing steeds, looked far more con
sequential than the great conqueror himself, and cast their eyes
from window to balcony to see if any fair eyes were admiring
their gracious selves.
The fair eyes had fled, and those remaining would fain wither
them with their basilisk glances.
Sketch of Atlanta.
Atlanta has acquired much importance as the great objective
point of Sherman's campaign through Northern Georgia, and
on account of the trying siege it withstood, and the desperate
conflicts that raged outside its walls.
It is a new city, that has sprung up in the desert. Some

SKETCH OF ATLANTA. 217
thirty years ago its site was a wilderness. The princely oak
and pine had given way to stately houses and shady streets ;
the war song and dance of the swarthy Indian was replaced by
the hum and bustle of commerce and trade, and where once
stood his wigwams now a mighty city was springing into exist
ence. In 1845 the site was laid out, and in 1861 its population
was estimated at about fifteen thousand, which was swelled up
during the war by government employees and officials to about
twenty thousand.
Thjs rapid, almost unparalleled, growth was owing to its posi
tion. It was the great central point where the leading railroads
of Georgia met, and consequently became a flourishing market
for grain and cotton and other market produce. Atlanta is the
great depot of the following railroads : The Georgian road,
connecting Atlanta with Augusta ; the Macon and Western road
to Macon, and the Western and Atlantic road to Chattanooga ;
the Lagrange branch connects Atlanta with West Point, on the
Chattahoochee River, on the Alabama line. By these different
converging lines Atlanta lay in communication with all parts
of the United States. By railroad it is one hundred and sev
enty-one miles from Augusta, one hundred and one from Macon,
two hundred and ninety-two from Savannah, and one hundred
and thirty-eight from Chattanooga, Tennessee.
It was a beautiful and rapidly progressing city previous to
the war. The streets were wide and airy, and all converged
towards the railroad depot, which was in the centre of the town.
It had several good hotels, a tasty court-house, churches, public
schools, and several fine blocks of buildings.
Atlanta owed its wealth to its location and trade, for the
country around was rather barren and uncultivated ; but south,
towards the valleys of the Chattahoochee and Etowah, are some
fine valleys of great fertility. Atlanta is situated partly on
an elevation, and on this account was considered remarkably
healthy. In a military point of view, Atlanta was of vital importance.
Jeff Davis felt this when he said at Macon, " Atlanta must be
held at all hazards." It was the key to the network of rail-
19

218 Sherman's march through the south.
roads extending to all portions of the Gulf states, and on the
inception of the war was at once selected as a government
depot and manufacturing centre ; so rolling mills, founderies,
machine shops, laboratories, and shops for the manufacture
of all kinds of government articles were established here.
It was therefore the cradle from which the southern armies
drew their supplies, and consequently of vital importance. The
government works here were of the most important nature.
The Atlanta rolling mill was one of the most extensive in the
south. It employed two hundred hands. It furnished the iron
for the Merrimac, Arkansas, and several other boats. There
was a rolling mill for the manufacture of shot and shell, and
another for the manufacture of pistols, employing about
three hundred hands. On the other side of the railroad was a
government arsenal, which was built during the war, and was
Eept in vigorous operation, making and repairing arms, gun-
carriages, and the like. Above these were the machine shops
and round houses of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Company.
Three miles east of the city was the government laboratory.
North of the depot were the naval laboratory, railroad foundery,
and machine shops. Besides these and others, there were sev
eral government depots, pork-packing and oil establishments,
clothing and other factories. With such important manufac
tories and stores for army supplies, it is no wonder that the
Confederates should risk a large army for the protection of
Atlanta, and that Davis should be so anxious to hold it. •
The material effect of the capture of Atlanta was the first
great death-blow to the rebel cause ; thenceforward they began
to lose hope, and consequently became disintegrated.
The city had suffered much from our projectiles. Several
houses had been burned, and several fallen down. In some
places the streets were blocked up with the rubbish. The sub
urbs were in ruins, and few houses escaped without being per
forated. Many of the citizens were killed, and many more
had hair-breadth escapes. Some shells had passed through the
Trout House Hotel, kicking up a regular muss among beds and
tables.

SKETCH OF ATLANTA. 2l9
One woman pointed out to me where a shell dashed through
her house as she was sitting down to dinner. It upset the
table and things, passed through the house, and killed hpr neigh
bor in the next house.
Several had been killed ; some in their houses, others in the
streets. When the rebels were evacuating, in the confusion several of
our sick and wounded escaped from the hospitals, and were
sheltered by the citizens.
Almost every garden and yard around the city had its cave.
These were sunk down with a winding entrance to them, so
that pieces of shells could not go in. When dug deep enough,
boards were placed on the top, and the earth piled upon them in a
conical shape, and deep enough to withstand even a shell. Some
of these caves, or bomb-proofs, were fifteen feet deep, and
well covered. All along the railroad, around the intrench
ments and the bluff near the city, were gopher holes, where
soldiers and citizens concealed themselves.
In some cases it happened that our shells burst so as to close
up the mouths of the caves, thus burying the inmates in a living
tomb. I learned the following case from the sufferer him
self: Private James Newcomb got wounded in the battle of
the 22d of July, and was captured and brought into Atlanta
hospital, where his right arm was amputated. To use his own
words, —
" I hain't nothing bad to say against them at all. They
treated me well enough, but still I liked to join pur own boys.
Ladies came round the hospitals every day, and always had a
kind word or some little delicacy for us. I got on very well ;
my arm began to heal, and then I began to look round for a
chance to escape. I could easily get out of the hospital, but
how to get into our lines, that was another' thing. Every day I
heard the shells whizzing about the city, and hurtling over the
hospitals. I thought of the boys, and wished to get back to the
camp, and have a long talk about all I saw and went through.
We had a nigger servant of the name of Moses, who seenied
to take to me rather kindly. One evening we were sitting out-

220 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
side the hospital, watching the shells my old friends were send
ing to visit me.
" ' Moses,' said I, ' come here, and fasten this bandage on
this stump.' Moses went pn one knee before me, and began to
fasten the bandage, but started and looked scared as a shell
whirred over our heads.
"'Moses,' said I, 'you shouldn't be scared about them;
every shell of them is unbinding the chains that fetter you.'
" ' Don't say so, massa ; ' and he looked up into my face.
" ' Moses, would you like to be free — to have no massa to
whip you or kick you ? '
" ' Dat I would, massa.'
" ' These Yankees, of whom you are so much afraid, are try
ing to set you free.'
" ' Specks so ; but Massa Joe says they'll kill us all, or sell
us up nor', to work like de horses ; besides, they won't get in
here, massa ; specks dey are running back.'
" ' I think not, Moses ; your folks say we are retreating every
day, though, as you see, we are but getting nearer.'
" ' Dat a fact, massa.'
" ' Moses, will you help me to escape, and come with me?'
" ' O Lor', massa, I wish I conld ;' and he raised up his hands
and looked into my face.
" ' You can, when it's dark ; you know the back ways ; let
us slip away, and, by wheeling around by Decatur, we will get
into our lines.'
" Moses was true to his appointment ; the guards were very
negligent about the hospital ; so I took up a large bread basket
and shook the flour over me. The guard, taking me for the
baker, let me pass. I had on a rebel jacket and homespun
pants ; so we passed through the streets without any observa
tions. As we were approaching the suburbs, a squad of sol
diers drew near.
" ' Moses,' said I, ' we had better hide, and let these pass.'
" ' O Lor', yes, massa. Come here ; ' and he opened a little
wicket leading into a deserted house, at the end of which was
a cave. '

BURIED ALIVE IN A BOMB-PROOF. 221
" ' Here, massa, down here ; ' and in we got into the cave,
Moses drawing an old barrel after him to stop its mouth.
" We were scarcely settled in it, when we heard the soldiers
follow after us ; so we thought we were done for. It appeared
they were going to bivouac in the deserted house for the night.
They soon stacked their arms right around .us, and lighted
fires. We could plainly hear them talking, and their tramp
oyer us.
" The fear was now that any of them would come down into
the cave ; so Moses and I trembled as we lay down on the cold
ground. There was no chance of escape, as the mouth of the
cave faced the veranda, on which the men were now sleeping ;
besides, the sentries' beat was right by it. There were some
dry boards in the cave ; so we lay on these, and slept. In the
morning the soldiers moved off; we heard them say they were
going to Jonesboro'.
" Moses returned to the hospital for something to eat, and
was not suspected. I durst not venture out now in the day,
but resolved to wait until night.
" Moses returned with some bread, and the disheartening
news that our men were retreating, and that I was missed, and
they were hunting me up. An occasional shot was still fired
on the town ; so I could scarcely credit it.
" It was near the time that Moses was to return to accom
pany me, when I heard the whir of a shell ; and a crash, and
mortar and bricks came tumbling down the mouth of the cave,
completely blocking it up. The volume of dust that rushed in
nearly smothered me.
" The place became as dark as the blackest night ; the dust
was suffocating me,, and either a slow, miserable death from
starvation, or a death equally wretched from suffocation, stared
me in the face. All my dependence was now on Moses. I lay
here I don't know how long, expecting him to relievo me ; but
no Moses came. O, the horror of such a death ! I pulled the
bricks to clear away the entrance, but. more rolled in. I then
piled some of the bricks under my feet, and tried to pull down
the roof. It seemed to mock my efforts. I threw myself down,
19* ,

222 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
prayed and- cried by turns. I shouted, but the place was de
serted, and no one heard me. I was buried alive in my tomb.
I don't know how long I was in it. I had eaten the scraps of
bread Moses had brought me, and chewed some belts. My
tongue was swollen ; my throat was parched. O, if I could but-
die ! I heard a rumbling noise — the cave shook around me —
I thought it was an earthquake. I jumped up with fear, but
soon threw myself down exhausted, to die.
" I thought I heard voices over me, and some one calling my
name. I screamed, partly with terror, partly with hope. I heard
people rapidly clearing away the bricks. The light soon burst upon
me, and there stood Moses. I fell into a swoon. When I came to
myself I was lying on the piazza with some four or five negro
boys around me, who quickly supplied me with coffee and food.
When Moses left me that evening, he was forced off by an offi
cer who was going in pursuit of the retreating Yanks. They
discovered the Yanks at the Chattahoochee, and got a peppering
reception from General Slocum. In the confusion Moses man
aged to escape to our lines, and was with the first of the Union
troops that entered the city. He at once came to the cave,
rather through curiosity than with any expectation of finding
me there. He beard my scream in reply to his call, and col
lecting a squad of negroes, soon cleared the opening. A round
shot struck the end wall of the house, toppling it down upon
me. The great noise I heard was caused by the rebels blowing
up their ammunition. I was, in all, five days in that cave. It
was dreadful what I suffered. My hair was jet black when I
went in ; it is now well tinged with gray. Moses has saved my
life, and he and I have sworn a bond of lasting friendship."
Sherman's army was now grouped around Atlanta in the fol
lowing order : The army of the Cumberland in and around the
city ; the army of the Tennessee at East Point ; and the army
of the Ohio at Decatur, Hood had made a desperate struggle
for Atlanta.
One of Davis's leading organs declared, "Atlanta is the
gate city from the north and west to the south-east. Its fall
would open the way for the Federal army to the Gulf on one

CITIZENS SENT NORTH AND SOUTH. 223
hand, and Charleston on the other, and close up those rich
granaries from which Lee's armies are supplied. It would give
them control of our network of railways, and thus paralyze our
efforts. " The capture of Richmond would prove of greater advantage
to our enemies in a political point of view, than any other sense,
With our capital in their possession, we would find additional in
fluence brought to bear against us abroad ; but as a material loss,
its fall would in no manner compare with the disadvantages which
would result from a defeat of General Johnston, and the occupa
tion of Georgia that would follow. The first point is near our
boundary lines, the second is our great centre. To lose the one
would be as the loss of a limb ; should we be driven from the
other, it will be a terrible blow at our most vital point."
Hood, too, in his boastful mood, stated, " We cannot lose At
lanta. If we do, the Confederacy is broken. For my part, I'll
fight while a man stands by me, even until the streets of the
city run with our blood." Very fine indeed. He meant his
soldiers' blood, for Hood went by the sobriquet of "Butcher
Hood." In falling back to Atlanta, we destroyed fifteen miles of the
Macon and Western Railroad.
The enemy were now in position between Lovejoy Station and
Jonesboro'. On the 8th of September, General Sherman issued a congrat
ulatory order to his troops, thanking them for the bravery and
unshaken fidelity with which they sustained so arduous a cam
paign. On the same day he issued an order desiring all citizens
of Atlanta either to go north or within the rebel lines within a
certain day. At first this order appeared cruel, almost savage ;
but his subsequent destruction of Atlanta justified such a harsh
measure. A truce of ten days, from September 12 to Sep
tember 22, was declared, in order to carry out this order. In
the mean time; transportation was supplied as far as Rough-and-
Ready Station, to all who desired to go inside the Confederate
lines. Sherman's comprehensive mind was already clearing the way

224 Sherman's march through the south.
for the Georgian campaign. He knew that Atlanta might again
be rendered formidable in the hands of the enemy, and had re
solved to destroy, or, to use his own words, " to wipe it out."
War is at best a horrid cruelty, and cannot be refined. Expe
diency and necessity justify acts savage enough to make the
angels weep. Friends and foes suffer indiscriminately from its
ravages, and too often the innocent suffer, while the guilty
escape. In Atlanta we had strong proofs of the military despotism of
the Confederacy. We captured in the trenches feeble old men,
with gray heads and tottering steps, and mere striplings, who
were too young to be taken from their mothers' leading-strings.
Everything had been made subservient to the army. It swal
lowed up the blood and wealth of the land, leaving its poor,
deluded dupes stripped of everything — of the enjoyments of life
itself. The people, after awakening from the first shock inspired
by the terrible barbarities they heard of the Federal soldiers,
seemed to welcome the new order of things. They were now
protected, and could walk abroad in security. General Slocum's
administration of Atlanta was so impartial and rigidly enforced,
that life and property there were as secure as in the city of New
York. Near the depot were several slave marts, with their glar
ing signs, announcing, " Slaves bought and sold here, " " Slave
auction rooms," " The great slave mart," and such like. As
the soldiers passed these they read them with a mocking laugh.
As the poor negro passed these human shambles of his former
degradation, his heart became light, for he no longer dreaded
the galling chains, or the lash, or the auctioneer's hammer that
was to consign him to a new master, and separate him from his
wife and children.
As soon as General Sherman had issued his order, several
families prepared to go south at once. They were merely join
ing their friends, while the men who had concealed themselves
from conscription, who had been persecuted by rebel authority,
whose friends had been shot down or hung up for their Union
sentiments, who concealed our wounded men and fed them, and
who screened our prisoners and aided their flight, who longed

affecting story. 225
for us as their friends, did not well know what to do. They
found our friendship as destructive as the rebels' enmity. Some
few went north ; the most of them remained, hoping, like Mr.
Micawber, that something better would turn up.
" Could you tell me who are our friends ? " said an old, respect
able citizen to me.
• " If you tell me your politics, I will," said I.
" At the breaking out of the war I owed large sums to
northern merchants, and I paid them. I had neither hand nor
voice in bringing on this war ; I wanted to live under the old
flag. During the war I gave every assistance in my power to
relieve Union prisoners, and my only son was caught aiding one
of them to escape, and shot. The rebels then stripped me of
my property, and called me a d — d Yank. Only for my age,
they'd hang me."
" Well, I think you are a Union man," I replied.
" I have given proofs enough, at least ; and now what's my
reward ? You hunt me from my house and place in my old age.
Do you think but I am suffering for my country ? I have the
alternative of going north and starve, or going into the rebel
lines and being hung."
Alas ! he spoke the truth. There were hundreds like him ;
but war makes no distinction. Those going within the rebel
lines seemed to enjoy the thing. The cars taking them down
were loaded with a miscellaneous cargo. In some were crowded
together tottering old age and maidens in their youthful bloom.
The former fretted very much at being thus rudely torn away,
root and branch, from the soil on which they grew, and in which
they hoped soon to rest their wearied hearts. As for their
young companions, they seemed to treat the thing as a kind of
sentimental journey. I fully understood this when we reached
the rebel quarters, when I saw with what a warm greeting the
rebel officers and soldiers received them. Some even carried
their enthusiasm so far as to welcome them with warm kisses
and embraces. In addition, the wagons were crowded with a
heterogeneous medley of poodle dogs, tabby cats, asthmatic pia
nos, household furniture, cross old maids, squalling, wondering

226 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
children, all of which, huddled together, made anything but a
pleasant travelling party, which I accompanied. We were
kindly received by Major St. Clair, who was in command of the
rebel party. Everything went on in the most friendly way —
visits paid between Federals and Confederates, exchanges
made, friendly intercourse kept up. One could scarcely realize
that these laughing, chatting groups were deadly enemies, who
to-morrow would strive for one another's blood.
Among the most notorious of persecutors of Union men in
Atlanta was a Mr. Jones ; he kept a livery stable in the rear
of the mayor's. He was a devil incarnate ; kept bloodhounds
for hunting up men skulking from the conscription, or Federal
prisoners trying to make their escape. Woe -betide the wretch
that got into his hands. Like all tyrants and ruffians, he was a
coward, and bought exemption by his valuable services as a spy
and dogger. This black-hearted ruffian used all his influence to
gekthe poor men executed who attempted to destroy the bridges
and run off with the train on the Chattanooga line. He suc
ceeded, and as the poor victims were dragged along to the place
of execution by the halters on their necks, this foul scoundrel
followed them, goading them on, and mocking them. He was
also accompanied by his bloodhounds, as he said, " to give them
a smell of Yankee blood." The executioner had to enjoy the
exclusive privilege of tying up his victims, and then drawing
the plank from their feet. As their bodies dangled in the air,
he swung them round, knocking the convulsed breathing frames
against one another. All this time his bloodhounds barked and
jumped at the dangling feet of their victims, and as they caught
them they swung from them until the flesh gave way. Honest
men shuddered at such fiendish cruelty, but durst not resent it.
They dreaded the tyrant's power. I hope this fellow has met
his deserts before this ; if not, that all honest men will treat him
with scorn, and society exclude him from its circles. Such a
fellow' is only fit to associate with his brother demons.

A NEW CAMPAIGN. 227

CHAPTER XX.
A NEW CAMPAIGN. — BATTLE OF ALLATOONA  SHERMAN SIGNAL
LING FROM KENESAW MOUNTAIN. — WHO PLANNED THE CAM
PAIGN AND MARCH THROUGH GEORGIA, SHERMAN OR GRANT ?
— THE CONFLAGRATION OF ATLANTA.
The truce having expired, Hood inaugurated a new cam
paign. Hood had been informed that two divisions of troops
had been sent to Tennessee to strengthen our positions against
Wheeler's and Forrest's cavalry, which were now threatening
us at different points, and had succeeded in capturing some
small post and a few block-houses. • Athens, too, though gar
risoned by about six hundred men, strongly intrenched, and
commanded by Colonel Campbell, shamefully fell into their
hands, even without a fight.
Hood had been also informed that two divisions more were
gone to Kentucky to recruit, and that Blair's corps had gone
home, their term of enlistment having expired.
He was led into this error, because, about this time, the 16th
corps was broken up, and consolidated with the 17th.
Under the delusion that Sherman's army was now consider
ably weakened, he resolved to fall back on our communications
with one corps, and keep the remainder on hand to watch
Sherman's rear.
Forrest's cavalry was certainly causing us a great deal of
trouble about this time ; and it looked feasible enough that by
forming a junction with him, or causing a heavy diversion in
his favor, he would succeed in destroying the railroads and
cutting off our supplies, which would be ruinous to Sherman,
as he had but a small amount of supplies on hand at the time,
and the country all round was stripped of provisions.

228 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Acting on this programme, on the evening of October 29,
Stewart's corps, of Hood's army, broke camp, and marched to
the Chattahoochee in the following order : Loring in advance,
Walthal in the centre, and French in the rear. They crossed the
river at Pumpkintown. Next day they moved by New Hope
Church for Big Shanty and Allatoona.
But Sherman was not to be caught napping, for he had
thrown a couple of divisions to strengthen the most important
points along the railroad, and Steedman had also sent all the
troops he could spare from Chattanooga to guard around
Bridgeport, Decatur, Daiton, and other threatened points.
Forrest had lost too much time enjoying his victories at
Pulaski, Athens, &c, instead of striking direct for Bridgeport,
or some other important points on the Chattanooga line. Had
he done so in the beginning, his chances of success were very
good ; now, we had too strongly reenforced them for any cav
alry raid to be effective against them.
Previous to this movement Davis had paid his annual visit
to the western department and to Hood's army, which was then
encamped near Newman, in order to cover Columbus, Ga.
Here Jeff Davis visited the army, and finding general dis
satisfaction prevailing against General Hood, in order to allay
this and completely shelve Johnston, towards whom he did not
entertain a very good feeling, he appointed Beauregard com
mander of the department of the south-west, Hood simply
retaining his position as commander of the army of the Ten
nessee. Davis now laid down the new programme of action
for Hood, and urged on him its immediate adoption.
S. D. Lee's corps followed Stewart on the following day.
The army, however, made but a short march ; for on the night
of the 30th of October they encamped near the old battle-field
of New Hope Church.
Here Hood concentrated his forces, being Lee's corps and
Wheeler's cavalry. Full of enthusiasm at having successfully
crossed the Chattahoochee River, he divulged his plans, and
assured his men that "success was certain; Sherman had
but forty days' rations of meat, and no bread. I will certainly

BATTLE OF ALLATOONA. 229
compel Sherman to retreat. Forrest is doing good work on
the left, and Wheeler is now going to operate on the right."
Next day he resumed his march. Wheeler struck Marietta,
and skirmished about it without any success. Stewart moved .
on Big Shanty and Ackworth, capturing those places and
their small garrisons, and destroyed about ten miles of the
track. General G. French moved farther to the left and north,
making for the important and narrow pass of the Allatoona
Mountains, through which the railroad runs, and where we had
a large depot.
General M. Corse, of the 15th corps, had been ordered from
Rome to guard this pass, and just reached in time to take up
position before French's assault. The rebel assault here was
desperately made and vigorously sustained.
Corse met them with equal fortitude, and a very stubborn
battle ensued, which lasted nearly seven hours.
At one time the rebels had seized on a pile of stores at the
depot, of which we had over a million rations, and each man
was carrying off a box of hard tack, or pork, when a brigade
came up, charged on them, and shot them down wholesale, with
their loads. Sherman was anxiously looking on from the top
of Kenesaw, and signalled to Corse, —
" Keep on. I'm sending reenforcements."
Corse's reply was, " I'll fight to the last."
This was a very severe fight, but ended in favor of the
Federal troops. 0ur l°ss in Corse's division, which alone was
engaged, was about five hundred, while the rebel loss was com
puted at nearly one thousand.
General Corse was slightly wounded. A bullet grazed his
cheek. Hood continued his march, moving slowly north in the
direction of Daiton.
In the mean time Sherman had not been idle. He left
Slocum's corps to garrison Atlanta, and followed Hood with
his main force. On October 12, Hood made his appearance
at Resaca, and demanded a surrender of -the place, kindly
20

230 Sherman's march through the south.
informing the garrison that if he should take the place by
storm, he would give no quarter.
Colonel Weaver, 8th Iowa, commanded the garrison, and
bravely repulsed Hood's superior force.
Hood next moved on Daiton, commanded by a Colonel John
son, which surrendered. It had only a garrison of one colored
regiment, and a company of white troops.
Sherman was now pressing so closely on his rear, that he had
not time to take away or destroy a store of supplies he captured
at Ringgold.
Hood now, finding Sherman on his rear, Chattanooga strongly
garrisoned, and Steedman threatening his advance, wheeled for
Villanow in two columns, one column moving by Snake Creek
Gap, and the other by Buzzard Roost.
Stanly's 4th corps struck the column passing through Snake
Creek Gap, and repulsed them. Sherman crossed in their rear,
and encountered them at Villanow, where he captured some
two hundred prisoners. Cheatham's corps retreated direct to
Summerville, the other two corps through Ship's Gap.
On the 26th Sherman's headquarters were at Gaylesville,
North Alabama, a little village on the Chatoogata River, six
miles from its junction with the Coosa.
Here Sherman rested for six days. It was a very fertile
locality, and well supplied with provisions. The enemy had
taken up position near Tallidaga.
Lee's, Stewart's, and Cheatham's troops picketed the south
bank of the Coosa, while Wheeler and his cavalry were in
trenched at Turkeytown, on the north bank.
The 15th corps moved out on a reconnoissance on the 25th, but
effected nothing, except developing the position of the enemy.
General Stanly now commanded the army of the Cumber
land, in the absence of General Thomas, who had removed his
headquarters to Nashville, as the most central point of opera
tion, General Thomas J. Wood taking Stanly's 4th corps.
Hood attempted to capture Decatur, Ala., but was repulsed.
He next attempted to cross the Tennessee River near the
conflux of the Bluewater, but was confronted by Stanly.

MOVEMENTS OF THE FEDERAL ARMY. 231
He next marched towards Muscle Shoals, and succeeded in
effecting a crossing at Florence.
Sherman now gave up the pursuit. He was but playing with
Hood all along ; and now, when he had him across the Tennes
see, he commenced preparations for that great march which he
had long since matured, and now designed to carry out. He left
the 4th and 23d corps under General Schofield to check Hood's
advance on Nashville. This they nobly did, keeping Hood's
whole army at bay, and defeating it in the glorious fight at
Franklin, where Cleburne and the flower of Hood's army fell.
After this they gallantly participated in the great battle and
victory before Nashville.
Thomas had taken up his headquarters at Nashville in order
to concentrate.
Schofield's instructions were to keep Hood in check as well
as possible while Thomas was concentrating.
Major General Steedman had fortified Chattanooga, which,
with its immense stores, was a place of considerable impor
tance. When he marched to form a junction with Thomas at
Nashville, in order to prepare for the coming battle, which was
imminent, he was succeeded by General Thomas F. Meagher,
who had taken command of a division of convalescents and
others, returning to join the army of the Tennessee. General
Meagher's military government at Chattanooga gave general
satisfaction. He organized the citizens, and compelled them to
man the trenches, or help to build them up ; thus rendering the
place impregnable.
When General Steedman returned, after the battle of Nash
ville, he issued a general order, thanking General Meagher for
his able military administration in his absence.
Sherman now returned, and encamped his army from Daiton
to the Chattahoochee. In' his absence, the rebel cavalry, under
Iverson, had made several dashes upon General Slocum's lines.
Slocum had contracted his lines around the city, and was able
to repel their assaults.
Provisions began to run short, and he had to send out
frequent raiding parties. One -of these, under General P. H.

232 Sherman's march through the south.
Jones, of Geary's division, had a brisk fight with the enemy,
but succeeded in bringing in a large supply of provisions for
" man and beast." Iverson's and Young's cavalry hung round
Atlanta all the time, watching some chance of dashing in there ;
but Slocum was too tried and cunning a soldier to be caught
napping. There had been much conjecture as to whether Sherman
planned the programme of his great marches through Georgia
and the Carolinas himself, or whether they were planned by
Grant, and merely carried out by Sherman.
From my own observation, I know that the programme of
the campaign originated with Sherman himself, at Gaylesville,
but, of course, was submitted to Grant's approval. I know
his instructions were, if possible, to drive the enemy across the
Chattahoochee. Having done so, Atlanta lay in too tempting
proximity, and was too easily within his grasp to be resisted.
Again, in his marches through Georgia and South Carolina,
when cut off from all communication, how often had he to
change his line of march and programme, in order to baffle
and isolate the enemy's forces !
Sherman knew the weakness of the Confederacy thoroughly.
He knew they had no army capable of impeding his march
through Southern Georgia." Hood's army was the only one
capable of opposing him. Davis and Hood, in their blindness,
had thrown this out of his way ; and now the course was clear,
and he meant to take advantage of their blunders. Travelling
with Sherman, seeing all his movements, my firm impression is,
that he was the originator, as well as the operator. Grant
always said that the Confederacy was a shell. Sherman knew
that, and intended to prove it, too.
Before we start with General Sherman, on his great raid
through Southern Georgia, we will give a short resume of
events. Sherman occupied Atlanta on the 2d of September. As soon
as he took possession of the " Gate City," he began to plan his
fall campaign. There was much conjecture as to what this
would be, but he very wisely kept his counsel to himself.

hood's movements. 233
About the 24th of September, General Hood suddenly trans
ferred his army, by a flank movement, from Lovejoy's Station,
on the Macon Railroad, to near Newman, on the West Point road.
This movement looked as if Hood had divined the intentions
of Sherman, and was making preparations to foil his plans.
The incautious language of Jeff Davis at Macon led the
country to suppose that this movement was preliminary to one
more extensive; and General Sherman's suspicions were, ac
cordingly, aroused, for we find him sending his spare forces,
wagons and guns, to the rear, under General Thomas, and, at
the same time, sending Schofield, Newton, and Corse to take up
different points in the rear of Atlanta.
On the 27th, General Gerrard reported a move on the part
of Hood towards the Chattahoochee. On the 1st of October,
Generals Ransom and Fuller made a reconnoissance towards
Newman, and discovered that Hood had crossed the Chatta
hoochee River on the 29th and 30th of September. Sherman
immediately followed, declaring his intention to destroy Hood
before he could commence his campaign through Southern
Georgia. As Hood had a good start, Sherman felt it rather
difficult to bring him to an engagement. However, he pressed
so closely on his rear that he had not time to occupy the small
posts along his route.
This pursuit continued, with occasional skirmishes, until
Hood slipped from Sherman at Gadsden, and crossed the Ten
nessee River.
Sherman exclaimed, " Let him go north ; our business is
down south."
Rousseau and Wood's 4th corps, and Schofield's 23d corps,
and Morgan's division, of the 14th corps, were along the Ten
nessee River. Steedman held Chattanooga, Bridgeport, and
that line of railroad.
* Thomas was in Nashville, and General Smith was hurrying
up his Mississippian army, all concentrating to meet Hood.
They were more than a match for Hood in force, while there
was no danger but the cool Thomas was able to meet him in
strategy. 20*

234 Sherman's march through the south.
Sherman now determined to resume his original intention.
He gave up Hood, exclaiming, " If he will go to the river, I'll
give him his rations."
On November 4, the 14th, 15th, 16th, and 20th corps had all
concentrated near Atlanta, and were making rapid preparations
for a march, they knew not whither, nor did they care ; all they
knew was, "it was all right; Old Billy knew what he was
about." Sherman telegraphed, " Hood has crossed the Tennessee ;
Thomas will take care of him and Nashville, while Schofield
will not let him into Chattanooga or Knoxville. Georgia and
South Carolina are at my mercy, and I shall strike. Do not
be anxious about me ; I am all right."
Sherman had laid down his programme, and there was noth
ing to obstruct him now. He knew he could reach the sea
without a battle.
On Sherman's return to Atlanta he issued an order for its
immediate evacuation by all citizens who had not left in com
pliance with his first order.
A great many, of thorough Union sentiments, had remained,
expecting the trouble would blow over. It was generally un
derstood that the city was to be evacuated and destroyed. It
was pretty well known that Sherman was going to cut loose
from all communications, and to destroy all the factories, foun-
deries, railroads, mills, and all government property, between
Atlanta and Chattanooga, thus preventing the rebels from using
them in his rear.
The citizens who had not joined the first exodus were afraid
of being abandoned to the tender mercies of the rebels.
The depot presented a scene of confusion and suffering sel
dom witnessed.
Women and children were huddled together, while men, who
had lately been millionaires, were now frantically rushing about,
trying to procure transportion, and forced to give their last dol
lar to Some exacting conductor or railway official. An order
had been issued by General Easton providing all these people
with free transportation ; but several of his employees and rail-

general easton. 235
road officials could not see it in that light. They saw that the
thing could be made to pay, and they did make it pay.
General Easton knew nothing of this shameful extortion.
Of General L. C. Easton I must say, few men contributed more
to Sherman's success. As chief quartermaster he was energetic
in getting forward supplies, and in overcoming the many diffi
culties that opposed their transmission. It is highly creditable
to him how admirably such an immense army was fed, and at
such a distance from its base.
The question of supplies was an important one, and one on
which depended the success or failure of the campaign ; and to
General Easton's credit be it said, that during our arduous
campaign to Atlanta the army never ran short of a single day's
rations. He knew nothing,' though, of the extortion practised on the
poor fugitives. He had assigned that department to a Captain
S  , who, I am credibly informed, had collected some valu
able furniture, under pretence of keeping it safe from those who
left at first.
He had also gone to reside in a lady's house who had gone
north, with the promise of protecting the place and furniture.
He is said to have acted in collusion with railway conductors
and officials, and -transported all this north. In his employ was
a tall, lean, lank ruffian, named P  , who was fit for noth
ing but plots and dark deeds, who did all the dirty work, and
handsomely feathered his own nest. These fellows were after
wards court-martialed, I do not know with what result.
Colonel B  , too, is said to have acted with offensive
hauteur towards the poor people. If any complained to him,
he arrogantly told them he had nothing to do with such things ;
they were a lying, rebel pack.
They were afraid to complain. They were too anxious to
get off, and the dishonest employees told them for days that the
next train would be the last that would go. In some cases they
gave all they had to be let go, and in many cases paid as high
as one hundred dollars to conductors and others to get off,
though all the time provided with free passages.

236 Sherman's march through the south.
In some cases they managed to divide families, so that they
could extort the more from those remaining. v
I wanted myself to get a poor soldier, who was going home
to die, inside on one of the cars. Though they were full of
strapping, healthy negroes, who were either servants to the ex
tortioners, or had the almighty dollars to pay their way, I
could not gain admittance for the poor fellow. A few dollars
in a conductor's pocket were of more importance than his com
fort or safety* I gave him my blanket and oil-cloth, but I
have since learned he never reached home, for when taken off
the top of the cars at Chattanooga he was found dead.
I simply mention these facts as a caution to generals not to
place too much confidence in employees, unless they are well
tried and tested' The Burning of Atlanta.
Sherman's orders were, that Atlanta should be destroyed by
-fhe rear-guard of the army, and two regiments were detailed
for that purpose. Although the army, cantoned along the
Chattanooga line of railroad, towards Kingston and Marietta,
did not pass through until the 16th, the first fire burst out on
the night of Friday, the 11th of November, in a block of wooden
tenements on Decatur Street, where eight buildings were de
stroyed. Soon after, fires burst out in other parts of the city. These
certainly were the works of some of tbe soldiers, who expected
to get some booty under cover of the fires.
The fire engines were about being shipped for Chattanooga,-
but were soon brought in, and brought to bear on the burning
districts. The patrol guards were doubled, and' orders issued to shoot
down any person seen firing buildings. Very little effort had
been made to rescue the city from the devouring elements, for
they knew that the fiat had gone forth consigning it to destruc
tion. Over twenty houses were burned that night, and a dense
cloud of smoke, like a funeral pall, hung over the ruins next
morning.

THE -BURNING OF ATLANTA. 237
General Slocum offered a reward of five hundred dollars for
the apprehension of any soldier caught in the act of incen
diarism. Though Slocum knew that the city was doomed,
according to his just notions of things it should be done
officially. No officer or soldier had a right to fire it without
orders. It was hard to restrain the soldiers from burning it down.
With that.licentiousness that characterizes an army they wanted
a bonfire. The last train for Chattanooga left on Saturday night, No
vember 12. Next morning, the 14th, 15th, and 17th corps
commenced their march from Kingston and Marietta, where
they had been resting ten days, while Sherman was making
preparations for his new campaign. They destroyed Rome,
Kingston, and Marietta, on their march, and tore up the track,
setting on fire sleepers, railroad depots, and stores, back to the
Etowah. An immense amount of government property, which we
could not transport to the rear, or- carry along with us, had
been destroyed at the different depots. Coffee sacks, cracker
boxes, sugar and pork barrels, bales of blankets and boxes of
clothing, were burst open and strewn about and burned. Soldiers
were loaded with blankets and supplies, which they got tired of
before night, and flung away. It is said that about three million
of dollars worth of property had been destroyed in this way.
On Sunday night a kind of long streak of light, like an
aurora, marked the line of march, and the burning stores,
depots, and bridges, in the train of the army.
The Michigan engineers had been detailed to destroy the
depots and public buildings in Atlanta. Everything in the way
of destruction was now considered legalized. The workmen
tore up the rails and piled them on the smoking fires. Win-
ship's iron foundery and machine shops were early set on fire.
This valuable property was calculated to be worth about half a
million of dollars.
An oil refinery near by next got on fire, and was soon in a
fierce blaze. Next followed a freight warehouse, in which were

238 Sherman's march through the south.
stored several bales of cotton. The depot, turning-tables,
freight sheds, and» stores around, were soon a fiery mass. The
heart was burning out of beautiful Atlanta.
The few people that had remained in the city fled, scared by
the conflagration and the dread of violence.
Some ruffians ran with brands to fire the churches, which
were considerably retired. The Roman Catholic minister, Fa
ther O'Reiley, who was the only minister that remained in
town, met them, and upbraided them for their impious sacrilege.
Even these hardened men of war shrank before virtue and truth,
and the* good priest not only saved his own church, but also
those of his fellow-Christians.
The Atlanta Hotel,' Washington Hall, and all the square
around the railroad depot, were soon in one sheet of flame.
Drug stores, dry goods stores, hotels, negro marts, theatres,
and grog shops, were all now feeding the fiery element. Worn-
out wagons and camp equipage were piled up in the depot,
and added to the fury of the flames.
A stone warehouse was blown up by a mine. Quartermasters
ran away, leaving large stores behind. The men plunged
into the houses, broke windows and doors with their muskets,
dragging out armfuls of clothes, tobacco, and whiskey, which
was more welcome than all the rest. The men dressed them
selves in new clothes, and then flung .the rest, into the fire.
The streets were now in one fierce sheet of flame ; houses
were falling on all sides, and fiery flakes of cinders were whirled
about. Occasionally shells exploded, and excited men rushed
through the choking atmosphere, and hurried away from the
city of ruins.
At a distance the city seemed overshadowed by a cloud of
black smoke, through which, now and then, darted a gushing
flame of fire, or projectiles hurled from the burning ruin.
The sun looked, through the hazy cloud, like a blood-red ball
of fire ; and the air, for miles around, felt oppressive and in
tolerable. The Tyre of the south was laid in ashes, and the
" Gate City" was a thing of the past.

speculations on Sherman's march south. 239

CHAPTER XXI.
THE MARCH TO THE SEA COMMENCES. — HOW THE ARMY SUP
PLIED ITSELF. — SHERMAN AMONG HIS MEN. — SACK OF MADI
SON.— NEGRO AUXILIARIES. — FARM-YARD AND PLANTATION
SCENE Atlanta had fallen ; it was in ruins. A new campaign was
inaugurated, and was about to start. Conjectures were rife as
to what was its object or destination. The politicians and
quidnuncs of the north discussed the subject ; it was a prolific
one. The newspapers speculated about it. What Sherman
had next in hand was the question of the day. The most ab
sorbing interest as to his future movements was felt on all sides :
not only through the north, where thousands speculated finan
cially and commercially upon it, and through the south, whose
destiny seemed to hang on the issue, but also in Europe it was
a matter of doubt and conjecture whether Sherman would
attempt a march through Southern Georgia. Croaking prophets
augured all sorts of evil.
Sherman, removed from his supplies, in the heart of an
enemy's country, with the hand of every man, woman, and
child raised against him, — "What can he expect but defeat
and disaster ? " asked one.
"Then," said another, "how will he support his army?"
" On the country, to be sure.""
" All very fine ; but the enemy's cavalry, and the inhabitants
themselves, will burn and destroy all provisions in his track ;
they will leave the country a barren waste, a howling wilder
ness. He will perish himself, and his army with him. It will
be a second edition of the French retreat from Moscow."
So said the croakers ; so said the rebel sympathizers ; so said
the English press, — for with them the wish was father to the

240 Sherman's march through the south.
thought. The London Post, speaking of it in anticipation of
its results, said, —
'¦' The Federal papers several weeks ago announced the de
termination to transfer the winter campaign to the cotton states,
and this, it would seem, is the preliminary movement. Which
ever of the two movements Sherman has in view, it is evident
that he calculates largely upon the weakness of the country
through which he designs to march, or its disloyalty to the Con
federacy. In both calculations, we are induced, with good
reason, to believe that he will be greatly mistaken. It will be
the fault of the people inhabiting those countries, if his army
be not utterly destroyed long before it shall have reached either
Mobile, Savannah, or Charleston."
The London Times said, " The movement seems, as far as
we can judge, to resemble the celebrated march of Napoleon in
1814 to St. Dizer, by which he threw himself upon the commu
nications of the allied armies, then marching on Paris. If this
enterprise be brought to a successful termination, General Sher
man will undoubtedly be entitled to the honor of having added
a fresh chapter to the theory and practice of modern warfare.
The worst of such enterprises as Sherman's is, that they allow
nothing for the chapter of accidents, proverbially so potent in
war, and that the slightest and most unforeseen causes may lead
to their defeat and ruin. We had our own experience in the
tremendous disaster of Saratoga, undertaken, it might be
thought, under auspices far more promising than the expedition
of Sherman ; in the ruin which overtook Braddock ; and in the
failure of the expedition against Quebec, by the brave American
general, Montgomery. It will be strange, indeed, if the army
of General Sherman should arrive before Savannah, after such
a march, conducted under such difficulties, in condition to
attack and storm a town so well fortified and so strenuously
defended." The Liverpool Courier, and other leading foreign journals,
spoke of it as one of the boldest military movements on record,
but agreed that it was more likely to be disastrous to Sherman
and his army than to the Confederates.

Sherman's foresight. 241
The southern press, too, in their usual boasting manner,
declared that Sherman had now thrown himself into the trap
prepared for him ; that he was surrounded by enemies on all
sides, and would be starved and crushed. All these kind warn
ings had no effect on Sherman. He had weighed the conse
quences and calculated the means, and was now prepared to
test the issue. Sherman thoroughly understood the strength of
the south ; he knew its weak points. At the very inception
of the war, he showed his complete knowledge of the magni
tude it would assume ; for when asked how many men it would
take to crush the war in the south-western states, he replied,
two hundred thousand. Two hundred thousand ! The gov
ernment at Washington, including Stanton and Ha"lleck, thought
he was mad ; and the papers, to some extent, indorsed the
assertion. He was like a man possessed of some great idea,
which he saw through clearly himself, yet he could not get others
to believe him. The subject was too stupendous and complex
for them. So it was with Sherman ; but subsequent events
proved his foresight and his true knowledge of the nature of
the struggle.
There was another class, whose confidence_ in Sherman was
unbounded ; that is, his soldiers. They never stopped to ques
tion where they were going. I overheard the following conver
sation near a camp-fire, which gives a good idea of the faith of
tho soldiers in their leader. A long, dark streak of smoke
obscured the heavens along our line of march, illumined here
and there by a blazing farm-house. The men were seated
around the fire, smoking, and talking, or sipping their coffee.
One man exclaimed, —
"Look around, boys; I reckon 'Old Billy' has set the
world on fire."
"Why, darn it, 'Old Billy7 has nothing tb do with it ; it's
ourselves that are making the bonfires."
" Specks so ; guess it's all right, anyhow."
"Why wouldn't it be right? Old Billy wouldn't have done
it otherwise." " True," was the reply.
21

242 Sherman's march through the south.
" But," said the other, " any of ye reckon, boys, where we
are going to ? "
"Yes," said another, winking around to his comrades ; "I
had a private talk with Old Billy himself, and he told me that
we were going, going — would ye guess it ? "
Some of them guessed different places ; and the man that
asked the question replied, tartly, —
" To hell ! "
" O, no," said the other. " I have no doubt but that will be
the end of your journey ; but we are going — somewhere."
There was a general laugh at the sell ; then an old, gray-
headed veteran said, —
" I tell ye, boys, we should never ask where are we going,
or what are we going to do. Obedience is the duty of a soldier ;
and whatever Old Billy says or does is right. He does the
plotting and flanking ; let us do the fighting, and things will go
on well."
" Bully for Old Billy ! we'll follow him," was the response
of his audience.
Sherman issued a special field order, dated Kingston, No
vember 8, in which he informs his troops that he had organized
them into an army for a special purpose, well known to the war
department and to General Grant. " It is sufficient for you to
know," he said, " that it involves a departure from our present
base, and a long and difficult march to a new one. All the
chances of war have been considered and provided for, as far
as human sagacity can." And further, he exhorted the men to
maintain discipline, and not scatter about as stragglers or fora
gers, and also instructed the officers to send all surplus baggage,
servants, and non-combatants to the rear.
On the following day he issued another order, in which he
said, —
" For the purpose of military operations, this army is divided
into two wings, viz. : The right wing, Major General 0. 0.
Howard, commanding the 15th and 17th corps; the left wing,
Major General H. W. Slocum, commanding the 14th and 20th
corps.

perversion qf army orders. 243
" The army will forage liberally on the country during the
march. To this end each brigade commander will organize
a good and efficient foraging party, under command of one or
more discreet officers. To regular foraging parties must be
intrusted the gathering of provisions and forage at any distance
from the roads travelled.
" As for horses, mules, wagons, &c, the cavalry and ar
tillery may appropriate freely and without limit. Foraging
parties may also take mules or horses to replace the jaded
animals of their trains, or to serve as pack-mules for the regi
ments or brigades."
These orders were all right, if literally carried out ; but they
were soon converted into licenses for indiscriminate plunder.
The followers of an army, in the shape of servants, hangers-
on, and bummers, are generally as numerous as the effective
force. Every brigade and regiment had its organized, foraging
party, which were joined by every officer's servant and idler
about the camps.
These, scattered over the country, without any order or disci
pline, pounced like harpies on the unfortunate inhabitants,
stripping them of all provisions, jewelry, and valuables they
could discover.
In most instances they burned down houses to cover their
depredations, and ih some cases took the lives of their victims,
as they would not reveal concealed treasures. These gangs
spread like locusts over the country. In all cases where the
foraging parties were under the command of a respectable
officer, they acted with propriety, simply taking what pro
visions and necessaries they needed. They might as well have
stripped the place, though, for soon came the bummers, and
commenced a scene of ruin and pillage. Boxes were burst
open ; clothes dragged about ; the finest silks, belonging to the
planters' ladies, carried off to adorn some negro wenches around
camp ; pictures, books, furniture, all tossed about and torn in
pieces. Though these wretches were acting against military
orders, there was no one to complain. The planter and his
family were thankful if they escaped wijh their lives ; and as

244 Sherman's march through the south.
to their comrades, they were too deep in the pie themselves to
complain of a system which was enriching them.
The notion seemed to prevail south that Sherman would strike
for Macon ; therefore all available troops, comprising Iverson's
cavalry, and some scattered militia force, were guarding the
Jonesboro' road.
On the morning of the 15th of November, the 20th corps
moved out on the Decatur road unopposed.
At daylight next morning the different columns had taken up
their line of march ; the 17th corps on the McDonough road,
the 14th on the Augusta road, with the 20th corps on the left
flank, and the 15th on the right.
The first day's march was rather slow, in order to give time
to sluggard wagons and teams to get into position. The troops
were noisy and cheerful ; full of hope and excitement. Though
all superfluous baggage and trains had been sent to the rear,
still our train numbered about two thousand wagons, and would,
if stretched out in one line, extend about twenty miles.
The left wing was moving in a north-easterly direction, and
the opinion gained ground that we were striking for Augusta.
We passed by Stone Mountain, the column winding along
its base.
Stone Mountain is a remarkable curiosity. It is said to be
over two thousand feet above the level of the plain, and is
about seven miles in circumference. The view of this moun
tain is exceedingly grand and imposing. One side presents
almost a perpendicular surface, or wall, nearly nine hundred
feet high. The eastern side is not perpendicular, but exhibits a
broken and jagged surface, deeply marked with furrows. After
a heavy fall of rain these channels are the beds of thundering
waterfalls, with the angry surge flashing and sparkling, and
bounding from rock to rock.
On the summit of the hill are the ruins of an old fortifica
tion, whose history and purpose are both unknown. Two deep
fissures, like caves, cross one another on the mountain. At its
foot is a clear spring of cool, sparkling water, gushing from
a bed of white sand.

social cmcLE. 245
This strange mountain stands alone, looking like a huge loaf
of sugar — a puzzle to antiquarians and geologists, and a source-
of wonder and pride to travellers.
We crossed the Yellow River in the afternoon. As the bridges
had not been destroyed, it was evident that there was no enemy
in our front. When approaching Social Circle, Lieutenant Colo
nel Hughes, in command of the 9th Illinois mounted infantry,
which was covering the advance, dashed into the village, and
nearly succeeded in capturing a wagon train. He burned
the depot, and captured a rebel surgeon and about three
thousand dollars in gold.
Social Circle was a dirty little village of shanties, superannu
ated negroes, woolly picaninnies rolling in the dust, and squatting
like huge monkeys on the fences, and half-naked, snuff-begrimed
white women, who seemed to look upon the whole thing as a
grand review for their especial benefit. An old negress raised
her hands piously and bowed. " I'm Dressed if I thought there
- were so many of God's critters in de world at all."
In the evening we halted near Ulcofavuhachee, a miserable,
muddy stream, with a high-sounding name.
" Living off the country" was fast becoming the order. The
men knew that Sherman had started with some sixteen days'
supplies, and they wished to preserve them if possible ; besides,
they thought that a change of diet would be good for their
health. There was nothing to be got the first two days' march,
as the country all around Atlanta had been foraged by Slocum's
corps while hemmed in there. Now we were opening on a
country where pits of sweet potatoes, yards of poultry and hogs,
and cellars of bacon and flour, were making their appearance.
A new spirit began to animate the men ; they were as busy as
so many bees about a honey-pot, and commenced important
voyages of discovery, and returned well laden with spoils.
Foragers, bummers, and camp followers scattered over the
country for miles, and black clouds of smoke showed where
they had been. Small lots of cotton were found near most of
the plantation' houses. These, with the gins and presses, were
burned, oftentimes firing the houses and offices. Near Madison
21*

246 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
we passed some wealthy plantations ; one, the property of a
Mr. Lane, who was courteous enough to wait to receive us, was
full of decrepit, dilapidated negroes, presided over by a few
brimstone-looking white ladies. They were viciously rabid, and
only wished they could eat us with the same facility that the
troops consumed all the edibles on the place, and eloped with
plump grunters and indignant roosters, and their families.
The 20th corps encamped near Madison that night. The cav
alry had the advance, burned the depot, and cleared out the
town pretty well. Madison is situated on the Augusta line, and
was a town of near two thousand inhabitants before the war.
It is the county seat of Morgan County, and is about one hun
dred and two miles from Augusta. The face of the country
about here is undulating. The lands are of the richest and
best kind of mulatto soil, from Madison, extending across the
country from east to west, bordering on the waters of Little Oco
nee and Apalachee Rivers, and Indian and Sugar Creeks. Mad
ison is said to be remarkable for the beauty of its buildings and
streets, and its pretty women. About the women I cannot say
much, for we saw none but either the decrepit or wizen-faced,
who were too old to fear any assault. The pretty ones kept in
side doors, if at home at all. I expect they were, though, for
several shutters were half open, and blinds half raised, partic
ularly while the bands were playing " Dixie ; " but as soon as it
struck up "Yankee Doodle," they were suddenly dropped and
slammed to. Some of the houses were very fine — built of
brick, surrounded with lovely lawns, flower-gardens, and con
servatories. In the centre is the Court House, where law, and not
justice, was administered to the white man, and stripes to his
black brother.
Our troops entered the town next morning, and a brigade was
detailed to destroy all the works around the depot and railroad
track, also to burn a pile of nearly two hundred bales of cotton
in a hut near. While this work was being executed, the strag
glers, who manage to get to the front when there is plunder in
view, and vagabonds of the army, crowded into the town, and
the work of pillage went on with a vengeance. Stores were

SACK OF MADISON. 247
ripped open ; goods, valuables, and plate, all suddenly and mys
teriously disappeared. I say mysteriously, for if you were to
question the men about it, not one of them admitted having a
hand in it. Grinning negroes piloted the army, and appeared
to be in their element. They called out, " Here, massa ; I guess
we gwine to get some brandy here." The doors would at once
be forced open, the cellars and shelves emptied, and everything
tossed about in the utmost confusion. If a good store chanced
to be struck, the rush for it was immense. Some of those in
side, being satisfied themselves, would fling bales of soft goods,
hardware, "harness, and other miscellaneous articles, through the
windows. I have seen fellows carry off a richly gilt mirror,
and when they got tired of it, dash it against the ground. A
piano was a much prized article of capture. I have often
witnessed the ludicrous sight of a lot of bearded, rough soldiers
capering about the room in a rude waltz, while some fellow was
thumping away unmercifully at the piano, with another cutting
grotesque capers on the top-board. When they got tired of this
saturnalia, the piano was consigned to the flames, and most
likely the house with it. The wreck of Madison was pretty
effective, too. All the stores were gutted, and the contents
scattered and broken around. Cellars of rich wine were dis
covered, and prostrate men gave evidence of its strength, with
out any revenue test. A milliner's establishment was sacked,
and gaudy ribbons and artificial flowers decorated the caps of
the pretty fellows that had done it. Their horses and the ne
gro wenches, too, came in for a share of the decorative spoils.
One fellow created a great deal of amusement by riding down
the street, kissing and embracing a female form, which he
hugged before him on the saddle, and then squeaked and cried,
as if she was kicking up a rumpus at such liberties.
" I say, Ned, where did you catch the prize ? " called out one
of his comrades.
" Why, Fred, is that you ! Up there ; there is a little colony
of them in it ; go get one for yourself."
" I guess not, Ned, if she makes such a fuss as that one
about it."

248 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
" Isn't there any one in the crowd will protect a poor, lone
female from such violence ? " squeaked Ned for the figure. " 0,
O ! is there any man here at all?" sobbed the female.
An officer who heard the appeal, riding up to Ned with a
cocked pistol, demanded, —
" Halt, you scoundrel, and let go that lady."
" Now, captain, I reckon I'm no more a scoundrel than you;
and as to the lady, you may take her with pleasure."
Ned bobbed her around in a most helpless way.
" Dear me," exclaimed the captain, " she is in a faint."
" By h — 1, she hasn't a word," said Ned.
" Ruffian, hand her to me, tenderly ! " and the captain alighted
to take down the poor lady. Ned handed her to him, and then
rode off. Fancy the captain's indignation when he found that
it was only a wire and wax figure, richly dressed for a show
window. He soon let it drop, mounted his horse, said some
very hard prayers, and rode off amidst the suppressed titters of
the delighted crowd.
This scene lasted until the head of the column under General
Slocum arrived, when the town was at once cleared out of these
marauders, and guards placed while the troops were passing.
The left wing had destroyed the Augusta line aloug their
march. The right wing had moved by McDonagh to Jackson
without encountering an enemy. The rebels were making some
little show to the cavalry on our flanks, but did not as yet at
tempt to give battle. The negroes were joining us in crowds.
Near every cross-road and plantation, we would meet groups
of old men and women, and young children, who received us
with shouts of joy, exclaiming, " Glory be to de Lord ; bress
de Lord, the day of jubilou is come ; dis nigger is off to glory,"
and fell in with their sable friends in the rear, without even
asking where we were going, or what we would do with them.
Such was their simple faith that they trudged along, " bressing
de Lord, de day of jubilou is come." Many of them had rea
son to regret their desire for liberty. With them, liberty too
often meant plenty to eat and wear, and nothing to do. They
found that it meant hardship, hunger, and cold ; for many of them

AN OBSTREPEROUS-SUBMISSIVE OFFICER. 249
perished along the way from fatigue and the hardship of the
march. When the columns halted, or when we bivouacked for the
night, Sherman was always poking around by himself.
On one occasion he was crossing to a certain general's quar
ters ; but losing his way, he called at an officer's tent. The
flies were down, and the officer was enjoying a snooze for him
self. Sherman knocked at the canvas.
"Who is that?" said the officer, impatient at being dis
turbed. " Could you tell me where General  's quarters are?"
" How the h— 1 do I know ? "
" Ain't you a quartermaster in his division ? "
" That's not the reason I'd go fish up his quarters for every
one that comes hunting them."
Just then a clerk was going into his master's tent, most likely
to tell him whom he was addressing.
Sherman tapped him on the shoulder, and said, " My man,
I'm General Sherman ; I want to go to General — — ; will
you please show me the way ? "
" General Sherman ! " exclaimed the lazy consequential quar
termaster, jumping up and stammering out a host of confused
apologies, " I'll go with you."
"No, no," said the general, sneeringly ; "you are too well
engaged ; I won't trespass on your time ; this man will come
with me."
The snubbed quartermaster, who was puffed up with vain
conceit, and a little brief authority, slunk back, while Sherman
and his guide went on their way.
When we discovered large quantities of molasses, there was
sure to be such a rush for it, that oftentimes more was
wasted than used. On one occasion the men had a regular
squabble about a new discovery, and, in their impatience, had
upset a barrel. There was a furious crush, and every appear
ance of a little shindy. Sherman chanced to be strolling about,
and, with much trouble, edged his way in among the crowd,
and dipped his finger in the sirup and tasted it, remarking,

250 Sherman's march through the south.
" Boys, that's good ! see all you have spilt here by your crowd
ing ; if you only keep order, there is enough for all here ; fall
back, now, and let only a couple at a time fill their canteens."
He then placed a guard over the sorghum, to prevent any
more of it being wasted.
From Madison General John Geary's command made a de
tour, in light marching order, to Buckhead Station, ten miles on
the Georgia Railroad, and destroyed all the railroad buildings
and tore up the track. Thence he marched to the Oconee River,
and burned the railroad bridge over that stream. He then
moved along the left bank of the river, burning several bridges,
mills, and tanneries on his route.
Sherman's left was now threatening Augusta ; his right, Ma
con. The enemy, believing that he was aiming at those points,
had concentrated there, leaving our right unimpeded. Kil
patrick, who was covering our extreme right, had instructions
to demonstrate against Macon. This he did, thus confirming
the rebels in their ignorance.
The country lying between Madison, Covington, and Mil
ledgeville, is a perfect garden"; and though not literally teeming
with milk and honey, it was teeming with something better —
farmyards well stocked with hogs and poultry, stacks of corn
fodder, corn-houses, and bins filled with corn and grain. Sweet
potatoes and negroes seemed to grow spontaneously. Hogs
grunted a welcome on every side — fine, sleek hogs, that strut
ted about with snobbish dignity ; young, petulant hogs, that
cocked up their noses in disdain at the Yankees. The Yankees,
not to be outdone in politeness, soon cocked up their feet.
Poor, timid sheep, and submissive cattle, swinging huge bells,
as if tolling a requiem over the desolation around, looked won-
deringly upon the foragers as they came down in fell swoop
upon the farmyard, and patiently submitted to their fate.
The left column was now closing on Milledgeville. They
had struck the Eatonton Branch Railroad, twenty-two miles
from Milledgeville.
We revelled in the splendid homes and palatial residences of
some of the wealthy planters here. The men, with that free

CONVIVIAL SCENES. 251
and easy, devil-may-care sort of way, so characteristic of sol
diers, made themselves quite as much at home in the fine house
of the planter as in the shanty of the poor white trash or the
negro. They helped themselves, freely and liberally, to every
thing they wanted, or did not want. It mattered little which.
When near Milledgeville, an amusing incident occurred at
the plantation of a Mr. Jordan, who was said to be worth a
mint of money.
Mr. Jordan was quite taken by surprise at General Sherman's
visit, and was not able to clear out anything but himself from
the Yankee Vandals. The house was richly furnished and
adorned with pictures, paintings, rich furniture, and plate. He
left his overseer, who was formerly from New York^ to receive
his friends, which he did in the most generous manner.
He received the officers with open arms and smiling counte
nance. His eyes were actually wet with joy at the unexpected
pleasure. The cellar was emptied of its best and richest wines.
Venerable brandy bottles were exhumed, frowy with age and
mellowness, and he drank, batch after batch of officers, out of
the house. He was voted a brick, and a guard placed on the
house. As for the rank and file, though they threw many a
wistful glance in through the windows, they had to confine
themselves to a skirmish with the poultry and hogs around the
yard, which they soon cleared out. Mr. Allen had succeeded
in drinking a whole division, when he encountered Colonel H.
Barnum. The colonel is something of a wag, and was well
versed in all the arts and sciences of compounding mixed
drinks. " Colonel, isn't that splendid?" remarked Mr. Allen, holding
a full glass of old Burgundy between him and the light.
" Yes, I must confess it's very good ; but just try some of
this ! " and the colonel took out a flask, and poured out a large
glassful of it, remarking, " This is some of our northern strong
wine ; I guess they made none of this there in your time ! "
" I should say not," replied Mr. Allen, draining the contents.
Mr. Allen now became very noisy, insisting that every one
should drink, men and all, while there was a drop on the prem-

252 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
ises." He soon reeled about, and keeled over. The officers
took him up, and placed him on the bed, laid a sheet over, with
a label, for the information of following officers : " Dead drunk,
by his own acts."
I am sure Mr. Allen felt rather surprised, when he came to
himself, both at finding himself abed, and the house untouched.

ENTRY INTO MILLEDGEVILLE. 253

CHAPTER XXII.
THE ARMY IN MILLEDGEVILLE. — FLIGHT OF THE GOVERNMENT
AND LEGISLATURE. — A MOCK SESSION IN THE CAPITOL.— OUR
CAVALRY MOVEMENTS — THE JEW AND THE GENERAL. — THE
WAY SHERMAN'S ARMY LIVED ON THE COUNTRY.
About noon, on the 22d of November, the advance of the
left wing reached Milledgeville.
General Slocum was received by the mayor, who surrendered
the city, requesting that life and private property might be re
spected. The troops entered playing national airs, and their banners
flying. Soon after the stars and stripes floated from the State
House. Governor Brown had delivered a very inflammatory speech
to the legislators, on Saturday the 17th, telling them that the
Yankee Vandals were approaching the capital, to destroy, pol
lute, and devastate all before them. He exhorted and entreated
every member here present to seize his musket and meet the
ruthless invaders. As for himself, he was resolved to defend his
home to the last.
His glowing philippic seemed to infuse a spirit of patriotism
into the legislative body. The members loudly cheered, and
went home to furbish their arms. A report ran through the
city that the Yankee cavalry were approaching ; and then all
their courage, like Bob Acres's, ran through their fingers' ends.
They hastily packed their traps, and fled, Governor Brown
heading the runaways, on to Macon. This was followed by a
regular stampede, which was greatly accelerated next day by
the appearance of Captain Duncan and some ten scouts, who
made a dash into the town, scaring away all the men, except
the poor craven mayor, who went into hysterics.
22

254 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
The women, of course, remained, but were saucy and indig
nant enough to fight it out themselves. One lady, whose lord
had joined the retreat, and who felt very bitter at such a mean
piece of cowardice, informed us how it all took place. "
" The cowardly, mean set ! " she exclaimed. " I tell you, I'd
sooner see my husband dead at my feet than such a skunk.
Some Yankee scouts came dashing, pellmell, into the town,
when the men — the mean, craven-hearted wretches ! — skedad
dled, leaving our baby mayor to surrender the town uncon
ditionally to five greasy Yankees, ten miles in advance of the
army. Faugh on them ! the chicken-hearted wretches ! and
the mayor a puffed-up old fool. Had I been in town I'd have
collected all the women, and driven the skunks out with mop-
handles and broomsticks ! "
Milledgeville, the capital of Georgia, is rather a pleasant
looking town, with a population of about three thousand. It is
situated on a bluff, in the midst of a fine cotton-growing coun
try, on the west side of the Oconee River.
Some of the residences are very fine, and built of brick.
Delightful gardens, tasteful lawns, and spacious streets give
the whole place an air of comfort and elegance.
The Capitol, which is a very imposing brown stone building, is
built on a ten-acre square, in the centre of the town, and is
flanked on each corner by a small, but tasteful, church.
Trophy-hunters, boisterous negroes, who did not know what
to do with themselves and their freedom, drunken soldiers, all
revelled now about the State House. The library was ran
sacked by the literati, and archives and books carried off in
loads. Minerals, fossils, state bonds, and state money were at
a discount. Stacks of Georgia state money were found in the treasurer's
office. There were millions of dollars there, the most of it
not signed. The men loaded themselves with it ; the negroes
fought over it, and " bressed de Lord, dey were richer dan poor
massa now."
This money circulated freely, on the march, in exchange for
chickens, bacon, and other little luxuries, and the poor people

THE RUNAWAY CHIVALRY. 255
were gratefully surprised at the liberality of Uncle Sam's
Yanks. The fright of the honorable body of legislators must have
been amusing. They scarcely knew where to run or what to do.
They heard that our left wing was moving on Augusta, and
they felt secure. Then Howard threatened them from McDon
ough and they shivered again. Then our cavalry and right
wing were striking for Macon, and they became valiant again,
and made fiery speeches of the last-ditch style. News came
that a column was moving right on the capital, and the cavalry
were in sight of the city.
This was too much for the Falstaff heroes, and they fled in
such confusion that the railroad cars became crowded to an
excess with furniture, private property, and goods, and fabulous
sums were given for any kind of conveyances. They were
frantically running about, like King Richard, exclaiming, " A
horse, a horse, my estate for a horse ! " Buggies, barouches,
and other vehicles fetched thousands of dollars. They had
only the one outlet for escape, and they trembled lest the Van
dals would pounce down on them every minute.
General Sherman took up his quarters uninvited at the exec
utive mansion, Governor Brown, with very bad grace, not wait
ing to receive him.
General Slocum had placed a provost guard through the city,
with strict orders to arrest any one found pillaging, and to pro
tect all private property.
Colonel Hawley, of the 3d Wisconsin, was appointed com
mandant of the post, and established his headquarters in the
State House, after which all scientific and literary investiga
tions were put a stop to.
The only property destroyed were the magazines, arsenals,
depots, factories, the penitentiary, which some lawless soldiers
had fired, and released the inmates for the benefit of Georgia
society, and storehouses, with near two thousand bales of cotton.
No private property was destroyed, and the people began
to think that the devil was not so black as he was painted,
after all. • *

256 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Convening the Legislature.
As Governor Brown and the congregated wisdom of Georgia
had taken a French leave of absence, and as striking events
were developing, it was thought advisable that an extraordinary
meeting of the house should be convened. In pursuance of
said call, a full house had assembled. The halls and chambers
were crowded with honorable members in blue. The meeting
was held in the Senate Chamber ; the subject under discussion
was, the reorganization of the State of Georgia.
Colonel J. C. Robinson was elected* president ; Lieutenant .
Colonel H. C. Rogers, clerk ; Captain W. W. Mosely was ap
pointed sergeant-at-arms to assist the pages, Mayors Gwindow,
Crane, and others, in keeping order and decently laying out
under the table any member seized with Bourbon fits, which
disease was rather prevalent among the honorable members.
The honorable body took their seats in the usual riotous, scram
bling manner of such bodies in general, and with the strictest
observance of legislative usages.
The business of the house was opened by a general drink,
and a Committee on Federal Relations appointed, comprising
Colonels Watkins, Carman, Zulick, Thompson, Ewing, Coggs-
well, who retired, and were soon engaged discussing the merits
of a strong bottle of brandy. Snatches of songs and laughter,
which floated up from the committee room, proved that the
honorable gentlemen were liberally and cheerfully engaged.
Pending their return, General Kilpatrick regaled the conven
tion with a full and highly-embellished account of a very dash
ing raid he had made on a cellar.
"Though," said the honorable gentleman, "I am a very
modest man, that never blows his own horn, like other gentle
men whom I could name, I must honestly tell you that I am
Old Harry on raids. My men, too, have strongly imbibed the
spirit, and are always full of it. I must confess that my fel
lows are very inquisitive. Having come so far to visit the good
people of Georgia, who are famed for their hospitality, they
live in the free and easy style among them ; and if, perchance,

THE MOCK GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 257
they discover a deserted cellar, believing that it was kindly left
for their use by the considerate owner, they take charge of it.
It sometimes happens, too, that they look after the plate and
other little matters. Coming to my own particular raid, it was
one of the handsomest and most brilliant affairs of the war
I  "
" Mr. Speaker, I must raise a point of order. I believe it is
always the custom to treat the speaker." This interruption
came from a lobby member, who appeared suffering from an
ague fit.
" Yes, I believe it's customary to treat the speaker ; " and he
produced a huge brandy flask. " I beg to inform this honor
able body that I am going to treat the speaker ; " and he gravely
put the bottle to his mouth, and seemed to enjoy most lovingly
its contents. This interruption was received by cheers from
some, and cries of Order, order ! from others. Before the hon
orable gentleman could resume his address, the committee
returned, some humming, " We won't go home till morning,"
" Marching, marching along." A noisy debate ensued, every
one edging in his own word, the chief tenor of which was a
strong wish of cultivating a closer acquaintance with Joe Brown
and Company, and regretting their unparliamentary absence
from the meeting.
After several calls to order, the chairman of the Committee
on Federal Relations read the following set of resolutions : —
1. That the ordinance of secession was highly indiscreet and
injudicious, and ought to be discouraged.
2. That aforesaid ordinance is a d — d farce,, and always was,
and is hereby repealed and abrogated.
3. That Sherman's columns will play the devil with the ordi
nance and the state itself
4. As the Federal relations with the state are not very
friendly, that a committee be appointed to kick Joe Brown and
Jeff Davis, and also to whip back the state into the Union.
A lobby member suggested that Sherman's committee of safety,
comprising Uncle Sam's blue jackets, would do that, and pro
posed that the reconstruction of the state be left in their hands.
22*

258 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
The resolutions and amendments were submitted to the house,
and were loudly ratified, nem. con.
The legislature rather hastily adjourned, after the style of
Governor Brown, first regaling itself with Bourbon and brandy
smashers. Thus terminated the sittings of this important body of Yankee
representatives, who had brought back the state into the Union
vi et armis.
Here, as elsewhere, we found the ladies to be uncompromising
rebels. One lady, who kept a perfect harem of young lady
boarders, paid a guard which had been assigned her, liberally in
greenbacks, which she had got from officers who had dined there.
" Why do you do that, madam?" asked an officer present.
Assuming something of the Charlotte Corday expression of
contempt and disdain, she haughtily replied, —
" Sir, I don't keep the vile trash. I'm no traitor."
On the 22d Kilpatrick struck the Macon and Western road,
destroying the bridge at Walnut Creek. Next day Howard's
column reached Gordon, and began the destruction of the Geor
gian Central Railroad.
The only fighting we had since we left Atlanta was between
Kilpatrick and Wheeler's cavalry. Kilpatrick made a demon
stration on Macon, and when near Gordon the enemy showed
fight, and threw forward some infantry. Howard sent General
Walcott's brigade of infantry to support Kilpatrick, and a very
hot little engagement ensued at Griswoldville. Before I de
scribe this, I will give a resume of the cavalry operations since
we left Atlanta.
The first brigade of Kilpatrick's cavalry was commanded by
Colonel E. H. Murray, of the 3d Kentucky, and the 2d brigade
was under Colonel Atkinson, 92d Illinois mounted infantry.
Kilpatrick covered our right flank, moving on the Jones
boro' road. At Lovejoy they were opposed by dismounted
infantry and some militia, in Hood's old works. They had
two guns in position. They were soon routed from this po
sition. Kilpatrick pursued them to Bear Creek Station, where

BATTLE NEAR GORDON. 259
they made another stand, being reenforced. A sharp engage
ment took place here, but the rebels were finally driven from
their breastworks. On the 18th Kilpatrick reached the river at
Planters' Ferry. On the 20th he occupied Clinton, and moved
by Cross Keys, with the intention of demonstrating on Macon.
The enemy were pretty strongly intrenched on the heights
around Macon. Kilpatrick skirmished with them. His in
structions were to threaten Macon, but not attack in case of
resistance. Next day he tore up the railroad towards Gordonsville, and/
burned a number of factories and machine shops.
On the 22d he arrived near Gordon, where the enemy made
a decided stand. While the cavalry were engaged here, the
rebels sent forward an infantry force, under General Phil
ips. Howard, being apprised of this movement, sent General
Walcott's brigade, of the 15 th corps, to support the cavalry.
Walcott's infantry swept down on the rebel militia with sover
eign contempt. The latter did not immediately give way, but
seemed to show fight, as much as to say, " We'll show you
that militia can fight."
Walcott opened a heavy fire of musketry and artillery upon
them, and replied with a good deal of steadiness. Walcott
formed into column and charged right down on them, sweeping
them before him. General Philips did all he could to rally his
troops, and partly succeeded ; but they did not long stand our fire
and charge, but fled panic-stricken, leaving Philips and a large
number of prisoners in our hands. The fight was rather a
tough one, and ended in the rout of the rebels, with a loss of
about three hundred, while our loss could be no more than forty
to fifty. General Walcott was wounded in the engagement.
Thence Kilpatrick passed through Gordon, crossing the Oco
nee River, and joined Sherman at Milledgeville.
Howard's column had encountered no opposition as yet, ex
cept General Walcott's engagement at Griswoldville. He had
destroyed several miles of railroad, stores, mills, factories,
and cotton.
The quantity of cotton destroyed was immense. The women

260 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
and children, and a few old men, and Jews, who managed the
shent. per shent. part of the Confederacy, looked on with a morbid
kind of apathy.
We found that a large portion of the cotton was,, or pre
tended to be, in the hands of the Jews. We seldom got up a
cotton burning that Solomon the Jew, or Isaac the Jew, or
some other Jew, did not claim it as his lawful property. They
strongly pleaded their neutrality, and appeared horrified when
they found that dodge no go.
In one case in Carolina, a Jew, true to his money-making
instincts, seeing a fine pile of cotton preparing for the torch,
rushes up excitedly, and exclaims, —
" General, you don't mean to say that you are going to burn
dat 'ere pile of cotton?"
" Certainly."
" Ah, mein Gott ! what a pity ! three hundred bales ! "
" Four hundred, friend," said the general, amusing himself
at the poor Jew's expense.
" An' de cotton as high as fifty cents a pound."
" Sixty-five cents in New York," replied the general, piling
up the agony still higher.
" O mein Gott ! mein Gott ! " exclaimed the Jew, wringing
his hands and looking most affectionately at the tempting pile,
which his avaricious mind had already converted into a regular
mint of -gold dollars.
" Come, men, fire it ! " exclairned the general ; and the men
snatched up the brands from the fire, and were about thrusting
them into the pile. This was too much for the Jew : was all
his anticipated wealth thus to end in smoke ? and raising his
hands he exclaimed, —
" Don't fire dat ! don't fire dat ! "
The men stood with the brands raised. The Jew ran over
to the general, and taking him confidentially by the coat, whis
pered in his ear, —
" What vill I give you for de whole lot?"
The general thought he would keep on the joke.
" Well, taking the risks and everything into account, I should
think fifty thousand dollars enough for it."

THE JEW AND THE COTTON. 261
" Fifty tousand ! the risks are great, general ! "
" True, then say forty."
" O, dat too much, too."
"What do you say to thirty thousand?"
" De rebel cavalry might come and burn it."
" Well, what do you say yourself."
" General," he whispered into his ears, " I'll give you ten
tousand gold dollars, and let de cotton be, and no one be de
wiser." " It won't do ; fire the cotton, men."
" No, no, general, I'll make it de twenty."
The general shook his head ; the cotton was beginning to
blaze up.
" Stop dem, general ; I'll make it de thirty."
The pile was in one blaze.
" It is too late now," said the general, and the bewildered
Jew looked on in horror.
" Look here," said the general, tapping the Jew on the shoul
der, and giving him a look that made him quail, —
" I want thirty thousand dollars from you."
"Mein Gott! for what?" exclaimed the affrighted Jew;
" de cotton is all burned now."
" Exactly so ; you are a rebel agent ; otherwise you could
not pay such a sum for this cotton."
" 0, no, mein Gott, I hate de rebels ; but I wanted to make
one little money ; me no agent."
" Well, well, you'd buy that cotton for the rebels, if we left
it here ; of course it would get into their hands. Are you a
Union man ? "
" O mein Gott, yes ; I alvays for de Union."*
"You'd do as much for the Union as for the Confederacy?"
" Mein Gott, much more."
"Then you were ready to pay thirty thousand dollars for
that cotton, which would fall into the rebel hands ; now, I de
mand the same amount for the Union cause."
The poor Jew was in a trap ; he had baited a snare for him
self. It was amusing to see how he wriggled and shivered

262 Sherman's march through the south.
between the fear of being strung out of a tree and the dread of
losing his thirty thousand dollars.
The general kept him in a state of suspense for some time,
during which he swore by Jacob, Abraham, Solomon, and all
the prophets of the old law, that he was a strict Union man,
and had not thirty thousand dollars in the world.
" Why did you offer it then, or how did you mean to
pay it?"
" O, mein Gott, general, I knew ye wouldn't ax de money
until I'd sell de cotton in New York."
This subterfuge so pleased the general that he dismissed the
Jew, who, I am sure, never tried to buy cotton from Yankee
generals again.
It is a notorious fact that Jews hung around the army like
crows around carrion, and as soon as we got possession of a
town, they at once got all the good stores and trade privileges.
I have known instances where men, who had served in the
army, wanted trade privileges, and could not get them, while
Jews, who had never smelled gunpowder, could get what they
pleased. I have seen, in a certain town in Tennessee, ex-
officers, who wanted permits, left to cool themselves in presence
ofthe Great Mogul, — the treasury agent, — while some wealthy
shoddy Jew was getting a lengthened audience, and enjoying a
pleasant tete-a-tete.
When the ex-officers and others were received by the little
great man, it was in the tone of one "clothed in a little brief
authority." " What do you want? "
" Trade permits."
" I can't atfend to them. More applications than I can
grant." Again, I have seen Jews walk unchallenged into the office
of a certain general, military governor of a certain town in
Georgia, while others had to go through a regular course of
ceremonies and passes before they reached the august presence
of his high mightiness.
I admire the pluck and enterprise of the Jews, and wish them

POLICY OF THE JEWS. 263
every success ; but I don't see why they should be more favor
ably treated than Christians.
Somehow I think they have discovered the golden sesame.
A friend of mine once complained to a Jew that he could not
get any favors from a certain party. " Though," said my friend,
" I am asking nothing but what I am entitled to."
" What would you give for the privilege you want? "
" I'd give one or two hundred dollars to any one that would
get it."
" Indeed ! Well, I take one hundred and fifty dollars from
you and get the permit ; but mind you," said the Jew, who
seemed to feel ashamed of what a Christian delighted in,
" one cent of this does not go into my pocket ; still it is neces
sary to get you the permit."
" I understand, and am grateful to yoii," replied the other.
He soon got his permit.
The Jew has shown his wisdom throughout this war. As a
class they were the only people that kept clear of it. While
Christians were slaying their brother Christians, and rose up in
bloody enmity against one another, the Jews traded and bar
tered, bought and sold goods, houses, and property, gave and
took in marriage, as if the world were at peace, accumulated
wealth, and now enjoy in ease the fine homesteads, spacious
stores, and rich plantations of the poor victims of pride and
ambition. Verily, they are wise in their generation.
It takes an old raider to appreciate how completely and
quickly a railroad can be destroyed. At the first start of
railroad raids, the rails were simply turned over, — the men
ranging themselves at one side, and raising in one huge swath
hundreds of yards at a time, and then tossing it over. This
only caused some delay, but left the material for use again.
We improved on the thing like all other sciences of war.
The rails were torn from the sleepers by a kind of drag, with
a lever attached for a handle. Then the sleepers were piled up,
and set on fire.
The rails were placed on top, and soon became so soft that

264 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
they could be twisted like a corkscrew, or wound around a tree
like an anaconda. Future antiquarians will rack their brains
conjecturing how these iron monsters twisted themselves
around the trees. I should not wonder if some Barnum
of the twenty-fifth century should exhibit an immense rail
as the " fungated boa-constrictor found buried in the heart
of a huge oak tree, where it must have lain for hundreds
of years," with, perhaps, another that has been modelled
into a duck of a corkscrew, as "a corkscrew used by the
aborigines of America in the days when there were giants upon
the earth."
These will be looked back upon as the good old times, though,
truly, we have found more harm than good in them.
Near some stations we found several locomotive houses inhab
ited by a very peculiar people. Some western squatters live on
rafts ; the Chinese have their floating populations, and the poor
Irish their mud cabins ; but here we found new tenants who
inhabit the box-cars that have been thrown off the track, or
switched on sidelings. In some of these were families of blacks,
whose masters had been burned out, and they were now shifting
for themselves. All the able-bodied men had been carried off
by massa, leaving the women and children^to enjoy the com
bined luxury of freedom and starvation.
Greasy negro wenches stuck out their heads through the
windows to survey us, while young picaninnies rolled and
tumbled about like porpoises on the land.
Some had the octoroon lightness of color and clearness of
features ; others approached the brown olive of the Indian ; while
others displayed the thick lips, woolly heads, and dusky skins
of the pure Ethiopian.
Such a medley would send your miscegenation disciples into
ecstasies ; but it would take a whole herald colleg6 to trace their
relationship to one another. I learned that the octoroon boy,
whom, if you met with, you would set down as the child of
white parents, was the offspring of brother and sister. His
mother was the child of a planter, and his slave ; while the
boy was the child of the planter's son.

THE BLACK COLONY. 265
"Did you know," said I to the boy's mother, who was
certainly good-looking, "that he was your brother?"
" Specks I 'did."
" And why did you live with him? "
" Me gwine to oppose massa? Catch a slave do it."
" And have you been kept a slave all the time."
" Yes ; but old massa sold my sister, and young massa says
he'll sell me if I don't be good."
Two box-cars near the black colony were inhabited by white
families. They did not appear to be a bit better off than the
blacks. Their clothing was scant, and their sense of shame or
moral rectitude, if they ever had any, was perfectly blunted.
In one car I found two young and rather good-looking
women. They had three children between them.
" Where are your husbands?" I asked.
f " We never had none," was the reply.
" How do you manage to live?"
" Well, I reckon as well as we can. Can't get no coffee nor
snuff, now. Have you a chew of 'backer, stranger ? "
These wretched families appeared content in their filth, and
rags, and wretchedness.
They found very little change in the times. True, they
became a little hard since the war took place ; still, they were
able to live, while, at the best of times, they had a struggle to
do so. Their huts and persons were equally dirty and squalid ;
though a stream of water ran near them, they appeared to have
a hydrophobiac dread of it.
It was the policy of the rebel government to abandon the
cultivation of cotton for the raising of corn' crops, and this was
fully carried out by the planters.
I had been informed that for the past two years there was not
above one fifth the quantity of cotton planted that had been in for
mer years. This I am sure was the fact ; for besides the desire to
raise food for the armies, the able-bodied negroes were employed
on military works, and the whites conscripted into the army.
As cotton requires watchful care, the planters had not hands
to cultivate it. 23

266 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
In our march we daily traversed immense cornfields of hun
dreds of acres in extent. These were formerly devoted to cotton.
The rich extent of country west of the Savannah River was
the great granary of the rebel army of the west. Lee's army
drew the bulk of its supplies from the states east of the Savan
nah, chiefly about Columbia.
How we lived on the Country.
Our campaign all through Central Georgia was one delightful
picnic. We had little or no fighting, and good living. The
farm-yards, cellars, and cribs of the planters kept ourselves and
animals well stored with provisions and forage, besides an occa
sional stiff horn of something strong and good, which, according
to the injunctions of holy writ, we took "for our stomachs'
sake." Indeed, the men were becoming epicures. In passing through
the camp one night, I saw a lot of jolly soldiers squatted outside
the huts in true gypsy style, and between them a table richly
stocked with meats and fowls of different kinds, flanked by
several bottles of brandy.
They were a jolly set of scamps — talked, laughed, jested, and
cracked jokes and bottles in smashing style.
Chase's financial speculations were nothing to theirs ; and as
for their war schemes, Stanton's and Halleck's were thrown in
the shade by them. On the subject of eating they were truly
eloquent, and discussed the good things before them with the
gusto of a Beau Brummel.
They thought campaigning in Georgia about the pleasantest
sort of life out, and they wondered what would become of the
poor dog-gone folks they had left with their fingers in their
mouths, and little else to put in them.
Many of our foragers, scouts, and hangers-on of all classes,
thought, like Cromwell, that they were doing the work of the
Lord, in wantonly destroying as much property as possible.
Though this was done extensively in Georgia, it was only in
South Carolina that it was brought to perfection.
When we reached Milledgeville, we had about thirty days' .
extra marching rations.

LIVING ON THE COUNTRY. 267
It is impossible to enter into the details of the many ways an
army can live on the country. Besides the regular detailed
forage parties, there are the officers' servants and cooks, black
and white, all wanting something nice for massa general or the
captain's mess. Some of these black and white rascals draw
largely on the mess fund, with the honest intention of paying
for what they get, but somehow forget doing so. I once had a
negro servant, a very pious negro, by the way. He was a kind
of preacher, collected his "bredern" at night, and with them
shouted out psalms lustily enough to take heaven by storm.
He was a pious negro, and pointed out the road Zion-ward to
his " errin' bredern."
" I'm gwine out, massa, wid de boys, and I want money."
This was one morning when we were preparing to march.
"For what, Moses?"
" Well, you, massa, hain't a chicken nor butter for dinner."
" Moses, .why can't you forage, like the rest? I declare, our
mess is costing us a pile, while others are living on the country."
" Dat's true, massa," said Moses, with a look of offended
virtue ; " but dis chiP never steal his neighbor's goods."
I stood rebuked by this unsophisticated son of the wilderness,
and, feeling ashamed of myself, handed him a five-dollar bill.
In the course of the day, passing a poor shanty, I heard a great
uproar in the yard, and the voice of a woman in angry remon
strance. I dismounted in time to see Moses and the cook
charge out of the yard, both flanked with chickens and roosters
tied to their saddles.
" O, the murthering thieves," exclaimed the woman, "they
hain't left me a morsel ; they have even taken my blanket, and
a little crock of butter, a few pieces of bacon an officer left me,
and myself and the children will starve ; and here is what they
gave me ; " and she showed a twenty-dollar Confederate note.
At night Moses had a very nice dinner for me, no doubt ; the
chickens were elegantly done, the bacon was rich and juicy. I
could have enjoyed the thing immensely at any other time ; but
somehow the widow and orphans seemed to look on upbraid-
ingly.

268 Sherman's march through the south.
Moses, however, took it very complacently, and even rebuked
me because I sat down without saying grace.
"Any change for me, Moses?"
" Change, massa ? I declare, dese 'ere things dreadfully dear !
Cost a heap ! "
" Iudeed ! what did you pay ? "
" You see, massa, she was a lone-woman ; so I gave her ten
dollars." " So I owe you five ; " and I took out a Confederate bill for
the amount.
" This 'ere thing no good," said Moses, handing it back to
me, in disdain.
" You hypocrite ! " I exclaimed, "it is as good as the one
you gave the widow ; and by Jove ! if you practise any more
on me, I'll have you tied up and well flogged."
Moses was quite crest-fallen, and never asked me for money
again on the march.
This is a mild case, and gives but a poor notion of the ex
ploits of the grand army of foragers and bummers.
War is very pleasant when attended by little fighting, and
good living at the expense of the enemy.
To draw a line between stealing and taking or appropriating
everything for the subsistence of an army would puzzle the
nicest casuist. Such little freaks as taking the last chicken, the
last pound of meal, the last bit of bacon, and the only remain
ing scraggy cow, from a poor woman and -her flock of children,
black or white not considered, came under the order of legiti
mate business. Even crockery, bed-covering, or cloths, were
fair spoils. As for plate, or jewelry, or watches, these were
things rebels had no use for. They might possibly convert
them into gold, and thus enrich the Confederate treasury.
Men with pockets plethoric with silver and gold coin ; soldiers
sinking under the weight of plate and fine bedding materials ;
lean mules and horses, with the richest trappings of Brussels
carpets, and hangings of fine chenille ; negro wenches, particu
larly good-looking ones, decked in satin and silks, and sporting
diamond ornaments ; officers with sparkling rings, that would

LIVING ON the country. 269
set Tiffany in raptures, — gave color to the stories of hanging up
or fleshing an " old cuss," to make him shell out.
A planter's house was overrun in a jiffy ; boxes, drawers,
and escritoirs were ransacked with a laudable zeal, and emptied
of their contents. If the spoils were ample, the depredators
were satisfied, and went off in peace ; if not, everything was
torn and destroyed, and most likely the owner was tickled with
sharp* bayonets into a confession where he had his treasures
hid. If he escaped, and was hiding in a thicket, this was prima
facie evidence that he was a skulking rebel ; and most likely
some ruffian, in his zeal to get rid of such vipers, gave him a
dose of lead, which cured him of his Secesh tendencies. Sor
ghum barrels were knocked open, bee-hives rifled, while their
angry swarms rushed frantically about. Indeed, I have seen a
soldier knock a planter down because a bee stung him. Hogs
are bayonetted, and then hung in quarters on the bayonets to
bleed ; chickens, geese, and turkeys are knocked over and hung
in garlands from the saddles and around the necks of swarthy
negroes ; mules and horses are fished out of the swamps ; cows
and calves, so wretchedly thin that they drop down and perish
on the first day's march, are driven along, or, if too weak to
travel, are, shot, lest they should give aid to the enemy.
Should the house be deserted, the furniture is smashed in
pieces, music is pounded out of four hundred dollar pianos with
the ends of muskets. Mirrors were wonderfully multiplied,
and rich cushions and carpets carried off to adorn teams and
war-steeds. After all was cleared out, most likely some set of
stragglers wanted to enjoy a good fire, and set the house, debris
of furniture, and all the surroundings, in a blaze. This is the
way Sherman's army lived on the country. They were not or
dered to do so, but I am afraid they were not brought to task
for it much either. 23*

27,0 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XXIII.
HOWELL COBB'S FAST MARE.— JOE, THE FORAGER. — CONTRA
BANDS. — CAPTURE OF FORT MCALLISTER.
Slocum's column left Milledgeville on the morning of the
24th, and crossed the Oconee, diving into a dense pine forest.
On the afternoon of the following day, Wheeler's cavalry
disputed their passage across Buffalo Creek. Here was a wide
swamp, crossed by nine bridges, which the rebels had burned,
and consequently easy of defence. A regiment forded the creek,
cleared the opposite side, and the engineers soon threw up
bridges, and corduroyed the approaches.
Cannon's brigade, of Jackson's division, skirmished up to
Sandersville, and Colonel Hughes and his cavalry dashed into
the town, but were forced back with the loss of one man.
Southern papers magnified this into a great victory by Wheel
er's cavalry.
The infantry soon came up, and made short work of the cav
alry. This neat little town was soon pillaged, and an inventory
taken of the stock of every store in it.
Here we learned that Wheeler's force was about fifteen hun
dred men and four guns, and that Hardee was marching to the
assistance of Savannah.
Howard had arrived at Swainsboro', on the Great Chopee
River, moving towards the great railway centre at Millen.
Kilpatrick was on his right, and the left wing was converging
in the same direction. Howard had met little opposition, ex
cept at the Oconee Bridge, which was burned, and stoutly
defended by Major Hartridge, of Wheeler's cavalry.
In a swamp near Milledgeville we picked up a valuable
pacing mare, of General Howell Cobb's. She was a splendid

HOWELL COBB'S PLANTATION. 271
animal, but the poor fellow that captured her paid a dear price
for her, for while testing her speed he ventured too far from the
command, and was found with his throat cut.
Cobb's plantation was well stocked with decrepit negroes,
and his granaries well filled with corn. The gallant owner had
removed all the able-bodied men, women, and animals from the
place, leaving a miserable-looking set of negroes to receive us,
whom he had soothingly informed that the Yanks would cut
their throats for them, or yoke them into their wagons. These
wretched creatures were cooped up in their leaky, half-sheltered
cabins. The poor of the south, black and white, were kept in this
state of terrorism by the planters. The most ignorant black
had a kind of instinctive feeling that we were their friends.
Not so with the poor whites. We found male children hid in
all sorts of out-of-the-way places ; for they heard that we would
kill them, to prevent their growing up to fight against ns.
On the contrary, the negro knew that massa hated the Yan
kee ; and massa being, in too many cases, their tyrant, they
felt that the Yankee must of necessity be their friend.
" Massa can't come dat over dis 'ere nigger," said a gray-
headed negro; "massa nebber cared for us. Why does he
want to tote us off now dat you'ns a coming? No, massa;
we know dat you set us free ; de Lord tell us so."
His strong, abiding faith was remarkable. The negro be
lieved in a millennium ; and now he thought his belief was about
being realized.
General Sherman ordered a generous supply of Howell Cobb's
good things to be divided among the negroes. The bummers
helped themselves to them next day. Why should they feed
Howell Cobb's niggers, if the chivalric, liberty-loving major
general deserted them ?
These same bummers were wonderful at discovering hidden
treasures, concealed goods, and the like ;, in fact, they appeared
more perfectly conversant with the occult sciences than all the
clairvoyants of New York. I once saw a body of them riding
over a wide, open field. On a sudden the leader halted his

272 Sherman's march through the south.
scraggy Rosinante with such a jerk as to throw him on his
haunches, and to set the score, young and old, roosters and
chickens, that wreathed his saddle, into a perfect roar of ago
nized torture.
" Stop," he exclaimed.
They all stopped, and looked about them, somewhat scared ;
a vision of Wheeler's cavalry and gaping throats, cut from ear
to ear, crossing their minds.
" What's the matter, Joe? " exclaimed one of the party.
" I'm dog gone if I don't smell a hog."
" Fudge, man ! let us ride on ; this doesn't look a very com
fortable place to be, and we so far out."
" Narry ride, then," replied Joe, " until I make sure. A
good fat hog would be such a pleasant change from chicken and
turkey." They all urged Joe to come on, but without effect. Soon
they heard a grunt quite near them. They all chimed in with
Joe ; but where was the hog, though ? There was nothing but
an open field around them.
Joe remarked that there couldn't be a porcine grunt without
a hog, and dismounted to make a closer inspection. By prob
ing with their ramrods, they discovered a hollow place, and
were not long in digging it up, when, lo ! they discovered one
of the fattest and tidiest hogs I have ever seen, buried in a nice
cave, which was covered in with boards and earth.
After this exploit Joe was voted the prince of bummers.
On another' occasion we had halted at a farm-house, when the
lady of the house, with some dozen children clinging round her,
came out wringing her hands, beseeching us to leave something
for herself and her starving children. They looked miserable
and squalid enough to be in want. We felt for her, and had
placed a guard on the house, and given her a supply of provis
ions. When I said " we," I should leave out Joe, who was
present, and received her appeals with the unfeeling excla
mations of " bosh ! " and " bumpkin ! " When the grateful
woman went in, Joe remarked, —
" I reckon a coon's hide that 'ere woman hain't so poor,
neither."

JOE, THE FORAGER. 273
" Miserably so," we replied.
" Waal, we'll see ; " and Joe walked off, but soon returned
with his whole gang laden with bacon and flour, which they had
disinterred about the premises.
Joe was a lean, lank-looking customer, a cross between some
roving Tennesseean and a half savage Cherokee. Some of
Wheeler's men spoiled the best forager in the army by cutting
Joe's windpipe, having first treated him to a pill of lead.
After Joe's demise I think the palm of merit should be given
to Chowler, a huge dog, half Newfoundland and half blood
hound. Chowler — I am afraid I am nicknaming the noble
brute ; it wouldn't be pleasant if he felt offended and met me
alone any time, for he had an ugly way of throttling things,
which soon brought on a stoppage of breath — Chowler
belonged to Captain De Grass, and did the foraging for the
whole battery.
He had a delightful way of wringing the heads of poultry,
and upsetting hogs, and sheep, and cows. It took but a few
minutes for Chowler to pile the peaceful denizens of the farm
yard in gore around him ; and woe betide the intruder that dare
attempt to take any of them. Chowler was more fortunate than
Joe ; he has outlived the war, and ought to be brevetted for his
services. Many a man that did less than Chowler has been.
I think my readers have, by this time, a pretty good idea of
how we " lived off the country," not consuming our rations, but
accumulating our stock, which, at one time, amounted to about
ten thousand head of cattle, which also lived on the country.
So I will now resume my narrative of how and where we
marched. We still moved in four columns, each corps in separate
columns, but all within sufficient distance to support each other
if required, with the cavalry, as usual, operating on our flanks.
On the evening of the 28th the head of the left wing reached
the Ogeechee River. The bridge was burned, and the river
widened into one of those marshy bayous which became numer
ous as we approached the coast. We laid our pontoons, and
built nearly a mile pf railroad.

274 Sherman's march through the south.
Baird's and Morgan's divisions, of the 14th corps, moved on
Louisville, by Fern's Bridge, on the Upper Ogeechee, which
place they sacked.
It is the county seat of Jefferson County, and was the first
capital of the state.
The 20th corps tore up the railroad between Davidsboro'
and the Ogeechee River.
Howard had arrived at Swansboro', on the Great Chopee,
striking for Millen.
Blair's corps had followed the railroad, 'destroying it in his
march. The 15th corps, commanded by General Osterhaus, in
the absence of General Logan, moved in two columns west and
south of the Ogeechee. The whole army was now moving
southward, swinging on Millen.
The rebel leaders appeared to be confounded by Sherman's
movements. Davis and Kilpatrick were all the time threaten
ing Augusta. Here they had concentrated their militia, and a
couple of regiments of North Carolinians, and a portion of
Hampton's legion ; in all about eight thousand.
Hardee, now seeing that Savannah was our objective point,
had fallen back to its defences.
Our left wing had pressed on the cavalry in our front all the
time. Davis's corps was thrown forward as a strong arm
all through for this purpose. Kilpatrick, too, had cleared our
flanks, now with Howard on the right, and next with Davis on
the left.
At Waynesboro', Kilpatrick had succeeded in destroying
the bridge ; Slocum moved eastward through Birdsville. The
15th corps, now moving in two columns on the right bank of
the river, had taken up the flank movement, and were a day's
march in advance.
On the afternoon of the 2d of December, Howard struck
Millen, having effectually destroyed the central road from
Macon to that place. Millen is a place of little importance,
and only remarkable for being the prison of the Federals
removed from Anderspnville. The stockade, or prison pen,
was located in a dense pine forest, some six miles from Millen.

CONTRABANDS. 275
It was a square of fifteen acres, enclosed by a high log fence.
Inside this was the dead line, — a single rail fence, — and beyond
the burrows and huts where thousands of brave fellows had to
endure a sickening confinement more fearful than death itself.
It was a perfect village of kennels, holes, and huts huddled
together, whose desolate, forlorn look was enough to crush the
feeling of hope out of a brave man's heart.
In the centre was a rather tasty brick kitchen, a palace when
contrasted with its miserable surroundings.
At the south end stood a square earthwork, built to com
mand, with its two guns, the whole bastile.
The hospital was a quarter of a mile from the pen. Here
were accommodations for three hundred patients ; but this was
not sufficient. The long row of graves outside the hospital,
numbering six hundred and fifty, told the fearful mortality,
though our men were confined there only about a month.
In one of the huts was an unburied body. Poor fellow ! he
little thought that bis comrades would lay him in a decent
grave. Contrabands.
As these proved very dark and troublesome on our line
of march, and as they are still continuing a dark and tough
subject, I will treat about them more fully than I have done.
Georgia and South Carolina were plentifully stocked with
slaves. Most of the able-bodied men were from home, either
with their masters, or doing the hard work for the army. As
soon as the Federal army struck through Central Georgia,
a regular stampede took place of bondmen and bondwomen,
and bondchildren too. They were invariably dressed in their
best, and had packed into bundles their most valuable dresses
and a small stock of provisions, and then, feeling happy and
jubilant, fell in with the sable column that flanked the roads
and brought up the rear on all sides. Parents seemed to part
from their families, children from their parents, with the most
apparent unconcern. I had just dropped into a clean negro
shanty to rest and await the column.

276 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Its occupants were an old patriarch " who had no hair on the
top of his head, the place where the wool ought to grow,"
two young picaninnies, and a good-looking negress in a fair
way of soon increasing the slave population.
The old man was quite communicative, and enlightened me
very much on the blessings of slavery. Soon a strapping
negro rode up to the door, and, hitching his horse, ran in in
the best possible spirits.
" Whar you gwine, Jake?" said the young woman.
" I'm gwine wid de rest, to be sure. De Lord has sent 'em
to burst our bondage."
" Am I gwine wid you ? " asked the wife.
" No, no, Sal ; a lady in you'ns state ain't fit to travel. Jist
do pack up, and I'll gwine along."
" What will become of your father and family?" I asked.
He scratched his head, and replied, —
" Well, I guess de Lord will take care of dem."
So he packed up a few things, and with scarcely a parting
good by, jumped on the miserable animal which he had helped
himself to from massa, and joined the moving throng.
Was all this indifference or resignation ?
This question of slavery is but poorly understood in the
north, and the men who preach most about it for political
purposes, know the least of it, its rights and duties.
The slave is now free to all intents and purposes. To leave
himself and his old master to settle the issue between them is
the wisest policy. Self-interest will compel them into an under
standing. For the most part generals and officers encouraged the slaves
to join the army, simply because they knew it would sound so
well at home, that General This or Colonel That liberated so
many slaves, and fed them on the march. They fed them while
they could live on the enemy's country ; but what became of
them afterwards ? What has become of the fifteen thousand that
followed our army through Central Georgia? What has become
of the twenty thousand that joined us in Carolina? The waters
of the Ogeechee and Ebenezer Creek can account for hundreds

CONTRABANDS. 277
who were blocking up our columns, and then abandoned, the
pontoons taken up, after being encouraged " to gwine along."
The poor affrighted darkies crowded around the Jordan of their
simple faith ; but it proved to them a Red Sea, for Wheeler's
cavalry charged on them, driving them, pellmell, into the wa
ters, and mothers and children, old and young, perished alike !
Many of them died in the bayous and lagoons of Georgia,^
and the bones of many of them mark our track through South
Carolina. When food was getting scarce, we turned them
adrift, to support themselves or perish ; and philanthropists
may congratulate themselves that over thirty thousand brothers
have shaken off the shackles forever.
As we passed through Georgia, colonies, squads, whole fam
ilies, from the feeble old folks, supported on their canes, and
tottering under heavy bundles, down to the muling infant in the
mother's arms, while her back was burdened with a heavy
bundle, fell in. The young and the old left home, at a mo
ment's notice, to go, they knew not where, nor asked where, in
search of freedom.
Black children of all ages and sizes, I might add, of all
shades, toddled along in rags and filth, urged on by the applica
tion of the maternal rod. Babies squealed in their mothers'
laps. Old buggies and wagons, that they took from massa,
blocked up the way, and literally lined it with their debris.
Galled and jaded mules and horses carried hampers and bags,
stuffed with children and wearables, balanced on each side. It
was no unusual sight to see a black head, with large, staring
eyes, peeping out of a sack at one side, and a ham of bacon or
a turkey balancing it at the other.
Even here beauty conquered, for the good-looking led luxuri
ous lives, stowed away in baggage-wagons during the day, and
feasted at the servants' mess at night.
It would be vexatious to the Grand Turk or Brigham Young,
if they could only see how many of these dark houries were in
the employment of officers' servants and teamsters. I have seen
officers themselves very attentive to the wants of pretty octo
roon girls, and provide them with horses to ride.
.24

278 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
At night, when the poor " snow-balls," and " beauties," as
they were ironically called, halted, the men lighted large camp-
fires of rails and fallen trees, and around these they collected in
circles, and partook of their frugal meal, if they had any ; then
they all joined in a kind of hymn, " bressin' de Lord." Their
finely modulated voices, chiming in one solemn chorus, rang
through, the still camp.
What nobler subject for a painting than these bright fires,
sparkling and . glowing amidst the pine trees, the sombre gran
deur of the forest, the white tents of the officers, the solemn
tread of the sentry, and then those dark groups bursting forth .
in one impassioned song of thanksgiving to " de good Lord."
The country from Millen to Savannah is one vast forest of
pines, cut up by creeks and bayous, and streams flowing to the
Ogeechee and Savannah Rivers. Swamps are plentiful all the
way, making the roads almost impassable, and compelling us to
corduroy miles of them. At Horse Creek, in Scriven County,
the 20th corps and train had to wade through some thirty yards
of water four feet in depth.
This was on General Slocum's line of march to Springfield,
where the enemy were said to be in force, with the intention of
disputing our advance on Savannah.
Howard had met no serious resistance in his bine of march,
and still kept the west side of the Ogeechee River.
On December 9, the left wing had pushed ahead to a point
near Eden, on the Central Georgia line, and formed on the
left of the 17th corps. The 14th corps, with its left resting
on the Savannah River, was moving steadily down, despite the
feeble attempts of a gunboat to prevent it.
We were now about twenty miles from the city, with a com
plete line stretching across the Peninsula, from river to river.
Fearing that we should detach a force to destroy the Gulf
Railroad, the rebels pushed a force across the Ogeechee, cover
ing it by a strong line along the river.
General Corse threw his division between the Little and
Great Ogeechee, twelve miles in advance of the main column,
to the canal which runs from the Ogeechee to the Savannah

FORT GREENE. 279
River. He bridged the canal, crossed his division, and in
trenched himself, thus edging in on the rebel works, and com
pelling them to fall back to the fortifications around Savannah.
• The rebels had thrown up works at the head of an impene
trable swamp, near Monteith Station, on the Charleston Rail
road. Here they opposed the advance of the 20th corps.
Jackson's division had the advance ; Colonel Robinson's brigade
was sent to the left, and Carman's to the right, while Sel-
fridge's advanced directly down the road.
The flanking brigades waded through the swamp for over a
mile, until they reached solid ground. They at once formed
and dashed on the enemy, who soon made long tracks for Sa
vannah with his guns. It was defended by the 40th North
Carolina, under a Major Stevenson. Morgan's division, of the
14th corps, had also driven back the enemy from an intrenched
position, and whipped Ferguson's cavalry, which had got in on
his rear and flanks. The 17th corps, on the right centre, had
also a brush with the enemy, in which, of course, it was suc
cessful. At 12 o'clock at night we crossed Ebenezer Creek,
and encamped on Fort Greene. Fort Greene.
This fort has been named in honor of the distinguished revo
lutionary general of that name, and is said to be the spot where
that hero defended Savannah River against the British. A
Lutheran church, erected in 1769, stands near the river. It is
an old, red brick structure, surmounted by a modest cupola,
which looks as if undecided whether it will stand or fall. The
interior of the church is even more unassuming than the out
side. The pulpit is a plain, rude affair, and gives one the
impression of an old desk. The floor and pews were clean, and
the seats painted and moulded.
It is a venerable structure ; and though looking as if it had
taken a bad cold, or was afflicted with the rheumatism, it is
likely to last near another century.
The citizens say it was used by General Greene as a hospital.

280 Sherman's march through the south.
As the most of the fighting fell to General Kilpatrick and his
cavalry, we will follow up the resume of his operations since
his fight at Griswoldville.
From Milledgeville, Kilpatrick started on the 24th Novem
ber for Millen, with the intention of liberating our prisoners.
He crossed the Oconee, and rations for a long march had
been issued, and transportation cut down to jockey weight.
Next morning the command broke camp and marched to
Long Bridge, on Town Creek. As the bridge had been de
stroyed, and the creek was deep, they had some difficulty
in fording? They passed the Ogeechee Shoals into Warren
County. On the 26th, Captain Estes, A. A. G., and Captain Hays,
proceeded with two hundred men towards Waynesboro', in or
der to destroy the bridge on the Waynesboro' and Augusta
Railroad, over Brier Creek. This bridge was sixty miles away,
and their orders were to reach it that night. They did so ; had
a sharp skirmish, destroyed the bridge, and a rebel train, and
returned. The main column of cavalry had marched rapidly through
Sylvan Grove to Louisville, in order to draw attention from
the two hundred. -"
. On the 27th, Colonel Murray's brigade was vigorously at
tacked by Wheeler, who repeatedly charged his position with
no effect.
The artillery was brought to bear on Wheeler, compelling
him to retire. In the course of the day Kilpatrick pushed on
rapidly, and was again opposed at Turkey Creek. The enemy
closing in on Colonel Atkins's command, Kilpatrick fell back to
Big Creek, near Louisville, skirmishing with the enemy all the
way. On the 1st December, he moved for Waynesboro', and was
supported by Baird's division, of the 14th corps.
The country around Waynesboro' was partly open, and favor
able for cavalry operations.
The rebel pickets were charged five miles outside Waynes
boro', and driven in on the main works, which Kilpatrick

GENERAL KILPATRICK. 281
charged. The 10th Ohio dashed on the rebel works, and were
hurled back ; they re-formed, and again re-charged, jdashing
over the rebel works, mowing down the enemy with the sabre.
In this charge they captured about one hundred prisoners, in
cluding several officers.
The enemy's next line was carried in like manner ; but their
third, which was at the west end of the town, and protected by
a swamp and woods, offered more resistance.
After a sharp fight, Kilpatrick whipped Wheeler out of the
town. Here Kilpatrick and Wheeler entered into a little conversa
tion. As I have said, the enemy's position was a strong one,
and le petit general, with a flag in his hand, called over to
Wheeler's men, " Come out, now, you set of cowardly skunks ;
you claim that you whip Kilpatrick every time ! Come out,
now, and try it ; and I'll not leave enough of you to thrash a
corporal's guard. I am Kil himself! "
Wheeler did not come out, but Kilpatrick went in and
thrashed him out.
The engagement here was pretty severe, and the losses rather
heavy. Wheeler was now driven to the rear of Hood's infantry line.
Kilpatrick was between him and our trains, covering the rear,
as we closed in on Savannah.
Kilpatrick next struck for Sister's Ferry, on the Savannah
River ; but finding a strong infantry force here, he wheeled for
Savannah, moving on the flank of the right wing. He had to
cross cypress swamps, where bridges were burned, and every
thing done to impede his march.
One brigade crossed the Ogeechee at King's Bridge, the other
fell back to the rear to guard the new position taken by the army.
Brevet Major General Judkin Kilpatrick rendered very im
portant services to Sherman in his campaigns through the south.
He is remarkable for his unwearied activity, and continually
harassed the enemy, now at one point, next at one remote from
that. He has few equals as a raider, for he appears to be
ubiquitous, and strikes the enemy when least expected.
24*

282 Sherman's march through the south.
As a general, he is more brilliant than solid ; perhaps some
what deficient in the judgment of a cool planner, but eminently
qualified for movements that require despatch and rapid execu
tion. In appearance he is of middle height, rather slightly
built, but wiry and muscular. He has a gay, pleasant appear
ance. He talks and acts with nervous rapidity, and swears at
the rebels just as vigorously as he fights them.
The left wing invested Savannah on the 11th, taking up posi
tion on the right and front of the city ; the left of the 20th corps
extending as far as the river, and the right of the 20th corps
resting on the Ogeechee. Howard had swung into bine, with
the 17th corps on the right centre and the 15th in reserve, in
order to open communications with the fleet. The enemy had
opened the dikes of the canals and flooded the country, making
it very unpleasanffor the troops. We compelled some prison
ers we held to rebuild the gaps, and the water soon fell.
Some of our foragers lay in ambush for a steamer on the
river, and picked off her pilot and several hands. She sur
rendered, and was burned. She proved to be the Water Witch,
captured from our fleet.
Slocum had struck the Savannah and Charleston Railroad,
where it crosses to the west side of the Savannah River, thus
severing the communications between Charleston and Savannah.
The" 11th and 12th were spent in putting troops and artillery
into position, erecting breastworks, and making the necessary
preparations for the thorough investment of the city. Baird's
division protected Slocum's rear from Wheeler's attacks, and
also established batteries on the river to check the gunboats.
The line now was about ten miles long, extending from the
Savannah, where Slocum's left rested, just three miles from the
city, to the Gulf Railway, ten miles from the city, where How
ard's right rested.
Kilpatrick moved rapidly through Sudbury to Kilkenny, and
found the United States ship Fernandina, Captain West, in sight
down the bay. Captain Estes, assistant adjutant general, and
one of Kilpatrick's most brilliant officers, attended by Captain
Messenger and one or two other officers, went out in a small

FORT m'allister. 283
boat and boarded the ship ; so General Kilpatrick was able to
inform General Sherman that the fleet had been found, and was
ready to lend any cooperation to his movements. Understand
ing that Fort McAllister was to be taken by assault, Kilpatrick
asked from General Sherman the privilege of assaulting it with
his cavalry.
Owing to the swampy nature of the ground, and the light
artillery of the cavalry, Sherman did not think it practicable
for artillery. General Hazen's division, of the 15th corps, was
selected for this important attack.
Hazen captures Fort McAllister.
To Brigadier (now Major General) Hazen, commanding the
2d division, 15th corps, was assigned the honorable position of
conducting the assault on the fort. Sherman well knew that he
could not intrust it to a better or more experienced officer.
General Hazen rose rapidly in his profession. He was a
West Point graduate in 1854, and served with distinction in the
Indian wars on the frontiers and in Mexico, where he got badly
wounded. He returned home, and led a domestic life until the
breaking out of the war, when he again took up arms, and
raised a regiment. He distinguished himself at Shiloh, and
subsequently through the western campaign. He conducted
some of the most daring assaults on the Atlanta campaign. On
Major General O. O. Howard assuming command of the army
of the Tennessee, he got General Hazen transferred from a
brigade in the 4th corps to a division in the 15th corps. Hazen
is an educated general, cautious and reticent in organizing his
plans, and energetic in executing them. He is a strict disci
plinarian, a good engineer, a thorough soldier, and refined
gentleman. He possesses a dignified appearance, and frank,
cheerful manners.
With such a prestige, and being only in the prime of man
hood, — about thirty-four years of age, — it is no wonder that he
is as much admired by the ladies as he is esteemed by his brother
officers. Fort McAllister commanded the river. It was a strong, case-

284 Sherman's march through the south.
mated fort, and mounted twenty-one heavy guns. In front of
it was an open space of six hundred yards, through which an
assaulting party should advance without any cover. This, too,
was thickly studded with torpedoes and sharp stakes.
The 15th was General Sherman's old corps, and the 2d di
vision his old division. Sherman sent them word that they
should take the fort by assault ; and his old soldiers appeared
as well pleased at this mark of confidence, as if he had sent
them a wagon load of brandy.
On the evening of the 12th Howard relieved Hazen by a part
of the 17th corps. Hazen moved across the Little Ogeechee.
The enemy had destroyed King's Bridge across the Great Ogee
chee, and this had to be repaired. Captain Reese, topographical
engineer of Howard's staff, with the Missouri engineers, bridged
this one thousand feet during the night. Hazen crossed over
next morning, and moved towards the point where the fort com
manded the river. Hazen had to march thirteen miles before
he got into position. It was now evening, and Hazen had
formed into bine, investing the fort closing his flanks, which
he swung around it, and evenly converged to the fort as a gen
eral centre.
Hazen brought no artillery, as the ground was too swampy to
move it, and he had decided on taking the fort by a bold dash
and at the point of the bayonet.
As soon as the line commenced moving over the open space,
the fort opened all its guns upon them. Hazen, moving in a
single line, did not suffer much.
Their loss was mostly from torpedoes, which now and then
blew up, hurling piles of dirt on the column, and knocking some
poor fellows over. The column was all this time rapidly closing
up ; not a man wavered ; each resolved that the fort should be
taken. As soon as they got near enough, they poured a steady
fire in through the embrasures, knocking off a good many of
the gunners. We afterwards found their bodies lying beside
their pieces. The first obstruction they met was a thick abatis,
which they tore up and crawled through. The column had now
closed in around the fort ; the guns were silenced, as nothing

m'allister taken. 285
could live near them, so deadly was our fire. Only a deep
ditch, studded with spikes, now separated us from the enemy.
Into this the men jumped, tearing away the palisade, climbed
up the crest, and mingled in a fierce hand-to-hand conflict with
the garrison. Shouts, groans, and curses, the whir of the
bullet, and the clash of steel rang from the enclosure.
The contest was of short duration, for soon our troops burst
in on all sides, overpowering the enemy, who fought desperately
— some of them being bayonetted at their pieces. The officers
did all in their power to rally them ; several of them refusing
to surrender, preferring death to dishonor.
The contest was over ; the palmetto had trailed in the dust,
and the stripes and stars had floated in its place. The fort was
ours, — thus opening the navigation of the river, — with its splen
did guns, and large supply of arms, and a full cellar of rich old
wines. This was one of the noblest exploits of the campaign,
and proves how much quick, determined action can accomplish.
Had Hazen sat down before this, to take it by regular siege, it
would keep us days at work and cost us more lives. As it
was, our loss in killed and wounded scarcely amounted to one
hundred. During the assault, Generals Sherman and Howard and staffs
occupied a Dr. Cheroe's rice mill, opposite the fort on the Ogee
chee. Sherman was on the roof of the mill. He had signal
officers Berkely and Cole there, to communicate with Hazen.
While anxiously looking out for Hazen's signals, Sherman's
eagle eye descried smoke in the distance seaward. As yet he
had received no intelligence from the fleet, though Captain
Duncan, chief of Howard's scouts had started on the hazardous
enterprise of opening communications with them as early as
the 9th.
Sherman looked ; his bronzed features lighted up as he ex
claimed, —
" Look, Howard ; there is the gunboat ! "
Soon after the guns of the fort opened one fierce fire, while
puffs of smoke curled along Hazen's line, showing that they
were replying. Hazen signalled, —

286 Sherman's march through the south.
"I have invested the fort, and will assault immediately."
Berkely announces a signal from the gunboat. All anxiously
look out for it. The signals inform us that Foster and Dahlgren
are within speaking distance, and ask, —
" Can we run up ? Is Fort McAllister ours ? "
" No ; Hazen is just ready to storm it. Can you assist? "
" Yes ; what will we do ? "
Another moment the thunders from the fort grow fiercer, the
metallic rattle of small arms increase, and are borne clearly
across the three miles of intervening marsh. Sherman looks
towards the fort intently with his glass, and exclaims, —
" How grandly they advance ! not a waver !"
He strains bis eyes, and again exclaims, —
" Look, Howard, look ! magnificent ! See that flag, how
steadily it advances ! not a man falters — grand ! grand ! "
Again he looks, and turns to Howard, —
" They are closing in ; there is no faltering there ; no flinch
ing. Stop ; it has halted — they are wavering. No, heavens !
it's on the parapet ! There they go right over it ! See ! see !
there is a flag, and another, and another on the works ! Hurrah,
it's ours. The fort's taken ! "
Glasses were lowered, the firing had ceased, the stripes and
stars were floating from the fort, the key to Savannah, — the
key that opened the river to the fleet, — and a new base was
in Sherman's possession.
Sherman looked about him, his features lighted up with joy,
and turning to Howard, he exclaimed, —
" Howard, Savannah is mine ! As the old darky remarked,
' Dis chile don't sleep dis night;' "
Turning to one of his aids, he remarked, —
" Have a boat ready for me ; I must go over there," pointing
to the fort, which was now crowned with half a dozen battle
flags, looking glorious with the golden light of the setting sun
sparkling with a strange halo around them. It was the consum
mation of his great and noble project.
It was the fulfilment of his covenant with his troops, when
he told them that he would lead them to a new base ; and with

OBSTINACY OF THE REBELS. 287
the nation to which he had sent his last message, not to be un
easy about him ; he would take care of himself.
Fort McAllister was under the command of Major Anderson,
Captain Clinch, chief of artillery, and Captain White, engineer,
and about two hundred men, regulars and militia.
As I have said, the officers fought desperately, refusing to
surrender. Though all the guns were in our possession, Cap
tain Clinch refused to surrender, until he was disabled by three
sabre and two gun-shot wounds, and faint from loss of blood.
These men fought with recklessness, for with their guns and
the outlets of the fort in our hands, any further resistance was
madness. The regiments engaged in this brilliant assault were
6th Missouri, Lieutenant Colonel Von Dusen ; 30th Ohio ;
116th Illinois, Lieutenant Colonel Maddix. These formed the
right of the line, and were commanded by the gallant Colonel
Theodore Jones. The 47th Ohio, Colonel Perry ; 111th Illinois,
Colonel Martin, and 54th Ohio, of the 2d brigade, and com
manded by Colonel W. S. Jones, formed the left. The 48th
Illinois, Major Adams ; 90th Illinois, Colonel Stewart, and 20th
Ohio, Lieutenant Colonel Philips, from the 3d brigade, com
manded by Colonel Oliver, occupied the centre.
Our loss in officers was three killed and eight wounded, among
the latter Colonel W. S. Jones, commanding the 2d brigade.
When the history of the daring exploits of this war is writ
ten, brightest on the pages will appear that daring charge on
Fort McAllister. The fame of Hazen and his gallant troops
will stand prominent among those heroes whose names posterity
shall record with admiration. The old 2d division served with
distinction on many a bloody field, under the fiery John Logan ;
but it remained for it to gain its crowning laurels under Hazen
at Fort McAllister.
• Next day several vessels from the fleet came up to the fort,
and landed officers from the navy and Foster's command, who
were warmly received by Sherman's officers. Sherman had
remained in consultation with Dahlgren and Foster until the
17th, when he and Admiral Dahlgren came up in the flagship
Massachusetts.

288 Sherman's march through the south. — -
We had opened a base on the Great Ogeechee, opposite Fort
McAllister, and distant from either wing from five to fifteen
miles. Several transports and vessels, and seven tons of mail
matter, arrived at our new base.
The results of our campaign were more glorious than the
most sanguine could anticipate. We had passed through in our
march over forty of the wealthiest counties of Central Georgia ;
occupied over two hundred depots, county seats, and villages ;
captured about fifteen thousand negroes, — doubtful prizes, —
about ten thousand head of cattle, horses, and mules ; destroyed
nearly two hundred miles of railroad, burned all the gins, cotton
mills, and government property throughout the country ; also
about fifty millions worth of cotton and Confederate bonds and
currency, besides supporting our army and cattle on the country.

savannah invested. 289

CHAPTER XXIV.
EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH. — SURRENDER TO GENERAL GEARY.—
HIS JUST AND CONCILIATORY GOVERNMENT. — DESCRIPTION OF
THE CITY.
The capture of Fort McAllister opened up communications
with the fleet of supply ships waiting in Ossabaw Sound. Ow
ing: to the difficult channel of the Ogeechee, no stores were
landed at King's Bridge before the 19th; From King's Bridge
roads had to be corduroyed over the swamps and plantations
to the different encampments.
Our lines were now pretty well closed up around Savannah.
The 20'th corps held the extreme left, with one brigade of
Geary's on Hutchinson Island. Next came the 14th corps,
then a gap of some miles of impassable land, covered only with
pickets. Before the 15th and 17th corps intervened the flooded
and almost impassable rice fields. A mile of these artificial
lakes lay between us and the rebel lines. Hazen's division had
crept up pretty well to the rebel works, even at this point.
The only approaches to the rebel lines confronting us are by
the river road, the Charleston Railroad, and the Central Rail
road, and wagon road which ran beside it.
All these were well guarded by intrenchments and redoubts,
mounting several guns, which they kept continually firing along
the different approaches. They even ran some guns up to our
¦ lines, on platform cars, puffed a few volleys, and then fell back.
There were some four or five mills on Hutchinson's Island,
which were busily employed for the benefit of le grande armee,
and particularly for the support of the negroes, who were quar
tered here, living on rice.
This is a low, swampy, miserable rice island, four miles long
25

290 Sherman's march through the south.
and one broad, in the Savannah River. The shore around is
low and marshy, liberally colonized by alligators.
Captain Viele, of General Geary's staff, went out on a re
connoissance to this island, in order to view the rear of the
enemy's works. He struck upon a colony of escaped negroes,
who hailed him as the savages did Captain Cook. In fact,
Paul Rooney among the Cossacks never created such a sensa
tion. They showered blessings, sweet potatoes, and rice indis
criminately upon him. They sang hymns, danced, and capered,
and could scarcely believe their senses when told that they were
free. I am afraid that the idea of freedom was a very vague one
with most of them ; their perception of it was something about
changing places with their masters.
General Sherman had intimated to military commanders that
the first one that would enter Savannah should be military gov
ernor. This helped to wake up the troops wonderfully. Men
would build little platforms and bridges on, logs, advancing
them every night, or crawl along trees, until they approached
within pistol range of the enemy, and pick them off from
their guns.
On the 16th December, General Sherman addressed a note
to Lieutenant General W. J. Hardee, demanding a surrender
of Savannah and all it contained. Sherman was facetious,, atrd
Concluded his demand with Hood's message for the surrender
of Daiton, namely, " No prisoners being taken in case of a
refusal." He informed Hardee that he had the city closely in
vested, and that there was no chance of its holding out.
Hardee replied next day to the effect that he had plenty of
supplies and men, and could hold out as long as he chose.
The gunboats brought up plenty of ammunition to Sherman,
a- supply he rather needed ; so he commenced preparations to
bombard the town.
Six thirty-pound Parrotts landed from the Delaware and Sylph
were placed in front of Corse's division, 15th corps, and in
front of the 14th corps. They had plenty of pills with them,
which they prepared to administer to the inhabitants ; but Har
dee changed his mind, and did not wait for the dose.

EVACUATION OF SAVANNAH. 291
Preparations had been made for assaulting the enemy's works
on all sides. Dikes had been bridged in front, and everything
got ready for a general assault.
Hardee, being fully apprized of the contemplated movement,
took measures to evacuate the city.
On Monday afternoon he opened a fierce bombardment on our
lines ; all his guns were at work, and shot and shell fell fast
and furious within our lines, but did little harm.
Few understood the object of these spiteful demonstrations,
but the events of the following day made it clear. Ib the first
place, they wanted to deceiveTis by a thundering show ; in the
second place, they wanted to expend a large portion of the am
munition they could not carry off.
Hardee evacuated on the night of the 20th December. After
dark he threw his men, on rafts and steamboats, across the
river to the South Carolina shore, and escaped up the Union
Causeway, having first sent off all the able-bodied negroes, who
had been collected in the city, under guard into South Carolina.
The night was dark, with a fierce gust of wind from the west,
deadening the sounds of the wagons and tramp of the troops.
General Geary, commanding the 2d division, 20th corps,
ever on the alert, holding the extreme left of the line, resting
on the Savannah River, heard the movement crossing the
bridge, and ordered his division under arms. At midnight
General Geary, feeling convinced that they were evacuating the
town, apprised General Sherman.
Geary advanced his pickets, who, meeting no opposition,
pushed still farther, crawled through the abatis, floundered
through dikes and ditches, scaled the first line of works, and
found it deserted. General Geary pushed on his division, and
was near the city, when Mayor Arnold, with five or six others,
rode up, and formally and unconditionally surrendered the city,
expressing a trust for the safety of the lives and property of the
inhabitants. General Geary received them kindly, giving them every
assurance of protection in his power, and then entered the city
first, despatching Captain Viele, of his staff, with four hundred

292 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
men, to take possession of Fort Jackson, and another officer to
General Slocum to inform him of the surrender. The officers
and men could scarcely credit that General Geary was in Sa
vannah. It was too startling news, too glorious news to be
true. At 8 o'clock in the morning all the enemy's works were in
our hands. Captain Viele held Fort Jackson and Fort Barlow,
finding about sixty heavy guns in them.
When our colors floated from the parapet of Fort Jackson,
the ram Savannah, Commander T. W. Brent, which lay on the
river, opened on the fort. The guns in the fort were all spiked ;
-so General Geary had to wait for some pieces to come up to
bring her to her senses.
General Geary's advance was quite on the heels of Hardee's
rear guard. Hardee lost some guns aud men in his hasty
crossing. Our losses during the siege were very small. About six
hundred would cover all during the eleven days the town was
invested, and ^about double that number since we started from
Atlanta, — now one month and six days.
In Savannah we captured one hundred and forty-five pieces
of ordnance, of different kinds and caliber, an immense quan-
tity.of ammunition, over thirty thousand bales of cotton, besides
a large supply of rice, grain, stores," and supplies of different
kinds. Hardee had burned the government ship-yard, where a rebel
ram was being built ; this and other gunboats were destroyed.
The iron-clad Georgia was sunk by its commander, and the
Savannah, after kicking up a rumpus all day, and sailing up
and down in mock defiance of our light guns, was blown up by
her commander, who sent his crew on shore and fired the
magazine. First came a flash of light ; then, as if from the crater of a
volcano, an immense volume of flame shot up, illumining the
heavens for miles ; then came the fearful report, and the rebel
ram Savannah was no more. The concussion was fearful, rock
ing the city and the vessels at anchor.

STORES PILLAGED. 293
The Waterwitch, which was at Thunderbolt, was also de
stroyed on the night of the evacuation. She was under Acting
Master Vaughan.
The Isonidago, Lieutenant R. D. Daiton, also the Macon
and Resolute, gunboats, went up the river.
We captured the Samson, Lieutenant Marmaduke, and the
Firefly, M. M. Skinner.
The navy, which the rebels had constructed at so much ex
pense, added nothing to the defence of the town. It never
amounted to anything, because the mouth of the Savannah was
closed against their iron-clads. It was finally destroyed at
their own hands.
When we entered the city we found few of the citizens in the
streets. The poor classes were grouped around, apparently
well pleased with the change, for they had nothing to lose, and
had suffered much during the war.
In the first rush, several stores were broken open, and the
straggling poor eagerly joined the soldiers in rifling them of
their contents. This was soon put a stop to by General Geary,
who immediately appointed a provost guard to protect and pa
trol the city. Indeed, there was not much in the stores to rifle,
for on the night of the evacuation Wheeler's cavalry broke into
them, carrying off everything of value, and throwing the re
mainder into the streets.
Wherever Wheeler's wild and reckless freebooters halted, a
reign of terror commenced. They inspired a perfect dread
among the inhabitants wherever they went. They rifled and
plundered everything of value, and, if opposed, burned down
the houses. Indeed, they were more dreadful to their friends
than to their enemies.
General John W. Geary, commanding the 2d division, 20th
army corps, commonly called the " White Star Division," was
placed in command of the city.
He divided the city into two districts, the eastern and west
ern, under command of Colonel Wood and Colonel Barnum.
They had a strong provost guard at their disposal, and were
to see that order was preserved, and to perform all other duties
25*

294 Sherman's march through the south.
belonging to their office, wbich they did with general satis
faction. General John W. Geary has had great experience both as a
soldier and as an executive officer. In his former character his
name has been prominent before the country. Iu the latter
capacity I mean to treat of him now.
He was long the alcalde of San Francisco, and subsequently
mayor. His firm administration as governor of Kansas in
troublous times helped much to tranquillize the disaffected there.
He has firm administrative abilities, is a man of great force of
character and resolution, and of a kind, accessible disposition.
He patiently listens to the complaints and entreaties of all, but
administers justice with a firm, impartial hand.
His government of Savannah gave great satisfaction ; and
when General Sherman was about commencing his campaign
through Carolina, a deputation of the most respectable citizens
waited on him, requesting that he would leave General Geary
in command of the city. General Sherman could not well spare
so active an officer from the field, and therefore declined.
The people learned to regret General Geary the more since
his successor, General Grover, did little to conciliate the people,
but much to dishearten them.
His rule gave a great deal of dissatisfaction ; even tender
ladies felt it so humiliating that they left the city.
A wiser and better man, Major General Steedman, now com
mands the department, and will, no doubt, do much to render
fair and impartial justice to all parties.
The following were the officers of Geary's staff: —
Captain W. T. Fprbes, A. A. A. G. and Chief of "Staff.
Captain S. B. Wlieelock, A. A. Ac.
Lieutenant Colonel A. H. Jackson, Inspector.
Captain Moses Viele, A. D. C.
Captain John J. Cantine, A. D. C.
Lieutenant W. C. Armor, A. D. C.
Captain G. L. Parker, Post Q. M.
Captain James Gillette, Post Commissary.

meeting of the citizens. 295
General Geary and the above officers will be long and kindly
remembered in Savannah for their upright administration and
courteous bearing to all parties.
Savannah soon became dull and quiet. All apprehensions on
the part of the inhabitants wore away by degrees, and each day
witnessed an increase of the citizens on the streets, surprised
and gratified to find that no insults were offered, or wrongs com
mitted by Federal troops. They found that the terrible stories
of outrage and crimes committed by our army in captured
cities were mere fables got up to fire the southern heart against
the Federal army.
The falsity of these absurd and extraordinary stories has been
proved by tho conduct of our soldiers since their occupation of
Atlanta. While marching through the country, where military restraint
cannot control all, excesses may be committed ; but where
military influence is concentrated, it is impossible for them to go
unpunished. The southern people now, see the effects of their mad course.
So much suffering has ensued, so many families have been
bereaved, commerce has been so completely destroyed, and
industry so paralyzed, that all sigh for a return to the old
regime, or some one at least that will restore quiet- and business
activity. The mayor convened a meeting at the Masonic Hall, which
was well attended, and a committee was appointed to draw up
resolutions giving expression to the sense of tho meeting. The
preamble embraced the sufferings of the people, and resolutions
were passed submitting to the new order of things, among which
was the following : —
Resolved, That we accept the position, and, in the language of
the President of the United States, seek to have " peace by laying
down our arms and submitting to the national authority under
the constitution," leaving all questions which remain to be
adjusted by the peaceful means of legislation, conference, and
votes.

296 Sherman's march through the south.
Such were the views of the leading men of Savannah ; but
General Sherman, in one of his special orders, defined for them
clearly the line of policy he meant to adopt to meet the present
emergencies. In his order he stated that " the city of Savan
nah and surrounding country will be held as a military post,
and adapted to future military uses.
" During war the military is superior to civil authority, and
where interests clash, the civil must give way ; yet where
there is no conflict, every encouragement should be given to
well-disposed and peaceful inhabitants to resume their usual
pursuits." General Sherman's orders placed military interests paramount
to all others.
He seemed anxious to consult for the civil as well as the
military government of the city.
General John W. Geary issued a more generous and elab
orate order for the government of the city, in which he said, —
" All public and private property will be protected ; and
wherever necessary for such purposes special guards will be
assigned. No private property will be taken or used against
the consent of the owners."
General Geary did all in his power to encourage the citizens
at the same time to establish friendly relations towards the
Federal government, and to make them feel that their inter
ests were reciprocal. There was a great deal of poverty in
Savannah at the time of its occupation. Even some of the
most respectable families were suffering, and were forced to sell
cakes and corn-dodgers to soldiers through their basement
windows for a livelihood. »
Rations of bread and meat were soon issued ; and the north
liberally responded to the wail for bread that came from the
conquered city. Two ships, freighted with bread-stuffs and
meats, soon steamed into the harbor with their precious car
goes. A committee was appointed for their distribution, and the
good work went on. General Geary and staff spared no exer
tions to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

description of savannah. 297
Upright and just in the discharge of his duties, attentive to
the wants and wrongs of the people, General Geary's short
administration gained him a reputation for heroism and justice
that will be long remembered in Savannah.
i Description of Savannah.
Savannah is the largest and most important city in Georgia,
and is situated on the south bank of the' Savannah River. Pre
vious to the war, it had a population of about sixteen thousand
whites and twelve thousand blacks. It is built upon a sandy
terrace, some forty feet above low-water mark.
It is a scattered kind of city, with wide streets, densely shaded
with trees, and abundance of small shady^ parks or squares, of
which it counts no less than twenty-four.
Some of the streets have four rows of trees, the centre being
a grass promenade, with carriage drives on both sides.
It has some very fine buildings, such as the Custom House,
the City Exchange, the State Arsenal, besides some very impos
ing churches, and other buildings.
There is a fine Doric obelisk erected to the memories of
Generals Greene and Pulaski in Monument Square, opposite the
Pulaski House. The corner-stone of this monument was laid
by Lafayette in 1825.
Another very elegant monument to Pulaski stands in Chip
pewa Square.
This general, who was a distinguished Pole, fell in an attack
on the city while occupied by the British in 1779.
Close by is the cemetery of Boneventure, a strange and solemn
home of the dead, amidst the shades of the green forest trees,
which look like so many gigantic mourning plumes fretted with
their dark pendent moss. Many of these old tombs have now
fallen into decay, and the tangled oaks, pines, and vines give the
place something of a gloomy forest air.
Savannah was founded by General Oglethorpe in 1732, and
was conspicuous during the war of independence.
It fell into the hands of the English in 1778, but was recov
ered in 1783.

298 Sherman's march through the south.
Though the old mounds, aud ditches, and forts of revolution
ary times are now obliterated, new ones have sprung up in their
place to excite the curiosity of other men and other times.
Savannah is considered pretty healthy. The climate in winter
is delightful.The non-cultivation of the rice swamps around it have mate
rially contributed to its sanitary condition. The country around
Savannah is flat and sandy, — in some places barren, in others
very fertile, — possessing a rich alluvial soil. The drives and
walks about the city are very pleasant, shaded as they are by
the bay, the magnolia, and orange trees.
There are a great many places of revolutionary interest
around Savannah.
At Gibson's plantation, a battle occurred in 1782, between
General Wayne and a body of Creek Indians, commanded by
Garistersigo. The British landed -at Br'ewton Hill preparatory to their
attack on the city in 1778. Its chief river is the Savannah,
which divides Georgia from South Carolina and Alabama.
The principal towns on this river are Augusta and Savannah,
the latter eighteen miles from its mouth.
The head waters of the Savannah are, the Chattooga and
Terrora, which unite and form the Tugalo. This makes a junc
tion with the Kiowee, thus forming the Savannah.
Savannah has some important islands, the largest of which is
Tybee, at its mouth, five miles long and three miles wide.
Near Savannah there are large swamp tracts, with luxu
riant groves of oaks, and pines, and tangled vines, shrouded in
that strange dark-gray moss which hangs in heavy bunches from
branches, and stems, and trunks. The country along the river
is flat and marshy, intersected by numerous sedgy inlets, bayous,
and swamps, a fit home for the numerous alligators that inhabit
these shores, and bask and sun themselves in perfect security'
among the tall reeds or sedgy grass.
They are not pleasant customers to come across, particularly
if you chance to pick up a close acquaintance with a venerable
gentleman some twelve feet long, who might, without any

FORTS PULASKI AND JACKSON. 299
boasting on his part, claim to be that venerable individual " the
oldest inhabitant of the place."
Savannah was strongly fortified, and with a well-provisioned
garrison might withstand a large army for a long siege. The
taking of Fort McAllister, on the Ogeechee, gave us a base
and access to the city without encountering the works on the
Savannah River.
Fort Pulaski, named after Count Pulaski, is a powerful,
massive brick structure, and could mount one hundred and
forty guns, though it had nothing bike that number when cap
tured. It commanded the mouth of the river.
Fort Jackson, called after Governor Jackson, is on the south
side of the city, distant about three miles. It had perfect com
mand of the Savannah River. Besides these old works, the
rebels occupied several others of their own construction. The
city was strongly protected by intrenchments, forts, and redoubts,
making, on the whole, a formidable place to attack.

300 Sherman's march through the south.

CHAPTER XXV.
THE MARCH INTO SOUTH" CAROLINA. — BUMMERS — SHOOTING
BLOODHOUNDS. — THE PETS OF THE ARMY.
We now come to Sherman's last and crowning campaign
through the Carolinas. While he remained in Savannah he
was busily employed refitting the army and making proper dis
positions of captured rebel property. By the middle of Janu
ary he was ready to resume his march, but the broken state of
the weather and other causes retarded it.
General Grant had sent Grover's division, of the 19th corps,
to garrison Savannah, and had drawn the 23d corps, Major
General Schofield commanding, from Tennessee, and sent it to
reenforce the commands of Major Generals Terry and Palmer,
operating on the coast of North Carolina.
Sherman's campaign through the Carolinas is not to be judged
by hitherto recognized military rules or precedents, for he proved
himself not only a great fighter and flanker, but also a great
strategist. He inaugurated a new code of tactics, which com
pletely bewildered and defeated the enemy. He discarded the
old, effete style of sitting down before natural barriers and for
tified places, to take them by assault, or tire them out by siege.
Had he done so, owing to the nature of the country over which
he had to operate, his march would have been slow indeed.
Discarding such movements, he swept over the country in
separate columns, now throwing one ahead, now another, thus
flanking the most formidable positions.
The opening campaign to Atlanta was through a country
beset with natural obstructions of the most formidable kind,
which Johnston knew too well how to improve.
Those we encpuntered through South Carolina, though of a

MARCH RESUMED. 301
different nature, were no less difficult. True, we had no Buz
zard Roost nor Kenesaw to scale, but we had to cross wide
rivers, whose sedgy, oozy banks were covered for miles with
dismal swamps. Through these we had to build roads or cross
on single causeways, barely sufficient for four men abreast, and
in many cases to dislodge an intrenched enemy at their heads.
After all the vaunting gasconade of the southern press and
people, South Carolina prostrated herself at our feet even more
than Georgia. They boasted, on the opening of Sherman's
campaign, that the great Palmetto State would whip the pusil
lanimous Federals, though they were deserted by all the other
states. Alas for human degeneracy, or rather human hum
bug ! The Spartan State cringed before Sherman's legions.
This state, that had hatched treason from the beginning, and had
worked itself into such a fury at sight of the Yankee legions* .
has bitterly paid the penalty of her disloyalty. Her cities are
in ruins ; her plantations are devastated ; her domineering aris
tocrats are houseless, homeless outcasts, scattered over the
world, while a wail of anguish goes forth from her widows and
orphans. A new regime has been established. The canaille has risen
to power on the necks of their lords and masters. The poor,
whipped, scourged, despised slave is now his own master.
No general order had been issued by General Sherman rela
tive to the campaign, as the special order on the opening of the
Savannah campaign was still in force. All baggage and trans
portation were reduced to the lowest possible standard. Wall
tents were prohibited, except as offices, and one fpr head
quarters. We started with about thirty days' rations and eight days'
forage. According to the plan, the army of the Tennessee was to
take the right wing, — the 17th corps moving on the extreme
right, and the 15th corps on the right centre, — taking up their
line of march from their temporary encampments around Beau
fort and Pocotaligo, along the roads between the Coosawhatchie
and the Combahee Rivers.
26

302 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
The army of the Cumberland, under Major General Slocum,
occupied the left, the 20th corps the left centre, and the 14th
corps the extreme left, — both marching from Savannah, on the
right of the Georgia Central Railroad, crossing at Lester's Fer
ry and Union Causeway, then keeping to the right until they
formed a junction with the army of the Tennessee. Kilpatrick's
cavalry operated partly in front and partly in flank of the left
wing, extending well in on the river.
General Sherman travelled for the most part with the right
wing. As to Sherman's intentions and destination, they appeared a
mystery to all. I believe he had no definite course laid down,
for his movements were controlled by those of the enemy. Had
he struck right for Charleston, the enemy could concentrate
and mass in his front, thus retarding his march, and forcing
him to a general engagement, which he did not wish to bring
on ; for he was too far from his base, and not in a position to
care for his wounded. The same would hold good had he
moved for Augusta, or any special place. He moved his army
in four columns, each strong enough to resist any force the ene
my could bring against it, yet moving near enough to concen
trate, should a large force threaten either. Their separate
movement foiled the enemy. They had to detach their forces
to try and keep us in check. By Sherman's masterly move
ments they soon found themselves isolated and helpless. Sher
man's object was first to destroy the network of railroads
running through South Carolina, connecting Charleston with
Richmond, Augusta, Columbia, and other important points. In
this he fully succeeded, compelling them to evacuate Charleston,
and rendering Augusta and other points of no military value to
the enemy.
About the 16th of January the 17th corps and three divisions
of the 15th corps were conveyed in transports from Savannah
to Beaufort. The 1 7th corps proceeded to Pocotaligo Landing,
where they had a slight encounter with the enemy, but soon
took the fort, with the loss of a few men. Brevet Major Gen
eral Corse, 4th division, 15th corps, took up his line of march

FEDERAL OCCUPATION OF BEAUFORT. 303
with the left wing, which crossed the Savannah River at Sister's
Ferry. It was also the intention to send the 3d division by land,
across the Savannah River and an estuary of the sea at Union
Causeway ; but the flooding of the country by the heavy rains
and freshets forced them to cross in transports. The same cause
retarded also the general advance of the army, which was
to take place about the 20th of the month. The fall of rain,
which was the heaviest remembered in Savannah, flooded the
whole country, converting it into one sea.
Some of the troops who had commenced their march were
forced to bivouac on rice swamps and islands for several days,
being unable to advance or retire. In some cases supplies had
to be conveyed to them in boats. So intense was the flood that
the country was covered over for miles. The men were up to
their waists on the plantations, and the pontoons on the river
were swept away ; even some men and teams were lost. The
14th corps, and two divisions of the 20th corps, had fared in
like manner. Geary's division remained in the city until he
was relieved by Major General Grover, who now assumed
command. General Sherman transferred his headquarters to Beaufort on
the 23d, and expedited the transportation of troops and supplies,
the last of which had passed over by the 29th. His able chief
quartermaster, General Easton, displayed his usual energy and
zeal in furnishing transportation and forwarding troops and
supplies. On the 26th of January the 20th and 14th corps took up their
line of march towards Sister's Ferry, along the Georgia side of
the river.
On the evening of the 29th, the 17th corps, commanded by
Major General Frank Blafr, broke camp around Pocotaligo, and
moved towards the Combahee River, resuming their march next
day, on the right of the Savannah and Charleston Railroad,
where they had some slight skirmishing with the rebel cavalry,
whom they shelled out of the woods on the opposite side of the
river. The 15th corps, commanded by Major General John A.

304 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Logan, took up their line of march along the Beaufort road, and
encamped on the night of the 30th between the railroad and
McPherson ville .
The army of the Tennessee rested on the 31st, to allow the
left wing to come up, and also to have all delayed troops and
supplies join their command.
Movements ofthe 17th Corps.
General Frank Blair broke camp near Pocotaligo Landing on
the 30th of January, and moved on the Saltketcher road, on
the south bank of the river.
On the 1st they continued their march, General Mower's di
vision in advance, to Whippy Swamp Creek. Here the 9th
Illinois infantry, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes commanding, skir
mished sharply with the 3d South Carolina cavalry, driving
them back on the main road towards the swamp. The cause
way over the swamp was spanned by seven bridges, which the
enemy had burned on their retreat, thus flooding the roads, and
rendering them almost impassable with slashed trees. General
Mower crossed his entire division (1st) over the swamp by
wading, and over fallen trees, keeping up a fire all the time with
the enemy. General Howard, Colonel William E. Strong,
Lieutenant Taylor, and their orderlies, advanced to reconnoitre,
when the rebels opened on them, badly wounding Lieutenant
Taylor. Next morning the whole column took up its line of march
for Braxton Bridge, meeting the enemy's cavalry, who made a
stubborn resistance. General Mower deployed his advance
brigade ; found Braxton Bridge burned by the enemy, and they '
occupying a strong position on the other side with three brigades
of infantry and two batteries of artillery. General Mower left
one regiment to skirmish with them there as a feint, and pushed
the rest of his command for River Bridge, where he was joined
by Colonel Hughes's cavalry, which engaged the enemy, making
several spirited charges on their lines. In one of these Lieu
tenant Colonel Kirby, of General Blair's staff, had his horse
killed, and was himself wounded in the leg. The rebels had

WHIPPY SWAMP. 305
been pressed so closely that they were not able to bum all the
bridges crossing the numerous inlets to the Saltketcher. They
commanded River Bridge with two pieces of artillery. Mower's
skirmishers advanced close on the river, so as to command the
enemy's works. Here Colonel Swayne, 43d Ohio, lost his leg
by a shell.
The next morning General Giles A. Smith's division (4th)
roconnoitred along the Saltketcher, above Braxton Bridge, for
a position to cross, and finally succeeded by wading through a
deep swamp. General Mower succeeded in crossing two bri
gades above River Bridge, thus turning the enemy's position.
Heavy skirmishing continued all day, but the enemy fell back
in the night.
General Logan moved on towards Beaufort Bridge, which he
found destroyed by the enemy. This bridge crosses the Salka-
hatchie River near the church, on the Owensboro' road. Here
we leame'd that the 20th corps, which was on our right, was
within connecting distance, and that it had communication with
the 14th corps, whose march had been considerably delayed by
the bad state of the roads. They were well under way now,
meeting but slight resistance from the enemy's cavalry. Kil
patrick's cavalry was advancing on the front and flank of the
14th corjps.
Next morning, February 5, we crossed Whippy Swamp,
encamping on the other side. Whippy Swamp is a dense
marsh, of about one mile in breadth and several in length, well
colonized by snakes and alligators. The rebels commanded
this causeway by a strong intrenchment, with redoubt and lu
nettes. Here a regiment could keep a whole army at bay ; but
the movement of the 17th corps turned this strong natural po
sition. Our line of march now lay along the Savannah and Orange
burg road — the very road over which Marion marched during
the revolutionary war.
Wheeler's cavalry, commanded by himself in person, made a
vigorous stand near Orange Church, on the Little Salkahatchie.
Their front was protected by a deep swamp, formed by the
26 *

306 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
extension of the river, and easy of defense. Colonel Weaver's
brigade, of General John A. Smith's division, deployed and
charged right through the swamp, up to their hips in mud and
water, and soon dislodged the enemy.
Wheeler had his headquarters in a house beyond the river
the previous night. Sherman and Logan occupied it the follow
ing night.
About five miles above the Coosawhatchie Bridge the enemy
occupied a redoubt in a curve of the river, which they had
mounted with four guns. These considerably annoyed our right,
but were silenced by our sharpshooters.
On February 1 we broke camp before day, marching along
the McPhersonville road towards Hickory Hill.
The road was flooded in several" places. The rebels had
felled trees across these bayous, which were soon cleared off by
our pioneers.
In front of our column the 29th Missouri mounted infantry
and 7th Illinois, under command of Major Buckhart, kept press
ing on the rebel videttes and skirmishers.
Major Buckhart rendered very efficient services all through
with his command, in skirmishing with the enemy, ascertaining
their position, and feeling their lines.
At Sand Hill the column halted for some time on Mr.Peoples's
plantation. Harris's brigade of Tennessee cavalry disputed our passage
across the Coosawhatchie Bridge. Colonel W. H. Ross, chief
of artillery, 15th corps, ordered up a section of the 12th Wis
consin battery, which shelled the woods, while our sharpshooters
covered the bridge. Major Generals Sherman and Logan oc
cupied the house of a Mr. McBride as their headquarters.
This place is at the head of the causeway that crosses the
Coosawhatchie Swamp, and about thirty-five miles from Poco-
taligo Landing.
We had some slight skirmishing in our front all day, the
rebel cavalry making a feeble show of resistance. We met a
few dead rebels along our line.
A few miles farther on, near Beech Branch, where we bivou-

PROGRESS OF THE ARMY. 307
acked for the night, was a splendid marble-fronted residence,
belonging to a Mr. Bostick, who had been an extensive planter
and slave-owner. He was said to have about one thousand
slaves on his different plantations. He had taken all the able-
bodied through the rebel lines, leaving but the young and
infirm. We now got into a rich tract of country. There were large
clearings along the line of road, with some fine plantations and
negro surroundings. Though the houses were mostly deserted,
they were well stored with provisions, showing that their owners
took French leave.
I had been lunching with Major General Hazen as General
Sherman came round.
After some conversation, General Hazen, seeing a thick
smoke, remarked, " There goes the bridge."
" I am sorry," replied General Sherman. Then, after gazing
a few minutes, he exclaimed, " No, Hazen, no ; that's a house ;
it is not the bridge. A bridge would not emit such. a dense
smoke." He was right. It showed what an observer he was even of
small things.
Generals Sherman and Logan had their headquarters at night
near Duck Creek, on the Coosawhatchie. General Howard
travelled with the 17th corps.
General Logan had some smart skirmishing with a cavalry
brigade on our front, but finally dislodged them.
About 10 o'clock, on the morning of the 7th, the 29th Mis
souri mounted infantry struck the Charleston and Savannah
Railroad at Banbury. This station is some fifteen miles west
of Branchville, and nearly equidistant from Charleston, Augusta,
and Columbia. We were so close on tho rebels that they had
to unload several cars of cotton. Major General Wood's divis
ion, which was in advance, immediately commenced. tearing up
the track, which they destroyed for several miles. About the
same time the 17th corps struck it at Midway.
At Hamburg we burned about three hundred bales of cotton
and some stores. "We also captured a mail-bag. It contained

308 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
several letters from soldiers to their friends, all in the most de
sponding tone.
On the evening of the 8th, General Hazen ordered General
Jones's brigade (2d) out on a reconnoissance towards Cannon's
Bridge, on the Edisto River, the enemy being intrenched on the
other side. Three companies of the 54th Ohio were deployed
as skirmishers. After wading through a dense swamp for about
three hundred yards, they got to the edge of the river, and com
menced skirmishing. This was intended merely as a feint.
Next day we reached this village, where we destroyed the
track along our route, burned the railroad and several bales of
cotton. Here Hazen's division diverged north, taking the Sa
vannah and Augusta line ; thence proceeding to Hplman's
Bridge, pn the South Edisto.
The enemy were strongly intrenched on the opposite side of
the river, and had burned the bridges in their front. The first
brigade, Hazen's division, was sent down some distance as skir
mishers. The 55th Illinois crossed the river considerably above
the bridge, so as to strike the enemy's flank. They had to cross
over on trees and floats, and then wade near a mile through a
miserable swamp before they effected a lodgment.
Next morning I rode down to the bridge, where I found the
hero of Fort McAllister — General Hazen — guiding the move
ments of his pioneers, who were felling trees for the troops to
cross over. This had to be done for about a mile, as the swamp
was at some places four feet deep.
The rebel defense was poor indeed. They had about three
hundred infantry and some cavalry here ; yet they made no
stand before a handful of men, who had to wade across a swamp
as best they coulcLfor about a mile.
On the evening of the 9th, the 17th corps succeeded in effect
ing a landing at Binneker's Bridge, where the enemy had been
intrenched. General Mower had crossed below the bridge during
the night, and pontooned the river and corduroyed the road. The
rebel position being now turned, they retreated.
On the 11th Blair marched about eighteen miles, and skir
mished with the enemy on the north fork of the Edisto, the

PROGRESS OF THE ARMY. 3,09
enemy using artillery. They were strongly intrenched on the
other side, and extended their flanks to correspond with ours.
On the 2d of February, when the right wing was fairly on its
march, the left wing was trying to extricate itself from the mud
and swamps around Sister's Ferry, and moved on to Lawton-
ville, which was burned by the 20th corps, when they went into
camp on the evening of the 8th. Next morning they moved
for Barnwell, which they left in ashes on the 11th.
Next day they tore up ten miles of the Charleston and Au
gusta Railroad, and on the 13th they crossed the South Edisto,
and the following day the North Edisto. Up to this they had
encountered no opposition from the enemy, except some slight
skirmishing, which was carried on by our foragers. The 14th
corps encountered a slight obstruction from the enemy near
Lexington, and destroyed the most of that place.
Kilpatrick did not meet the enemy until his advance reached
the river, near Barnwell, where a small force of the enemy
kept him some time in check. Thence he moved for Blackwell,
on the line of the Augusta and Charleston Railroad. Kilpatrick,
learning that Wheeler, with a corps of cavalry, and Cheatham,
with a corps of infantry, were cut off from the main rebel army
at Branchville, being deceived by our feint on Augusta, marched
along the line of railroad to Johnston Station.
Colonel Spencer, commanding the 3d brigade, encountered a
large force of rebel cavalry under General Hagan. A very
sharp engagement ensued, in which Colonel Spencer succeeded
in repulsing the enemy and capturing three battle-flags, and a
considerable amount of guns, sabres, and blankets.
On the 11th the cavalry struck Aiken, and encountered the
enemy in force. The 2d brigade, under General Atkins, had
been thrown out in advance, and met the enemy, Wheeler having
massed his cavalry around Aiken.
The 92d Illinois and 9th Michigan cavalry made a stubborn
resistance, but were subsequently driven back to Kilpatrick's
main line, near Johnston Station. Here Kilpatrick remained
in camp until the 13th, and then moved towards the South
Edisto.

310 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Nothing of great interest occurred until the 27th, save cross
ing the north fork of the Edisto River and the Saluda River.
On that day, owing to the many reports concerning the capture
and murder of men belonging to his command, General Kilpat
rick arranged for an interview with General Wheeler, at Lan
caster, in regard to an order from General Sherman, that
prisoners in our possession should be shot in retaliation for the
murder of our men by Wheeler. This answered a double pur
pose : first, giving an opportunity for a more perfect understand
ing relative to the alleged atrocities ; second, causing the enemy
to believe our point of attack to be Charleston.
The interview was very pleasant, considering the circum
stances, and had the desired effect. Nothing was known of the
murders by General Wheeler, and he positively asserted that
no such thing had been committed by any organization of his
command, and, furthermore, he would endeavor to learn if there
were any truth in it.
There can be no denial of the assertion that the feeling among
the troops was one of extreme bitterness towards the people of
the State of South Carolina. It was freely expressed as the
column hurried over the bridge at Sister's Ferry, eager to com
mence the punishment of " original secessionists." Threatening
words were heard from soldiers who prided themselves on
" conservatism in house-burning " while in Georgia, and officers
openly confessed their fears that the coming campaign would be
a wicked one. Just or unjust as this feeling was towards the
country people of South Carolina, it was universal. I first saw
its fruits at Rarysburg, where two or three piles of blackened
brick and an acre or so of dying embers marked the site of an
old revolutionary town ; and this before the column had fairly
got its " hand in."
At McBride's plantation, where General Sherman had his
headquarters, the out-offices, shanties, and surroundings were all
set on fire before he left. I think the fire approaching the
dwelling hastened his departure.
If a house was empty, this was prima facie evidence that the
owners were rebels, and all was sure tp be consigned to the

DEPREDATIONS OF THE SOLDIERS. 311
flames. If they remained at home, it was taken for granted that
every on» in South Carolina was a rebel, and the chances were,
the place was consumed. In Georgia few houses were burned ;
here, few escaped ; and the country was converted into one
vast bonfire. The pine forests were fired, the resin factories
were fired, the public buildings and private dwellings were fired.
The middle of the finest day looked black and gloomy, for a
dense smoke arose on all sides, clouding the very heavens. At
¦night the tall pine trees seemed so many huge pillars of fire.
The flames hissed and screeched, as they fed on the fat resin
and dry branches, imparting to the forests a most fearful ap
pearance. Vandalism of this kind, though not encouraged, was seldom
punished. True, where every one is guilty alike, there will be
no informers ; therefore the generals knew little of what was
going on. The only cases I knew of theft being punished was
on one or two occasions.
General Davis caught two soldiers stealing female apparel
out of a house, leaving the family almost naked. He ordered
the ruffians to be dressed out in the women's clothes, and made
to march behind a wagon, tied, to it, for six days, amidst the
scoffs and jeers of the men.
General Geary caught a captain plundering a house ; he took
his sword from him and ordered him to be tied up behind a
wagon. Major General Stanly caught a soldier coming out
of a house with.women's clothing ; he gave him such a hearty
application of his boot that the ruffian rolled head foremost
into a deep sink-hole.
Captain Wiseman, of General Morgan's staff, detected a man
taking the coverlets from a bed, and ordered him out, when the
man seized his gun and turned on the captain, who drew his
sword, parried the blow, and cut the fellow's ear off with pne
stroke. Had every officer done likewise, the respect and morale
of the army would have been improved.
The ruined homesteads of the Palmetto State will long be re
membered. The army might safely march the darkest night, the
crackling pine woods shooting up their columns of flame, and

312 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
the burning houses along the way would light it on, while the
dark clouds and pillars of smoke would safely cover its rear.
Foragers and bummers heralded the advance of the army,
eating up the country like so many locusts. These fel
lows, mounted on scraggy old mules, or castroff horses, spread
themselves in one vast advance guard, and oftentimes went
twenty miles ahead of the main columns. They returned at
night with strings of chickens, bacon, turkeys, and geese, em
bellishing themselves and their horses, or with a buggy or
carriage, which they had borrowed from the owner, well laden
with supplies.
Sometimes some adventurous youths, who had gone too far,
to have the first haul, got captured, and most Likely had then-
throats cut.
The bummers of different corps sometimes fought among one
another about the spoils, and at other times fraternized to
gether, in order to dislodge some troublesome enemy.
I was standing on the piazza of a plantation house, watching
the burning dwellings around. The pwner turns to me with an
exultant look, and says, —
" There, I knew it would be so ; I told the d — d fools it
would come to that, but they only laughed at me. There is
Jennings's mills on fire ; well, serves him right ; he was always
preaching secession, the d — d scoundrel. I hope they will hang
him ! Then, there is Milken's house in a blaze, too ; and there
is Harrison's following them. I told them it would be so ; but
the fools laughed at me, and called me a Yankee. Well, now
they know who was the fool, and I don't care a d — n how soon
my own follows them."
A Teutonic member of the 9th Michigan cavalry walked into
camp one day with a rebel prisoner. The captor was unarmed,
while the prisoner had a rifle slung on his shoulder. On reach
ing headquarters, the Dutchman saluted, and said, —
" Captains, dere ish un brisner."
"Where did you get him?" inquired the adjutant general.
" Well, yer see, I was in der perginning of der fight, and gut
cut off; and, without der gun pr horse, hid* in der swamp.

DEPREDATIONS OF THE SOLDIERS. 313
Pimepy, I sees der Shoney coming up ; so I shust shumped
pehind der tree to grab hims. Der tam fool didn't comes close
ter nuff, an' I sheps out mit -* Surrender ! ' I shook hands mit
him, and we made une compact to strike for ter camp ; and, if
it so pe we make rebel lines, I was to pe his brisner ; and, if
der were ter Unions bines, he is to pe mine brisner."
The story seemed so improbable that the rebel was appealed
to, and confirmed the Dutchman's tale, merely adding, —
" I were tired of toting the gun, and wanted to sell out cheap
for cash or hard tack."
I came up to a retired plantation house, just set on fire. The
soldiers were rushing off on every side with their pillage. Ah
old lady and her two grandchildren were in the yard alarmed
and helpless. The flames and smoke were shooting through the
windows. The old lady rushed from one to another, beseeching
them at least to save her furniture. They only enjoyed the
whole thing, including her distress. I turned to them, and
said, —
" Boys, look at that poor, crazy woman, and those helpless
children ; you all have mothers, some of you children ; think
of them, and any of you that are men will follow me."
They did follow me, and soon a thousand dollars' worth of
splendid furniture was rescued from the burning house. I was
near losing my life in saving a photograph of her husband,
which hung over the mantel-tree in one of the rooms on fire.
The word " bummer " has so often occurred in this work, that
I think it well to give an account of the signification of the name.
Any man who has seen the object that it applies to will acknowl
edge that it was admirably selected. Fancy a ragged man,
blackened by the smoke of many a pine-knot fire, mounted on
a scraggy mule, without a saddle, with a gun, a knapsack, a
butcher knife, and a plug hat, stealing his way through the pine
forests far out on the flanks of a column, keen on the scent
of rebels, or bacon, or silver spoons, or corn, or anything valu
able, and you have him in your mind. Think how you would
admire him if you were a lone woman, with a family of small
children, far from help, when he blandly inquired where you
27

314 Sherman's march through the south.
kept your valuables. Think how you would smile when he
pried open your chests with his bayonet, or knocked to pieces
your tables, pianos, and chairs, tore your bed clothing in three-
inch strips, and scattered them about the yard. The bum
mers say it takes too much time to use keys. Color is no
protection from these roughriders. They go through a negro
cabin, in search of diamonds and gold watches, with just as
much freedom and vivacity as they "loot" the dwelling of a
wealthy planter. They appear to be possessed of a spirit of
" pure cussedness." One incident of many will illustrate : A
bummer stepped into a house and inquired for sorghum.
The lady of the house presented a jug, which he said was too
heavy ; so he merely filled his canteen. Then taking a huge
wad of tobacco from his mouth, he thrust it into the jug. The
lady inquired, in wonder, why he spoiled that which he did not
want. " O, some feller '11 come along and taste that sorghum,
and think you've poisoned him ; then he'll burn your d— d old
house." There are hundreds of these mounted men with the
column, and they go everywhere. Some of them are loaded
down with silver ware, gold coin, and other valuables. I hazard
nothing in saying that three fifths (in value) of the personal
property of the counties we have passed through were taken by
Sherman's army.
It is strange what a fancy soldiers had for pets in general.
It was no unusual sight to see a squirrel contentedly perched on
a soldier's knapsack, as he trudged along, or to see an unhappy
coon, led by a string at his side, timing march with him. As for
chickens and roosters, they held secure possession on the wagons,
evidently well contented with their lot, and assuming a great
many swaggering airs. The hot blood, which the roosters
vented all day in defiant crowing, was often allowed to cool at
night ; for if we got into camp in good time, dog and cock fight
ing enlivened the evening. Groups of officers were collected
with two roosters in the centre, with erect feathers and defiant
heads, sparring and fencing, until at length one of them lay quiv
ering on the daisy, to the no small satisfaction of all parties
present, except the defunct warrior and his backers.

soldiers' pets. 315
Not far from this gentlemanly sport, you might see a larger
group excitedly swaying around and crying out, " Stick to him
bully ! " " That's a good dog, Jeff! " and on looking you saw
two great mastiffs, or bloodhounds, fiercely tearing one another.
Speaking of dogs in the army, I must say that few bloodhounds
were allowed to live, except some peculiar one that took the
fancy of an officer. As for the general run of these animals,
they were relentlessly shot down, the men simply remarking,
" Here goes to spoil that 'ere dog's scent for Union prisoners or
niggers ; " and a bullet did for the poor brute.
As we came near deserted houses, it was pitiful to see the
poor, half-starved cur go up to the men with a most melancholy
countenance, as much as to say, " I have seen better days, but
am now starving ; just let me go along, and I will be a good,
dutiful dog." Sometimes he gets a kick or a bullet for his con
fidence ; at other times he is not noticed, and he strives hard to
look as if he belonged to some one. He seems to know full
well what it is to be nobody's dog there ; the fate of others warns
him, and he knows his fate is sealed if he is once detected to
be an outcast. He will follow an officer who calls him, wag
his tail as if it would twist off, appear most grateful, and would
fain follow him to the end of the earth if allowed ; if not, he
slinks back, with a heavy heart, but with a cheerful look, as if
he had met his master and was hunting up. He lives well on
the offal of the camp, and if any one gives him protection he
is all right ; or if he can pick up a friendly acquaintance with
some lucky dog, who claims a colonel or a captain for master,
under his patronage he is sure to get along.
We also had a variety of poodle dogs, with collars and flossy
hair, and screaming paroquets.
Seth had picked up a most interesting parrot. It was an
educated and highly-trained bird. Polly did not like the
change of owners, and freely expressed her dislike by calling
every one that went by, " nasty fellow."
It was touching to hear her use some of her favorite expres
sions : "Papa, dear papa, come to tea;" " Welcome, Massa
James ; " and " Miss Lizzy, Polly is hungry, Polly is hungry."

315 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
The poor bird seemed to droop for the want of Lizzy's fos
tering care. Alas, where was Miss Lizzy now? Most likely
a terrified outcast from home and friends. Where was " papa,"
or " Massa James," whether brother or lover? Perchance they
are rotting beneath the shade of some pine tree, while the dear
ones they cherished are without a protecting hand to guard
them or food to support them.
I must here speak of another class of animals, which have
been wretchedly abused in the army ; I mean horses and mules.
These noble brutes were flogged, kicked, cursed most unmerci
fully by rude teamsters, oftentimes for no offence at all, but to
gratify the bad passions of their brutal masters.
If an officer or wagon master censured a teamster for any
neglect, he was sure to revenge it on his mules. Should he
loiter on his way, he made up the time by flogging and cursing
the animals. Should his wagon get stuck, they were urged on
by a stout hickory applied to their heads and ribs. I could tell
you the disposition of a teamster by looking at his mules. If
they were fleshy and cheerful looking, he was a kind master ;
if lean and dispirited looking, with straggling harness, he was
a blaspheming, blustering bully. As for blaspheming, I often
thought the teamsters had taken a special contract to do the
swearing for the army. Indeed, I think they prayed in oaths.
Though soldiers in general swear terribly, I assure you they
could not hold a candle for our teamsters. Cavalry horses, too,
have not been treated much better. They are ridden almost to
death in search of booty through the country, and are soon used
up and unfit for service.
I would suggest the propriety of establishing a regular vet
erinary corps, who should see that animals are properly
treated. As we picked up some of the first-blooded horses of the south,
which, of course, are appropriated to Uncle Sam's use, or to
the use of his officers, though some of them were with foal and
had to be led, we could not help trying their mettle. There
fore, if we only halted a day, we were sure to get up a race,
which was generally well attended. One of these came off in

HORSE-RACING. 317
Georgia, near a stream, with the enemy at one side and we
racing at the other. It was a very exciting race, and bets were
freely laid and taken ; but as the enemy became spiteful, and
did not seem to relish the thing, we had to deploy a heavy line
of skirmishers along the stream to keep them amused, and pre
vent them from spoiling our fun.
27*

318 Sherman's march through the south.

CHAPTER XXVI.
DESCRIPTION AND APPEARANCE OF SOUTH CAROLINA — VISIT
TO WOODLANDS.
The sea islands of South Carolina extend along the coast
from Winyaw Bay to the Savannah River, and are composed
of a rich, vegetable loam of great fertility, producing sea island
cotton, corn, and rice. The orange tree and palmetto flourish
among these islands. The tide flows a considerable way inward
among the rivers, irrigating the immense extent of marsh land
that borders the rivers. These lands, though unhealthy, are
very valuable as rice plantations.
The region between the tide swamps and the sand hills of
the middle country extends for nearly one hundred miles.
The river swamps here, too, are immense, extending in some
places six miles in width, and are unfit for cultivation, but
afford a safe retreat for water fowls and alligators. Across
these dismal swamps our armies had to force their pas
sage. Beyond these the sand-hill region extends for some
thirty miles towards Columbia, and includes the extremes of
sterility and fertility. The high, poor lands are covered with
pitch pine, black jacks or dwarf oaks, while the low lands bor
dering the rivers produce corn, cotton, and rice in abundance.
The country extending from the sand-hill region to the moun
tains, some ninety miles, possesses a pretty uniform character.
The surface is clay, covered for the most part with a rich soil,
mixed with sand or granite. The rolling nature of this tract
of country gives it rather a picturesque appearance. This
tract extends along the Broad River, in York and Spartansburg
districts. The mountainous country is confined to Pendleton
and Greenville districts, and, though the soil is rather sterile,
the country is pleasant and healthy.

SIMMS AND ,HIS PLANTATION. 319
At Woodlands, about one mile south of Midway, is the
residence of the poet and novelist, Mr. Simms. It is an old-
fashioned, unfinished brick building, with massive, ungainly
porticos. It is a strange, castellated-appearing affair, with
something of a weird look about it. Our skirmishers and for
agers paid a hasty visit to Mr. Simms, and, as he was not at
home, they thought they would do the honors of the house
themselves, and fell to helping themselves liberally. On hear
ing this, Major General Frank Blair placed a guard over the
place to protect the house, furniture, and fine library. Mr.
Simms is a thorough, rabid secessionist, full of southern preju
dices, and a fierce calumniator of northern character and insti
tutions. Mr. Simms's plantation is a good type of the lowland planta
tions of South Carolina. Since we left Savanjlah the country
was one vast lowland plain. Large plantations, with their
numerous surroundings, fringe the road, while behind the culti
vated lands, — which, by the way, here as well as in Georgia,
are converted into corn, instead of cotton fields, — the dark
pine forests raise their evergreen heads. The cypress and wild
vine, too, festoon the forest. In front of Mr. Simms's house
are some venerable trees, beneath which the vine and cypress
have formed fantastic bowers, with their delicate foliage and
garlands of hanging moss. Not far from the residence is a
dark, solemn swamp, formed by the expansion of the Edisto
over the lowlands. This is full of fallen trees, Gothic arches of
cypress and vines interlacing their branches in strange shapes,
while the ever-pending moss waves its funereal-looking pall
over the miasmatic, poisonous air of swamp lands. Here revel
in secure enjoyment wild fowl, serpents, and alligators.
Such dismal swamps are frequent in Carolina, but chiefly
abound along the sea coast from Savannah to Charleston.
The people of South Carolina, despite all their boasted chiv
alry, submitted to Yankee rule and usurpation with neither
grace nor dignity. In Georgia, we had to respect the high-
toned feeling of the planters, for they yielded with a dignity
that won our admiration. In Carolina, the inhabitants, with a

320 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
fawning, cringing subserviency, hung around our camps, crav
ing a bit to eat, while our foragers disinterred barrels of pork
and sweet potatoes around their premises.
In every instance the negroes have proved our friends, giv
ing us valuable information relative to the enemy's movements ;
also acting as scouts and spies, informing us where the enemy
had concealed their cattle, and the like. The poor, despised
negroes looked upon our arrival as fulfilling the millennium —
the days of " jubilon." In most cases they have been faithful
friends, sheltering and feeding our prisoners, and giving us
valuable information. They possess a large share of shrewd
ness, and take a more just view of the present struggle than we
generally gave them credit for. They look upon the Yankees
as their friends ; on their old taskmasters, as their inveterate
enemies. A man named William Clark, formerly of Colonel Walford's
cavalry, came into our lines. He was an escaped prisoner, and
had been concealed for eight weeks by the poor negroes. . He
remained in the swamps by day* and joined his kind protectors
at night. Though they would be liberally rewarded for be
traying him, still they were faithful. We have always found
the despised negro to act so. Their masters have lately tried
to conciliate them. An old negro said to me, " Massa 'come
so kind ; though massa cross, he'd drink out of the same gourd
with the poor nigger."
While halting at the plantation of a Mr. People, I had a
quiet chat with an old, patriarchal negro.
Mr. People chanced to be at home, and all his young and old
negroes crowded around, to gape and wonder at the much
dreaded Yankee army. Among them was a venerable African.
" How do you get on, father?" I asked.
" Well, massa, dis 'ere nigger gets on poorly, as you see.
Massa calls me a young man, and makes dis nigger work like
a hoss." " Has massa any money here ? " asked some of the beys.
" Lpts of dis 'ere dead money."
" Why do you call it dead ? "

THE WHITE SLAVE. 321
" Well, you see, if a hoss is cut, you call him 'ere wounded ;
if he is scotched terbly, he dies like dis 'ere money."
" How do you like the Yanks?" I asked the old African.
"Yeah, yeah ! Yanks fine ; not like the tallow-faced rebs
look, who lib on corn coffee and swash all dere lives."
While the old African was making this philosophical dis
tinction, I overheard a little picaninny whisper, —
" Mamma, the Yanks have good feet ; not like de debbil, as,,
massa says."
The planters told all sorts of absurd stories to their slaves
about our men, to frighten them at our approach." They
informed them that we were killing all the male children, and
yoking the men and women as oxen, or selling them in Cuba.
A white slave came into our lines and reported to General
Logan. His name is James Le Roach, of French descent by
his father. His great grandmother was a pretty Indian girl,
and reared by a Mr. Torrens, by whose son she had a daughter,
who was sold to a Mr. Western, of Charleston, who had a
daughter by her. The latter was the mother of our slave, and
kept in servitude by her half sister, a Mrs. Smith, who afterr
wards sold both mother and children to heartless traders, who
trafficked them over the country. This man was about forty
years of age, slight build, long, sandy hair and whiskers, and
evidently without a particle of African blood in his veins ; yet
he was the bondman of his kinsman.
Plate and valuables were buried everywhere — out in the
swamps, in the beds of streams, under newly-made flower gar
dens, and even in graves. In no place were they safe from the
prying Yankee or traitorous slave.
The graves were even ransacked, and though sometimes the
coffins yielded golden treasure, at other times a decomposing
corpse, perhaps a woolly negro, rewarded the sacrilegious gold
seekers. The following very amusing incident, showing how a Yank
was outdone, came under my own observation.
Some soldiers were fpraging rpund a house ewned by some
pretty secesh ladies.

322 Sherman's march through the south.
One ef the men, seeing the earth in the garden freshly turned
up, asked, " What is buried there?"
." Nothing," was the reply.
" You can't come it over a Yank that way. I guess I'll find
something worth looking after here."
He fell to digging, the lady appearing quite distressed, and
requesting that he would desist. This only fired his cupidity,
and he dug the more vigorously, until he had got down some
six or eight feet. He would not even suffer any of his com
rades to help him, claiming the whole as his perquisite.
It chanced to be an old well that had recently been closed up.
At length the young girl told those looking on, when a good
laugh was had at his expense. He got up, put on his coat,
and made tracks, using very strong language to soothe his
injured feelings.
I inquired of an old lady who was intently gazing at us
whether she ever saw any Yankees before. " O, yes ; we
often seen your fellows with a pack on their backs, or with a
monkey and organ ! "
On the 1 1th of February, all the army was on the railroad
from Midway to Johnston's Station, thereby dividing the enemy's
forces, which still remained at Branchville and Charleston, on
the one hand, and at Aiken and Augusta, on the other.
The 17th corps crossed the south fork of Edisto River at
Binneker's Bridge, the 15th at Holman's Bridge.
The approaches to this river were protected by the usual
swamps, trees, and brush. We had ascertained from one of
General Logan's orderlies, who had been captured, and was
afterwards recaptured by the 29th Missouri mounted infantry,
that the enemy were intrenched along the north-east bank. We
had also ascertained that these works were guarded by Chal
mers's brigade. Early in the morning, General Logan ordered
General Hazen to feel the enemy at Shilling's Bridge.
The 2d brigade, Colonel Well Jones, at once proceeded to
try the passage here.
The 111th Illinois and 53d Ohio deployed as skirmishers,
and after wading through the swamp up to their waists, they

CITY OF ORANGEBURG. 323
opened a sharp fire on the rebels, which was briskly
responded to.
The 47th Ohio had gone up the river some distance, and not
finding the enemy there, crossed over on rafts, while Colonel
Theodore Jones's brigade (the 1st) had been equally successful
some miles lower. At the same time General Blair's corps
(the 17th) was striving to effect a crossing in front of Orange
burg. The enemy had a section of artillery here, which
opened upon them. Soon, finding that we had crossed on their
flank, and were threatening their rear, they retreated at all
points. Our loss was only two killed, and about six wounded.
Hazen's division captured about fifty prisoners ; the 17th corps
some more.
About four o'clock the head of Blair's column entered
Orangeburg. Orangeburg is on the Columbia branch of the South Carolina
railroad, ninety-seven miles from Charleston, and forty-seven
from Columbia. It had been a pretty place before the war, and
had a population close on two thousand. It was built upon a
rising bluff, one of the first we met since we left Savannah.
It possessed some historic relics of the revolutionary war. It
was formerly looked upon as a healthy, pleasant retreat, and
was, therefore, rather a fashionable little place.
When I reached the city, it was in flames. Our men say
that they found several houses, in which cotton was stored, on
fire when they entered it. Be this as it may, the whole town
was soon in flames, and by the following morning one heap of
ashes. The tasteful churches, with their tall steeples, and about
fifty private houses, alone escaped. A large amount of cotton
was also consumed. It was a sad sight next morning to wit
ness the smoking ruins of the town, the tall, black chimneys
looking down upon it like funeral mutes, and to see old women
and children, hopeless, helpless, -almost frenzied, wandering
amidst the desolation.
The Orphan Asylum is somewhat in the rear of the town, and
then contained oyer Jwp hundred children. It is a branch of

324 Sherman's march through the south.
the Charlesten House. During my visit there, the children
went through their exercises, — sang songs and hymns in a
most creditable manner. It was presided over by a New York
lady, — A. R. Irving, — a very sensible lady, who talked freely
about the present troubles. Her sympathies were with the
south. She felt very keenly for her helpless charge, now that
the railroads are torn up, and the country devastated. She
saw nothing but starvation before them. Alas ! I could not
hold forth one ray of hope to her.
Our columns were now fast closing in about Columbia. We
averaged, at this time of our march, nearly fifteen miles a day.
Sherman had deceived the rebels. Those in Augusta were
completely cut off by the destruction of the Charleston Une.
Those at Branchville were also bewildered as to our move
ments. After the capture of Orangeburg, our trppps made a rapid
march, meeting but little ppposition from the enemy, until they
approached Little Congaree Creek. Here they seemed re
solved to make a stand. Logan's corps had marched through
by-roads until they struck the state road, near Sandy Run.
Blair's corps had followed the state road from Orangeburg, and
formed a junction with the rear of the 15th corps at Sandy
Run post office.
Major General Wood's division (1st) had the advance, and
skirmished with the enemy for some time, driving them back
behind the creek. Here they were strongly intrenched, and
commanded the bridge by a section of artillery ; besides, their
left was protected by the Congaree River, while a deep stream,
with soft, marshy banks, lay in their front.
A regiment waded the river on their right and left, com
pelling the enemy to give up their position. Our skirmishers
pressed so closely on them, that their cavalry wheeled round
and charged them, but were speedily repulsed.
Their artillery kept up a continuous fire all night on Major
General Hazen's headquarters and command, wounding several,
and taking the leg off of one of Colonel Jones's staff officers,
in his quarters,

CITY OF COLUMBIA. 325
Early on the morning of the 15th, Major General Hazen
threw forward his skirmishers, and ascertained that, the enemy
had fallen back behind the Congaree, burning the fine bridge
that spanned the river just on the edge of Columbia. Hazen
had now occupied the front with detachments from his com
mand. Major Generals Howard, Logan, Blair, and others
rode to the front, to join Hazen and reconnoitre the position,
though the rebel battery was sweeping the road with round
shot and canister.
Colonel Ross, chief of artillery, 15th corps, ordered up
Captain De Grass's battery. This splendid battery, under its
dashing young captain, took up position, and silenced the rebel
battery that commanded the road. A section was placed close
to the bridge, so as to sweep the streets of the city, which were
crowded with soldiers, citizens, and wagons, clearing out of the
town. The shells soon burst among them, making them file right
and left in double quick time. Captain Zickerick's 12th Mis
souri battery, and also some guns from the 17th corps, soon
took up position on a commanding hill, and opened on the
trains that were leaving the depot. We were within five hun
dred yards of the city, which was situated on a rising bluff on
the other side of the river, so that we could smash it to pieces
in a short time by bringing sufficient artillery to bear on it. It
appeared to be Sherman's intention to shed as little innocent
blood as possible.
We expected every moment that the city would be surren
dered, for it now lay hopelessly in our power. About nine o'clock
General Sherman and staff arrived ; also Generals Blair and
Slocum. As the rebels seemed inclined to defend the place to
the last, and as the river at, this point, from its wide and rapid
nature, did not appear favorable for pontooning, General Hazen
ordered General Oliver to send his brigade to Saluda, and try
and effect a crossing near that village, and, if possible, to save
the bridge.
General Oliver sent forward the 99th Indiana and 15th
Michigan, but found that the bridge had been burned. After
28

326 Sherman's march through the south.
some skirmishing, General Hazen, in person, ordered men to
cross over in boats and on rafts, which they succeeded in doing
without any loss.
While this was taking place, our mounted infantry, com
prising the 29th Missouri and 7th Illinois, dashed into Saluda,
a small village on the banks of the Saluda River.
This place contained the Columbia Mills, the largest manu
factory in the south, and gave employment to about four hun
dred hands, chiefly females. Near the village is one of the
prison camps of our men, and called Sorghum Camp, as this
article composed their chief diet. It was situated on a sandy
bluff. The huts were formed of logs, their sides thickly covered
with earth. Here they had no fire, as was evident from the
absence of chimneys, and the appearance of the woods around.
As several succeeded in escaping from this, they were removed
to the Asylum enclosure for security. As I intend giving a
detailed account of the sufferings of these martyrs of the Union,
I will now pass over the subject. It was sad to see in Saluda
groups of female operatives weeping and wringing their hands
in agony, as they saw the factory, their only means of support,
in flames. It is truly said, "War is a cruelty." Neither can
it be refined ; for the innocent suffer for the crimes of the
guilty. Towards evening we had pontooned and crossed the Saluda,
and charged the rebels across the tongue of land which sepa
rates it from Broad River. Though our men were close
upon them, they succeeded in burning the bridge, having cov
ered it over with combustible matter. Towards morning two
regiments of Colonel Stone's 2d brigade, Mower's division,
17th corps, crossed the river in rafts and boats.
General Logan selected a narrow point of the river, where
some men crossed over in boats, the men on our left moving
down on the rebel sharpshooters.
It was a lovely sight ; the morning sun rose glowing and
beautiful, its sparkling rays lighting up the house-tops of the
doomed city, and dancing over the bright waters like diamond
gems, bathing the river with its silvery rays. The shadows of

the federal generals. 327
the forest trees advanced along the sparkling waters as the
boats shot over its surface, and the click of the rifle and whir
of the bullet echoed around.
The engineers at once proceeded to lay the pontoons, while
the high bluff on the margin was crowded with officers and
men. There was General Sherman, now pacing up and down
in the midst of the group all the time, with an unlit cigar in his
mouth, and now and then abruptly halting to speak to some of
the generals around him. Again he would sit down, whittle
a stick, and soon nervously start up to resume his walk. Above
all the men I have ever met, that strange face of his is the
hardest to be read. It is a sealed book even to his nearest
friends. Sitting on a log beside him was Howard, reading a news
paper, and occasionally stopping to answer a question of Sher
man's, or make a comment on some passage.
Howard always looks the same — the kind, courteous gen
eral, the Christian soldier.
Another of the group was Frank P. Blair, with his strongly-
marked features, indicative alike of talent, energy, and ability.
John A. Logan, too, was there, with his dark, almost bronzed
countenance, and fiery, commanding eye, the true type of the
dashing general.
Not least was General Hazen, the hero of McAllister, with
his frank, expressive features, and finely-moulded head, -beto
kening the warm-hearted gentleman, the soldier of mind and
brains. These, with several other generals, with a host of gay officers
and orderlies in the background, formed a group worthy the
pencil of a Rubens or Vandyke.
Colonel Stone's brigade were now advancing on Columbia,
and when within about two miles of it, he met the mayor, Mr.
Goodwin, and three members of the City Council, coming out
in a carriage to surrender the town.
Colonel Stone, Major Anderson, ofthe 4th Iowa, and Captain
William B. Prett, aid-de-camp of General Logan's staff, and sev
eral other officers, proceeded with the deputation into the city,.

328 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
when the mayor delivered up the keys, and made a fermal sur
render. The 13th Iowa, Colonel Kennedy, claims to be the first
to hoist the stars and stripes upon the old capitol, where the
first ordinance of secession originated. The 31st Iowa claims
the honor likewise. However, the 13th Iowa was the first
official flag that floated from it.
As soon as the pontoon was laid, General Sherman, accom
panied by several other generals, their staffs and orderlies,
forming a brilliant cavalcade, rode into the city amidst a scene
of the most enthusiastic excitement. Ladies crowded the win
dows and balconies, waving banners and handkerchiefs. They
were the wives and sisters of the few proscribed Union people
of Columbia. As for tbe rich, haughty secessionists, they had
all fled. Negroes were grouped along the streets, cheering,
singing, and dancing in the wild exuberance of their new-born
freedom. Perhaps the most flattering compliment paid to us was
by a negro, whom, with upturned features and clasped hands, I
heard exclaim, "At last! at last! our saviours!" Ringing
cheers and shouts echoed far and wide, mingled with the
martial music of the bands as they played " Hail, Columbia,"
" Yankee Doodle," and other national airs. It was, indeed, an
exciting scene, and one well worth living to witness.
Our march through the city was so orderly that even the
southerners began to bless their stars that the reign of terror
was over, and that a reign of peace and security, like that at
Savannah, was about being inaugurated. Alas that the scenes
of the night should mar so auspicious a beginning !

DESCRIPTION OF COLUMBIA. 329

CHAPTER XXVII.
DESCRIPTION OF COLUMBIA. — THE CITY ON FTRE. — DREADFUL
SCENES IN THE STREETS.— WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.— SUFFERINGS
OF THE PLANTERS' FAMILIES.
Columbia, the capitafof South Carolina, is one hundred and
twenty-eight miles from Charleston by railway. It has been a
beautiful city, situated just at the conflux of the Saluda and
Broad Rivers, which form the Congaree. It was famed for its
fine public buildings, its magnificent private residences, with
their lovely flower gardens, which savored of Oriental ease and
luxury. It is hard to conceive a city more beautifully situated,
or more gorgeously embellished, with splendidly shaded walks
and drives, with flowers, shrubberies, and plantations. Birds
of splendid plumage sang and sported in its gardens under the
delicious influence of the sunny skies.
The city was laid out in 1787, and had rapidly increased
in beauty and population, the latter amounting to ahput ten
thousand previous to the war. Most of its stores and public
buildings were of brick, while most of the private residences
were framed, neatly painted, with piazzas hanging with plants
and creepers. Its churches, insane asylums, colleges, and other
public buildings were very fine. The new capitol, built of fine
granite, would be a magnificent building if completed. Colum
bia College, the Alma Mater of the Tazewells, the Barnwells,
the Rhetts, the Hamptons, and other distinguished men, is a
splendid educational establishment. The Park is a lovely
promenade, while the private residences are unsurpassed in
the elegance of their finish, the beauty of their grounds, and
the luxury of their fittings. A spell of ease and voluptuous
luxury seemed to pervade the place. Flowers, pictures, statu
s's *

330 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
ary, select libraries, all that the arts and sciences could contrib
ute, adorned its halls and private residences. In the house of
General John C. Preston, formerly United States minister and
senator, where General Logan had his headquarters, I have
seen works in literature, painting, and statuary, that would
enchant a savant. In the basement, in a box unpacked, was a
Venus, of Italian marble and finest workmanship, worth, at
least, from ten to fifteen thousand dollars. As General Logan
gave orders not to have the house burned, I hope it has escaped.
Woodlands, the residence of General Wade Hampton, was a
magnificent place, but has been burned down by our soldiers.
He is married to Preston's sister. It is no wonder that Eve
was discontented in Paradise, when a people with so much to
gratify the most epicurean tastes rebelled.
The rebels left forty-five pieces of artillery, fifteen loco
motives, immense government stores, of all kinds, besides
a large amount of cotton. Piles of cotton were burning along
the streets, but a great deal was yet untouched. I understand
there were no fewer than nine generals and the governor in
Columbia just a few hours before our occupation. These
included Johnston, Beauregard, Hampton, Wheeler, and Butler.
They were expecting, up to the last moment, to be reenforced
by Lee's troops from Branchville, and Dick Taylor's from
Augusta. Besides, hearing of Sherman's army threatening
Augusta and Branchville, they thought there was nothing but
a small raiding party marching on Columbia. They Httle knew
how they were out-manoouvred, baffled, and isolated.
I spent the evening in the capitol looking over the archives
and libraries. Part of Colonel Stone's brigade — I think the
13th Iowa, Colonel Kennedy's regiment — was on duty there.
Towards night, crowds of our escaped prisoners, soldiers,
and negroes, intoxicated with their new-born liberty, which they
looked upon as a license to do as they pleased, were parading
the streets in groups.
As soon as night set in there ensued a sad scene indeed.
The suburbs were first set on fire, some assert by the burning
cotton which the rebels had piled along the streets. Pillaging

BURNING OF THE CITY. 331
gangs soon fired the heart of the town, then entered the houses;
in many instances carrying off articles of value. The flame
soon burst out in all parts of the city, and the streets were
quickly crowded with helpless women and children, some in
their night-clothes. Agonized mothers, seeking their children,
all affrighted and terrified, were rushing on all sides from the
raging flames and falling houses. Invalids had to be dragged
from their beds, and lay exposed to the flames and smoke that
swept the streets, or to the cold of the open air in back yards.
The scene at the convent was a sad one indeed. The flames
were fast encompassing the convent, and the sisters, and about
sixty terrified young ladies, huddled together on the streets.
Some of these had come from the north, previous to the war,
for their education, and were not able to return. The supe
rioress of the convent had educated General Sherman's daugh
ter Minnie. He had assigned them a special guard of six
men ; so they felt secure, and were totally unprepared for the
dreadful scene that ensued. Some Christian people formed
a guard around this agonized group of ladies, and conducted
them to the Park.
I trust I shall never witness such a scene again — drunken
soldiers, rushing from house to house, emptying them of their
valuables, and then firing them ; negroes carrying off piles of
booty, and grinning at the good chance, and exulting, like so
many demons ; officers and men revelling on the wines and
liquors, until the burning houses buried them in their drunken
orgies. I was fired at for trying to save an unfortunate man from
being murdered.
The frequent shots on every side told that some victim
had fallen. Shrieks, groans, and cries of distress resounded
from every side. Men, women, and children, some half naked,
as they rushed from their beds, were running frantically about,
seeking their friends, or trying to escape from the fated town.
A troop of cavalry, I think the 29th Missouri, were left to
patrol the streets ; but I did not once see them interfering with
the groups that rushed about to fire and pillage the houses.

332 Sherman's march through the south.
True, Generals Sherman, Howard, and others were out giv
ing instructions for putting out a fire in one place, while a
hundred fires were lighting all round them.
How much better would it have been had they brought in
a division or brigade of sober troops, and cleared out the town,
even with steel and bullet !
General Wood's 1st division, 15th corps, occupied Columbia.
Colonel Stone's brigade was the first to enter the city and hoist
the flag over the capitol — enviable notoriety, had not the
drunken, riotous scenes of the night sullied its honor.
This scene continued until near morning, and then the town
was cleared out, when there was nothing more to pillage or burn.
In the hospitals were some hundreds of rebel wounded.
The agony and terror of the poor, helpless fellows while the
fire raged around them were fearful ; but, fortunately, the
buildings did not catch fire.
While the streets were crowded with murdering groups of
demons from all the corps in the army, hundreds of noble-
minded officers and civilians were exposing their own lives to
save the lives and property of the citizens.
Who is to blame for the burning of Columbia is a subject
that will be long disputed. I know the negroes and escaped
prisoners were infuriated, and easily incited the inebriated
soldiers to join them in their work of Vandalism. Governor
McGrath and General Wade Hampton are partly accountable
for the destruction of their city. General Beauregard, the
mayor, Mr. Goodwin, and others wanted to send a deputation
as far as Orangeburg to surrender the city, and, when evacuat-
ing, to destroy all the liquors. In both of these wise views
they were overruled by the governor and Wade Hampton, the
latter stating that he. would defend the town from house to
house. On the other hand I must honestly say that I saw nothing
to prevent General Wood, who was in command there, from
bringing sufficient troops to clear out the place, or his superior
generals either from putting a stop to such disgraceful scenes.
The houses of the Prestpns, Hpnystpns, and pther wealthy

the city in ruins. 333
secesh were occupied as official quarters, and were preserved.
Several soldiers and citizens must have been buried in the ruins
of falling houses, or caught by the devouring flames. Next
morning I saw a lady, a crazy inmate of the asylum, whose
child had been burned during the night.
The 18th of February dawned upon a city of ruins. All
the business portions, the main streets, the old capitol, two
churches, and several public and private buildings were one pile
of rubbish and bricks. Nothing remained but the tall, spectre-
looking chimneys. The noble-looking trees that shaded the
streets, the flower gardens that graced them, were blasted and
withered by fire. The streets were full of rubbish, broken
furniture, and groups of crouching, desponding, weeping, help
less women and children.
The Park and Lunatic Asylum, as affording the greatest
chance of safety: were crowded with these miserable outcasts.
In one place I saw a lady richly dressed, with three pretty
little children clinging to her. She was sitting on a mattress,
while round her were strewn some rich paintings, works of art,
and virtu. It was a picture of hopeless misery surrounded by
the trappings of refined taste and wealth. General Sherman
ordered six hundred head of cattle and some stores to be left
for the nuns and the destitute.
The scene of desolation the city presented next morning was
fearful. That long street of rich stores, the fine hotels, the
court-houses, the extensive convent buildings, and last the old
capitol, where the order of secession was passed, with its fine
library and state archives, were all in one heap of unsightly
ruins and rubbish/ Spendid private residences, lovely cot
tages, with their beautiful gardens, and the stately rows of
shade trees, were all withered into ashes.
The ruins alone, without the evidences of human misery that
everywhere met the view, were enough to inspire one with
feelings of deep melancholy.
The ruins of Pompeii and Herculaneum deeply impress the
mind, and make it reflect the days of their glory and splendor
before the molten tide of lava shrouded them.

334 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Here was desolation heightened by the agonized misery of
human sufferings.
There lay the city wrapped in her own shroud, the tall
¦chimneys and blackened trunks of trees looking like so many
sepulchral monuments, and the woe-stricken people, that list
lessly wandered about the streets, its pallid mourners.
Old and young moved about seemingly without a purpose.
Some mournfully contemplated the piles of rubbish, the only
remains of their late happy homesteads.
Old men, women, and children were grouped together. Some
had piles of bedding and furniture which they saved from the
wreck ; others, who were wealthy the night previous, had not
now a loaf of bread to break their fast.
Children were crying with fright and hunger ; mothers were
weeping ; strong men, who could not help either them or them
selves, sat bowed down, with their heads buried between their
hands. The yards and offices of the Lunatic Asylum were crowded
with people who had fled there for protection the night previous.
Its wards, too, had received new subjects, for several had
gone crazy from terror, or from having lost their children or
friends in the flames.
The churches were full of people, who had crowded into them
for shelter. The Park was sought as a refuge, and in one cor
ner of it the helpless nuns and their timid charges were huddled
together. Most of the young ladies were from the north.
They had been sent to school there before the breaking out
of the war, and were not. able to return. The nuns supported
them all through, though not able to get remittances from their
friends. In this they were aided by generous people in the south.
These young ladies felt bitterly the treatment of those calling
themselves their friends, as they saw their convent in flames,
and soldiers rushing through the fire after pillage.
Sunday was a day of quiet in the city. The Sabbath bells
tolled from the few churches remaining ; but there was some
thing solemn and melancholy in their chime, and sorrowing
hearts knelt to the Lord for hope and comfort.

HORRORS OF WAR. 335
Some men of the 63d Elinois were detailed to cart the am
munition from the rebel arsenal to the river. When pitching
the boxes into the water, they let one fall, which exploded,
igniting the whole wagon load of shells, killing four men and
wounding twenty. Among the killed was Captain Davis,
Company F.
Some of our men, escorted by negroes and escaped prisoners,
paid a visit to a noted ruffian, a second Legree, who kept a pack
of bloodhounds for the purpose of hunting down negroes and
escaped Union prisoners. The boys disposed of his dogs, as
they have done with all the bloodhounds they come across,
burned down his house and place, then tied himself to a tree,
and got some strapping negroes to flog him, which they did
with a will, repaying in the lex talionis style.
The scenes I witnessed in Columbia — scenes that would
have driven Alaric the Goth into frenzied ecstasies, had he
witnessed them — made me ponder a little on the horrors of war.
Those who are unacquainted with war cannot realize the
fearful sufferings it entails on mankind. They read of it in
papers and books, gilded over with all its false glare and
strange fascinations, as a splendid game of glorious battles and
triumphs, but close their eyes to its bloody horrors. The battle
field is to them a field of honor, a field of glory, where men
resign their lives amidst the joys of conquest, which hallow the
soldier's gory couch and light up his death-features with a smile.
This sounds well in heroic fiction, but how different the reality !
Could these fireside heroes but witness, a battle-field, with its
dead, its dying, and wounded, writhing in agonizing tortures, or
witness the poor victims under the scalpel-knife, with the field-
hospital clodded with human gore, and full of the maimed
bodies and dissected limbs of their fellow-creatures, war would
lose its false charms for them. Could many a tender mother
see her darling boy, uncared-for, unpitied, without one kind hand
to stay the welling blood or wipe the death-damp from his
brow, her gentle, loving heart would break in one wail of an
guish. War, after all, has horrors even greater than the battle
field presents. The death-wound is mercy compared to the slow

336 Sherman's march through the south.
torture of languishing in prison-houses — living charnel-houses
of slow putrefaction — pale, spiritless, uncared-for, unpitied, gasp
ing and groaning away their lives in hopeless misery. And
then think of the sacked and burned city ; think of helpless
women and children fleeing in terror before the devouring ele
ment, without a home to shelter them, without bread to feed
them ; think of the widows and orphans that water their scant
bread with the tears of sorrow ; think of all the sufferings,
misery, ruin, death, war entails on mankind, and you will curse
its authors, and wish that God had otherwise chastised his
people. Though war may enrich the Shylock shoddies, pay
masters, contractors, and speculative politicians, who sport gor
geous equipages and rich, palaces out of the blood of their
countrymen, it crushes the people under its wheels, like the car
of Juggernaut, and oppresses the millions with taxation.
From the prisoners who escaped at Columbia we heard some
fearful accounts of their ill treatment.
Private individuals showed that charity is universal by attend
ing them under all risks. They spoke in the highest terms of
the attendance of the Sisters of Charity in the different bastiles.
The ill treatment of our prisoners is the greatest blot on the
reputation of the south.
I give the following short account from an officer ; and ex
uno disce omnes : —
" Lieutenant Meyer was captured at Point of Rocks, Mary
land, on June 17, 1863, two days after the battle of Winchester.
From this he and several other officers and privates were
marched back to Winchester, by way of Staunton, thence to
Richmond, and was consigned to Libby Prison, where he was
detained for eleven months. It is needless to detail the elegan
cies of Libby life, of which he fully partook. On the 4th of
May, 1864, he, in company with about a thousand others, were
transferred to Danville, Virginia, where they remained but four
days. Thence they were sent to Macon, where they arrived,
after nine days' travelling on filthy cattle-cars, on the 18th.
Here they were confined to the stockade, on the usual allowance
of short rations, dirt, and neglect. At this time there were

CRUELTIES TOWARDS PRISONERS. 337
about fourteen hundred officers, and the following five generals,
prisoners there : Brigadier Generals Hickman, Thellon, Wes
sel, Scammon, and Seymour, all of whom have since been ex
changed. On the 28th day of July they were sent to Charles
ton, where they arrived next day. Here they were consigned
to the city jail, with convicts and women of loose character.
Here they were detained fifteen days, and transferred to Roper
Hospital, where their treatment was pretty good. The Sisters
of Charity attended them here, bringing the sick delicacies, such
as fruits, fowls, and the Hke. Here they could see the flashes
of the guns from James Island, and two shells struck the
building. " On the 4th of October, about twelve hundred were trans
ferred to Columbia, and placed in a camp near Saluda Factory,
two miles from Columbia. Here they were placed right down in
the woods, without a hut or tent of any kind. After two weeks
they were supplied with some tools, with which they made huts
, of logs, with their sides covered with earth. While here, sev
eral died from want and exposure, and three were killed while
trying to make their escape, one of whom was Lieutenant
Eikaws, 2d New Jersey. While here, a rebel officer kept six
bloodhounds at the headquarters. They were regularly drilled
every morning, in presence of the men, and often exercised in
hunting down and capturing escaped prisoners. One morning
the dogs came down to the well where the men got their water.
Here they seized them and cut their throats, and threw them
into a deep hole. When they were discovered, the officer re
marked, ' Yankees will suffer for this.' After this our officers
were shot.
" WhUe at Charleston and Columbia, two Shy lock brothers,
named Quinby and Potter, took biUs of exchange by power of
attorney — for gold, five for one; for greenbacks, two for one.
We were glad to enter into this swindle, in order to save life.
Their bill of fare here was : Five pints of corn meal, two spoon
fuls of rice, two spoonfuls of salt, and one pint of wretched sor
ghum molasses. These were the rations issued for five days.
They did not get soap enough to wash their hands, not to speak
29

338 Sherman's march through the south.
of their clothes. So many had effected their escape from this
place, we were transferred to the Lunatic Asylum enclosure,
which was a large yard with a high brick and stockade fence
sixteen feet high. Here we built twelve houses, each house
containing thirty-six men. They then stopped supplying us
with lumber ; so the remainder of the officers had to manage as
best they could, some lying under houses, and some beside the
walls. Here they remained until the night of the 14th Febru
ary, when, on the approach of Sherman's army, half were
placed on the train for Charlotte. Many of these escaped by
making holes, in the night, through the cars with saw-knives,
which they concealed on their persons. The night was dark
and rainy, and favored their escape. I have not the names
of many of these. On the 15th the balance of the officers was
sent off. Some sixty of them managed to escape in the follow
ing manner : In the yard were two hospitals. These were tem
porarily built with some space under the floors, and also between
the ceiling-boards and roof. Into these the men managed to
creep and conceal themselves, where they lay for forty-eight
hours without anything to eat or drink. Here they lay con
cealed until they heard the firing in front of the city. They
then got out, and were hid by the citizens until our army
restored them to liberty, I might say to life."
Marching orders were issued in the evening, February 10,
for 7 o'clock the next morning. At General Logan's head
quarters I witnessed a most affecting sight. Hundreds of Union
citizens, who were burned out, begged to be taken off. A reg
ular train was organized for them under Major Reynolds, an
escaped prisoner. The escaped officers were trying to get off
those who were kind to them while in prison, and who had
concealed them. It is thought that about two hundred offi
cers and several hundred men had escaped — some by getting
into cellars, holes, citizens' houses, and other places ; more of
them bribed the guards and conductors on the train, who gave
them an opportunity to escape by cutting through the floors
of the cars.
The scene in the morning was truly exciting. Ambulances,

AGAIN ON THE MARCH. 339
buggies, carriages, and every kind of conveyance were put in
requisition, and all kinds of Rosinantes in. use. Old men, wo
men, and children were crowded together, wining to undergo
all the hardships and dangers of,the campaign in order to es
cape certain starvation and the infuriated rage of the southern
soldiers. Men and women, who were not able to get off, wept
like children.
A refugee train was organized, and such as could or wanted
to get off joined it.
These, added to the thousands of negroes who had already
fallen in, swelled our train to huge dimensions ; and it was a
large drain on the resources and larders of South Carolina to
support them.
While the right wing is resting at Columbia, we wiU give a
resume of the march of the left wing.
Saturday, February 11, the 20th corps marched to the Edisto
River. Nine distinct streams, flowing sluggishly through a
swamp half a mile in width where the road crossed, were the
obstacles to be surmounted here. Two hundred rebel cavalry
men disputed the crossing for a while ; but a strong skirmish
line, plunging through the swamp, dispersed them or drove them
away in a body, and the corps crossed. General Williams's
corps was now between the two forks which form the Edisto
River. The balance of General Slocum's command was well
up on the left, with Kilpatrick farther on that flank. The road
across the point formed by the two branches was fourteen miles
long. The corps marched to the north fork before night on the
12th, and went into camp. The two hundred rebels who had
been driven away from the Lower Edisto had concentrated
here ; their force was augmented somewhat, and with the
assistance of four pieces of cannon they made considerable noise.
Skirmishing was kept up all that Sunday night, the pioneers
working upon the bridge meanwhile. Monday morning the en
emy were gone. General Ward's division being in advance,
that general mounted his kicking stallion, took two companies
for skirmishers, and advanced towards Lexington and Columbia
at a rattling pace.

340 Sherman's march through the south.
AU day Tuesday the regiment of rebels skirmished with our
advance, but they were easily brushed away. Once they made
a dash ^behind the advance, and captured Captain Reynolds, in
spector of General Robinson's brigade, and chased Captain
Ward four miles or more. The enemy appeared in blue clothes,
and were frequently hailed as Union soldiers.
At 5 o'clock in the afternoon of Wednesday, February 15,
General Barnum's brigade, of Geary's division, was at Two
Notch road, two miles from Lexington and twelve from Co
lumbia. General Slocum had calculated upon Davis's corps
being in the town at that hour ; but the rains and vile roads had
prevented even that swift travelling corps from coming up.
General Barnum's brigade was pushed into town, but arrived
there just too late to strike a blow at the rear of the rebel cav
alry column, which had been pouring through aU day towards
Columbia. Only a dozen shots were fired. Barnum's brigade
was withdrawn, and the 14th corps marched up on a Hne with
the 20th.
General Slocum's wing of the grand army of invasion was
concentrated for action Wednesday night, ten mUes from Co-
" lumbia, facing towards that town ; and he issued the order for
an advance on the capital early next morning, with the expecta
tion of a fight. Ward's division, of the 20th corps, closely
followed by Jackson's, moved down the road paraUel with Jeff
C. Davis's troops, who had "gone through" Lexington, and
struck the 17th corps on the banks of the Congaree, opposite
Columbia, shortly after noon. By having the shortest line of
march, the right wing had reached Columbia first.
From the front of Columbia, General Slocum's command
moved to the left, across the Saluda and Broad Rivers, to the
Greenville and Columbia Railroad, and destroyed that for thirty
miles. Cheatham and S. D. Lee, with twenty thousand men
from Hood's army, were reported by Kilpatrick as crossing the
river at Newberry, and General Slocum's idea was to prevent
a junction between them and Hardee's Charleston troops. We
pushed rapidly on to Winnsboro', the capital pf Fairfield dis
trict, where it was expected the rebel cavalry would give us a

WINNSB0R0' CAPTURED. 341
fight. They were known to outnumber Kilpatrick's command
two to one. Wade Hampton, Wheeler, and Butler were in
command. Fairfield district is wealthy. Forage began to roll
in ; more meat and breadstuff's than I saw at any one time
during the Georgia campaign, were brought to the roadside day
by day.
General Slocum double-quicked the advance of his column into
the viUage of WinnsDoro' to save the town from the' torch of his
foragers. General Pardee's brigade, of Geary's division, was
in advance, and every effort was made to beat the stragglers
from the grand army into town. They were not successful.
The town was pillaged and set on fire before any organized body
of troops got in. All officers turned their attention to the fire,
and arrested the progress of the flames. Generals Slocum,
Williams, Geary, Pardee, Barnum, and all, worked with their
hands, burned their whiskers and scorched their clothes, to pre
vent the repetition of Columbia scenes. Nine or ten buildings
were burned on the main street, before the fire was stopped, also
the house of a Mrs. Pope, said to be the property of a man in
New York city. Guards were posted at every house in town, and
other fires were quenched as they burst out. Unfortunately the
church buUding of the EpiscOpaHan society was destroyed. '
Citizens of Winnsboro' told us that Mrs. Lunderdale, a rabid
secession woman, set fire to her own property, rather than have
it fall into Yankee hands, and so destroyed the property of her
neighbors. From Winnsboro' the left wing marched to the Catawba River,
striking it at Rocky Mount Ford, the scene of one of the South
Carolina skirmishes during the revolution. Rocky Mount was
one of Cornwallis's line of outposts. The Catawba here, is
about a thousand feet wide, and runs through a very hiUy coun
try. A pontoon was thrown across, and the 20th corps hurried
over. The rain we feared cut off Geary's division, and the
troubles increased. The red clay made heavy mud, and plenty
cf it. No idea can be formed by outsiders of the difficulties of
the Catawba crossing. Wagons were hauled down the steep
hUl to the pontoon, dragging loads of mud by the axles, the
29 *

342 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
wheels not moving ; artillery horses floundered, and cannon were
stuck fast. Virginia campaigners said it eclipsed Stafford
Court- House. When the crossing was made, the ascension of
the hill was just as difficult. Two days were spent by the 20th
corps in "this labor through the mud. The history of the
troubles of the 14th corps would fill a volume.
Dwight's Creek and other streams were crossed in rapid suc
cession, and the 20th corps reached the town of Chesterfield on
Friday, the 3d of March. A brigade of rebels was driven out
by General Jackson's skirmish line, and possession taken of the
paltry town. A brick court-house and six houses comprise the
village. From Chesterfield the left wing marched to the Great Pedee
River, near the state line. Howard's wing was already in Che-
raw. The Great Pedee, or Yadkin, of North Carolina, is quite
a formidable stream to an army depending on pontoon boats ;
and we were delayed on its banks two days. Crossing the cav
alry and the 14th corps, General Slocum plunged into the State
of North Carolina.
The 14th corps moved in a paraUel line with the 20th, being
about fifteen miles from Columbia, and met no enemy.
February 20, the army of the Tennessee broke camp around
Columbia and resumed their march. The 17th corps destroyed
about thirty miles of railroad, clear up to Winnsboro', thence
crossed the Wateree at Pey's Ferry, moving through Russell
Place to Young's Bridge, aU the time threatened by a squad of
Hampton's cavalry, who durst not attack.
Logan marched through Red HiU and Flat Rock to TUler's
Bridge, on Lynch Creek.
On the 24th the rebel cavalry, which was hanging on our
flanks, attacked our foragers, killing six, two • after surrender
ing, capturing several, and seven wagons. General Logan in
person went out with a regiment, and repulsed the rebel cavalry
after a brisk skirmish.
He ordered two prisoners to be shot in retaliation for our two
men, and sent a prisoner to inform the rebels that he would
ehopt five men fpr every prisoner of ours shot.

CAMDEN TAKEN. 343
We captured about ten refugee trains to-day, with valuable
stores and supplies ; also several animals. Among those cap
tured were two officers, who were riding in a carriage when the
Yanks pounced on them. They were well armed, but made no
resistance. They said they were a principal and a second,
going to fight a duel, and that the other parties had gone before
them to the place of rendezvous. The officer captured was
Captain W. F. De Pass, a celebrated duellist of South Caro
lina. His would-be antagonist was a Captain W. Courtney, a
fighting quartermaster. Being chivalrous and obliging, we
made every effort to catch the latter, in order to let them finish
their iittle affair of honor in our presence, but failed. It shows
how ignorant they had been of all our movements, when officers
could be so foolishly engaged at such a critical moment.
The 29 th Missouri captured about one hundred and twenty
militia to-day, who had a wagon carrying their arms. Some
of them were old, gray-haired men, barely able to move along ;
others, too young to be . taken from their mothers' leading-
strings. They had been quietly marching along, with their
guns in a wagon, and powder in casks, to keep it dry. General
Hazen supplied some of these veteran militia with staffs. They
were aU let go at Cheraw.
Major General Hazen's foragers approached Camden, and
skirmished with some cavalry, driving them into the town, and,
following them, soon took possession of it. They were sup
ported by the 112th Illinois, Colonel Adams, of Corse's division
(4th). We found about fifty thousand rations of corn meal,
and four thousand bales of cotton, which we destroyed. Major
Generals Howard and Logan sent in detachments next morning,
who destroyed all government property, public stores, the depot,
and some public buildings. Captain John H. Devereux, of
Charleston, post commissary at Camden, while retreating, rode
into the head of General Hazen's column, and was captured.
The mayor and city council had prepared a very pretty speech
and address to General Sherman on surrendering the city. It
was rather mortifying to them to have it unceremoniously occu
pied by some foragers.

344 Sherman's march through the south.
Camden is a beautiful town, situated on the Wateree River,
which is navigable for boats of Hght draught to that point, arid
is about thirty-five miles east of Columbia, and one hundred
and forty miles from Charleston. It has some very pretty
private residences, and appears to be a very healthy and fash
ionable resort. It is also a place of considerable historic
interest. In August, 1780, a battle was fought here between
the Americans, under General Gates, and the British, under
Lord Cornwallis ; and another was fought in 1781, on the
eastern slope of Hobkirk's HUl now caUed Kirkwood, over
which we skirmished, between General Greene and Lord Raw
don. A monument stiU marks the grave of Baron De Kalb,
who fell in the former battle. The foundation stone was laid
in 1825, by Lafayette.
On the market-house stands a weU-executed metallic effigy,
ten feet high, of King Haiglar, a famous chieftain of the
Catawbas. I have entered so fuUy into a description of the negro foUow-
ers in our march through Georgia, that it is needless for me to
repeat it here, or to dwell on the wholesale burning of houses,
and devastation of property. Suffice it to say, that the swarms
of negroes who had flocked in front, and rear, and flanks of our
columns, were something to remember. All ages, sizes, and
both sexes, were either mounted on broken-down mules or
horses, or crammed into some rheumatic old coach, or were la
boriously ioiUng along, faint and sweating, rendering the air
not very pleasant to the olfactory nerves.
As for the wholesale burnings, piUage, devastation, commit
ted in South Carolina, magnify aU I have said of Georgia
some fifty fold, and then throw in an occasional murder, "jist
to bring an old, hard-fisted cuss to his senses," and you have a
pretty good idea of the whole thing.
An apparently wealthy planter, feeling that he was quite safe
under the aegis of the British lion's paw, pompously walks up
to General Logan, with his hands stuffed in his capacious
pockets, and his hat independently on, saying, " General, you
see I want protection from these here houtrages ; " and he points

THE BRITISH SUBJECT. 345
at two soldiers, one in pursuit of a young grunter, which
seemed as indignant as his master at the outrages inflicted on a
HingHsh subject ; another was carrying on an excited chase
after a rooster, timing the amusement by an occasional fling at
some members of the rooster's family that crossed his path.
" Why should I give you protection ? "
"Sir, I claim protection. I am a HingHsh subject!" he
exclaimed, with the air of a Lord John RusseU.
"A what?"
"A HingHsh subject, sir ; " and he actuaUy swelled out, like
the frog in the fable, at his own importance.
" What the h — 1, then, are you doing here if you are ? The
boys will take every hog and chicken you have, though you are
a British subject. British subject be hanged ! "
The last thing we heard from the old gentleman, as we rode
away, was, " I'U have redress," " Hingland shaU hear of this,"
and the like, while the boys were making flank movements on
aU sides, weU loaded with the rich spoUs of the farm-yard.
I think the number of muskets we picked up, with the Tower
stamp on them, did not dispose the general very favorably
towards HingHsh subjects.
Our foragers had a great penchant for honey. It was rather
amusing to witness their encounters with the bees, who spite-
fuUy resented their intrusion on their rights.
At first the men upset the hives, and dragged out the honey,
while a swarm of the bees flew around, stinging them and
making them cut up all kinds of capers and gymnastics.
However, practice makes perfection, and they soon learned
how to smoke them. Or, if in a hurry, they would snatch up the
hive on their shoulder, with the mouth backwards, and run off
with aU speed. The bees, wondering what the deuce-was the
matter, would issue out and instinctively fly for their old quar
ters, assailing men and horses in their way.
I have often seen a regular stampede among a squad of
foragers and bummers, caused by swarms of infuriated bees
assailing them.
The bees would stick around the heads and ears of men and

346 Sherman's march through the south.
animals. The latter would kick and prance, throwing off their
riders, and collections of meat and fowl, whUe the former would
swear lustily at the bees and mules together, at the same time
making insane efforts to keep off the bees and urge on the
refractory mules.
It was certainly an amusing sight to see perhaps twenty
mules and bummers kicking up as mad a rumpus as if every
one of them was demented.
We had halted at a very nice plantation house near Columbia,
and the officers sat down on the piazza, while the men com
menced raiding on the good things around. . Soon, a Babel of
cackling roosters, grunting hogs, and barking dogs ensued.
The house seemed to be inhabited by three ladies of doubtful
age ; the eldest was on the wrong side of forty, whUe the next
was close to her, and the youngest was certainly a young lady
of thirty, in her teens. . They were dressed alike, aU in black,
and looked as much alike as possible. They were pale, thin,
attenuated young ladies, and wonderfully reticent, so much so
that I was for a time under the impression that they were aU
dummies. My mind was soon relieved ; for when the helpless
denizens of the yard set up their useless uproar, the weird
sisters came out on the piazza in single file, regulated by age,
and, with hands and eyes raised, began a hymn. They passed
in at another door, but soon returned. After repeating this
round twice, they flung themselves on their knees near, and
burst out in one loud psalm of supplication to the Lord,
informing him that his servants were now ready to depart this
life. I know we departed quick enough, bummers and aU, for
this strange incantation, which reminded one of the scene in
Der Freischutz, had a stronger superstitious influence on the
bummers than a squad of Hampton's cavalry.
So much terror had our name and acts inspired, that even
the negroes were wary ; afraid, in some instances, to trust
themselves among the men who made this fearful work on the
country. White table-cloths were suspended from windows,
with " Have mercy on me ! " for a legend, and the fiery spirit
of South Carolina was tamed effectually. OccasionaUy, in

NEGRO FIDELITY. 347
Georgia, a man could be found who had the courage to say
that he voted for secession ; but these abject men were afraid
to own that they lived in a seceded state.
In most cases, the slaves betrayed their masters, revealing
their property and joining in its destruction. I have known
cases, too, where the slaves refused to leave their masters, or
to betray them, though, threatened with death.
Cruel masters reaped the fruits of their tyranny now, while
the property of kind ones was in many instances saved by the
tact and discretion of their slaves.
The men had surrounded a plantation house, were smashing
up the furniture, and preparing to fire the house, when an old
slave, of venerable appearance, came out of his shanty, and
looking on, said, —
" I taught de Yanks, Lor' bress dem, were too good to hurt
dere friends."
" So we are, old woolly head ; but you don't reckon this here
fellow was our friend."
"I speck he was, dough, and de nigger's friend, too."
" Then why did he join the rebel army, and leave his place
here?" " You see, massa, when dem poor Yanks was running away
from Columbia, massa says to me, ' Caesar, if you meet any of
dem, conceal dem here.' So I did, and massa helped me to
get dem away. Massa had enemies, and when dey heard dis,
dey come and took massa off and stuck him in de army, and
den his wife went to her father's, leaving dis nigger to take care
ob de place."
" Is all that true, father graybeard?"
" May dis nigger never see de good Lor' if it is not so."
" Well, boys," said the leader of the gang, shouldering his
musket, " I think we have done enough here." And they
marched off.
The morning after the burning of Columbia, I was passing
near a private residence which had been destroyed. Some
clothes and furniture were piled up in the yard, and near them

348 Sherman's march through the south.
sat a lady, with a pretty child beside her, and two younger
ones unconsciously sleeping on a sofa near.
The lady appeared much distressed ; her head rested on her
hands, and her eyes were red from weeping. A Hkely mulatto
girl sat near her, watching her mistress, whUe near them, trim
ming a fire, and trying to prepare some food, was a stout negro.
" Chloe," said the negro, " the fire is good ; come and get
some coffee for missis."
" No, Pompey, no ; I can't use any," said the lady.
" But missis knows young massa and Missa Jane and Emma
had no supper."
" That's true,' Chloe," said the lady ; " get the poor children
something." After their poor breakfast, the lady looks at her
servants, and asks, " WeU, Pompey and Chloe, what are you
going to do ? "
"Missis, I remain wid you," said Chloe.
" And I too ; missis has been good and kind to dis nigger,
and he is not going to leab her now."
" But I am so poor, you see, I have nothing ; nothing to eat,
for you or my chUdren."
" Missis," said Pompey, standing before her, " look at dis
arm ; it's strong. Pompey wUl work dat arm to de bone
before missis want, and de good Lord wiU take care of us."
The lady bowed her head and wept, and taking a hand of
each of her sable friends, she said, —
"Pompey and Chloe, I'll not forget this if I am ever
restored to wealth ; you are henceforth free."
On our march we halted at a farm-house, in which was a
woman and a very fine little boy of about five years. The
lady, who represented herself a stanch Unionist, expressed great
respect for our flag, and requested to be aUowed to examine it,
as she had never seen a flag before. Her request was granted,
and the little boy also appeared highly interested with it. At
length he turned to his mother, and said, —
" O, mamma, isn't it very Hke our flag, that papa had here?"
This was letting the cat out of the bag. We of cpurse enly
smUed, and the lady blushed.

PILFERING. 34(
I was riding ene day with a Mr. B., pf the Christian Com
missipn. We stopped at a house, and the lady complainec
bitterly of how the rebel cavalry robbed her of seventy dollars
in gold. My friend turned to me and said, —
" HeU wUl not be full until Jeff Davis and his foUowers arc
there. Just think you ; to rob this poor woman ! Bad as oui
men are, they would not do that."
At night we had to sleep on the stoop of a house, with out
horses tied in front of us. Mr. B. had a very fine overcoat
tied behind his saddle, which was stolen whUe we slept. In
the morning, when he missed it, he turned to me, exclaiming, —
" Well, after aU, hell wUl not be fuU until some of put chaps
get there, too."
It makes a great difference whose ox is gored.
30

350 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHEEAW. — CROSSING THE PEDEE. — KILPATRICK'S FIGHT WITH
WADE HAMPTON.— FAYETTEVILLE.— COMMUNICATION WITH
THE SEABOARD.
The right wing had broken up the raUroad from Columbia
to Winnsboro', and then turned for Pea's Ferry, the 17th corps
moving straight on Cheraw by Young's Bridge, and the 15th
by Teller's and Kelly's Bridge.
Our march had been somewhat retarded by the heavy falls of
rain, which flooded the creeks and cut up the roads, so that we
had to corduroy the most of the way. A person unacquainted
with the work an army has to do, the length of roads it has to
corduroy, and bridges to buUd, would deem it almost fabulous.
On this campaign alone I think we must have made over one
hundred miles of road, and buUt several miles of trestle work
and bridges. This is necessary in a country where the roads
sink and cave in from the wear of our immense wagon trains.
Lynch's Creek detained us two days, it being considerably
swollen by the freshets. Major General Hazen had to build a
bridge two hundred yards, and corduroy over three hundred
yards before the troops could cross. The stream was so wide
and full of snags that it was impossible to pontoon it. Ow
division crossed at Teller's Creek. Black Creek had also to he
pontooned, as the water extended over one hundred yards
beyond the bridge.
Captain Duncan, 15th Blinois, with his company, the 4tl
Ohio independent, and some fifteen men of the signal corps
encountered the 7th Carolina cavalry, and had a sharp skir
mish with them, in which we had three men, and Lieutenan
Quinn, chief of General Howard's scouts, badly wounded

CHERAW OCCUPIED. 35]
The rebel loss was five killed, including an acting brigadiei
general. The 17th corps crossed the creek at Young's Bridge, twc
regiments wading through the water. They also had to bridgf
the creek, and corduroy near a quarter of a mile. Next daj
(28th) they moved within thirteen miles of Cheraw, crossing;
Black Creek at McDonald's, and passing near Sugar Loaf
Mountain. On the 3d they marched on Cheraw. Mower's division, being
in advance, skirmished with the enemy. The rebels burnec"
Coit's Bridge, on Thomas's Creek, and disputed the passage foi
some time. Mower opened a few pieces of artillery, ane
pushed his right to Cheraw. The enemy fled over the Greal
Pedee, firing the bridge, which they had coveted with rosin,
after them. General Mower took possession of the town,
establishing a brigade as provost guard.
Our mounted infantry, 9th IUinois, and 29th Missouri, witl
some squads of foragers, made a dash on Society Hill, driving
the rebels from the town, and succeeded in burning a train of
cars and the railroad depot, and also in tearing up a mile of
the track.
Cheraw is near the northern line of the state, and about one
hundred and fifty miles from Charleston, and ninety from
Columbia. It is a pleasant-looking town, with near two thou
sand inhabitants. It is on the Great Pedee River, and at the
head of the steam navigation. Here we captured twenty-five
pieces of artillery, among which was a Blakely thirty-twc
pounder gun, with the inscription, " To the Sovereign State of
Carolina. By a citizen abroad. March 4, 1861."
We also captured twelve cars, one locomotive, eighteen tons
of powder, several thousand bales of cotton, and a large supply
of stores. In the hospitals we found about two hundred pris
oners. A few houses were on fire when we entered the town,
We burned the railroad depot and buildings.
Little of impprtance had varied the march of the left wing,
Davis halted and parked his wagons at Yeungsville while tear
ing up the line pf railroad from Columbia tp Blackstock, i

352 Sherman's march through the south.
distance of fifty-four miles. The 14th corps was also delayei
at Kingsbury Ferry for three days, their pontoon boats, whicl
they had laid across the Catawba, or Wateree, having beer
carried away by the flood. For two or three days the swoller
state of the Catawba prevented the 14th from crossing, and tin
right wing Vas cut in two. The delay thus caused to one corpi
of course extended to the whole army. Sherman at last go
impatient, and on March 1st ordered Slocum to send that por
tion of the 14th corps which was cut off to destroy the wagons
spike the cannon, shoot the mules and horses, ferry the mei
across on rafts, and come on. The "army was now twenty
mUes in advance. General Slocum rode back to the Catawbs
at night, unattended, save by a couple of orderlies, and througl
a country where rebels abounded, and consulted with Jeff C
Davis. That general begged for a delay in the execution of
the order. Generals Slocum, Davis, " Jimmy " Morgan, Baird
and Buell went vigorously at the work of saving the 14th corps,
and succeeded in getting them across without loss of material
Then, by forced marches, when the endurance of the men was
most taxed, they came up and took their place again in the
front line, facing towards Virginia.
The whole army was now partly concentrated, with the
intention of giving the impression to the enemy that Charlotte
was our objective point.
The left wing passed near Hanging Rock on the 2d pf March,
This is among the most celebrated points on our Hne of
march, as it bears a revolutionary interest, being the theatre of
a battle between Sumter and the British and North Carolina
tories, in which the Prince of Wales regiment was nearly anni
hilated. Mills, in his " Statistics," says, —
" The Hanging Rock is a real curiosity, as are many other
rocks near it. They form an irregular group, on the east side
of the creek, and are fantasticaUy piled, one upon another,
along the declivity of a steep hiU. That called Hanging Rock,
in particular, is a single mass about twenty feet in diameter,
which is, on the side nearest to the creek, scooped into an arch,
forming overhead a figure of an exceedingly regular kind,

SINGULAR ROCKS. 351
resembling the segment of a concave sphere, or rather parabo
loid. This arch is capable of sheltering several persons ; and
indeed, it seems fires have been kindled there, supposed b;
hunters, for the edge of the arch appears tinged with smoke
It is a singularly interesting object, but yet of the minor kind
Another of these huge stones rests upon a larger rock, sup
ported at only two points, so that one is apt, at first view, t<
suppose that a smaU force would hurl it from its base down thi
steep hUl, into the creek below. There are many other simUa:
rocks here, but these two are among the most remarkable. Ai
I descended the hill, and viewed this latter rock, it forcibb
gave me the idea of a ship resting upon the summit of a cliff, thi
form of the side and stern being aptly represented to the fancy
The formation of these rocks is also singularly curious
They are not formed of lamina or strata in planes, as othe:
rocks are, but seem to be composed, more generaUy, of strati
in concentric circles. I saw several masses split off by thi
force of frost. Some, of immense size, had fractures so evei
that one might suppose they had been sawn through, yet evi
dently without any seam.
The substance composing these masses is also curious. Thi
principal matter consists of smaU, flinty stones, of all sizes
from one eighth to one half of an inch, irregularly hexagonal
mixed with very small, black, glass-like, brilliant particles
about a tenth of an inch in diameter, the whole cementec
together by another substance.
The rock is broken without difficulty, so that the agglom
erated particles are easUy separated. One cannot resist the
belief that these rocks were formed in a very different state oi
the world from the present. These rocks abound in this dis
trict. The earth, even in the vaUeys, rests whoUy on rock
though sometimes it is twenty or thirty feet deep. The springs
are abundant. The water gushing through the fissures ii
these rocks renders weUs unnecessary.
The Flat Rock is close to the battle-ground of Hanging
Rock. It is a huge mass, almost level, composed of a kind of
very hard gravel, cemented together. On the surface are sev
30*

354 eral circular pits or cisterns, a few inches deep, which the
people here suppose were dug out by the Indians. (Just sucl
tales they tell in the West Indies of the pirate's rocky Punch
Bowl.) I stepped across the rock, and found it five hundred
feet in diameter. The naked part is about four acres, and the
whole extent about twenty. I saw two other rocks of this
kind, but on a smaller scale. Indeed, the greater part of the
country seems to have such a basis. Immediately before com
ing to the creek you pass through the battle-ground. The
country was then all in woods. The conflict began on the hill.
and was continued in the vale.
Four miles from Caston's Tavern is the Anvil Rock, so
named from its shape. It stands, a curiosity of the tiny kind.
close by the road, about ten feet high, eight feet wide at top.
and perhaps five at the bottom, the sides irregularly worn
away by frosts and rains. It is composed of the same kind of
aggregated particles as the Hanging Rock, and all the numerous
flat rocks that lie scattered through this country.
One mile from Hanging Rock Creek there is a mineral
spring, four hundred yards from the road. It is very transpar
ent, bubbling up through clear sand, and is intensely cold. Il
deposits about the well and the stream a great deal of the yel
low matter common to chalybeate springs. The taste ane
smell are sensible. It acts as a gentle aperient, and is stronglj
diuretic. A gentle descent leads to the spring. It is delightfullj
shaded by trees, and has a fall for a plunging or shower bath.'1
The Pedee River was deep and about one hundred and fortj
yards in width at this point, with high shelving banks, ane
therefore took some time to pontoon. The 17th corps crossec
on the evening of the 4th and morning of the 5th, and was fol
lowed in the evening and next morning by the 15th corps. The
20th corps also crossed at the same point, while the 14th corps
and cavalry crossed some twelve miles farther up the river, ai
Sneidsboro'. In our line of march for FayetteviUe, after crossing the Greai
Pedee, the 17th corps branched off towards Gallipolis, the 15tl
moving by Laurensburg, and crossing Lumber River at GUchrisi

march on fayetteville. 35f
Bridge to Rock Fish Creek. The 17th corps had moved alonj
the plank road, both corps crossing at Davis's Bridge. .
South and North Carolina are separated by an imaginary
line. Where we marched, the only object to inform us that w<
had got into North Carolina was a sign-board with the learnee
inscription, " fift 3 mils to FatviUe," which, I suppose, mean
fifty-three miles to Fayetteville. The schoolmaster had likelj
been lately abroad, when this was written. The country if
wretchedly poor — a regular pine region. The troops did no
burn or destroy property as they did in South Carolina.
The roads in North Carolina were firm and sandy, for the
most part, through these endless gloomy forests.
The trains were able to move in the centres, with a columi
of troops on each side, thus expediting our march.
The slaves around Laurensburg, at the opening of our cam
paign through Carolina, had organized a party with the inten
tion of forcing their way to our lines. The plot was discovered
and at one of their meetings they were surrounded by parties
of the home guards, captured, and after a kind of mock trial
twenty-five were hung. Captain Robert Johnson, Colonel Rob
ert Dacker, and Captain Tate, of Richmond County, were the
leaders in this barbarous business.
We moved rapidly, but with caution, on Fayetteville, for wt
knew the enemy were concentrating there. Cheatham's corps
from the west, and the garrison of Augusta, had reenforcee
Beauregard ; and Hardee, having evacuated Charleston, hae
crossed Cape Fear River, all endeavoring to form a junctior
with Johnston and Hoke in North Carolina. Sherman knew
all this ; he also knew that a battle was inevitable, and moved
with prudence.
Kilpatrick's encounter with Wade Hampton was the onlj
military event of any importance that occurred between Cheraw
and Fayetteville. This was one of the most stubbornly contested
cavalry battles of. the campaign. After being surprised, twc
brigades of our cavalry held and finally drove from their camj
in confusion Wade Hampton's entire cavalry corps. It was
discovered, on the morning of the 9th, that Hardee was making

356 Sherman's march through the south.
forced marches to reach FayetteviUe, in advance ofthe infantrj
of Sherman. General Kilpatrick at once put his column in
motion to strike Hardee in flank, or to intercept Wade Hamp
ton, who was following in the rear with his cavalry. General
Kilpatrick reached Coleman's Grove just after Hardee's real
had passed. Hampton was a few hours behind.
Our cavalry had not all come up, owing to the bad state of
the roads ; Colonel Spencer's brigade and Colonel Way's com
mand were at once" placed in position, and waited the attack of
the rebel cavalry. Just before daybreak on the morning of the
10th, and before the brigades of General Atkins and Colonel
Jordon had arrived, Hampton came in front of KUpatrick's
position, and massed his troops, consisting of three divisions,
under Hume, AUen, and Butler. The attack was made in three
columns, — Wheeler led the right, Hampton the centre, and But>
ler the left, — and was perfectly irresistible. Kilpatrick's first line,
under Lieutenant Colonel Way, was actually ridden over, head
quarters and artiUery captured, and, at one time, the entire
camp, including the whole staff, and Colonel Spencer, command
ing the 3d brigade, were in the enemy's possession. But Gen
eral Kilpatrick made his escape, joined the brigade of Colonel
Spencer, which was falling back on foot, stubbornly disputing
every inch of ground. A large portion of the enemy halted in
and about the camp for. a moment to plunder. This was fatal
to them. Kilpatrick's cavalrymen rallied under the leadership
of their pfficers, retcpk the hiUs upen the left, and then, with
pne wild shout, swept down upon the rebels, who were swarm
ing about the captured artillery and Kilpatrick's former head
quarters. In a short time the artiUery was in their possession,
and turned upon the enemy. At this moment the general's red
battle-flag, recaptured from the enemy, floated out in the presence
of friend and foe. This animated the troops on our side, and
though hard pressed and deprived of the animating presence
of their general, they charged and repulsed the enemy, driving
him from the field, thus converting a surprise into a victory.
Our loss did not much exceed one. hundred killed and wounded.
The enemy left upon the field a number of officers and seventy-

fayetteville. 35'
six soldiers dead, besides many wounded, and at the lowes
estimate could not have lost less than three hundred killed ane
wounded. The whole affair was indeed most brilliant, and re
fleets great credit upon the cavalry, and adds yet another laure
to the many won by them since leaving the hills of Georgia.
FayetteviUe is a town of some four "thousand inhabitants
The first to come into the town was Captain Duncan, command
ing the scouts and mounted men of the army of the Tennessee
He was repulsed by Hampton's cavalry, and himself taken pris
oner. His party was reenforced by the foragers, and agair
attacked the place, taking it. General GUes A. Smith's 4tl
division, 17th army corps, soon came up, also the head of Gen
eral Slocum's column, and hoisted the flag over the market-
house. The mayor surrendered the town to Colonel WUHan
E. Strong, of General Howard's staff, then to General Slocum,
who had just come up. As the rebels were retreating over the
river, they opened two guns on the town, and then fired the
bridge, which was covered with rosin.
Fayetteville is a poor, straggling kind of a town, with few
buildings of any importance. It is at the head of the Cape
Fear River navigation, which gives it some importance. Ii
was a place of considerable interest during the revolutionary
war, as also being for several years the residence of the cele
brated Flora Macdonald, whose name has been so poetically
associated with the. outlawry and sufferings of the last hope of
the Stuarts — the exiled Charles Edward. With a woman's
tact and tenderness the faithful maiden shielded the unfortunate
Pretender. Though the prince's last words to her were
" Gentle, faithful maiden, I hope we will meet again in the
Palace Royal," never had the exiled monarch a chance of dis
playing his gratitude. In 1775 she and her husband saUed tc
America, settling in Fayetteville. The tottering ruins of the
house are yet to be seen where they resided. The troubles of
the revolution soon followed.
The chief of the clan Macdonald having accepted the com
mission of general from George III., his kinsman in North
Carolina joined his standard as captain, but was captured in

358 Sherman's march through the south.
1776, near Cross Creek, and detained a prisoner for some time
After his release, broken down in hopes and fortune, he ane
Flora returned to Scotland, where she died in 1790. Her
shroud was made of the sheets in which Charles Edward hae
slept at Kingsburg.
Foote remarks that Massachusetts has had her Lady Ara-
beUa, Virginia her Pocahontas, and North Carolina her Flora
Macdonald. Fayetteville is about one hundred and twenty mUes from Wil
mington by the river. Though the river banks were known to
be occupied by the enemy, a noble little tug and her gallanl
crew ran the gantlet. They were fired on twice by the enemy.
but fortunately no lives were lost. They were received with
cheers by our men on her arrival. The sail back to Wilming
ton, which I accompanied, was extremely interesting. We had
a mail boat'in convoy, with two guns ; and though we saw the
abandoned picket fires of the enemy along the river, we were
not molested. The night was lovely, with a full moon shedding
its rays over the sparkling waters as we shot along the sUvery
stream. AU were cheerful, for it was like waking to a new Hfe,
after being so long shut from the outer world.
Never before has an army accomplished so much with such
little sacrifice of either life or property.
We had been about forty-five days out since we left Savan
nah. Our march had been one continued success. Sherman's
capital maneeuvres completely split up the rebel army, breaking
them into isolated bodies, thus destroying their power.
We had been somewhat retarded by the heavy falls of rain,
which flooded the creeks and swamps, and cut up the roads so
that we had to corduroy over a hundred miles of road, and build
several miles of trestle work and bridges.
Besides compeUing the enemy to evacuate Charleston, we
destroyed Columbia, Orangeburg, and several other places;
also over fifty miles of their chief lines of railroad, and thou
sands of bales of cotton.
At Columbia we captured forty-three cannon," two hundred
thousand cartridges, ten tons of powder, nine thousand rounds

results of the campaign. 359
of fixed ammunition, about ten thousand muskets, over one
hundred government presses, besides an immense amount of
public property, locomotives, rolling stock, and other kinds of
government stores, too numerous to mention.
At Cheraw we took twenty-five cannon, eight caissons, and
two travelling forges.
At Fayetteville we took seventeen cannon, besides a large
quantity of government stuff of various kinds in the arsenal
and elsewhere.
This makes eighty-five cannon, — one third of which were
field-pieces, — with carriages, caissons, and all complete. We
captured about twenty-five thousand animals on our line of
march. We gave food and transportation to about fifteen
thousand colored refugees, thus depriving the Confederacy of
colored soldiers and slaves. We also had about four thousand
white refugees, all of whom were well cared for, and wiU be
sent north to whatever destination they choose.
We operated over the following districts or counties : In
South Carolina — Beaufort, Barnwell, Orangeburg, Lexington.
Richland, Kershaw, Fairfield, Chester, Lancaster, Sumter, Dar
lington, Chesterfield, Malbourg ; in North Carolina — Meck
lenburg, Anson, Richland, Union, Robeson, Cumberland, and
Moore. We marched, on the whole, four hundred and fifty miles.
our wings extending some thirty-five or forty miles. This
would give an area of over fifteen thousand square miles which
we operated over, all the time supporting men and animals oi
the country. Indeed, the loss we inflicted on the enemy is
incalculable, and all at a trifling sacrifice of life.
The first boat to open communication was the tug Davidson,
Captain Robert Stephenson, and Captain Ainsworth, of Wil
mington. She had on board a guard of seventy-five men of the
13th Indiana, armed with seven-shooters, under command of
Captain Theodore Reiple, Lieutenants Thomas C. Curley ane
Richard Jones. Too much praise cannot be given to the
brave officers and men of this boat, who volunteered on this
dangerous service.

360 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.

CHAPTER XXIX.
THE BATTLES OF AVERYSBORO' AND BENTONVILLE. — NEWS OF
LEE'S SURRENDER. — INTERVIEW BETWEEN SHERMAN AND
JOHNSTON. — HOMEWARD BOUND.
General Sherman suspected that Hardee, in retreating
from Fayetteville, would take up position in a narrow neck
between Cape Fear and South Rivers, in hopes to check him
until Johnston's army could fully concentrate. Sherman had
instructed General Schofield, at Newbern, and General Terry,
at WUmington, that on Wednesday, the 15th, he would move for
Goldsboro', and ordering them to march straight for the same
place. Terry and Schofield at once commenced their march,
the latter encountering the enemy at Kinston, and other points
on the way.
General Kilpatrick had orders to move up the plank road to
Averysboro'. General Sherman moved from FayettevUle, on the morning
of the 14th, for Goldsboro' and a permanent base. Johnston's
army left Fayetteville on roads leading to Raleigh, up the Cape
Fear River, and it was confidently expected that he would
attempt to prevent our junction with Schofield by an attack on
our left as we marched along the Goldsboro' road. To prepare
for this, General Slocum's wing of the army was directed to
move light — that is, without trains — on the left flank. Gea
ry's division, of the 20th corps, and Baird's, of the 14th, were
in charge of the trains of both corps, on an interior road, Gen
eral Howard's wing moving on roads farther south and nearer
the coast in the same order. Jackson's and Wood's divisions,
of the 20th corps, Carlin's and Morgan's, of the 14th, with Kil
patrick's cavalry, foUowed Johnston up the plank road, as if

ARMY MOVEMENTS. 361
moving on the capital of the state. Kilpatrick found the enemy
five miles from Fayetteville, and skirmished with him, pressing
his rear guard to a point on the road near Kyles's Landing,
where he was brought to a stand on the night of the 15th.
During the pursuit, Captain Winthrop, of Kilpatrick's scouts,
had picked out Colonel Alfred Rhett, 1st South Carolina heavy
artillery, from the front of his command, and established pretty
conclusively the fact that a large force of rebels was in front.
General Kilpatrick sent back for a brigade of infantry to sup
port him, and Colonel Hawley, of the 1st division, 20th corps,
was sent up.
On the morning of the 15th, KUpatrick and Hawley attacked
the enemy's cavalry, drove them back hab? a mile or more, and
developed a line of works, with artillery in position. The
whole of the 20th corps was brought up and put in position
against this line at 9 o'clock on the forenoon of the 15th, Kil
patrick fighting on the flanks. Dustan's and Case's brigades,
of Ward's division, 2d corps, carried the works at 11 o'clock,
capturing three pieces of artiUery. About three hundred prison
ers were captured along the line. The enemy fell back to their
main line of works, extending from Black River on their left to
Cape Fear River on their right, covering the roads to Raleigh,
Smithfield, and Goldsboro'.
On the 16th Carlin and Morgan were brought up, and an
attempt made to force the rebels back and uncover the Golds
boro' road. Severe fighting took place during the day without
any satisfactory results. The enemy held his position, although
suffering heavy loss. His line overlapped ours on the right,
and everything indicated the presence of Hardee's whole army
corps. He evacuated the Hne during the night of the 16th,
however, and feU back to Averysboro', pursued by Ward's
division of the 20th corps. His dead and wounded were
left on the field, and abandoned along the road. General
Ward pressed up to Averysboro', holding the plank road in our
front, while the balance of the command moved off to the right,
across Black River, on the Goldsboro' road, now uncovered.
Our loss in the fight on Black River was four hundred and
31

362 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
forty-six in the 20th corps, one hundred and eight in the 14th,
one hundred and seventeen in Kilpatrick's command. The
number of rebels buried on the field and paroled wounded
was three hundred and twenty-seven. This was exclusive
of those they carried off and the unhurt prisoners we cap
tured. Nothing, save an occasional skirmish with a smaU body of
cavalry, occurred till we reached three miles south of Benton-
ville, twelve from Cox's Bridge (on the Neuse), on the morning
of the 20th. As at Black River, the enemy showed nothing at
first but a small force of cavalry, of Dibbrell's or Talbot's com
mand, which were easily driven back by the skirmishers of
Carlin's division in advance. Coming to a point where the
skirmish line could go no farther, and the enemy fired from
a piece of artUlery, General Carlin formed BueU's and Hobart's
brigades in line to drive the troublesome cavalry away. Gen
erals Buell and Hobart moved to the left of the road on the
enemy's flank, about a mile in advance of Morgan's division,
when they discovered the enemy's infantry in a strong line of
works, and in great numbers. Although it seemed incredible
that the rebels could be in any great force here, General Slocum
made preparations for a fight. Morgan's division was formed,
and word sent back for the two divisions of the 20th corps to
hurry forward. The enemy's line extended far beyond Mor
gan's right, and CoggsweU's brigade, of the 1st division, 28th
corps, was put in there when it came up. StiU the rebel left
could not be found.
At noon the enemy left his works and advanced on Jeff C.
Davis's two divisions. Buell and Hobart were overwhelmed,
and pressed back through the woods more than a mUe and
a half. Vandeveer's, Mitchell's, Ferring's, and CoggsweU's
brigades, on the right, fought stubbornly and desperately, and
lost but little ground. There was a temporary confusion, and
a rout was imminent. Five batteries of artillery were massed
at a point where a hospital had been established in the morning,
the balance of Jackson's division, 20th corps, put in on the left,
and a new Hne formed. During the day five grand charges

PREPARATIONS FOR A BATTLE. 363
were made by the enemy massed, but each was repulsed.
They succeeded in capturing three guns of the 19th Indiana
battery, but only two were taken off. There was desperate
fighting aU day, the musketry fire being as heavy as our men
have heard in a long time. Although they gained considerable
ground on the left during the day, the rebels retired to their
main line when night fell, leaving the greater part of their dead
and wounded on the field.
Without being disposed to exaggerate in the least, we figure
their loss at twenty-five hundred killed and wounded. Seven
hundred were captured. The 26th Tennessee regiment was
captured entire, colors and all, with a large part of the 12th
Louisiana. Our loss was quite severe. Nearly eight hundred
cases had been treated in the hospitals. The proportion of
our killed to the enemy's killed found lying on the battle
field was as one to four by actual count. During the temporary
confusion caused by the furious burst on Carlin's division, we
lost about two hundred and fifty prisoners.
Rebels were captured from every one of the commands
known to be in the south and west. Hoke, Cheatham, Stephen
D. Lee, Wade Hampton, D. H. HiU, Wheeler, Butler, Joe
Johnston, Hardee, and Bragg were on the field in person, for
captives assert they rode around the lines in the morning,
cheered by the troops. General Johnston thought that he would
destroy Slocum's column before Sherman could get up to sup
port it with the right wing. A forced march from Smithfield
enabled him to strike him with forty thousand men. The thing
looked bad at one time ; yet as soon as the troops saw what
was required of them, affairs brightened.
This important battle, in which Johnston commanded in per
son, and in which the combined forces of Hoke, Hardee, and
Cheatham were hurled against the left wing in six consecutive
charges, was solely conducted by General Slocum, and to him
General Sherman assigns the credit of so ably sustaining the
unequal contest.
On the 21st of March General Schofield entered Goldsboro',
and General Terry had possession of the Neuse River, at Cox's

364 Sherman's march through the south.
Bridge, and pontooned the river, so that the three armies were
in actual connection, and Goldsboro', Sherman's objective point,
fully secured.
The different armies now lay around Goldsboro', with the
intention of getting supplies.
Sherman's real intention, as soon as his army was ready to
march, was to move northward, feigning on Raleigh, and strik
ing for Burksville, and wedging in between Johnston and Lee.
When he heard of the battles around Petersburg, he changed
his mind, and resolved to strike right for Johnston. At this
time Johnston had his army well in hand about Smithfield,
commanding the Goldsboro' and Raleigh Railroad.
At daybreak, on the 10th of April, Sherman's army was
again in motion. Hampton's cavalry opposed our advance, but
were scarcely able to check our march.
Johnston rapidly retreated across the Neuse River, having
burned the bridge at Smithfield, in his rear.
At Smithfield we learned that Lee's army had surrendered ;
and the joy of officers and men was unbounded, and displayed
in exuberant excesses.
Sherman ordered the trains to be dropped, and pursued John
ston, and reached Raleigh on the 13th ; Johnston, all the time,
rapidly falling back towards Greensboro'.
A rainstorm now set in, and the infantry had to halt at
Raleigh. Kilpatrick, though, dashed on with his cavalry to
Durham Station. Major General Stoneman was at SlatesvUle,
thus commanding Johnston's only line of retreat by Salesburg
and Charlotte.
On the 14th General Johnston had written, under flag of
truce, to General Sherman, requesting an interview about terms
of surrender. Sherman agreed to meet Johnston on the 17th.
The conference was held at a Mr. Bennet's house, at Durham
Station, on the North Carolina Railroad, and eighteen miles
from Raleigh.
This was rather a remarkable meeting. Sherman and party
arrived first, and were soon after joined by Johnston and party.
The meeting at first was courteous, but constrained ; after a

RETREAT OF JOHNSTON. 365
little friendlier feeling prevailed, and the different battles, pol
itics, the state of the country, and other subjects, were freely
discussed. General Sherman smoked his cigar, had his hands stuffed in
his pockets, as usual — on the whole, looked at ease, and per
fectly master of the situation.
Johnston, on the other hand, was taciturn, and looked hag
gard and care-worn, but still maintained the dignity of the
soldier and the gentleman, as he certainly is.
Wade Hampton looked savage enough to eat little Kil, with
a grain of salt ; while the latter returned his looks most de
fiantly. It was evident that they would break out. At length Hamp
ton taunted Kil about his recent surprise of his camp.
Kil replied that he had to leave faster than he came, without
being able to carry off a color.
Words grew hot, — both parties expressing a desire that the
issue of the war would be left between their cavalry. The
affair was becoming too personal ; so Sherman and Johnston
had to interfere.
After this the conference went on pleasantly enough.
It is not my province here to enter into this subject, or
question Sherman's policy regarding the terms he had offered
Johnston. I think his own letters make his intentions evident.
It is but just to state that a majority of the corps commanders
approved of his poHcy.
He also had just learned the general satisfaction Lee's sur
render had given throughout the north, and he had a Richmond
paper, published by permission of the Federal authorities, in
which was a proclamation of General Weitzel, as military
governor of Richmond, convening the Virginia rebel legislature
for the purpose of taking measures to restore the state to the
Union. He beHeved that a magnanimous spirit of forbearance per
vaded the councils of the north.
, All these things conspired to make him lenient ; but if he
erred, it was on mercy's side ; and his military services have

366 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
been too glorious for a people whom he has done so much to
save from anarchy and ruin not to forgive an error of pohtical
judgment. Homeward Bound.
Sherman's army marched through Richmond on their way
home, and over the bloody battle-fields on which their brother
army of the Potomac so long and so nobly contended, and con
centrated around Washington and Alexandria.
On the 23d of May the grand army of the Potomac, number
ing about seventy-five thousand troops, passed in review through
Washington before the president, and dignitaries not only of this
country, but of foreign nations.
The greatest, anxiety prevailed to see Sherman's army ; every
door, window, and house roof were crowded with eager specta
tors. Arches of flowers festooned the streets and windows.
About 10 o'clock, Sherman, and staff, and generals appeared
at the head of the column. The air echoed with cheers and
shouts as the worn veterans marched up Pennsylvania Avenue,
their bands playing, and their shattered and torn banners float
ing on the breeze. It was a glorious sight and a noble wel
come — a country rejoicing at the return of its heroes of a
hundred battles.
The streets were strewn with flowers ; garlands were woven
around the horses' necks, and bouquets of the most exquisite
kind presented to the general, officers, and even privates. As
they reached the stand occupied by the president and the elite
of other nations, and decked with the banners of their different
battle-fields, all rose, and in wild and grateful acclamations
welcomed our heroes home.

APPENDIX.

SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF GENERAL SHERMAN.
The following sketch of Major General William Tecumseh
Sherman is taken from the New York Herald of December 12,
1864 : —
The prominence of this officer before the country very naturally
invites a desire to know something of his history. Every one remem
bers his conduct at Shiloh, at Vicksburg, at Chattanooga, and the
abilities displayed in his great campaign in Georgia. We now merely
wish to connect these and the earlier portions of his life in consecutive
biography. William Tecumseh Sherman was born in Lancaster, Ohio, on the 8th
day of February, 1820. His father was the Hon. Charles R. Sherman,
one of the judges of the Supreme Court of Ohio, and he is brother of
the Hon. John Sherman, United States Senator from Ohio. As a child
young Sherman was educated in the family of the Hon. Thomas Ewing.
At the age of sixteen he entered the United States Military Academy
at West Point, and graduated June 30, 1840, class rank six.
On the 1st of July, 1840, he was promoted to second lieutenant of
the 3d United States artillery. He served in Florida during the winter
of 1840 and 1841. November 1, 1841, he was promoted to first lieu
tenant. Soon after he was stationed at Fort Moultrie, near Charleston,
South CaroHna. In 1846 he was engaged in active service in California,
and held the position of acting Assistant Adjutant General of the 10th
military department until 1847. May 30, 1848, he was breveted cap
tain " for meritorious services in California during the Mexican war."
(367)

368 Sherman's march through the south.
In September, 1850, he received the staff appointment of commissary
of subsistence, with the rank of captain. In 1853 he resigned his
commission in the army, and took charge of the banking-house of
Lucas, Turner, & Co., at San Francisco. In 1860 he was the president
of the State Military Academy of Louisiana, and remained in that
position until the outbreak of the present war.
He had carefully watched the development of the portentous events
of the winter of 1860 and 1861, and even before the first shot on
Sumter sounded the summons to arms felt confident of the impossibil
ity of avoiding an open rupture between the two sections of the coun
try.. True to the old flag, he addressed a letter of resignation to the
authorities of the institution. The letter is so characteristic of the man
that we embody it in fuU : — January 18, 1861.
Governor THOMAS O. Moore, Baton Rouge, La. : —
Sir : As I occupy a quasi military position under this state, I deem
it proper to acquaint you that I accepted such position when Louisiana
was a state in the Union, and when the motto of the seminary was in
serted in marble over the main door — "By the liberality of the general
government of the United States — the Union. Esto perpetua."
Recent events foreshadow a great change, and it becomes all men to
choose. If Louisiana withdraws from the Federal Union, I prefer to
' maintain my allegiance to the old constitution as long as a fragment
of it survives, and my longer stay here would be wrong in every sense
of the word. In that event I beg you will send or appoint some author
ized agent to take charge of the arms and munitions of war here belong
ing to the state, or direct me what disposition should be made of them,
And furthermore, as president of the Board of Supervisors, I beg
you to take immediate steps to relieve me as superintendent the
moment the state determines to secede ; for on no earthly account will
I do any act or think any thought hostile to or in defiance of the old
government of the United States.
With great respect, &c,
W. T. Sherman.
His resignation was accepted, and he removed to St. Louis. During
that season of dreadful suspense intervening the inauguration of the
new president and the bombardment of Fort Sumter, Captain Sherman
was in Washington. He conversed freely with persons of all positions
and views, and was surprised to see the indifference exhibited upon
the great question of the day. A personal friend thus narrates the
captain's views at that time: —
" He was astonished at the apparent ignorance and incredulity of the
government in regard to the real condition of the Southern States.
He declared that the men in authority were sleeping on a volcano,

APPENDIX. 369
which would surely burst upon them unprepared. Filled with this idea,
he addressed a letter to the secretary of war, stating that as he was
educated at the expense of the United States, and owed everything to
his country, he had come to tender his military services. He warned
Mr. Cameron, in earnest language, that war was imminent, and that
we were not prepared. He also called upon the president, and, in like
manner, stated his views and tendered his services. The president
jocularly replied, 'We shall not need many men like you; the whole
affair will soon blow over.' He was then urged by his friends to go to
Ohio, and take care of the organization of three months' regiments.
This he declined, as he did not believe in such trifling expedients.
He declared it would be as wise to undertake to extinguish the flames
of a burning building with a squirt gun as to put down the rebellion
with three months' troops. His plan was to organize for a gigantic war,
to call out the whole military power of the country at once, and, by the
exercise of irresistible force, to crush the rebellion in its incipiency."
On the increase of the regular army by the addition of a number of
new regiments, Captain Sherman was promoted to the colonelcy of the
13th regular infantry, dated May 14, 1861. In the first battle of Bull
Run, July 21, Colonel Sherman commanded the 3d brigade, 1st divis
ion, Brigadier General Daniel Tyler commanding (McDowell's army),
and behaved with marked gallantry. After the battle he was appointed,
at the extra session of Congress, a brigadier general of volunteers, to
date from May 17, 1861, and was ordered to the department of Ken
tucky, and was second in command to General Robert Anderson. Soon
after his arrival in the department, General Sherman was ordered to
occupy Muldraugh's Hill, Kentucky, — an important point south ofthe
Rolling Fork, or Salt River, — with seven thousand men, made up of
volunteers and Kentucky home guards. Upon reaching his destination
his home guards left him, and troops designed for him were detached
on other expeditions. In the end he found himself with less than five
thousand men arrayed against Buckner's entire rebel force of more than
twenty-five thousand men. In October General Sherman succeeded
General Anderson in command of the department then known as the
department of the Cumberland. In November he addressed General
McClellan upon the strength and perilous situation of his command,
concluding with the remark, " Our forces are too smaU to do good,
and too large to be sacrificed."
General McCleUan asked, " How long could McCook keep Buckner
out of Louisville, holding the railroad, with power to destroy it inch
by inch ? "

370 Sherman's march through the south.
The unsatisfactory nature of this reply, and the circumstances of the
situation, were anything but agreeable, and any one else but Sherman
would have abandoned the positions held by the troops, or resigned his
command. By skilfully manoeuvring his troops he managed to hold Ms
ground. About this time an incident occurred which should be narrated. I
quote the words of Lieutenant Colonel Bowman : —
" General Sherman had had an interview with Secretary Cameron,
in presence of Adjutant General Thomas, at Lexington, Kentucky, and
fully explained to him the situation of his command, and also of the
armies opposed to him, and, on being asked what force was necessary
for a successful forward movement in his department, answered, ' Two
hundred thousand men.' By the 1st of November Adjutant General
Thomas's official report of this conversation, in all its details, was pub
lished in most of the newspapers of the country, giving the enemy full
Imowledge of many important facts relating to General Sherman's
department. He was too weak to defend our lines, and the enemy
knew it. He had no hope of reenforcement, and, withal, was evidently
in discredit with the war department, as being too apprehensive of
the power, strength, and resources of the enemy. He therefore felt he
could not successfully conduct the campaign, and asked to be relieved.
He was succeeded by General Buell, who was at once reenforced, and
enabled to hold his defensive position, until Grant, in the foUowing
spring, should advance down the Mississippi and up the Cumberland.
General Sherman was now set down as ' crazy,' and quietly retired to
the command of Benton Barracks, near St. Louis. The evidence of
his insanity was his answer to the secretary of war, — that to make a
successful advance against the enemy, then strongly posted at all stra
tegic points, from Mississippi to Cumberland Gap, would require an
army two hundred thousand strong. The answer was the inspiration,
or the judgment, of a military genius ; but to the mind of Mr. Secre
tary Cameron it was the prophecy of a false wizard."
In the early part of the year 1862, General Sherman was again called
to the field, and assigned to the command of the district of Cairo. In
February his headquarters were at Paducah, Kentucky ; and the general
rendered invaluable service in forwarding troops and supplies to Gen
eral Grant in his operations on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers.
After the capitulation of Fort Donelson, General Sherman was assigned
to the command of the 5th division,, army of the Tennessee, Major Gen
eral U. S. Grant commanding. At Shiloh Sherman first displayed to
the army and the country that hidden merit which before then was only

APPENDIX. 371
exhibited to meet the ridicule of ignorant men. We will permit his
fellow-officers to speak of him there. After the battle a cavalry officer
remarked, —
" Having occasion to report personally to General Sherman, about
noon of the first day of Shiloh, I found him dismounted, his arm in a
sling, his hand bleeding, his horse dead, himself covered with dust, his
face besmeared with powder and blood. He was giving directions at
the moment to Major Taylor, his chief of artillery, who had just
brought a battery into position. Mounted orderlies were coming and
going in haste ; staff officers were making anxious inquiries ; everybody
but himself seemed excited. The battle was raging terrifically in every
direction. Just then there seemed to be universal commotion on our
right, where it was observed our men were giving back. ' I was look
ing for that,' said Sherman ; ' but I am ready for them.' His quick,
sharp eye flashed, and his war-begrimed face beamed with satisfac
tion. The enemy's packed columns now made their appearance, and
as quickly the guns which Sherman had so carefully placed in position
began to speak. The deadly effect on the enemy was apparent.
While Sherman was still managing the artillery, Major Sanger, a staff
officer, called his attention to the fact that the enemy's cavalry were
charging towards the battery. ' Order up those two companies of in
fantry,' was the quick reply ; and the general coolly went on with his
guns. The cavalry made a gallant charge, but their horses carried
back many empty saddles. The enemy was evidently foiled. Our
men, gaining fresh courage, rallied again, and for the first time that
day the enemy was held stubbornly in check. A moment more and he
fell back over the piles of his dead and wounded."
General Rousseau, a division officer of Buell's army of the Cumber
land, speaks of him in the following handsome manner: —
" He gave us our first lessons in the field in the face of an enemy ;
and of all the men I ever saw he is the most untiring, vigilant, and
patient. No man that ever lived could surpass him. His enemies say
that he was surprised at Shiloh. I tell you no. He was not surprised
nor whipped, for he fights by the week. Devoid of ambition, incapa
ble of envy, he is brave, gallant, and just. At Shiloh his old legion
met him just as the battle was ended ; and at the sight of him, placing
their hats upon their bayonets, gave him three cheers. It was a touch
ing and fitting compliment to the gallant chieftain. I am thankful
for this occasion to do justice to a brave, honest, and knightly gen
tleman.'' Nor did he escape the attention of his commanding officer. General

372 Sherman's march through the south.
Grant, in a letter to the war department, under date of July 25, 1863,
said, —
" To General Sherman I was greatly indebted for his promptness in
forwarding to me, during the siege of Fort Donelson, reenforcements
and supplies from Paducah. At the battle of Shiloh, on the last day,
he held, with raw troops, the key-point of the landing. It is no dis
paragement to any other officer to say, that I do not believe there was
another division commander on the field who had the skill and ex
perience to have done it. To his individual efforts I am indebted for
the success of that battle."
General Halleck, in his despatch to the secretary of war, recom
mending General Sherman for promotion, said of him, — »
" It is the unanimous opinion here that Brigadier General W. T.
Sherman saved the fortunes of the day on the 6th of April, and con
tributed largely to the glorious victory of the 7th. He was in the
thickest of the fight on both days, having three horses killed under
him, and being wounded twice. I respectfully request that he be
made a major general of volunteers," to date from the 6th instant.
Acting upon this recommendation, General Sherman was promoted
to the rank designated, to date from May 1, 1862. He next took part
in the operations against Corinth, and his troops were the first to enter
the enemy's works upon the morning of May 30.
The summer of 1862 was passed in completely overrunning and sub
jecting that portion of Tennessee lying west of the Tennessee River.
Sherman moved at the head of a column across the country towards
Memphis. The city capitulated to the gunboats on the 6th of June,
and Sherman occupied it, and assumed command July 22. It is not
necessary to particularize upon his administration. The turbulent ele
ment of the community was soon reduced to order, and the Union
people were aUowed all reasonable privileges. In November the gen
eral was assigned to the command of the right wing of the army of the
Tennessee, and conducted an expedition threatening the enemy's rear
south of the Tallahatchie River, and enabled General Grant to occupy
the position without a fight. In December, he, having returned to
Memphis, was assigned to the command of the 15th army corps, still
continuing, however, in the general command of the right wing of the
army. In the middle of the same month he organized an expedition,
composed of the 13th and 15th corps, and moved down the Mississippi
on transports, with a view to an attack upon Vicksburg from the Yazoo
River, near Chickasaw Bayou and Haines's Bluff. The surrender of
Holly Springs; Mississippi, enabling the enemy to concentrate at the
point of attack frustrated the efforts of our troops.

appendix. 373
The terrible fighting of December 27, 28, and 29, settled the fact
that the place could not be taken by storm, and the troops were with
drawn to consummate the glorious victory of Arkansas Post, in Janu
ary, 1863. In this last action General Sherman was subordinate to
General McClernand, having been assigned by that officer to the com
mand of the right wing of the temporary army of the Mississippi.
Upon the concentration of troops, preparatory to further movements
against Vicksburg, General Sherman was stationed with his corps in
the vicinity of Young's Point. In March, 1863, he conducted the ex
pedition up Steele's Bayou, and released Admiral Porter's fleet of
gunboats, which, having been cut off and invested by the enemy, was
in imminent danger of being captured.
This expedition was, perhaps, one of the most severe ever under
taken by his troops. They penetrated through a country cut up by
numerous and deep bayous and swamps, and overgrown by immense
forests of cottonwood and cypress. Sherman, with his usual deter
mination, was not to be thwarted, and pushed ahead and accomplished
his object.
Upon the inauguration of General Grant's movement across the
Peninsula to Grand. Gulf and Bruinsburg, during April, 1863, General
Sherman made a feint upon Haines's Bluff, on the Yazoo River. His
demonstration (April 28 and 29) was intended to hold the enemy about
Vicksburg while the main army was securing a foothold on the eastern
shore of the Mississippi, below. Having successfully performed this
duty, by means of rapid and forced marches he moved down the Lou
isiana side of the river, crossed at Grand Gulf, and immediately pushed
forward and rejoined General Grant's main army.
Sherman, with his corps, accompanied McPherson in his movement
against Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. In the battle of Jackson
Sherman took no prominent part, in consequence of the rout of the
enemy being effected by McPherson's corps alone. The day after the
battle McPherson hurried towards Baker's Creek, while Sherman
remained in Jackson some hours longer, to complete the destruction of
the enemy's stores and the railroad. He then moved on a line parallel
with the route of march of McPherson's column, crossed the Big Black
River, and took possession of Walnut Hills, near Vicksburg, on May
18. The occupation of this important position enabled General Grant
to open communication with his depots of supplies on the Mississippi
River, by way of Yazoo River, from Chickasaw Bayou.
During the siege of Vicksburg Sherman's corps held the left of Gen-
32

374 Sherman's march through the south.
eral Grant's lines, and cooperated in aU the combined attacks of the
centre and right.
During the conference between the rebel commander Pemberton and
General Grant, in regard to the terms of capitulation for the garrison
and city of Vicksburg, Sherman was vigorously engaged in organizing
an expedition at the Big Black River. No sooner had Vicksburg sur
rendered than he received" orders to throw his force across the river,
and move out into the country.
Vicksburg surrendered, and was occupied on the morning of the
4th of July. The same afternoon troops were converging from all
parts of the old lines, and Sherman's advance had already crossed
the Big Black.
It is not necessary to pursue the details of this expedition. Two
days' march found Sherman investing Joe Johnston in Jackson. Before
the beginning of August he engaged the enemy, and, defeating him
severely, was about to close in upon his rear, when the rebel com
mander very prudently withdrew.
For his great services in the military operations of 1863, Major
General Sherman was promoted to the rank of brigadier general in
the regular army, to date from July 4, 1863, and was confirmed by the
United States Senate, February 29, 1864.
Upon the assignment of General Grant to the command of the mil-
tary division of the Mississippi, General Sherman succeeded, by au
thority of the president, to the command of the department and army
of the Tennessee, to date from October 27, 1863. After making some
necessary changes in the disposition of the troops on the Mississippi
River, Sherman concentrated portions of the 15th and 16th corps at
Corinth, and in the month of November moved, by way of Tuscumbia
and Decatur, Alabama, to join and participate with General Grant in
his winter campaign against Chattanooga.
General Sherman's forces moved up the north side of the Tennessee
River, and during the nights of the 23d and 24th of November es
tablished pontoon bridges, and effected a lodgment on the south side,
between Citico Creek and the Chickamauga River.
After the development of the plans along other portions of the lines,
on the 24th, Sherman carried the eastern end of Missionary Ridge up
to the tunnel. On the next day the whole of Missionary Ridge, from
Rossville to the Chickamauga, was carried, after a series of desperate
struggles. By the turning of the enemy's right, and forcing it back upon Ring
gold and Daiton, Sherman's forces were thrown between Bragg and

appendix. 375
Longstreet, completely severing the enemy's lines. No sooner was
this end attained than Thomas and Hooker forced Bragg into Georgia,
while Sherman, with his own and Granger's forces, moved off to the
succor of Knoxville. Burnside, by a gallant defence of the position,
held out against Longstreet, who, upon the appearance of Sherman,
was obliged to raise the siege, and effected his escape by withdrawing
into Virginia.
The enemy being defeated at every point, his army broken, and his
plans completely disarranged, and Grant's army in winter quarters,
General Sherman, personally, left for Cairo, thence for Memphis, ar
riving in the beginning of January.
After organizing a portion of the 16th corps for the field, he de
spatched it upon transports to Vicksburg. In the latter part of the
"month he joined it, and finished the organization of a fine body of
troops, composed of portions of the 16th army corps, Major General
S. A. Hurlbut commanding, and the 17th army corps, Major General
James B. McPherson commanding.
On the 3d of February the expeditionary army, commanded in per
son by Sherman, crossed the Big Black, and after continuous skirmish
ing along the route, entered Meridian, Mississippi, February 14, 1864,
driving Polk, with a portion of his army, towards Mobile, another
portion towards Selma, and completely cutting off Lovell from the
main army, pursuing him with cavalry northward towards Marion.
Remaining in possession of Meridian four days, the railroads converg
ing there were destroyed within a radius of twenty mues. The army
then returned by a different route, reaching Canton, Mississippi, Feb
ruary 26. Turning over the command of his army to McPherson, with
instructions to devastate the country, and then to continue the return
march to Vicksburg, General Sherman, at 8 o'clock the next morning,
escorted by the 2d Iowa cavalry, pushed through in advance of the
army, riding over sixty miles in twenty-four hours, and reached Vicks
burg on the morning of February 28. Remaining in the city but a
few hours, he embarked on one of the boats of the Mississippi marine
brigade, and left for New Orleans. At the expiration of eight days he
.returned to Vicksburg, having, during his absence, consulted with
General Banks upon the Red River expedition, towards which he was
to contribute a cooperating column. This force was immediately or
ganized and equipped, and embarked in March for the mouth of Red
River, and was commanded by Generals A. J. Smith and Thomas
Kirby Smith, both veteran officers, of large experience and ability.
Sherman now left for Memphis.

376 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
The promotion of General Grant to the rank of lieutenant general
and commander-in-chief of the armies of the United States, opened a
still higher promotion to General Sherman. By authority of the pres
ident, expressed in general orders, dated March 12, he was assigned
to the command of the military division of the Mississippi. On the
14th of March he received notification of his appointment, while at
Memphis. He immediately left for Nashville, and held a conference
with General Grant upon the subject of the spring operations. Be
tween the two officers there was a full and complete understanding of
the poficy and plans for the ensuing campaign, which was designed to
embrace a vast area of country.
On the 25th General Sherman commenced a tour of inspection of
the various armies of his command, visiting Athens, Decatur, Hunts-
viUe, and Larkin's Ferry, Alabama ; Chattanooga, Loudon, and Knox
ville, Tennessee. In the course of his visit he held interviews with
Major General McPherson at Huntsville, Major General Thomas at
Chattanooga, and Major General Schofield at Knoxville. With these
officers he arranged in general terms the lines of communication to be
guarded, the strength of the several columns and garrisons,-and ap
pointed the 1st of May as the time for everything to be in readiness.
While these commanders were carrying out their instructions, General
Sherman returned to Nashville, giving his personal attention to the
subject of supplies, organizing a magnificent system of railroad com
munication by two routes from Nashville. The storehouses and de
pots of Chattanooga soon groaned beneath the weight of abundance.
The whole of East Tennessee and Northern Alabama contributed to
the general store, while the whole north-west and west poured volumes
of sustenance through the avenues of communication from Louisville.
On the 27th of April the three great armies of his division were
converging at Chattanooga. The 1st of May witnessed over sixty
thousand troops and one hundred and thirty guns, forming the army
of the Cumberland, Major General George H. Thomas commanding,
encamped in the vicinity of Ringgold, Georgia.
The gallant McPherson, with a portion of Grant's old veteran and
victorious battalions of the army of the Tennessee, numbering twenty-
five thousand troops of all arms, and ninety-six guns, lay at Gordon's
Mill, on the historic Chickamauga.
General Schofield, with over thirteen thousand troops and twenty-
eight guns, constituting the army of the Ohio, lay on the Georgia line,
north of Daiton.
In the aggregate these three armies formed a grand army of over

appendix. 377
ninety-eight thousand men, and two hundred and fifty-four guns, under
the supreme command of General Sherman.
The enemy, superior in cavalry, and with three corps of infantry
and artillery, commanded by Hardee, Hood, and Polk, and all under
the general command of General Joseph E. Johnston, lay in and about
Daiton. His position was covered by an inaccessible ridge known as
the Rocky Face, through which ran Buzzard Roost Gap. The railroad
and wagon road following this pass the enemy had strongly defended
by abatis and well-constructed fortifications. Batteries commanded
it in its whole length, and especially from a ridge at its farther end,
like a traverse directly across its debouche. To drive the enemy from
this position by the front was impossible. After well reconnoitring
the vicinity, but one practicable route by which to attack Johnston
was found, and that was by Snake Creek Gap, by which Resaca, a
point on the enemy's railroad communication eighteen miles below
Daiton, could be reached. Accordingly McPherson was instructed to
move rapidly from his position at Gordon's Mill by way of Ship's
Gap, ViUanow, and Snake Creek Gap, directly upon Resaca. Dur
ing this movement Thomas was to make a strong feint attack in front,
and Schofield was to press down from the north. Thomas occupied
Tunnel Hill, May 7, facing Buzzard Roost Gap, experiencing little
opposition, except from cavalry. McPherson reached Snake Creek
Gap May 8, surprising a brigade of the enemy while en route to occupy
it. May 9, Schofield moved down from the north close on Daiton.
The same day Newton's division of the 4th corps carried the ridge,
Geary, of the 20th corps, crowding on for the summit. While this
was going on at the front, the head of McPherson's column made its
appearance near Resaca, and took position confronting the enemy's
works. May 10, the 20th corps (Hooker) moved to join McPherson ;
the 14th corps (Palmer) followed; the 4th corps (Howard) com
menced pounding Daiton from the front. Meanwhile Schofield also
hastened to join McPherson. May 11, the whole army, with the
exception of Howard's corps and some cavalry, was in motion for
Snake Creek Gap. May 12, McPherson debouched from the gap on
the main road, Kilpatrick, with his cavalry, in front ; Thomas moved
on McPherson's left, Schofield on Thomas's left; Kilpatrick drove
the enemy within two miles of Resaca. Kilpatrick having been
wounded, Colonel Murray took command, and, wheeling out of the
road, McPherson's columns crowded impetuously by, and driving the
enemy's advance within the defences of Resaca, occupied a ridge of
bold hills, his right resting on the Oustenaula, two miles below the
32*

378 Sherman's march through the south.
railroad bridge, and his left abreast the town. Thomas, on his left,
facing Camp Creek, and Schofield, forcing his way through a dense
forest, came in on the extreme left. The enemy had evacuated Dai
ton, and was now concentrated at Resaca. Howard occupied Daiton,
and hung upon the enemy's rear. May 14, the battle of Resaca
commenced. May 15, it continued. The same night the enemy was
flying towards the Etowah. The whole army followed in pursuit.
May 19, Sherman held all the country north of the Etowah, and sev
eral crossings of that stream. May 23, the whole army was moving
upon the flank of the enemy's position in the AUatoona Mountains.
May 25, Hooker whipped the enemy near New Hope Church. On
May 28, McPherson killed and wounded about five thousand of the
enemy near Dallas. June 6, the enemy was in hasty retreat to
his next position, at Kenesaw Mountains. June 8, Blair arrived at
Ackworth, with the fresh troops of the 17th corps. June 11, the
sounds of Sherman's artillery reverberated among the rugged con
tortions of Kenesaw. July 3, the enemy was pressing for the Chatta
hoochee ; the mountains and Marietta were occupied by our forces the
same day. The enemy had a tete de pont and formidable works on
the Chattahoochee, at the railroad crossing. Sherman advanced
boldly, with a small force, on the front July 7, Schofield had pos
session of one of the enemy's pontoons, and occupied the south side
of the Chattahoochee. By July 9, Sherman held three crossings.
Johnston abandoned his tete de pont, and there was no enemy north
or west of the Chattahoochee, July 10. July 17, the whole army was
in motion across the Chattahoochee. July 18, Atlanta was cut off
from the east. Rousseau, with an expeditionary cavalry force, was
operating within the enemy's lines. July 20, all the armies closed in
upon Atlanta. The same afternoon, the enemy attacked Hooker, and
was driven into his intrenchments. On July 22, Johnston was relieved,
and Hood, in command of the enemy, suddenly attacked McPherson's
extreme left with overpowering numbers. Giles A. Smith held the
position first attacked, with a division of McPherson's troops. First
he fought from one side of the parapet ; then, being attacked in the
rear, he fought from the other. McPherson's whole army soon
became engaged. The battle was the most desperate of the cam
paign. McPherson was killed when the contest was the thickest.
His last order saved the army. Logan succeeded to command.
" McPherson and revenge " rang along the lines. The effect was
electric, and victory closed in with the night. The battle footed up
nine thousand of the enemy against four thousand of our own troops

appendix. 379
killed and wounded — a balance in our favor of five thousand dead
and mangled bodies.
Sherman gradually enveloped the city. August 31, Hood again
attacked the army of the Tennessee, now commanded by Howard.
It took two hours to run up a list of twenty-five hundred killed and
woundeel of the enemy, and hurl him back within his defences. Sep
tember 1, the enemy retreated south. That night, heavy explosions
were heard in the direction of Atlanta. The next morning, the city
was found evacuated. Pursuing the enemy for a short distance, Sher
man withdrew his whole army for rest, encamping it at points near
and around Atlanta. He instantly banished all the inhabitants of the
place, and accumulated a large supply of stores. The wisdom of this
step was soon apparent. The enemy, in October, moved around the
flank of Sherman's army. Sherman encouraged him. Hood made
demonstrations upon the lines of communication, but gained no suc
cess. Sherman now organized two armies. One, under Thomas,
was to look after Hood; with the remainder he set out, about the
middle of November, upon what promised to be one of the most
brilliant campaigns of the war. With regard to this movement,
Mr. Lincoln aptly remarked, " We all know where Sherman went in ;
it now remains to be seen where he will come out."
In aU of General Sherman's career he has evinced a determination
in the cause of the government, and a correctness of views, that have
not faUed to elicit the remark and admiration of the country. He
rose amid a singular ordeal, and, while the ephemeral lights of the
early war broke forth, flickered for a moment, and then expired, he
appUed himself quietly and usefully to the fighting of the enemy.
He advanced slowly but surely, and to-day, in military skill and ability
of execution, is second to no officer in the army. He also possesses a
remarkable moral force. He never consults the comfort of an enemy
in regard to his measures, but orders and carries out. He always has
a line of duty, from which he cannot be moved. For instance, when
he commenced preparations for his Georgia campaign, the depots, at
Chattanooga were empty. The following was the substance of one of
his first orders : —
"Provisions will no longer be issued to citizens at military posts
south of Nashville. When citizens cannot procure provisions in the
country, there is no alternative but to remove to the rear.
" Supplies must not be sold to any person save officers in the service
of the United States, and men employed by quartermasters, or in
other departments of the government, at a rate not to exceed one

380 Sherman's march through the south.
ration per day. It is idle to be pushing forward subsistence stores, if
lavished and expended upon persons not belonging to the army.'7
The order was carried out.
During the same campaign, members of the Christian Commission
applied for permission for its delegates to pass within his lines. He
replied to their letter, —
" Certainly not ; crackers and oats are more necessary for the army
than any moral or religious agency, and every regiment has its
chaplain." When, afterwards, he traversed the long, single line of rickety rail
road, beset by guerriUas, and upon which he was obliged to depend
for supplies for his army, and now that we realize how much of the
success of his campaign depended upon secret combinations and sud
den movements, we can appreciate the necessity for this stringent
military control over his rear communication, and approve the policy
of the general who makes the material support of the army his first
and constant care.
A great deal might also be said of Sherman in relation to his views
upon the questions of the war, the treatment of guerriUas, the treat
ment of secession sympathizers, and upon the important subject of
military necessities ; but his letters are not yet forgotten, and their
principles are now beneficially at work in many portions of the
south-west. In physical appearance, General Sherman is about an inch less than
six feet in height. His frame is of good size ; but a moderate devel
opment of muscle gives him an appearance of being more slender than
he really is. His hair and eyes are dark, his forehead high, and so
exceedingly fair, that, standing as it does in marked contrast with his
hair and eyes, it is his prominent feature. His cheeks are marked
with deep lines. A benevolent countenance, together with a kind and
genial manner, make him look more like a minister than the stern
soldier he is.
The following is a picture of Sherman, as he appeared during one
of the movements around Atlanta. It is given by a corresp'ondent.
" While I was watching to-day the endless line of troops shifting
by, an officer with a modest escort rode up to the fence near which I
was standing, and dismounted. He was rather tall and slender, and
Iris quick movements denoted good muscle, added to absolute leanness
— not thinness. His uniform was neither new nor old, but bordering
on a hazy mellowness of gloss, while the elbows and knees were a
Uttle accented from the continuous agitation of those joints.

appendix. 381
"The face was one I should never rest upon in a crowd, simply
because, to my eye, there was nothing remarkable in it save the nose,
which organ was high, thin, and planted with a curve as vehement as
the curl of a Malay cutlass. The face and neck were rough, and cov
ered with reddish hair; the eye light in color and animated, but,
though restless, and bounding like a ball from one object to another,
neither piercing nor brilliant ; the mouth well closed, but common ; the
ears large ; the hands and feet long and thin ; the gait a little rolling,
but firm and active. In dress and manner there was not the slightest
trace of pretension. He spoke rapidly, and generally with an inquis
itive smile. To this ensemble I must add a hat which was the reverse
of dignified pr distinguished, — a simple felt affair, with a round crown
and drooping brim, — and you have as fair a description of General
Sherman's externals as I can pen.
" Seating himself on a stick of cordwood, hard by the fence, he drew
a. bit of pencil from his pocket, and, spreading a piece of note paper
on his knee, he wrote with great rapidity. Long columns of troops
lined the road a few yards in his front, and beyond the road, massed
in a series of spreading green fields, a whole division of infantry was
waiting to take up the line of march, the blue ranks clear cut against
the verdant background. Those who were near their general looked
at him curiously ; for in so vast an army the soldier sees his com
mander-in-chief but seldom. Page after page was filled by the gen
eral's nimble pencil, and despatched.
" For a half hour I watched him ; and though I looked for and
expected to find them, no symptoms could I detect that the mind of
the great leader was taxed by the infinite cares of a terribly hazardous
military coup de main. Apparently it did not lay upon his mind the
weight of a feather. A mail arrived. He tore open the papers, and
glanced over them hastily, then chatted with some general officers
near him, then rode off with characteristic suddenness, but with fresh
and smiling countenance, filing down the road beside many thousand
men, whose fives were in his keeping.''

382 Sherman's march through the south.
n.
ORGANIZATION OF GENERAL SHERMAN'S STAFF AND ARMY.
I will say a few words about the chiefs of the leading departments,
Sherman's personal staff, and different commanders.
Major General Barry, a descendant of the noble house of Barry-
more, of Cork, Ireland, chief of artillery, is a veteran soldier, of judg
ment and experience, and is also a kind, courteous gentleman, possess
ing a good deal of the frank, honest manner of the old school.
Of the merits of Brigadier General Easton, chief quartermaster,
I have before spoken in this work.
General C. Ewing, inspector general, is brother-in-law to General
Sherman ; is a thorough soldier, and a kind, courteous gentleman.
Efficient in the discharge of his duties, kind to the afflicted, he never
turned a deaf ear to real suffering, and his charitable interference
saved many a poor family from ruin.
Dr. Moore, chief medical director of the army, has proved himself
not only a skilful practitioner, but also a man of fine organizing admin
istrative powers. The despatch with which hospitals were established,
and the admirable manner in which the wounded were carried and cared
for during our campaigns and marches through Georgia and the Caro
linas, reflect the highest credit upon his controlling influence, and on
the medical staff in general. Dr. Moore is, I think, a north of Ireland
man. Colonel Beckwith, chief commissary, was an energetic, calculating,
hard-working man, of great conception and endurance.
Personal Staff of General Sherman in the Field.
Major McCoy, A. D. C.
Captain Audenried, A. D. C.
Major Hitchcock, A. A. G.
Captain Dayton, A. D. C, performing the duties of adjutant general.
The following officers transacted the important duties of the Nash
ville bureau : —
Brigadier General Webster,
Lieutenant Colonel R. M. Sawyer, A. A. G.
Captain Rochester, A. A. G.
Captain Warner, A. Q. M.
Captain Coverdale, A. Q. M.

appendix. 383
Captain Jenny, in charge of the engineer bureau at Nashville.
The signal corps was represented by Captain Bachtal, who proved
himself a very active and intelligent officer.
Colonel Poe was chief of engineers, a man of genius and scientific
knowledge. Captain Baylor, chief of ordnance.
The army was divided into two wings, one under command of Major
General Howard, comprising the 15th and 17th corps.
The other, under command of Major General Slocum, comprised the
14th and 20th corps. i
The 15th corps was commanded by Major General John A. Logan
until its arrival in Washington, when, General Howard being trans
ferred to the freedmen's bureau, General Logan was transferred to his
command, and General Hazen took command of the 15th corps.
Its division commanders were — 1st division, General Wood ; 2d
division, General Hazen ; 4th division, General Corse. Its 3d division
has been consolidated with the others.
The J.7th corps was commanded by General Frank Blair. Its
division commanders were — 1st division, General Force ; 2d division,
General Giles E. Smith ; 3d division, General Legate.
Howard's command has been called the army of the Tennessee, and
Slocum's the army of Georgia.
The 14th corps was commanded by General Jeff C. Davis. At
the opening of the campaign it was commanded by General Palmer,
then by General Johnson.
Its division commanders were — 1st division, General Carlin ; 2d
division, General J. D. Morgan ; 3d division, General Baird.
The 20th corps was commanded up to Atlanta by Major General
Hooker, subsequently by General Williams.
Its division commanders were— 1st division, General Jackson; 2d
division, General J. W. Geary ; 3d division, General W. T. Ward.
The cavalry corps was under the command of Major General Kil
patrick. Badges of the different Corps.
The 20th corps, a star — 1st division, red; 2d, white; and 3d, blue.
14th corps, an acorn — red, white, and blue.
17th corps, an arrow — red, white, and blue.
15th corps, a cartridge-box — red, white, and blue, and yellow for 4th
division. There is a little story connected with this badge. An Irish soldier

384 Sherman's march through the south.
belonging to the 15th corps, as he trudged along, met a soldier of the
20th corps. The latter asked Pat, —
" What corps do you belong to ? "
" Faix, then, John Logan's corps."
" Haven't you any badge ? "
" Badge — arrah, what's that ? "
" Look here," said the other, proudly pointing to his bran new star;
" there is my badge ? "
" An' here, by japers, is my badge ; forty rounds in me cartridge-
box," was the other's ready reply, as he gave a sound slap to the said
cartridge-box in proof of his assertion.
General Logan was so weU pleased at Paddy's reply, that he adopted
the cartridge-box as the badge of the corps.

in. *
THE SURRENDER AND PAROLE OF GENERAL JOHNSTON'S ARMY.
The details of the condition and surrender of General Johnston and
his army to General Sherman, which we copy from the New York
Herald, were left in the hands of Major General Schofield.
General Sherman, having made proper arrangements for the final
march and disposition of his army, took his leave, with the intention
of joining them at Alexandria.
Generals Howard and Slocum commanded the two columns which
broke camp around Raleigh on the 29th and 30th ult.
We arrived at Greensboro' about 4 o'clock yesterday to begin the
paroUing of the prisoners. A large number of paroled officers and
men were loitering about the depot. The women crowded out to see
the Yankee troops, but the men made no display ; even the bands
refrained from playing.
Before night the rebels and ourselves were on the best possible
terms with one another. Rebel and Federal soldiers were grouped
together around the fires, trading coffee, whiskey, meat, and tobacco.
Some of them were fighting their battles over again.
General Hardee had a carriage and barouche in readiness for the
party, and drove them to the residence of Ex-Governor Morehead,
where they took up their quarters. In the evening, Generals Schofield,

appendix. 385
Cox, and staff paid a visit to General Johnston at his headquarters,
about a mile and a half from the town.
General Johnston's camp was a very plain one, scarcely as respect
able as a division general's in the Union army. The tents were old,
and scattered about without much regard to regularity. The general's
tent was a plain wall tent, not much better than the rest. In front of
this, General Johnston and some five or six officers of his staff were
sitting. On the lid of a mess-chest near them were the remains of
a very plain, frugal supper. Johnston is a man of about five feet nine
inches in height, rather slight, but muscularly built frame. From ap
pearance I should take him to be about fifty. Only that his hair and
beard are so gray, you would not think him so old. He is evidently a
man of great reflective powers, schooled into the greatest subserviency,
combined with untiring energy. His conversation is so natural, dig
nified, and easy that you at once feel at your ease, though, at the same
time, you are conscious that he is reading your thoughts like an open
book. He has much of the refined ease and elegance of a gentleman,
with the penetration and firmness of a soldier. He conversed freely.
A remark was made on the hopelessness of the south contending
against the north with her vast wealth and unbounded resources,
both in men and means. While this war has depopulated and devas
tated the south, the north was never so flourishing, and never had so
large a population.
" True enough ; yet we did not fail so much from the want of men
and means as from mismanagement. Had we your government, sir,
the result might be quite different."
He thinks the mass of the people wiU quietly return to their homes,
and conform to the new state of things. He was bitter on the murder
of President Lincoln.
" Lincoln, sir," he said, " was a good man and a conservative man.
His death placed in power a man of radical principles — a southern
man — a man, I fear, of strong private prejudices, who will not try to
heal up the wounds of the nation. The scoundrel Booth was a hot-
brained man, full of a kind of tragic desire of immortality. He was no
friend to the south. If, at any time, such an act could complicate the
Federal government, it is not now. Even should the president's death
help our cause for a season, it would be sure to bring a curse upon it ;
for never did a cause flourish by assassination. AU good men and
true soldiers detest the assassin. I hope he may be taken alive, in
order to come at his accompUces."
General Johnston spoke in very flattering terms of General Sher-
33

386 Sherman's march through the south.
man's military abifities, but was very bitter on Jeff Davis, in fact,
attributing the whole failure to his bungling administration.
In a few days the rebel army will march to their respective states
to be disbanded and paroled. It is thought that about thirty thousand
wiU be paroled, the remainder having broken up in squads, and scat
tered over the country. This they did while the peace negotiations
were pending. They were glad of the chance. The obloquy of deser
tion being removed, they bade good by to the rebel cause, and thought
they would carry on a little war on their own account, which they are
doing by pillaging and plundering the wretched inhabitants through the
country. Johnston had close on fifty thousand men, all told, infantry,
and cavalry, under him. Thirty thousand being paroled, leaves a
desertion of nearly twenty thousand. The south might justly exclaim,
" From our friends, O Lord deliver us ! "
We have got in but very few battle-flags or horses. All of them
have been either destroyed or carried off. We have about fifteen
thousand stand of smaU arms, with about one hundred and ten or
twenty pieces of artillery. One fifth of the men were allowed to retain
their arms, to guard the rest and their supplies on their way home.
Only the officers' paroles have been signed on the spot. The others
have been given to the brigade commanders, not to be distributed until
they are disbanding. This was done in order to keep them together.
Lee's and Hardee's corps were stationed at High Point, some four
teen miles from Raleigh ; Stewart's corps at Hoyt's place, about five
miles from town.
The number pf men and officers paroled in each corps is —
In Hardee's, about eight thousand five hundred ; Stewart's, close on
eight thousand ; S. D. Lee's, about five thousand ; in the cavalry, about
three thousand five hundred. To these might be added several inde
pendent commands.
Generals Debrill's and Young's divisions of cavalry, which have been
operating on the confines of Georgia and South Carolina, are not likely
to come in to be paroled, but will disband themselves, or become guer
rillas. Wade Hampton and Wheeler have betaken themselves no one
knows where. It is generally supposed that they are with the dethroned
Jeff Davis.
There is no blame attached to General Johnston on account of the
desertion of his troops. He had sent word to General Schofield, a few
days previous, that his men were breaking up in bodies, and that he
was powerless to prevent them, as they had lost all regard for order or
discipline. They even stole most of the headquarters horses, leaving

appendix. 387
the general and staff to shift for themselves. They have even dis
mounted several of their officers, with the polite intimation that " the
d — d sons of b — s rode long enough ; it was their turn now, and to
get off quick, or they would let the light through them." The out
raged, despised scions of aristocracy would of course submit to such
killing arguments.
This proves that the rebel army was not actuated by a spirit of
patriotism, but coerced by military despotism or fanaticism.
The poor privates are trying to work their way home, lame, naked,
and hungry, despised and loathed . by the chivalry, for whose dynasty
they fought. I have seen ladies, who would treat you to two mortal
hours' bitter invective against the Yanks, refuse to-feed poor, deluded,
foot-sore rebel soldiers, while Union soldiers freely shared their hard
tack and coffee with them, or Union officers handed them their lunches
from their saddle-bags.
There is a bitter feeling growing in the south among the democ
racy against the aristocracy.
I remarked that there was nothing like the same order and neatness
in the rebel camps that marked the Federals. No nicely laid out
streets ; no shaded pavilions for headquarters ; but they looked like a
bivouac, or as if there was a heavy shower of dirty tents' and there
they stood, higgledy-piggledy, big and little, as they fell. About
eleven o'clock next morning we left Greensboro'. General Johnston
called to bid General Schofield good by, and remained a long time in
conversation, in the carriage with him. The people greeted us, as we
stopped at the different stations. The ladies received us with bouquets
of flowers and waving handkerchiefs. At Company Shops station,
there was quite a meeting of negroes, of aU shades and sizes,
awaiting us.
Major General Cox remains at Greensboro', where he is about
estabUshing his headquarters ; so also is Kilpatrick. A division of
the 23d corps is to remain at Raleigh; another, Rogers's, at Char
lotte ; the remainder between Salisbury, Hillsboro', and other points.
The bulk of Kilpatrick's cavalry will also garrison the same places,
while the dismounted and useless portion will be sent home.
This morning General Hardee's party left Raleigh at five o'clock,
and reached Durham's at half past seven. By invitation, they break
fasted with General Kilpatrick, after whichr they continued on to
Greensboro'. I accompanied the party from Durham's. General
Hardee received me in a very cordial, generous, unreserved manner.
We talked freely on aU subjects of interest at the present time. In

388 Sherman's march through the south.
speaking of the war, he made this remarkable assertion: "Sir, "I
accept this war as the providence of God. He intended that the slave
(should be free, and now he- is free. Slavery was never a paying insti
tution. I have often told my friends so. For instance, my wife
owned about one hundred negroes ; forty of the hundred were useless
for work, yet she had to feed these forty, in order to get the work of
the other sixty. The negro will be worse off for this war. Will any
of your abolitionists of the north feed and clothe half a, dozen little
children, in order to get the work of a man and woman? Sir, our
people can pay the working negroes a fair compensation for their ser
vices, and let them take care of their own families, and then have as
much left at the end of the year as we had under the old system."
" General, do you think we wiU soon have real peace ? "
" I do. I think the people of the south are anxious for it. They
wanted it two years ago. I then saw that our cause could not succeed."
" Will we not have guerrUla warfare ? "
" So help me God, sir, if we do, I am willing and ready to fight to
put an end to it."
" Is the same sentiment entertained by the other general officers
who have been in the Confederate service ? "
"It is. I have not the slightest doubt but they wiU use every
means they can command to bring quietness and security again in the
land. They will in no wise support those who do not obey the laws."
" How will it be in South Carolina? "
" South Carolina is the worst whipped state in the Union."
" But will not her leading spirits control the masses ? "
" They, too, are crushed. She has no leading spirits now. Let me
impress it upon you that the people of the south want to live in
peace with the people of the north, and you will find they wiU do it.
They will do it cheerfully, provided your government does not resort
to harsh measures. If it does resort to such measures, I cannot
answer for the consequences. We staked our all on the success of
our arms, and they failed us ; and now we are willing to return to and
five under the laws of the United States as we find them, although
they may not be as we would desire to have them."
" Your officers have no money. What are they going to do ? "
" They must go to work. The prospect before . them is most
gloomy indeed. It will be very hard on old men like me. I can
not now commence a profession."
" Do you think Jeff Davis was pleased at the assassination of Pres
ident Lincoln ? "

APPENDIX. 389
" I do not think he was. The people of the south do not like
Andy Johnson. How can they, compared to Mr. Lincoln ? Lincoln
had been in office four years, and knew whom he could trust. He had
also learned to govern. He had made a name. He could have done
many things for the south that Johnson cannot. I do not believe
that Lincoln was a party man — that is, that he was particularly so.
Johnson is a party man. He is new, and the fear is, he will be radical.
I hope he will not, for the good of the country and the welfare of the
people." " It is said that Jeff Davis went off with several millions ih specie.
Is it so ? "
" I cannot particularly say whether it is or not. I know that Gen
eral Johnston asked Mr. Davis to order some of the troops to be paid
off in gold, and he replied that he had no control over the money.
He said that the most of it had been taken from the Virginia banks,
and that when these were again able to receive it, he would see that it
was properly returned."
" Do you think that if Mr. Davis takes the money out of the con
federacy, he will return it to the banks ? "
" I think he will."
" Is there much cotton in the south, general ? "
" O yes. And, by the way, let me say that it will oppress the people
of the south very much, if the government of the United States con
fiscates the cotton belonging to private individuals. These people
need the cotton and tobacco to commence business on. They are the
only articles they have to sell. Give them a chance to sell their cotton
and their tobacco, and there will be greenbacks introduced, and trade
will revive. The cotton which the Confederate government owned, I
believe to be the rightful property of the United States ; and further,
believe that the people of the south should be honest, and turn that
property in to the agents authorized to receive it. One man told me
he had some Confederate cotton on his plantation, and that he intended
to burn it before the enemy should get possession of it. I told him
he would be doing very wrong in committing such an act. On my
wife's plantation in Alabama I have some cotton that belonged to the
Confederate government, which I am well guarding, and will turn it
over whenever the United States agents are ready to receive it."
At this juncture, a special train with United States troops, and
Generals Schofield, Cox, and Kilpatrick on board, arrived close behind
ours, at a station where the engine was stopped for wood and water.
The second train had left Raleigh at 7 A. M., and was also bound
33*

390 Sherman's march through the south.
for Greensboro'. General Hardee, and two other rebel officers,
repaired to the car in which the Union generals were sitting, where
upon introductions took place, and agreeable conversation ensued.
On the line of the North Carolina Railroad, the appearance of the
Union soldiers was hailed with gladness. The ladies waved their
handkerchiefs, the band played, the soldiers cheered, the darkies
danced, and all seemed delighted and overjoyed. A bright mulatto
girl, who got in conversation with an officer, inquired if Massa Greeley
was on board of the train. If so, she^ said she had a bouquet for
him. As we passed one house, on the way up, an old lady came out,
waved the dishcloth, and danced, as though the joyous character of
her feelings made her limbs to work like piston-rods. AU on the
train noticed the old lady's movements, and marked her joy. At
Company Shops, the ladies had prepared dinner for the generals, but,
owing to the necessity of pushing on, the officers had to forego the
pleasures of the feast prepared for them.
At Company Shops there are a large depot, and extensive works
for the construction of cars, railroad iron, and engines. The build
ings are all of brick. A feature of the place is the number of well-
constructed brick houses, built by the company for the families of
its employees.
On our arrival at Greensboro', General Hardee conducted Generals
Schofield, Gox, and Kilpatrick to the headquarters of General John
ston, where the Union generals were politely received, a conference
ensuing. While the same was going on, the 104th Ohio volunteer
regiment was marched into the town, to do provost guard duty.- As
was quite natural, a very large crowd collected to see the ambassadors
from Yankeedom. The streets were full of rebel soldiers, some of
whom were paroled, and some not. We found two or three hotels
open, doing business, and succeeded in getting rooms at one of them.
After the Union generals had conferred with General Johnston, the
gentlemen of the press were formally presented and introduced to the
rebel commander, who rose and received them in the most friendly
manner. During a brief period, when the general was disengaged, I had a
private conversation with him, on subjects pertaining to the war, and
the surrender of his army. I read to him the following : —
War Department, i
Washington, April 24, 18G5. j
This department has information that the president's murder was
organized in Canada, and approved at Richmond. * * *
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.

APPENDIX. 391
After which I inquired, " General, do you think that Mr. Davis had
any thing to do with the assassination ? "
" I do not," he replied. " When I told President Davis that Pres
ident Lincoln had been assassinated, he was very much grieved indeed.
I do not believe — in fact, am sure that President Davis did not in
any way countenance the act."
" General Hampton went away without being paroled ? "
"Yes; I understand he was ordered by the president to accom
pany him."
General Johnston admitted that one division of Wheeler's cavalry
had gone off with Davis. Wheeler, it was reported to-day, had also
gone with him.
General Johnston says that all the rebel forces in the States of
North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida, are included in the
surrender. I find that the leading southern men are widely divided in senti
ment among themselves. And what is more, General Sherman's
course has been the source of much trouble for the north. By not
demanding an immediate surrender, it enabled Jeff Davis to escape
with much gold and silver, and to have it guarded by a strong rebel
cavalry force. The armistice afforded an opportunity for the rebel
commanders to make speeches to their commands, and they improved
that opportunity to do so. One commander (General Hoke) told his
men that the war was over ; that they were overpowered ; that he
would like to have them remain with him and be paroled, but if any
of them wanted to go home, they could do so.
The consequence was, that fully two thirds of his command did go
home, scattering throughout the. country, some carrying their arms
with them, and some not. It is the same of many other rebel com
manders. General Johnston says there was no absolute, immediate
necessity for the surrender ; that he could have got away from Gen
eral Sherman. He said, —
" But I saw that we must come up somewhere. We would cer--
tainly have had to stop at the Mississippi ; so I negotiated as I did
with General Sherman, believing it criminal to prolong a hopeless war
another day. The fate of the Confederacy was decided in Virginia.
When Lee surrendered, there was an end to it. Had I marched my
army away, as I could have done, it was only dragging Sherman after
me. He would have foraged on the country, and I would have been
compelled to do the same. The country would have been devastated,
and we would have had to come to some terms at last."

392

Sherman's march through the south.

Judging from General Johnston's conversation, and from what I
have heard from those who were present at the conference, he would
have surrendered his army at once on the terms granted to Lee.
General Johnston's headquarters are located in a pleasant grove, on
a high hill, at a distance of about two miles west of Greensboro'.
The members of his staff still remain with him. The whole are
in tents. The General Officers paroled.
As the following officers belonged to the headquarters department,
and to the navy, I give their names, as also the number of men
belonging to their respective commands surrendered: —

'Admiral R. Semmes, naval brigade, .
General P. T. G. Beauregard, and staff officers,
Major Smith, quartermaster commissary, .
Flag Officer Forrest, naval brigade,
Captain Taylor, detachment Lee's army, .
Lieutenant Duvall, signal corps, .
James Sloan, major and chief of staff,
General Brettler, staff cavalry, . . .
General Logan, staff cavalry, ....
Captain E. M. Holloway, commanding escort,
J. F. Caldwell, telegraph corps,
Captain W. Quirk, provost guard,
Captain West, camp of instruction,
Captain Brickner,
' Isaiah Yorkeman,
Major Shannon, ....
Dr. Hines, post hospital, .
J. Hammon, ....
Captain Harris, artillerists,
Colonel Park, invalid corps,
Surgeon E. W. Jolus, ....
Captain A. Cammack, acting quartermaster, .
Captain H. P. Abell, ....
Captain J. P. Yates, 
Captain A. A. Mosly, Palmer's battalion, .
Major Johnson, officers engineer corps,
Lieutenant McGuire, mounted infantry, .
Lieutenant Colonel Sharr, field and staff, artiUery,
Major Morris, brigade, 
Brigadier General Herbert, .
Captain Southerland, artiUery, .
Captain Badham, ....
Major Maye, 
Captain Kelly, artillery, Colonel Stor,

of Men. 246 54 2174
963627 96
76
21
61
106 46 1
55 1013
120 7
13 5
126 97
41 28 36
I" 3
8768 3
100

APPENDIX.

393

Rank. No. of Men.
Captain EUis, artillery, Colonel Stor,  53
J. V. Darden, artillery, Colonel Stor,  18
Major Pregnesert, commissary department, .... 44
Major H. B. McClellan, cavalry headquarters, . . . .61
Captain William Wallace, post commander  154
Colonel E. J. Harvie, army headquarters,  170
Surgeon John Closter,  4
Lieutenant Colonel Gougates, Hardee's chief of artillery, . . 8
Colonel Coffer, assistant, and the provost marshal, . . . 245
Daniel Morgan,  37
Lieutenant Colonel Clew, horse artillery,  26
Lieutenant M. L. Stevenson,  1
Surgeon O. H. Moore, hospital patients, Greensboro', . . 735
Lieutenant H. Hometer,  1
Lieutenant Colonel W. W. Wien,  1
Among the paroled prisoners is the notorious pirate Semmes, and
Commodores Lynch and Forrest. These naval heroes, looking upon
discretion as the better part of valor, gave up the sea for the secure
quiet of domestic life. Another officer paroled was the notorious
Major Gilchrist, who boasts that the first shot of the war was fired ~by
him at the Star of the West, in Charleston Harbor.
General Johnston was not formaUy paroled. He simply pledged
bis verbal parole to General Sherman.

IV.

GENERAL SHERMAN'S TESTIMONY BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON
THE WAR.
Major General Sherman being sworn and examined : —
By the Chairman. — Q. What is your rank in the army ? A. I am
major general in the regular army.
Q. As your negotiation with the rebel General Johnston in relation
to his surrender has been the subject of much public comment, the
committee desire you to state aU the facts and circumstances in regard
to it, or which you wish the public to know. A. On the 15th day of
April last I was at Raleigh, in command of three armies : the army of
the Ohio, the army of the Cumberland, and the army of the Tennes
see ; my enemy was General Joseph E. Johnston, of the Confederate
army, who commanded fifty thousand men, retreating along the raU-
road from Raleigh by Hillsboro', Greensboro', Salisbury, and Char-

394 - Sherman's march through the south.
lotte ; I commenced pursuit by crossing the curve of that read in the
direction of Ashboro' and Charlotte ; after the head of my column had
crossed the Cape Fear River at Aven's Ferry, I received a communica
tion from General Johnston, and answered it, copies of which I most
promptly sent to the war department, with a letter addressed to the
secretary of war, as foUows : —
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, t
in the Field, Raleigh, N. C, April 15, 1805. j
General U. S. Grant and Secretary of War : I send copies of a
correspondence to you with General Johnston, which I think will be
followed by terms of capitulation. I wiU grant the same terms General
Grant gave General Lee, and be careful not to complicate any points
of civil policy. If any cavalry has retreated towards me, caution them
to be prepared to find our work done. It is now nuning in torrents,
and I shall await General Johnston's reply here, and will prepare to
meet him in person at Chapel Hill.
I have invited Governor Vance to return to Raleigh, with the civil
officers of his state. I have met Ex-Governor Graham, Messrs. Bad
ger, Moore, Holden) and others, aU of whom agree that the war is over,
and that the states of the south must resume their aUegiance, subject
to the constitution and laws of Congress, and must submit to the na
tional arms. This great fact was admitted, and the details are of easy
arrangement, i W. T. Sherman, Major General.
I met General Johnston in person at a house five miles from Dur
ham Station, under a flag of truce. After a few preliminary remarks,
he said to me, since Lee had surrendered his army at Appomattox
Court-house, of which he had just been advised, he looked upon further
opposition by him as the greatest possible of crimes ; that he wanted
to know whether I could make him any general concessions — any- '
thing by which he could maintain his hold and control of his army,
and prevent its scattering ; anything to satisfy the great yearning of
their people ; if so, he thought he could arrange terms satisfactory to
both parties. He wanted to embrace the condition and fate of all the
armies of the southern Confederacy to the Rio Grande, — to make one
job of it, as he termed it.
I asked him whai his powers were — whether he could command and
control the fate of all the armies to the Rio Grande. He answered
that he thought he could obtain the power, but he did not possess it at
that moment ; he did not know where Mr. Davis was, but he thought
if I could give him the time he could find Mr. Breckinridge, whose
orders would be obeyed everywhere, and he could pledge to me bis
personal faith that whatever he undertook to do would be done.

APPENDIX. 395
I had had frequent correspondence with the late president of the
United States, with the secretary of war, with General Halleck, and
with General Grant, and the general impression left upon my mind,
that if a settlement could be made, consistent with the constitution of
the United States, the laws of Congress, and the proclamation of the
president, they would not only be willing, but pleased, to terminate the
war by one single stroke of the pen.
I needed time to finish the railroad from the Neuse Bridge up to
Raleigh, and thought I could put in four or five days of good time in
making repairs to my road, even if I had to send propositions to
Washington; I therefore consented to delay twenty-four hours, tp
enable General Johnston to procure what would satisfy me as to his
authority and abUity, as a military man, to do what he undertook to
do ; I therefore consented to meet him the next day, the 17th, at
12 noon, at the same place.
We did meet again. After a general interchange of courtesies, he
remarked that he was then prepared to satisfy me that he could fulfil
the terms of our conversation of the day before. He then asked me
what I was willing to do ; I told him, in the first place, I could not deal
with anybody except men recognized by us as " belligerents," because
no mfiitary man could go beyond that fact. The attorney general has
since so decided, and any man of common sense so understood it be
fore ; there was no difference upon that point as to the men and
officers accompanying the Confederate armies. I told him that the
president of the United States, by a published proclamation, had en
abled every man in the southern Confederate army, of the rank of
colonel and under, to procure and obtain amnesty, by simply taking
the oath of aUegiance to the United States, and agreeing to go to his
home and live in peace. The terms of General Grant to General Lee
extended the same principle's to the officers, of the rank of brigadier
general and upward, including the highest officer in the. Confederate
army, viz., General Lee, the commander-in-chief. I was therefore
willing to proceed "with him upon the same principles.
Then a conversation arose as to what form of government they were
to have in the south. Were the states there to be dissevered, and
were the people to be denied representation in Congress ? Were the
people there to be, in- the common language ofthe people ofthe south,
slaves to the people of the north ? Of course I said, " No ; we desire
that you shaU regain your position as citizens of the United States,
free and equal to us in aU respects, and wish representation upon the
ponditipn pf submission to the lawful authority of the United States as

396 Sherman's march through the south.
defined by the constitution, the United States courts, and the authori
ties of the United States supported by those courts." He then
remarked to me that General Breckinridge, a major general in the
Confederate army, was near by, and, if I had no objection, he would
like to have him present. I called his attention to the fact, that I had
on the day before explained to him that any negotiations between us
must be confined to beUigerents. He replied that he, understood that
perfectly. " But," said he, " Breckinridge, whom you do not know,
save by public rumor, as secretary of war, is, in fact, a major general ;
I give you my word for that. Have you any objection to his being
present as a major general ? " I replied, " I have no objection to any
military officer you desire being present as a part of your personal
staff." I myself had my own officers near me at caU.
Breckinridge came a stranger to me, whom I had never spoken to in
my Ufe, and he joined in the conversation. While that conversation
was going on, a courier arrived and handed to General Johnston a
package of papers ; he and Breckinridge sat down and looked over
them for some time, and put them away in their pockets ; what they
were I know not, but one of them was a slip of paper, written, as
General Johnston told me, by Mr. Reagan, postmaster general of the
southern Confederacy ; they seemed to talk about it sotto voce, and
finally handed it to me ; I glanced over it ; it was preceded by a pre
amble, and closed with a few general terms. I rejected it at once.
We then discussed matters ; talked about slavery, talked about ev
erything. There was a universal assent that slavery was as dead as
anything could be ; that it was one of the issues of the war long since
determined ; and even General Johnston laughed at the folly of the
Confederate government in raising negro soldiers, whereby they gave
us all the points of the case. I told them that slavery had been
treated by us as a dead institution, first by one class of men from the
initiation of the war, and then from the date of the emancipation
proclamation of President Lincoln, and finally by the assent of all
parties. As to the reconstruction, I told them I did. not know what
the views of the administration were. Mr. Lincoln, up to that time,
in letters and by telegrams to me, encouraged me by aU the words
which could be used in general terms to believe, not only in his willing
ness, but in his desires, that I should make terms with civil authorities,
governors, and legislatures, even as far back as 1863. It then occurred
to me that I might write off some general propositions, meaning little,
or meaning much, according to the construction of parties, — what I
would term " glittering generaUties," — and send them to Washington,

appendix. 397
which I could do in four days. That would enable the new president
to give me a clew to his policy in the important juncture which was
then upon us, for the war was over ; the highest military authorities
of the southern Confederacy so confessed to me openly, unconcealedly,
and repeatedly. I therefore drew up the memorandum (which has
been pubhshed to the world), for the purpose of referring it to the
proper executive authority of the United States, and enabling him to
define to me what I might promise, simply to cover the pride of the
southern men, who thereby became subordinate to the laws of the
United States, civil and military. I made no concessions to General
Johnston's army or the troops under his direction and immediate con
trol ; and if any concessions were made in those general terms, they
were made because I then believed, and now believe, they would have
delivered into the hands of the United States the absolute control of
every Confederate officer and soldier, aU their muster-rolls, and aU
their arms. It would save us aU the incidental expense resulting from
the military occupation of that country by provost marshals, provost
guards, military governors, and all the machinery by which alone mili
tary power can reach the people of a civilized country. It would have
surrendered to us the armies of Dick Taylor and Kirby Smith, both
of them capable of doing infinite mischief to us by exhausting the
resources of the whole country upon which we were to depend for the
future extinguishment of our debt, forced upon us by their wrongful
and rebellious conduct. I never designed to shelter a human being
from any liability incurred in consequence of past acts to the civil
tribunals of our country ; and I do not beheve a fair and manly inter
pretation of my terms can so construe them ; for the words " United
States courts," " United States authorities," " limitations of executive
power," occur in every paragraph. And if they seemingly yield terms
better than the public would desire to be given to the southern people,
if studied closely and weU it will be found that there is an absolute
submission on then1 part to the government of the United States, either
through its executive, legislative, or judicial authorities. Every step
in the programme of these negotiations was reported punctually,
clearly, and fully, by the most rapid means of communication that I
had. And yet I neglected not one single precaution necessary to reap
the full benefits of my position in case the government amended,
altered, or absolutely annulled those terms. As those matters were
necessarily mingled with the military history of the period, I would
like at this point to submit to the committee my official report, which
has been in the hands of the proper officer, Brigadier General Raw-
34

398 Sherman's march through the south.
lings, chief of staff of the army of the United States, since about the
12th instant. It was made by me at Manchester, Virginia, after I had
returned from Savannah, whither I went to open up the Savannah
River and reap the fruits of my negotiations with General Johnston,
and to give General WUson's force in the interior a safe and sure base
from which he could draw the necessary supply of clothing and food'
for his command. It was only after I had fulfilled aU this that I
learned, for the first time, through the public press, that my conduct
had been animadverted upon, not only by the secretary of war, but by
General HaUeck, and the. press of the country at large. I did feel
hurt and annoyed that Mr. Stanton coupled with the terms of my
memorandum, confided to him, a copy of a telegram to General Grant
which he had never sent to me. He knew, on the contrary, that,
when he was at Savannah, I had negotiations with civil parties
there, for he was present in my room when those parties were confer
ring with me, and I wrote him a letter setting forth many points of it,
in which I said I aimed to make a spfit in Jeff Davis's dominions, by
segregating Georgia from their course. Those were civU negotiations,
and, far from being discouraged from making them, I was encouraged
by Secretary Stanton himself to make them.
By coupling the note to General Grant with my memorandum, he
gave the world fairly and clearly to infer that I was in possession of it.
Now, I was not in possession of it, and I have reason to know that
Mr. Stanton knew I was not in possession of it. Next met me Gen-
¦ eral HaUeck's telegram, indorsed by Mr. Stanton, in which they publicly
avowed an act of perfidy, namely, the violation of my terms, which I
had a right to make, and which, by the laws of war and by the laws of
Congress, is punishable by death, and no other punishment. Next,
they ordered an army to pursue my enemy, who was known to be sur
rendering to me, in the presence of General Grant himself, their
superior officer ; and, finally, they sent orders to General Wilson and
to General Thomas, my subordinates, acting under me on a plan of the
most magnificent scale, admirably executed, to defeat my orders, and
to thwart the interests of the government of the United States. I
did feel indignant ; I do feel indignant. As to my honor, I can pro
tect it. In my letter of the 15th of April I used this language: "I
have invited Governor Vance to return to Raleigh, with the civil offi
cers of his state." I did so because President Lincoln had himself
encouraged me to a similar course with the governor of Georgia when
I was in Atlanta. And here was the opportunity which the secretary
of war should have taken to put me on my guard against making terms

appendix. 399
with civil authorities, if such were the settled policy of our government.
Had President Lincoln lived, I know he would have sustained me.
The following is my report, which I desire to have incorporated into
and made part of my testimony : —
Headquarters of the Military Division of the Mississippi, J
in the Field, City Point, Virginia, May 9, 1805. j
General : My last official report brought the history of events, as
connected with the armies in the field subject to my immediate com
mand, down to the 1st of April, when the army of the Ohio, Major
General J. M. Schofield commanding, lay at Goldsboro', with detach
ments distributed so as to secure and cover our routes of communica
tion and supply back to the sea at Wilmington and Morehead city;
Major General A. H. Terry, with the 10th corps,* being at Faison's
Depot ; the army of the Tennessee, Major General O. O. Howard
commanding, was encamped to the right and front of Goldsboro', and
the army of Georgia, Major General H. W. Slocum commanding, to
its left and front ; the cavalry, Brevet Major General J. Kilpatrick
commanding, at Mount Olive. All were busy in repairing the wear
and tear of our then recent and hard march from Savannah, and in
replenishing clothing and stores necessary for a further progress.
I had previously, by letter and in person, notified the Lieutenant
General commanding the armies of the United States, that the 10th
of April would be the earliest possible moment at which I could hope
to have all things in readiness, and we were compelled to use our rad-
roads to the very highest possible limit in order to fulfil that promise.
Owing to a mistake in the railroad department in sending locomotives
and cars of the five-foot gauge, we were limited to the use of the few
locomotives and cars of the four foot eight and a half inch gauge
already in North Carolina, with such of the old stock as was captured
by Major General Terry at Wilmington and on his way up to Golds
boro'. Yet such judicious use was made of these, and such industry
displayed in the railroad management, by Generals Easton and Beck
with, and Colonel Wright and Mr. Van Dyne, that by the 10th of April
our men were all reclad, the wagons reloaded, and a fair amount of
forage accumulated ahead.
In the meantime, Major General George Stoneman, in command of
a division of cavalry operating from East Tennessee in connection with
Major General George H. Thomas, in pursuance of my orders of Jan
uary 21, 1865, had reached the railroad- about Greensboro', North
Carolina, and had made sad havoc with it, and had pushed along it to
Salisbury, destroying en route bridges, culverts, depots, and all kinds
of rebel supplies, and had extended the break in the railroad down to
the Catawba Bridge.
This was fatal to the hostile armies of Lee and Johnston, who de
pended on that road for supplies, and as their ultimate line of retreat.
Major General J. H. Wilson, also in command of the cavalry corps
organized by himself under special field orders No. — , of October 24,
1864, at Gaylesville, Alabama, had started from the neighborhood of

400 Sherman's march through the south.
Decatur and Florence, Alabama, and moved straight into the heart of
Alabama, on a route prescribed for General Thomas after he had
defeated General Hood at Nashville, Tennessee ; but the roads being
too heavy for infantry, General Thomas had devolved that duty on J,hat
most energetic young cavalry officer, General Wilson, who, imbued
with the proper spirit, has struck one of the best blows of the war at
the waning strength of the Confederacy. His route was one never
before touched by our troops, and afforded him abundance of supplies
as long as he was in motion, namely; by Tuscaloosa, Selma, Mont
gomery, Columbus, and Macon. Though in communication with him,
I have not been able to receive, as yet, his full and detailed reports,
which will in due time be published and appreciated. Lieutenant
General Grant, also in immediate command of the armies about Rich
mond, had taken the initiative in that magnificent campaign, which, in
less than ten days, compelled the evacuation of Richmond, and result
ed in the destruction and surrender ofthe entire rebel army of Virginia
under command of General Lee.
The news of the battles about Petersburg reached me at Goldsboro'
on the 6th of April. Up to that time my purpose was to move rapidly
northward, feigning on Raleigh and striking straight for Burkesville,
thereby interposing between Johnston and Lee. But the auspicious
events in Virginia had changed the whole military problem, and, in the
expressive language of Lieutenant General Grant, " the Confederate
armies of Lee and Johnston " became the " strategic points." General
Grant was fully able to take care of the former, and my task was to
capture or destroy the latter. Johnston at that time, April 6, had
his army well in hand about Smithfield, interposing between me and
Raleigh. I estimated his infantry and artillery at thirty-five thousand,
and his cavalry from six thousand to ten thousand. He was superior
to me in cavalry, so that I held General Kilpatrick in reserve at Mount
Olive, with orders to recruit his horses, and be ready to make a sudden
and rapid march on the 10th of April.
At daybreak of the day appointed, all the heads of columns were in
motion straight against the enemy, — Major General H. W. Slocum
taking the two direct roads for Smithfield ; Major General O. O. How
ard making a circuit by the right, and feigning up the Weldon road to
disconcert the enemy's cavalry ; Generals Terry and Kilpatrick moving
on the west side of the Neuse River, and aiming to reach the rear of
the enemy between Smithfield and Raleigh. General Schofield fol
lowed General Slocum in support.
All the columns met, within six mUes of Goldsboro', more or less
cavalry, with the usual rail barricades, which were swept before us as
chaff, and by 10 A. M. of the 11th, the Wth corps entered Smithfield,
the 20th corps close at hand. Johnston had rapidly retreated across
the Neuse River, and, having his railroad to Ughten up his trains,
could retreat faster than we could pursue. The rains had also set in,
making the resort to corduroy absolutely necessary to pass even ambu
lances. _ The enemy had burned the bridge at Smithfield, and as soon
as possible Major General Slocum got up his pontoons and crossed
over a division of the 14th corps. We there heard of the surrender

appendix. 401
of Lee's army at Appomattox Court-house, Virginia, which was an
nounced to the armies in orders, and created universal joy. Not an
officer or soldier of my armies but expressed a pride and satisfaction
that it fell to the lot of the armies of the Potomac and James so
gloriously to overwhelm and capture the entire army that had held
them so long in check, and their success gave new impulse to finish up
our task. Without a moment's hesitation we dropped our trains and
marched rapidly in pursuit to and through Raleigh, reaching that place
at 7.30 A. M. of the 13th, in a heavy rain. The next day the cavalry
pushed on through the rain to Durham's Station, the 15th corps fol
lowing as far as Morrisville Station, and the 17th corps to Jones's
Station. On the supposition that Johnston was tied to his railroad as
a line of retreat by HiUsboro', Greensboro', Salisbury, Charlotte, &c,
I had turned the other columns across the bend of that road towards
Ashboro'. (See Special Field Orders, No. 55.) The cavalry, Brevet
Major General J. Kilpatrick commanding, was ordered to keep up a
show of pursuit towards the " Company's Shops," in Alamance County;
Major General O. O. Howard to turn to the left by Hackney's Cross
roads, Pittsboro', St. Lawrence, and Ashboro'; Major General H. W.
Slocum to cross Cape Fear River at Aven's Ferry, and move rapidly
by Carthage, Caledonia, and Cox's Mills ; Major General J. M. Scho-
. field was to hold Raleigh and the road back, and with his spare force
to foUow an intermediate route.
By the loth, though the rains were incessant and the roads almost
impracticable, Major General Slocum had the 14th corps, Brevet Major
General Davis commanding, near Martha's Vineyard, with a pontoon
bridge laid across Cape Fear River at Aven's Ferry, with the 20th
corps, Major General Mower commanding, in support; and Major Gen
eral Howard had the 15th and 17th corps stretched out on the roads
towards Pittsboro', while General Kilpatrick held Durham's Station
and Chapel Hui University.
Johnston's army was retreating rapidly on the roads from HiUsboro'
to Greensboro', he himself at Greensboro'. Although out of place as
to time, I here invite aU military critics who study the problems of war
to take their maps and compare the position of my army on the 15th
and 16th of April with that of General Halleck about BurkesviUe and
Petersburg, Virginia, on the 26th of April, when, according to his tele- ,
gram to Secretary Stanton, he offered to relieve me of the task of
" cutting off Johnston's retreat." Major General Stoneman at the time
was at Statesville, and Johnston's only Une of retreat was by Salisbury
and Charlotte. It may be that General Halleck's troops can outmarch
mine, but there is nothing in their past history to show it ; or it may
be that General Halleck can inspire his. troops with more energy of
action. I doubt that also, save and except in this single instance, when
he knew the enemy was ready to surrender or- disperse, as advised by
my letter of April 18th, addressed to him when chief of staff at Wash
ington city, and delivered at Washington on the 21st instant by Major
Hitchcock of my staff.
" Thus matters stood at the time I received General Johnston's first
letter, and made my answer of April 14, copies of wbich were sent
34*

402 Sherman's march through the south.
with all expedition to Lieutenant General Grant and the secretary of
war, with my letter of April 15. I agreed to meet General Johnston
in person at a point intermediate between our pickets on the 17th at
noon, provided the position of the troops remained statu quo.: I was
both willing and anxious thus to consume a few days, as it would
enable Colonel Wright to finish our railroad to Raleigh.
Two bridges had to be built, and twelve miles of new road made.
We had no iron except by taking up that on the branch from Golds
boro' to Weldon. Instead of losing by time, I gained in every way ;
for every hour of delay possible was required to reconstruct the rail
road to our rear and improve the condition of our wagon roads to the
front, so desirable in case the negotiations failed and we be forced to
make the race of near two hundred miles to head off or catch John
ston's army, then retreating towards Charlotte.
At noon of the day appointed, I met General Johnston for the first
time in my life, although we had been interchanging shots constantly
since May, 1863.
Our interview was frank and soldier-like, and he gave me to under
stand that further war on the part of the Confederate troops was folly,
that t he cause was lost, and that every life sacrificed after the surrender
of Lee's army was the " highest possible crime." He admitted that
the terms conceded to General Lee were magnanimous, and aU he
could ask ; but he did want some general concessions that would enable
him to allay the natural fears and anxieties of his followers, and enable
him to maintain his control over them until they could be got back to
the neighborhood of their homes, thereby saving the State of North
Carolina the devastations inevitably to result from turning his men
loose and unprovided on the spot, and our pursuit across the state.
He also wanted to embrace in the same general proposition the fate
of aU the Confederate armies that remained in existence. I never
made any concession as to his own army, or assumed to deal finally
and authoritatively in regard to any other ; but it did seem to me that
there was presented a chance for peace that might be deemed valuable
to tbe government of the United States, and was at least worth the
few days that would be consumed in reference.
To push an army whose commander had so frankly and honestly
confessed his inability to cope with me were cowardly, and unworthy
the brave men I led.
Inasmuch as General Johnston did not feel authorized to pledge his
power over the armies in Texas, we adjourned to meet the next day
at noon. I returned to Raleigh, and conferred freely with aU my
general officers, every one of whom urged me to conclude terms that
might accomplish so complete and desirable an end. All dreaded the
weary and laborious march after a fugitive and dissolving army back
towards Georgia, almost over the very country where we had toiled so
long. There was but one opinion expressed ; and, if contrary ones were
entertained, they were withheld, or indulged in only by that class who
shun the fight and the march, but are loudest, bravest, and fiercest
when danger is past.

appendix. 403
I again met General Johnston on the 18th, and we renewed the con
versation. He satisfied me then of his power to disband the rebel
armies in Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas, as well as those
in his immediate command, namely, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Florida, and Georgia.
The points on which he expressed especial solicitude were, lest their
states were to be dismembered and denied representation in Congress,
or any separate political existence whatever, and that the absolute
disarming his men would leave the south powerless, and exposed to
depredations by wicked bands of assassins and robbers.
President Lincoln's message of 1864; his amnesty proclamation;
General Grant's terms to General Lee, substantially extending the
benefits of that proclamation to all officers above the rank of colonel ;
the invitation to the Virginia legislature to reassemble in Richmond
by General Weitzel, with the approval of Mr. Lincoln and General
Grant, then on the spot ; a firm belief that I had been fighting to re
establish the constitution of the United States ; and last, and not
least, the general and universal desire to close a war any longer with
out organized resistance, were the leading facts that induced me to
pen the " memorandum" of April 18, signed by myself and General
Johnston. It was designed to be, and so expressed on its face, as a mere
" basis " for reference to the president of the United States and con
stitutional commander-in-chief, to enable him, if he chose, at one
blow to dissipate the military power of the Confederacy which had
threatened the national safety for years. It admitted of modification,
alteration, and change. It had no appearance of an ultimatum, and
by no false reasoning can it be construed into a usurpation of power
on my part. I have my opinions on the questions involved, and will
stand by the memorandum; but this forms no part of a military
report. Immediately on my return to Raleigh I despatched one of my
staff — Major Hitchcock — to Washington, enjoining him to be most
prudent and careful to avoid the spies and informers that would be
sure to infest him by the way, and to say nothing to anybody, until
the president could make known to me his wishes and policy in the
matter. The news of President Lincoln's assassination on the 14th of April
(wrongly reported to me by telegraph as having occurred on the 11th)
reached me on the 17th, and was announced to my command on the
same day in Special Field Orders, No. 56. I was duly impressed with
its horrible atrocity and probable effect upon the country ; but when
the property and interests of millions still living were involved, I saw
no good reason to change my course, but thought rather to manifest
real respect for his memory, by following, after his death, that policy
which, if living, I feel certain he would have approved, or, at least,
not rejected with disdain. Up to that hour I had never received one
word of instruction, advice, or counsel as to the " plan or policy " of
government, looking to a restoration of peace on the part of the rebel
states of the south. Whenever asked for an opinion on the points
involved, I had always evaded the subject. My letter to the mayor of

vu

404 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
Atlanta has been published to the world, and I was not rebuked by
the war department for it.
My letter to Mr. N  W  , at Savannah, was shown by me to
Mr. Stanton before its publication, and all that my memory retains of
his answer is, that he said, like my letters generally, it was sufficiently
" emphatic, and could not be misunderstood."
But these letters asserted my belief that, according to Mr. Lincoln's
proclamations and messages, when the people of the south had laid
down their arms and submitted to the lawful power of the United
States, ipso facto the war was over as to them ; and, furthermore,
that if any state in rebeUion would conform to the constitution of the
United States, " cease war," elect senators and representatives to Con
gress, if admitted (of which each House of Congress alone is the
'udge), that state became instanter as much in the Union as New
(fork or Ohio. Nor was I rebuked for this expression, though it was
universally known and commented on at the time. And again, Mr.
Stanton in person, at Savannah, speaking of the terrific expenses of
the war, and difficulty of realizing the money necessary for the daily
wants of government, impressed me most forcibly with the necessity
of bringing the war to a close as soon as possible, for financial
reasons. On the evening of April 23, Major Hitchcock reported his return
to Morehead city with despatches, of which fact General Johnston, at
HiUsboro', was notified, so as to be ready in the morning for an
answer. At 6 o'clock A. M. on the 24th, Major Hitchcock arrived,
accompanied by General Grant and members of his staff, who had not
telegraphed the fact of his coming over our exposed road for pru
dential reasons.
I soon learned that the memorandum was disapproved, without
reasons assigned, and I was ordered to give the forty-eight hours'
notice, and resume hostilities at the close of that time, governing
myself by the substance of a despatch then enclosed, dated March 3,
12 noon, at Washington, District of Columbia, from Secretary Stan
ton to General Grant, at City Point, but not accompanied by any part
of the voluminous matter so liberally lavished on the public in the
New York journals of the 24th of April. That was the first and only
time I ever saw that telegram, or had one word of instruction on the
important matter involved in it ; and it does seem strange to me that
every bar-room loafer in New York can read in the' morning journals
" official " matter that is withheld from a general whose command
extends from Kentucky to North Carolina.
Within an hour a courier was riding from Durham's Station towards
HiUsboro', with notice to General Johnston of the suspension of the
truce, and renewing my demand for the surrender of the armies under
his immediate command (see two letters, April 24, 6 A. M.), and at
12 noon, I had the receipt of his picket officer. I therefore published
my Orders, No. 62, to the troops, terminating the truce at 12 M.' on
the 26th, and ordered all to be in readiness to march at that hour on
the routes prescribed in Special Field Order, No. 55, April 14, from
the positions held April 18.

appendix. 405
General Grant had orders from the president, through the secretary
of war, to direct military movements, and I explained to him the
exact position of the troops,, and he approvedof it most emphatically ;
but he did not relieve me, or express a wish to assume command. AU
things were in readiness, wheu, on the evening of the 25th, I received
another letter from General Johnston, asking another interview to
renew negotiations.
General Grant not only approved, but urged me to accept; and I
appointed a meeting at our former place at noon of the 26th, the very
hour fixed for the renewal of hostilities. General Johnston was
delayed by an accident to Iris train, but at 2 P. M. arrived. We then
consulted, concluded, and signed the final terms of capitulation.
These were taken by me back to Raleigh, submitted to General
Grant, and met his immediate approval and signature. General John
ston was not even aware of the presence of General Grant at Raleigh
at the time.
Thus was surrendered to us the second great army of the so-called
Confederacy; and though undue importance has been given to the
so-caUed negotiations which preceded it, and a rebuke and public dis
favor cast on me wholly unwarranted by the facts, I rejoice in saying
it was accomplished without farther ruin and devastation to the coun
try, without the loss of a single life to those gallant men who had
followed me from the Mississippi to the Atlantic, and without sub
jecting brave men to the ungracious task of pursuing a fleeing foe
that did not want to fight. As for myself, I know my motives, and
challenge the instance during the past four years, where an armed and
defiant foe stood before me, that I did not go in for a fight ; and I
would blush for shame if I had ever insulted or struck a fallen foe.
The instant the terms of surrender were approved by General Grant,
I made my Orders, No. 65, assigning to each of my subordinate com
manders his share of the work, and, with General Grant's approval,
made Special Field Orders, No. 66, putting in motion my old army
(no longer required in Carolina) northward for Richmond. General
Grant left Raleigh at 9 A. M. of the 27th, and I glory in the fact that
during his three days' stay with me, I did not detect in his language
or manner one particle of abatement in the confidence, respect, and
affection that have existed between us throughout all the varied events
of the past war ; and, though we have honestly differed in opinion, in
other cases as weU as this, still we respected each other's honest
convictions. I still adhere to my then opinions, that by a few general conces
sions, " glittering generalities," all of which in the end must and will
be conceded to the organized states of the south, that this day there
would not be an armed battalion opposed to us within the broad area
of the dominions of the United States. Robbers and assassins must,
in any event, result from the disbandment of large armies ; but even
these should be, and could be, taken care of by the local civil author
ities, without being made a charge on the national treasury.
On the evening of the 28th, having concluded aU business requiring
toy personal attention at Raleigh, and having conferred with every

406 Sherman's march through the south.
army commander, and delegated to him the authority necessary for
his future action, I despatched my headquarter wagons by land, along
with the 17th corps, the office in charge of General Webster, from
Newbern, to Alexandria, Virginia, by sea, and in person, accompanied
onlyby my personal staff, hastened to Savannah, to direct matters in
the interior of South Carolina and Georgia. I had received across
the rebel telegraph wires cipher despatches from General Wilson, at
Macon, to the effect that he was in receipt of my Orders, No. 65,
and would send General Upton's division to Augusta, and General
McCook's division to TaUahassee, to receive the surrender of those
garrisons, take charge of the public property, and execute the paroles
required by the terms of surrender. He reported a sufficiency of
forage for his horses in South-west Georgia, but asked me to send
him a supply of clothing, sugar, coffee, &c, by way of Augusta,
Georgia, whence he could get it by rail. I therefore went rapidly to
Goldsboro' and Wumington, reaching the latter city at 10 A. M. of
the 29th, and the same day embarked for Hilton Head in the blockade
runner " Russia," Captain A. M. -Smith. I found General Q. A. Gill-
more, commanding department of the south, at Hilton Head, on the
evening of April 30, and ordered him to send to Augusta at once
¦what clothing and small stores he could spare for General Wilson, and
to open up a line of certain communication and supply with him at
Macon. Within an hour the captured steamboats " Jeff Davis " and
" Amazon," both adapted to the shallow and crooked navigation of
the Savannah River, were being loaded, the one at Savannah and the
other at Hilton Head. The former started up the river on the 1st of
May, in charge of a very intelligent officer (whose name I cannot
recall) and forty-eight men, — all the boat could cany, — with orders
to occupy temporarily the United States Arsenal at Augusta, and open
up communication with General Wilson at Macon, in the event that
General McCook's division of cavalry was not already there. The
" Amazon " followed next day, and General Gillmore had made the
necessary orders for a brigade of infantry, to be commanded by Gen
eral Molyneaux, to follow by a land march to Augusta as its permanent
garrison. Another brigade of infantry was ordered to occupy Orange
burg, South Carolina, the point farthest in the interior that can at
present be reached by rail from the sea coast (Charleston).
On the 1st of Mayi went on to Savannah, where General Gillmore
also joined me, and the arrangements ordered for the occupation of
Augusta were consummated.
At Savannah I found the city in the most admirable police, under
direction of Brevet Major General Grover, and the citizens manifested
the most unqualified joy to hear that, so far as they were concerned,
the war was over. All classes, Union men as well as former rebels,
did not conceal, however, the apprehensions naturally arising from a
total ignorance of the political conditions to be attached to their future
state. Anything at all would be preferable to this dread uncertainty.
On the evening of the 2d of May I returned to Hilton Head, and
there, for the first time, received the New York papers of April 28,
containing Secretary Stanton's despatch of 9 A. M. of the 27th of

appendix. 407
April to General Dix, including General Halleck's, from Richmond,
of 9 P. M. of the night before, which seems to have been rushed with
extreme haste before an excited pubUc, namely, morning of the 28th.
You will observe from the dates that these despatches were running
back and forth from Richmond and Washington to New York, and
there published, while General Grant and I were together in Raleigh,
North Carolina, adjusting, to the best of our ability, the terms of
surrender of the only remaining formidable rebel army in existence at
the time east of the Mississippi River. Not one word of intimation had
been sent to me of the displeasure of the government with my official
conduct, but only the naked disapproval of it skeleton memorandum
sent properly for the action of the president of the United States.
The most objectionable features of my memorandum had already
(April 24) been published to the world, in violation of official usage,
and the contents of my accompanying letters to General Halleck,
General Grant, and Mr. Stanton, of even date, though at hand, were
suppressed. In all these letters I had stated clearly and distinctly that John
ston's army would not fight, but, if pushed, would " disband " and
" scatter " into smaU and dangerous guerrilla parties, as injurious to
the interests of the United States as to the rebels themselves ; that
all parties admitted that the rebel cause of the south was abandoned,
that the negro was free, and that the temper of all was most favorable
to a lasting peace. I say all these opinions of mine were withheld
from the public with a seeming purpose ; -and I do contend that my
official experience and former services, as well as .my past life and
familiarity with the people and geography of the south, entitled my
opinions to at least a decent respect.
Although this despatch (Mr. Stanton's of April 27) was printed
" official," it had come to me only in the questionable newspaper para
graph headed, " Sherman's Truce Disregarded."
I had already done what General Wilson wanted me to do, namely,
had sent him supplies of clothing and food, with clear and distinct
orders and instructions how to carry out, in Western Georgia, the
terms for the surrender of arms and paroling of prisoners, made by
General Johnston's capitulation of April 26, and had properly and
most opportunely ordered General Gillmore to occupy Orangeburg
and Augusta, strategic points of great value at all times, in peace or
war ; but, as the secretary had taken upon himself to order my sub
ordinate generals to disobey my " orders," I explained to General
Gillmore that I would no longer confuse him or General Wilson with
"orders" that might conflict with those ofthe secretary, which, as
reported, were sent, not through me, but in open disregard of me and
of my lawful authority.
It now becomes my duty to paint in justly severe character the still
more offensive and dangerous matter of General Halleck's despatch
of April 26 to the secretary of war, embodied in his to General Dix of
April 27.
General HaUeck had been chief of staff of the army at Washington,
in which capacity he must have received my official letter of April 18,

408 Sherman's march through the south.
wherein I wrote clearly that if Johnston's army about Greensboro' were
" pushed," it would " disperse " — an event I wished to prevent. About
that time he seems to have been sent from Washington to Richmond to
command the new military division of the James, in assuming charge of
which, on the 22d, he defines the Unfits of his authority to be the " de
partment of Virginia, the army of the Potomac, and such part of North
Carolina as may not be occupied by the command of Major General
Sherman." (See his General Orders, No. 1.) Four days later, April
26, he reports to the secretary that he has ordered Generals Meade,
Sheridan, and Wright to invade that part of North Carolina which was
occupied by my command, and pay " no regard to any truce or orders
of" mine. They were ordered to "push forward, regardless of any
orders save those of Lieutenant General Grant, and cut off Johnston's
retreat." He knew at the time he penned that despatch and made those
orders that Johnston was not retreating, but was halted under a forty-
eight hours' truce with me, and was laboring to surrender his command
and prevent its dispersion into guerrilla bands, and that I had on the spot
a magnificent army at my, command, amply sufficient for aU purposes
required by the occasion.
The plan for cutting off a retreat from the direction of Burkesville
and Danville is hardly worthy one of his military education and genius.
When he, contemplated an act so questionable as tlie violation of a
" truce " made by competent authority within his sphere of command,
he should have gone himself, and not have sent subordinates, for he
knew I was bound in honor to defend and maintain my own truce and
pledge of faith, even at the cost of many lives.
When an officer pledges the faith of his goverment, he is bound to
defend it ; and he is no soldier who would violate it knowingly.
As to Davis and his stolen treasure, did General Halleck, as chief of
staff or commanding officer of the neighboring military division, notify
me of the facts contained in his despatch to the secretary ? No, he did
not. If the secretary of war wanted Davis caught, why not order it,
instead of, by publishing in the newspapers, putting him on his guard
to hide away and escape ? No orders or instructions to catch Davis or
his stolen treasure ever came to me ; but, on the contrary, I was led to
believe that the secretary of war rather preferred he should effect an
escape from the country, if made " unknown " to him. But even on
.this point I enclose a copy of my letter to Admiral Dahlgren, at Charles
ton, sent him by a fleet steamer from Wilmington on the 25th of April,
two days before the bankers of Richmond had imparted to General Hal
leck the important secret as to Davis's movement, designed, doubtless,
to stimulate his troops to march their legs off to catch their treasure for
their own use.
I know now that Admiral Dahlgren did receive my letter on the
26th, and had acted on it before General Halleck had even thought of
the matter ; but I do not beheve a word of the treasure story, — it is
absurd on its face, — and General Halleck or anybody has my full per
mission to chase Jeff Davis and cabinet with their stolen treasure
through any part of the country occupied by my command.
The last and most obnoxious feature of General Halleck's despatch is

appendix. 409
wherein he goes out of his way, and advises that my subordinates,
Generals Thomas, Stoneman, and Wilson, should be instructed not to
obey " Sherman's " commands.
This is too much; and I turn from the subject with feelings too
strong for words, and merely record my belief that so much mischief
was never before embraced in so small a space as in the newspaper
paragraph headed " Sherman's Truce Disregarded," authenticated as
" official" by Mr. Secretary Stanton, and published in the New York
papers of April 28.
During the night of May 2, at HUton Head, having concluded my
business in the department of the south, I began my return to meet
my troops then marching towards Richmond from Raleigh. On the
morning of the 3d we ran into Charleston Harbor, where I had the
pleasure, to meet Admiral Dahlgren, who had, in all my previous
operations from Savannah northward, aided me with a courtesy and
manliness that commanded my entire respect and deep affection ;
also General Hatch, who, from our first interview at his Tullifinney
camp, had caught the spirit of the move from PocotaUgo northward,
and had largely contributed to our joint success in taking Charleston
and the Carolina coast. Any one who is not satisfied with war should
go and see Charleston, and he will pray louder and deeper than ever
that the country may in the long future be spared any more war.
Charleston and secession Tbeing synonymous terms, the city should be
left as a sample, so that centuries may pass away before that false
doctrine is again preached in our Union.
We left Charleston on the evening of the 3d of May, and hastened
with all possible speed back to Morehead city, which we reached at
night of the 4th. I immediately communicated by telegraph with
General Schofield at Raleigh, and learned from him the pleasing fact
that the Ueutenant general commanding the armies of the United
States had reached the Chesapeake in time to countermand General
Halleck's orders, and prevent his violating my truce, invading the
area of my command, and driving Johnston's surrendering army into
fragments. General Johnston had fulfilled his agreement to the very
best of his ability ; and the officers charged with issuing the paroles at
Greensboro' reported about thirty thousand (30,000) already made,
and that the greater part of the North Carolina troops had gone home
without waiting for their papers, but that all of them would doubtless
come into some one of the military posts, the commanders of which are
authorized to grant them. About eight hundred (800) of the rebel
cavalry had gone south, refusing to abide the terms of the surrender,
and it was supposed they would make for Mexico. I would sincerely
advise that they be encouraged to go and stay; they would be a
nuisance to any civilized government, whether loose or in prison.
With the exception ot some plundering on the part of Lee's, and
Johnston's disbanded men, all else in North Carolina was " quiet."
When to the number of men surrendered at Greensboro' are added
those at Tallahassee, Augusta, and Macon, with the scattered squads
who wiU come in at other military posts, I have no doubt fifty thousand
(50,000) armed men wiU be disarmed and restored to civU pursuits by
85

410 Sherman's march through the south.
the capitulation made near Durham's Station, North CaroUna, on the
26th of April, and that, too, without the loss of a single life to us.
On the 5th of May I received, and here subjoin, a further despatch
from General Schofield, which contains inquiries I have been unable to
satisfy, similar to those made by nearly every officer in my command
whose duty brings him in contact with citizens. I leave you to do
what you think expedient to provide the mUitary remedy.
By Telegraph from Raleigh, N. C, May 5, 1865,
To Major General W. T. SHEHaiAir, Morehead City.
When General Grant was here, as you doubtless recollect, he said
the lines had been extended to embrace this and other states south.
The order, it seems, has been' modified so as to include only Virginia
and Tennessee. I think it would be an act of wisdom to open this
state to trade at once. I hope the government wiU make known its
pohcy as the organ of state governments without delay. Affairs must
necessarily be in a very unsettled state until that is done ; the people
are now in a mood to accept almost anything •which promises a definite
settlement. What is to be done with the freedmen, is the question of aU, and is
the all-important question. It requires prompt and wise action to
prevent the negro from becominga huge elephant on our hands. If I
am to govern this state, it is important for me to know it at once. If
another is to be sent here, it cannot be done too soon ; for he wiU
probably undo the most that I shaU have done. I shall be glad to hear
from you freely when you have time to write.
I will send your message to Wilson at once.
J. M. Schofield, Major General.
I give this despatch entire, to demonstrate how intermingled have
become civil matters with the mUitary, and how almost impossible it
has become for an officer in authority to act a pure military part.
There are no longer armed enemies in North Carolina, and a soldier
can deal with no other sort. The marshals and sheriffs with their
posses (of which the mUitary may become a part) are the only proper
officers to deal with civil criminals and marauders. But I will not be '
drawn out in a discussion of this subject, but instance the case to show
how difficult is the task become to military officers, when men of the
rank, education, experience, nerve, and good sense of General Schofield
feel embarrassed by them.
General Schofield, at Raleigh, has a weU-appointed and well-disciplined
command, is in telegraphic communication with the controUing parts of
his department, and remote ones in the direction of Georgia, as well as
with Washington, and has military possession of aU strategic points.
In like manner, General Gillmore is well situated in all respects,
except as to rapid communication with the seat of the general govern
ment. I leave him also with every man he ever asked for, and in full
and quiet possession of every strategic point in his department ; and
General Wilson has, in the very heart of Georgia, the strongest, best
appointed, and best equipped cavalry corps that ever fell under my

APPENDIX. 411
command; and he has now, by my recent action, opened to him a
source and route of supply by way of Savannah River that simplifies
his military problem, so that I think I may with a clear conscience
leave them and turn my attention once more to my special command —
the army with which I have been associated through some of the most
eventful scenes of this or any war.
I hope and believe none of these commanders will ever have reason
to reproach me for any "orders" they may have received from me;
and the president of the United States may be assured that all of them
are in position, ready and willing to execute to the letter and in spirit
any orders he may give. I shall henceforth cease to give them any
orders at all, for the occasion that made them subordinate to me is
past ; and I shaU confine my attention to the army composed of the
15th and 17th, the 14th and 20th corps, unless the commanding general
of the armies of the United States orders otherwise.
At 4 P. M. of May 9 I reached Manchester, on the James River,
opposite Richmond, and found that aU the four corps had arrived from
Raleigh, and were engaged in replenishing their wagons for the
resumption of the march towards Alexandria.
I have the honor to be your obedient servant,
W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
General John A. Rawlins, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C
Q. Did you have, near Fortress Monroe, a conference with President
Lincoln, and if so, about what time ? A. I met General Grant and Mr.
Lincoln on board a steamboat lying at the wharf at City Point, and
during the evening of the 27th of March ; I resumed my visit to the
president on board the same steamer anchored in the stream on the
following day, General Grant being present on both occasions.
Q. In those conferences was any arrangement made with you and
General Grant, or either of you, in regard to the manner of arranging
business with the Confederacy in regard to the terms of peace ? A.
Nothing definite ; it was simply a matter of general conversation ;
nothing specific and definite.
Q. At what time did you learn that President Lincoln had assented
to the assembling of the Virginia rebel legislature ? A. I knew of
it on the 18th of April, I think ; but I procured a paper with the spe
cific order of General Weitzel, also a copy of the amnesty proclamation
on the 20th of April.
Q. You did not know at that time that that arrangement had been
rescinded by the president ? A. No, sir ; I did not know that until
afterwards ; the moment I heard of that I notified General Johnston
of it.
Q. Then at the time you entered into this arrangement with General
Johnston, you knew that General Weitzel had approved of the caUing

412 Sherman's march through the south.
together of the rebel legislature of Virginia by the assent of the presi
dent ? A. I knew of it by some source unofficially ; I succeeded in
getting a copy of the paper containing General Weitzel's order on the
20th or 21st of April.
Q. But at the time of your arrangement you did not know that that
order had been rescinded? A. No, sir; I learned that several days
afterwards, and at once sent word to General Johnston.
Q. At the time of your arrangement you also knew of the surrender
of Lee's army, and the terms of that surrender ? A. I had that officially
from General Grant ; I got that at Smithfield on the 12th of April.
Q. I have what purports to be a letter from you to Johnston, which
seems to imply that you intended to make the arrangement on the terms
of Lee's surrender. The letter is as follows : —
Headquarters. Division of the Mississippi, in the Field, j
Raleigh, N. C, April 14, 1865. j
General J. E. Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army.
General: I have this moment received your communication of
this date. I am fully empowered to arrange with you any time for the
suspension of further hostilities as between the armies commanded by
myself, and will be willing to confer with you to that end. I wiU limit
the advance of my main column to-morrow to Morristown, and the
cavalry to the University, and I expect you will maintain the present
position of your forces until each has notice of a failure to agree.
Thus a basis of action may be had. I undertake to abide by the
same terms and conditions as were made by Generals Grant and Lee
at Appomattox Court-house, of the 9th instant, relative to the two
armies, and, furthermore, to obtain from General Grant an order to
suspend the movements of any troops from the direction of Virginia.
General Stoneman is under my command, and my orders will suspend
any devastation or destruction contemplated by him. I wiU add that
I really desire to save the people of North CaroUna the damage they
would sustain by the march of this army through the central or western
parts of the state.
I am, with respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. Sherman, Major General.
A. Those were the terms as to his own army, but the concessions I
made him were for the purpose of embracing other armies.
Q. And the writings you signed were to include other armies ? A.
The armies of Kirby Smith and Dick Taylor, so that afterwards no man
within the limits of the southern Confederacy could claim to belong to
any Confederate army iu existence.
Q. The president addressed a note to General Grant, perhaps not to
you, to the effect of forbidding officers of the army from entering into

APPENDIX. 413 -I
anything but strictly military arrangements, leaving civil matters en
tirely to him ? A. I never saw such a note signed by President Lincoln;
Mr. Stanton made such a note or telegram, and says it was by President
Lincoln's dictation ; he made it to General Grant, but never to me ; on
the contrary, while I was in Georgia, Mr. Lincoln telegraphed to me,
encouraging me to discuss matters with Governor Brown and Mr.
Stephens. Q. Then you had no notice of that order to General Grant ? A. I
had no knowledge of it, official or otherwise.
Q. In the published report of your agreement there is nothing about
slavery, I believe ? A. There was nothing said about slavery, because
it did not faU within the category of military questions, and we could
not make it so. It was' a legal question, which the president had dis
posed of, overriding all our actions. We "had to treat the slave as
free, because the president, our commander-in-chief, said he was free.
For me to have renewed the question when that decision was made,
would have involved the absurdity of an inferior undertaking to qualify
the work of his superior.
Q. That was the reason why it was not mentioned ? A. Yes, sir ;
subsequently I wrote a note to Johnston, stating that I thought it
would be well to mention it for political effect when we came to draw
up the final terms with precision ; that note was written pending the
time my memorandum was going to Washington, and before an answer
had been returned.
Q. At the time you entered into those negotiations, was Johnston in
a condition to offer any effectual resistance to your army ? A. He could
not have resisted my army an hour if I could have got hold of him ; but
he could have escaped from me by breaking up into small parties, or by
taking the country roads, travelling faster than any army with trains
could have pursued.
Q. Then your object in negotiating was to keep his army from scatter
ing into guerrilla bands ? A. That was my chief object ; I so officially
notified the war department.
Q. And not because there was any doubt about the result of a bat
tle ? A. There was no question as to the result of a battle, and I knew
it; every soldier knew it ; Johnston said, in the first five minutes of our
conversation, that any further resistance on his part would be an act of
folly, and all he wanted was to keep his army from dispersing.
By Mr. Loan. — Q. In your examination by the chairman you stated
that you were acting in pursuance of instructions from Mr. Lincoln,
derived from his letters and telegrams at various times ? A. Yes, sir.
35*

414 Sherman's march through the south.
Q. Have you any of these letters and telegrams which you can fur
nish to the committee ? A. I can furnish you a copy of a despatch to
General Halleck from Atlanta, in which I stated that I had invited
Governor Brown and Vice President Stephens to meet us, and I can
give you a copy of Mr. Lincoln's answer, for my despatch was referred
to him, in which he said he felt much interested in my despatch, and
encouraged me to allow their visit ; but the letter to which I referred
specifically was a longer letter, which I wrote to General HaUeck from
my camp on Big Black, Mississippi, at General Halleck's instigation,
in September, 1863, which was received in Washington, and submitted
to Mr. Lincoln, who desired to have it published, to which I would not
consent ; in that letter I gave my opinions fully and frankly, not only
upon the military situation, but also the civil policy necessary ; Mr.
Lincoln expressed himself highly pleased with my views, and desired
to make them public, but I preferred not to do so.
Q. And by subsequent acts he induced you to believe he approved
of these views ? A. I know he approved of them, and always encour
aged me to carry out those views.
By the Chairman. — Q. The following is a letter published in the
newspapers, purporting to have been addressed by you to Johnston,
dated April 21, 1865: —
Headquarters of the Military Division of the Mississippi, 1
in the Field, Raleigh, N. C, April 21, 1865. j
General J. Ei Johnston, Commanding Confederate Army.
General: I send you a letter for General Wilson, which, if sent
by telegraph and courier, will check his career. He may mistrust the
telegraph ; therefore better send the original, for he cannot mistake my
handwriting, with which he is familiar. He seems to have his blood
up, and will be hard to hold. If he can buy corn, fodder, and rations
down about Fort Valley, it will obviate the necessity of his going up to
Rome or Daiton.
It is reported to me from Cairo that Mobile is in our possession ;. but
it is not minute or official.
General Baker sent in to me, wanting to surrender his command, on
the theory that the whole Confederate army was surrendered. I ex
plained to him, or his staff officer, the exact truth, and left him to act
as he thought proper. He seems to have disbanded his men, deposited
a few arms about twenty miles from here, and himself awaits your ac
tion. I will not hold him, his men, or arms, subject to any condition
other than the final one we may agree upon.
I shall look for Major Hitchcock back from Washington on Wednes
day, and shall promptly notify you of the result. By the action of
General Weitzel in relation to the Virginia legislature, I feel certain we
will have no trouble on the score of recognizing existing state govern-

APPENDIX. 415
ments. It may be the lawyers will want us to define more minutely
what is meant by the guaranty of rights of persons and property. It
may be construed into a compact for us to undo the past as to the
rights of slaves and leases of plantations on the Mississippi of vacant
and abandoned plantations. I wish you would talk to the best men
you have on these points, and, if possible, let us, in our final conven
tion, make these points so clear as to leave no room for angry contro
versy. I believe if the south would simply and publicly declare, what
we feel, that slavery is dead, that you would inaugurate an era of peace
and prosperity that would soon efface the ravages of the past four years
of war. Negroes would remain in the south, and afford you abundance
of cheap labor, which otherwise will be driven away ; and it will save
the country the senseless discussions which have kept us aU in hot
water for fifty years.
Although, strictly, this is no subject for a mUitary convention, yet I
am honestly convinced that our simple declarations of a result will be
accepted as good law everywhere. Of course, I have not a single word
from Washington on this or any other point of our agreement ; but I
know the effect of such a step by us will be universally accepted.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. Sherman, Major General XJ. S. A.
Q,. This is the letter in which you say that it would be well to declare
publicly that slavery is dead ? A. Yes, sir, that is the letter.
By Mr. Loan. — Q. WUl you furnish the committee a copy of the
letter written by you to Mr. Stanton in January last from Savannah ?
A. I will do so.
Mr. Chairman. — And when the manuscript of your testimony is pre
pared it wiU be remitted to you for revision, and you can add to it any
statement or papers that you may subsequently desire or consider
necessary. I have the above, and now subjoin copies of letters from my letter-
book in the order of the bringing in the questions revised by this
inquiry. Headquarters Middle Department of the Mississippi, )
in the Field, Raleigh, N. C, April 18, 1865. j
Lieutenant General U. S. Gkant, or Major General Halleck, Washington, D. C.
General : I enclose herewith a copy of an agreement made this
day between General Joseph E. Johnston and myself, which, if ap
proved by the president of the United States, will produce peace from
the Potomac to the Rio Grande. Mr. Breckinridge was present at the
conference in the capacity of major general, and satisfied me of the
ability of General Johnston to carry out to the full extent the terms
of this agreement ; and if you will get the president to simply indorse
the copy and commission me to carry out the terms, I will follow them
to the conclusion. You wiU observe that it is an absolute submission
of the enemy to the lawful authorities of the United States, and dis-

416 Sherman's march through the south.
poses his army absolutely ; and the point to which I attach most impor
tance is, that the disposition and dispersement of the armies is done in
such a manner as to prevent them breaking up into a guerrilla crew.
On the other hand, we can retain just as much of an army as we please.
I agree to the mode and manner of the surrender of armies set forth,
as, they give the state the means of suppressing guerrillas, which we
could not expect to do if we strip them of all armies.
Both Generals Johnston and Breckinridge admitted that slavery was
dead, and I could not insist in embracing it in such a paper, because it
can be made with the states in detail. I know that aU the men of sub
stance in the south sincerely want peace, and I do not believe they will
resort to war again during this century. I have no doubt but that they
will, in the future, be perfectly subordinate to the laws of the United
States. The moment my action in this matter is approved, I can spare
five corps, and will ask for', and have, General Schofield here with the
10th corps, and go myself, with the 14th, 15th, 17th,. 20th, and 23d
corps, via Burkesville and Gordonsville, to Frederick or Hagerstown,
there to be paid, and mustered out.
The question of finance is now the chief one, and every soldier and
officer not needed, to go home at work. I would like to be able to
begin the march north by May 1.
I urge on the part of the president speedy action, as it is important
to get the Confederate armies to their homes, as weU as our own.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
Headquarters Middle Department of the Mississippi, \
in the Field, Raleigh, N. C, April 18, 1865. j
General H. VT. Halleck, Chief of Staff, Washington, D. C
General : I received your despatch describing the man Clark detaUed
to assassinate me. He had better be in a hurry, or he wiU be too
late. The news of Mr. Lincoln's death produced a most intense
effect on our troops. At first I feared it would lead to excesses, but
now it has softened down, and can easily be quieted. None evince
more feeling than General Johnston, who admitted that the act was
calculated to stain his cause with a dark hue, and he contended that
the loss was most severe to the south, who had begun to realize that
Mr. Lincoln was the best friend the south had.
I cannot believe that even Mr. Davis was privy to the diabolical
plot, but think it the emanation of a lot of young men ofthe south, who
are very devils. I want to throw upon the south the care of this class
of men, who will soon be as obnoxious to their industrious class as
to us.
Had I pushed Johnston's army to an extremity, it would have dis
persed and done infinite mischief. Johnston informed me that General
Stoneman had been at Salisbury, and was now about StatesviUe. I
have sent him orders to come to me.
General Johnston also informed me that General Wilson was at
Columbus, Georgia, and he wanted me to arrest bis progress. I leave

APPENDIX. 417
that to you.' Indeed, if the president sanctions my agreement with
Johnston, our interest is to cease all destruction. Please give all
orders necessary according to the views the executive may take, and
inform him, if possible, not to vary the terms at all, for I have con
sidered everything, and believe that the Confederate armies are dis
persed. We can adjust all else fairly and well.
I am yours, &c,
W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
Lest confusion should result to the mind of the committee by the
"latter part of the above letter, I state it was addressed to General
Halleck as chief of staff, when he was in the proper " line of order "
to the commander-in-chief. The whole case changed when, on the
26th of April, he became the commander of the separate division of
the James.
As stated in my testimony, General Grant reached Raleigh on the
24th ; and on the 25th, on the supposition that I would start next day
to chase Johnston's army, I wrote him the following letter, delivered in
person : — Headquarters Department of the Mississippi, In the Field, \
Raleigh, N. C, April 25, 1865. j
Lieutenant General U. S. Gkant, — Fresent.
General: I received your letter of April 21, with enclosures, yes
terday, and was well pleased that you came along, as you must have
observed that I held the military control, so as to adapt it to any phase
the case might assume.
It is but just that I should record the fact that I made my terms
with General Johnston under the influence of the liberal terms you
extended to the army of General Lee, at Appomattox Court-house, on
the 9th, and the seeming policy of our government as evinced by the
call of the Virginia legislature and governor back to Richmond under
your and President>Lincoln's very eyes. It now appears this last act
was done without any consultation with you or any knowledge of Mr.
Lincoln, But, rather, in opposition to a previous policy weU considered.
I have not the least desire to interfere in the civil policy of our gov
ernment, but would shun it as something not to my liking ; but occa
sions arise when a prompt seizure of results is forced on military
commanders not in immediate communication with the proper author
ity. It is possible that the terms signed by General Johnston and
myself were not clear enough on the point well understood between us —
that our negotiations did not apply to any parties outside the officers
and men of the Confederate armies, which could easily have been
remedied. No surrender of any army not actually at the mercy of the antago
nist was ever made without " terms," and those always define the mili
tary status of the surrendered. Thus you stipulated that the officers
and men of Lee's army should not be molested at their homes so long

418 Sherman's march through the south.
as they obeyed the laws at the place of their residence. I do not wish
to discuss these points involved in our recognition of the state govern
ments in actual existence, but will merely state my conclusion, to await
the solution of the future.
Such action on one point in no manner recognizes for a moment the
so-called Confederate government, or makes us liable for its debts or
acts. The laws and acts done by the several states during the period
of rebellion are void, because done without the oath prescribed by our
constitution of the United States, which is a condition precedent. We
have a right to use any sort of machinery to produce mUitary results,
and it is the commonest thing for military commanders to use the civil
government in actual existence as a means to an end. I do believe we
could and can use the present state governments lawfully, constitu
tionally, and as the very best possible means to produce the object
desired, viz., entire and complete submission to the lawful authority of
the United States.
As to the pumshment of past crimes, that is for the judiciary, and
can in no manner or way be disturbed by our acts ; and, so far as I
can, I will use my influence, that rebels shaU suffer aU the personal
punishment provided by law, as also the civil Uabilities accruing from
this past act.
What we now want is the new form of law, by which common men
may regain their position of industry, so long disturbed by the war.
I now apprehend that the rebel army will disperse ; and, instead of
dealing with six or seven states, we will have to deal with numberless
bands of desperadoes, headed by such men as Mosby, Forrest, Red
Jackson, and others who know not and care not for danger and its
consequences. I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. Sherman, Major General.
On the same day I wrote and maUed to the secretary of war the
foUowing : — Headquarters Middle Division of the Mississippi, j
in the Field, Raleigh, N. C, April 25, 1865. J
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington.
Dear Sir : I have been furnished a copy of your letter of April
21, to General Grant, signifying your disapprobation of the terms on
which General Johnston proposed to disarm and disperse the insurgents
on condition of amnesty, &c. I admit my folly in embracing in a mil
itary convention any civil matter ; but unfortunately, such is the nature
of our situation that they seem inextricably united ; and I understood
from you at Savannah that the financial state of the country demanded
military success, and would warrant a little leaning to policy.
When I had my conference with General Johnston, I had the public
example before me of General Grant's terms to Lee's army, and Gen
eral Weitzel's invitation to the Virginia legislature to assemble. I
still believe that the general government of the United States has made
a mistake ; but that is none of my business. Mine is a different task,

APPENDIX. 419
and I had flattered myself that, by four years of patient, and unremit
ting, and successful labor, I deserved no reminder such as is contained
in the last paragraph of your letter to General Grant.
You may assure the president that I heed his suggestion.
I am truly, &c,
W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
The last sentence refers to the fact that General Grant had been
sent to Raleigh to direct mUitary movements. That was the first time
in my life I had ever had a word of reproof from the government of
the United States, and. I was naturally sensitive. But aU I said to
any one was to General Meigs, who came with General Grant : " It
was not kind on the part of Mr. Secretary Stanton." The fact known
did not justify my military conduct. The first interview with General
Johnston followed, and the terms of capitulation were agreed upon
and signed, and General Grant started for Washington bearing the news.
When, on the 28th of April, I received in the New York Times the
most extraordinary budget of Mr. Stanton, which for the first time
startled me, I wrote to General Grant this letter : —
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, 1
in the Field, April 28, 1865. /
Lieutenant General U. S. Grant, General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C
General : Since you left me yesterday, I have seen the New York
Times of the 24th instant, containing a budget of military ftews, au
thenticated by the signature of the secretary of war, which is grouped
in such a way as to give very erroneous impressions. It embraces a
copy of the basis of agreement between myself and General Johnston
of April 18, with commentaries which it will be time enough to dis
cuss two or three years hence, after the government has experimented
a little more in the machinery by which power reaches the scattered
people of the vast country known as the south. But, in the mean
time, I do think that my rank (if not past services) entitled me at least
to the respect of keeping secret what was known to none but the cab
inet until further inquiry comes to be made, instead of giving publicity
to documents I never saw, and drawing inferences wide of the truth.
I never saw, or had furnished me, a copy of Mr. Stanton's despatch
to you of the 3d of March, nor did Mr. Stanton or any human being
ever convey to me its substance, or anything Jike it ; but, on the con
trary, I had seen General Weitzel in relation to thp Virginia legisla
ture made in Mr. Lincoln's very person, and had failed to discover any
other official hints of a plan of reconstruction, pr any idea calculated
to allay the fears of the people of the south after the destruction of
their armies and civU authorities would leave them without any gov
ernment at all,
We should not drive a people to anarchy, and it is simply impossible
for one miUtary power to waste att the masses of this unhappy country.

420 Sherman's march through the south.
I confess I did not want to drive General Johnston's army into the
hands of armed men going about without purpose, and capable only of
indefinite mischief.
But you saw, on your arrival at Raleigk, that I had my armies so dis
posed that his escape was only possible in a disorganized shape ; and
as you did not choose to direct military operations in this quarter, I
infer that you were satisfied with the military situation.
At all events, the moment I learned — what was proper enough —
the disapproval of the president, I wished in such manner to compel
the surrender of Johnston's whole army on the same terms you had
prescribed to General Lee's army when you had it surrounded and in
your absolute power.
Mr. Stanton, in stating that my order to General Stoneman was
likely to result in the escape of " Mr. Davis to Mexico or Europe," is
in deep error.
General Stoneman was not at Salisbury then, but had gone back to
Statesville. Davis was supposed to be between us, and Stoneman was
beyond him.
By turning towards me, he was approaching Davis ; and had he
joined me as ordered, I then would have had a mounted force needed
for that and other purposes. But even now I do not know that Mr.
Stanton wants Davis caught. And as my official ipapers, deemed sa
cred, are hastily pubUshed to the world, it will be imprudent for me to
state what has been done in this respect.
As the editor of the Times has (it may be logicaUy and fairly) drawn
the inference from this singular document that I am insubordinate, I
can only deny the intention. I have never in my life questioned or
disobeyed an order, though many and many a time have I risked my
life, my health, and reputation in obeying orders, or even hints, to ex
ecute plans and purposes not to my liking. It is not fair to withhold
from me plans and policy (if any there be), and expect me to guess at
them ; for facts and events appear quite different" from different stand
points. For four years I nave been in camp dealing with soldiers ;
and I can assure you that the conclusion at which the cabinet arrived
with such singular unanimity differs from mine. I conferred freely
with the best officers in this army as to the points involved in this
controversy ; and, strange to say, they were singularly unanimous in
the other conclusion ; and they will learn with pain and sorrow that I
am deemed insubordinate, and wanting in common sense ; that I, who
have labored day and night, winter and summer, for four years, and
have brought an army of seventy thousand men in magnificent con
dition across a country deemed impassable, and placed it just where it
was wanted almost on the day appointed, have brought discredit on
the government,
I do not wish to boast of this ; but I do say that it entitled me to the
courtesy of being consulted before publishing to the world a proposi
tion rightfully submitted to higher authority for adjudication, and then
accompanied by statements which invited the press to be let loose on me.
It is true that non-combatants — men who sleep in comfort and
security while we watch on the distant lines -^ are better able tq judge

APPENDIX. 421
than we poor soldiers, who rarely see a newspaper, hardly can hear
from our families, or stop long enough to get our pay. I envy not the
task of reconstruction, and am delighted that the secretary has re
lieved me of it.
As you did not undertake to assume the management of the affairs
of this army, I infer that on personal inspection your mind arrived at
a different conclusion from that of Mr. Secretary Stanton. I will
therefore go on and execute your orders to the conclusion, and when
done will, with intense satisfaction, leave to the civU authorities the
execution of the task of which they seem to me so jealous ; but as an
honest man and soldier, I invite them to foUow my path; for they
may see some things and hear some things that may disturb then- phi
losophy. With sincere respect, W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
P. S. As Mr. Stanton's singular paper has been published, I de
mand that this also be made public; though I am in no manner
responsible to the press, but to the law and my proper superiors.
W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
Since my arrival at Washington I have learned from General Grant
that this letter was received, but he preferred to withhold it until my
arrival, as he knew I was making towards Washington with my army.
Upon my arrival I did not insist on its publication till it was drawn out
by this inquiry. I also append here the copy of a letter from Colonel
T. S. Bowers, A. A. G., asking me to modify my report tis to the point
of violating my truce, with my answer.
Headquarters Armies of the United States, )
Washington, May 25, 1865. j
Major General W. T. Sherman, Commanding Middle Division of the Mississippi.
General Grant directed me to call your attention to the part of your
report in which the necessity of maintaining your truce at the expense
of many fives is spoken of. The general thinks that in making a
truce the commander of an army can control only his own army, and
that the hostile general must make his own arrangements with other
armies acting against him.
While independent generals, acting against a common foe, would
naturally act in concert, the general claims that each must be the judge
of his own duty, and responsible for its execution.
If you should wish, the report will be returned for any change you
deem best.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
T. S. Bowers, Assistant Adjutant General.
36

422 Sherman's march through the south.
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, j
Washington, D. C, May 20, 1865. j
Colonel T. S. Bowers, Assistant Adjutant General, Washington, D. C.
Colonel : I had the honor to receive your letter of May 25 last
evening, and I hasten to answer. I wish -to precede it by renewing
the assurance of my entire confidence and respect for the president
and Lieutenant General Grant, and that in all matters I will be most
willing to shape my official and private conduct to suit their wishes.
The past is beyond my control, and the matters embraced in the
official report to which you refer are finished. It is but just the rea
sons that actuated me, right or wrong, should stand on record ; but in
all future cases, should any arise, I wiU respect the decisions of General
Grant, though I think them wrong.
Suppose a guard has prisoners in charge, and officers of another
command should aim to rescue or kill them ; is it not clear the guard
must defend the prisoners as a safeguard ? So jealous is the military
law to protect and maintain good faith when pledged, that the law
adjudges death, and no alternative punishment, to one who violates a
safeguard in foreign ports. (See Articles of War, No. 55.) For mur
der, arson, treason, and the highest military crimes, the punishment
prescribed by law is death or some minor pumshment ; but for the
violation of a " safeguard," death, and death alone, is the prescribed
penalty. I instance this to illustrate how, in military stipulations to
an enemy, our government commands and enforces " good faith." In
discussing this matter I would like to refer to many writers on military
law, but am willing to take Halleck as the text. (See his chapter, No.
xxvii.) In the very first article he states that good faith should always be
observed between enemies in war, because, when our faith has been
pledged to him, so far as the promise extends, he ceases to be an ene
my. He then defines the meaning of compacts and conventions, and.
says they are made sometimes for a general or a partial suspension of
hostilities, for the " surrender of an army," &c. They may be special,
limited to particular places or to particular forces, but, of course, can
only bind the armies subject to the general who makes the truce, and
co-extensive only with the extent of his command. This is all I ever
claimed, and it clearly covers the whole case : all of North Carolina
was in my immediate command, with General Schofield, its, department
commander, and his army present with me. I never asked tho truce
to have effect beyond my own territorial command. General Halleck
himself, in his Order No. 1, defines his own limits clearly enough, viz.,
" Such part of North Carolina as was not occupied by the command
of Major General Sherman." He could not pursue and cut off John
ston's retreat towards Salisbury and Charlotte without invading my
command ; and so patent was his purpose to defy and violate my truce,
that Mr. Stanton's publication of the fact, not even yet recalled, mod
ified, or explained, was headed " Sherman's Truce Disregarded;" and
the whole world drew but one inference, — it admits of no other. I
never claimed that that truce bound Generals Halleck or Canby within
the sphere of their respective commands, as defined by themselves.

APPENDIX. 423
It was a partial truce of very short duration, clearly "within my limits
and right, justified by events, and, as in the case of prisoners in my
custody, or the violation of a safeguard given by me in my own terri
torial limits, I am bound to maintain good faith. I prefer not to
change my report, but again repeat that in all future cases I am willing
to be gpverned by the interpretation of General Grant, although I
again invite his attention to the limits of my command, and those of
General Halleck at the time, and the pointed phraseology of General
Halleck's despatch to Mr. Stanton, wherein he reports that he had
ordered his generals to pay no heed to my orders within the clearly
defined area of my command.
I am yours, W. T. Sherman, Major General U. S. A. Commanding.
I now add the two letters written to Mr. Stanton at Savannah, and
the despatch from Atlanta mentioned in the body of my testimony,
with Mr. Lincoln's answer : —
Headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, )
in the Field, Savannah, January 2, 1865. j
Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C.
Sir : I have just received from Lieutenant General Grant a copy of
that part of your telegram to him of 26th December, relating to cot
ton, a copy of which has been immediately furnished to General Eaton,
my chief quartermaster, who will be strictly governed by it.
I had already been approached by all the consuls and half the people
of Savannah on this cotton question, and my invariable answer has
been, that all the cotton in Savannah was prize of war, and belonged to
the United States, and nobody should recover a bale of it with my
consent ; and that as cotton had been one of the chief causes of this
war, it should help pay its expenses ; that all cotton became tainted
with treason from the hour the first act of hostility was committed
against the United States, some time in December, 1860, and that no
bill of sale subsequent to that date could convey title.
My orders were, that an officer of the quartermaster's department
U. S. A. might furnish the holder, agent, or attorney a mere certificate
of the fact of seizure, with description of the bales, marks, &c, the
cotton then to be turned over to the agent of the treasury department,
to be shipped to New York for sale ; but since the receipt of your
despatch I have ordered General Eaton to make the shipment himself
to the quartermaster at New York, where you can dispose of it at
pleasure. I do not think the treasury department ought to bother
itself with the prizes or captures of war.
Mr. Barclay, former consul at New York, — representing Mr. Mol-
yneux, former consul, but absent since a long time, — called on me in
person with reference to cotton claims by English subjects. He seemed
amazed when I told him I should pay no respect to consular certifi
cates, and that in no event would I treat an English subject with more
favor than one of our own deluded citizens ; and that, for my part, X

424 Sherman's march through the south.
was unwilling to fight for cotton for the benefit of Englishmen openly
engaged in smuggling arms and munitions of war to kill us ; that, on
the contrary, it would afford me great satisfaction to conduct my army
to Nassau, and wipe out that nest of pirates. I explained to him,
however, that I was not a diplomatic agent of the general government
of the United States, but that my opinion, so frankly expressed, was
that of a soldier, wbich it would be well for him to heed. It
appeared, also, that he owned a plantation on the line of investment
of Savannah, which of course is destroyed, and for which he expected
me to give him some certificate entitling him to indemnification, which
I declined emphatically.
I have adopted, in Savannah, rules concerning property, severe, but
just, founded upon the laws of nations and the practice of civilized
governments, and am clearly of opinion that we should claim all the
belligerent rights over conquered countries, that the people may realize
the truth that war is no child's play.
I embrace in this a copy of a letter dated December 31, 1864, in
answer to one from Solomon Cohen, a rich lawyer, to General Blair,
his personal friend, as foUows : —
" Major General F. P. Blair, Commanding 17th Army Corps.
" General : Your note, enclosing Mr. Cohen's of this date, I re
ceived, and I answer frankly through you his inquiries.
" 1st. No one can practise law as an attorney in the United States
without acknowledging the supremacy of our government. If I am
not in error, an attorney is as much an officer of the court as the clerk,
and it would be a novel thing in a government to have a court to ad
minister law that denied the supremacy of the government itself.
" 2d. No one will be allowed the privileges of a merchant — or, rath
er, to trade is a privilege which no one should seek of the government
— without in Uke manner acknowledging its supremacy.
" 3d. If Mr. Cohen remains in Savannah as a denizen, his property,
real and personal, will not be disturbed, unless its temporary use be
necessary for the military authorities of the city. The title to property
will not be disturbed in any event, until adjudicated by the courts of
the United States.
" 4th. If Mr. Cohen leaves- Savannah under my Special Order, No.
143, it is a public acknowledgment that he « adheres to the enemies
of the United States,' and aU his property becomes forfeited to the
United States. But, as a matter of favor, he will be allowed to carry
with him clothing and furniture for the use of himself, family, and
servants, and will be transported within the enemy's lines, but not by
way of Port Royal.
" These rules wiU apply to aU parties, and from them no exception
wiU be made.
" I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,
" W. T. Sherman, Major General."
This letter was in answer to specific inquiries. It is clear and spe-

APPENDIX. 425
cific, and covers all the points ; and should I leave before my orders
are executed, I will endeavor to impress upon my successor, General
Foster, their wisdom and propriety.
I hope the course I have taken in these matters will meet your ap
probation, and that the president will not refund to parties claiming
cotton or other property without the strongest evidence of loyalty and
friendship on the part of the claimant, or unless some other positive
end is to be gained.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
Headquarters of the Military Division of the Mississippi, )
in the Field, Savannah, January 19, 1865. )
Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War, Washington, D. C
Sir : When you left Savannah, a few days ago, you forgot the map
which General Geary had' prepared for you, showing the route by
which his division entered the city of Savannah, being the first troops
to occupy that city. I now send it to you. I avail myself of the op
portunity also to enclose you copies of all my official orders touching
trade and intercourse with the people of Georgia, as weU as for the
establishment of the negro settlements. Delegations of the people of
Georgia continue to come, and I am satisfied that a little judicious
handling, and by a little respect being paid to their prejudices, we can
create a schism in Jeff Davis's dominions. All that I have conversed
with realize the truth that slavery, as an institution, is defunct ; and
the only questions that remain are, what disposition shall be made of
the negroes themselves. I confess myself unable to offer' a complete
solution of these questions, and prefer to leave it to the slower opera
tions of time. We have given the initiative, and can afford to wait
the working of the experiment.
As to trade matters, I also think it is to our interest to keep the
people somewhat dependent on the articles of commerce to which they
have been hitherto accustomed. General Grover is now here, and
will, I think, be able to manage this matter judiciously, and may grad
ually relax, and invite cotton to come in in large quantities.
But at first we should manifest no undue anxiety on that score, for
the rebels would at once make use of it as a power against us. We
should assume a tone of perfect contempt, for cotton and everything
else in comparison with the great object of the war — the restoration
of the Union, with all its rights and power. If the rebels burn cotton
as a war measure, they simply play into our hands, by taking away the
only product of value they now have to exchange in foreign ports for
war ships and munitions. By such a course, also, they alienate the
feelings of the large class of small farmers that look to their little
parcels of cotton to exchange for food and clothing for their families.
I hope the government will not manifest too much anxiety to obtain
cotton in large quantities, and, especially, that the president wiU not
indorse the contracts for the purchase of large quantities of cotton.
Several contracts, involving from six to ten thousand bales, indorsed
36*

426 Sherman's march through the south.
by Mr. Lincoln^ have been shown me, but were not in such a form as
to amount to an order for me to facilitate their execution.
As to the treasury trade agents, and agents to take charge of con
fiscated and abandoned property, whose salaries depend on their fees,
I can only say that, as a" general rule, they are mischievous and dis
turbing elements to a military government, and it is almost impossible
for us to study the law aud regulations so as to understand fully their
powers and duties. I rather think the quartermaster's department
of the army could better fulfil all their duties, and accomplish all that
is aimed at by the law. Yet, on this subject, I wiU leave Generals
Foster and Grover to do the best they can.
I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,
W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
Headquarters of the Middle Division of the Mississippi, j
in the Meld, Atlanta, Georgia, September 15, 1864. J
Major General Halleck, Washington, D. C
My report is done, and will be forwarded as soon as I get a few
more of the subordinate reports. I am awaiting a courier from Gen
eral Grant. All well, and troops in fine, healthy camps, and supplies
coming, forward finely. Governor Brown has disbanded his militia to
gather the corn and sorghum of the state. I have reason to believe
that he and Stephens want to visit me, and I have sent them a hearty
invitation. I will exchange two thousand prisoners with Hood, but
no more. W. T. Sherman, Major General Commanding.
Washington, D. C, September 17, 1864— 10 A. M.
Major General Sherman : I feel great interest in the subjects of
your despatch mentioning corn and sorghum, and contemplated a visit
to you. A. Lincoln, President United States.
I have not possession here of all my official records, most of which
are out west ; and I have selected the above from my more recent
letter-books, and offer them to show how prompt and fuU have been
my official reports, and how unnecessary was all the clamor made
touching my action and opinions at the time the basis of agreement
of April 18 was submitted to the president.
AU of which is most respectfully submitted. .
W. T. Sherman, Major General United States Army.

APPENDIX. 427

SPEECH OF GENERAL SHERMAN AT ST. LOUIS.
I feel to-night more than usuaUy honored, for I am in the presence
of many with whom I have been associated in years gone by in busi
ness, and in the social circle, and in public affairs. To receive the
warm commendations I have just heard from the gentleman preceding
me affords me the greatest pleasure ; and I would I were as gifted as
my friend who has just taken his seat, so that I might interest you.
I would travel all over the world to find topics to suit the occasion.
Gladly would I talk of Greece and Rome (but I fear they are gone by) ;
or, better still, point to the history of our own great country, that is
teeming with recollections — recollections that to me are doubly, trebly
dear, from associations ; to the history of the Spaniard on the lone
river; or, still more, to old Colonel Bonneville, who is yet firing
among you, and whom I saw yesterday. But the world sweeps on,
and I will not pause. And I see, by the paper before me, that you
bring me before you as an actor in the scenes just passed, and classify
me as one of those men who have simply wafted our countiy past a
dangerous abyss, and placed it on a firm ground, where it may sally
forth again on a new career of prosperity and glory. (Cheers.) I ad
mit that the four past years seem even tome a dream now; lean
hardly realize the part. I have taken, although step by step rises up
when my memory retraces them ; but yet it seems as a dream that
men reared under our laws — men who were enjoying the prosperity
which they themselves admitted never was surpassed — should rise up
in rebellion against the land and government of Washington. It
seems to me an impossibility ; yet it was a.possibility ; but it is now
past, thank God. (Cheers.) We have a right, as citizens and histo
rians, to cast our eyes and memory back, and see if, in the past events,
we can learn lessons — lessons of wisdom — that wiU make us better
men, better citizens, and better patriots in the future ; and if I can
trace anything in the past, calculated to effect this object, I will account
myself repaid. Here, in St. Louis, probably, began the great centre
movement which terminated the war ; a battle-field such as never be
fore was seen, extending from ocean to ocean almost with the right
wing and the left wing ; and from, the centre here, I remember one
evening, up in the old Planters' House, sitting with General Halleck
and General Cullum, and we were talking about this, that, and the

428 SHERMAN'S MARCH THROUGH THE SOUTH.
other. A map was on the table, and I was explaining the position of
the troops of the enemy in Kentucky when I came to this state.
General Halleck knew well the position here, and I remember well the
question he asked me — the question of the school teacher to his child
— " Sherman, here is the line ; how will you break that line ? "
" Physically, by a perpendicular force." " Where is the perpendicu
lar ? " " The line of the Tennessee River." General Halleck is the
author of that first beginning, and I give him credit for it with pleas
ure. (Cheers.) Laying down his pencil upon the map, he said,
" There is the line, and we must take it."
The capture of the fort on the Tennessee River by the troops led
by Grant followed. (Cheers.) These were the grand strategic features
of that first movement, and it succeeded perfectly. General HaUeck's
plan went farther — not to stop at his first line, which ran through
Columbus, Bowling Green, crossing the river at Henry and Donelson,
but to push on to the second Une, which. ran through Memphis and
Charleston ; but troubles intervened at Nashville, and delays followed ;
opposition to the last movement was made, and I myself was brought
an actor on the scene. I remember our ascent on the Tennessee River.
I have seen to-night captains of steamboats who first went with us
there. Storms came, and we did not reach the point we desired. At
that time, General C. F. Smith was in command. He was a man in
deed. AU the old officers remember him as a gaUant and elegant offi
cer ; and had he Uved, probably some of us younger fellows would not
have attained our present positions. But that is now past. We fol
lowed line — the second line — and then came the landing of forces at
Pittsburg Landing. Whether it was a mistake in landing them on the
west instead of the east bank, it is not necessary now to discuss. I
think it was not a mistake. There was gathered the first great army
of the west ; commencing with only twelve thousand, then twenty,
then thirty thousand ; and we had about thirty-eight thousand in that
battle ; and all I claim for that is, that it was a contest for manhood ;
there was no strategy. Grant was there, and others of us, all young
at that time, and unknown men ; but our enemy was old ; and Sidney
Johnson, whom aU the officers remembered as a power among the old
officers, high above Grant, myself, or anjbody else, led the enemy on
that battle-field, and I almost wonder how we conquered. But, as I
remarked, it was a contest for manhood — man to man, soldier to sol
dier. We fought, and we held our ground ; and therefore accounted
ourselves victorious. (Cheers.)
From that time forward we had with us the prestige. That battle

APPENDIX. 429
was worth miUions and millions to us by reason of the fact of the
courage displayed by the brave soldiers on that occasion. And from
that time to this I never heard of the first want of courage on the part
of our northern soldiers. (Cheers.) It then became a game of grand
war. Armies were accounted equal, and skill and generalship came
into play. We gained thereby the movement on Corinth which Hal
leck designed here. There his command 'ceased, and a new shuffle of
the cards of war was made. Halleck went to the east and Grant to
the west ; but summer overtook us with heat, and we could not march.
Northern Mississippi was dry as ashes. It was impossible for men to
live and march from stream to stream ; and to follow the roads that Ue
between these, men would have perished with thirst, been overcome
by heat. Therefore we delayed until faU ; and late that fall I met
Grant, by appointment, at Columbus ; and there again we went over
the map, and the next thing was to break the Une on the Tallahatchie.
Many of you here remember that movement. You citizens do not
understand it at all, for I have never yet seen a newspaper account of
it that approximates to the truth. (Laughter.) Pemberton com
manded the army of the Confederacy in our front. We had superior
numbers. Our men were scattered, and we first concentrated on the
Tallahatchie, below Holly Springs. Grant moved direct on Pember
ton, while I moved from Memphis, and struck directly into Grenada ;
and the first thing that Pemberton knew, the depot of his suppUes was
almost in the grasp of a smaU cavalry force ; and he feU into confusion,
and gave us the Tallahatchie without a battle.
But with some people an object gained without a battle is nothing.
But war means success by any and every means ; it is not fighting
alone. BuUs do that, and bears, and all beasts ; but men attain ob
jects by intellect, and the introduction of physical power, moved upon
salient points. And so we gained the TaUahatchie, and although
hardly a gun was fired, yet we gained a battle equal in its results to
any other battle on earth. (Cheers.) It gave us uninterrupted pos
session of Northern Mississippi, and undisputed possession of the
resources of that country ; and that country has been in our possession
ever since, in a mUitary sense. Then came the great campaign of your
river, upon which you and I and all of us were more deeply interested
than in any other that can ever be developed by any war on this con
tinent. The possession of the Mississippi River is the possession of Ameri
ca (cheers) ; and I say that, had the southern Confederacy (call it by
what name you may) — had that power represented by the southern

430 Sherman's march through the south.
Confederacy held with a grip sufficiently strong the lower part of the
Mississippi River, we would have been a subjugated people, and they
would have dictated to us if we had given up the possession of the
Lower Mississippi. It was vital to us, and we fought for it and won
it. We determined to have it ; but we could not go down with our
frail boats past the batteries of Vicksburg. It was a physical impos-
sibfiity. Therefore, what was to be done ? After the Tallahatchie line
was carried, Vicksburg was the next point. I went with a small and
hastily collected force, and repeatedly endeavored to make a lodg
ment on the bluff between Vicksburg and Haines's Bluff, while General
Grant moved with his main army so as to place himself on the high
plateau behind Vicksburg; but "man proposes and God disposes,"
and we failed on that occasion. I then gathered my hastily collected
force, and went down farther; and then, for the first time, I took Gen
eral Blair and his brigade under my command.
On the very day I had agreed to be there I was there, and we swung
our flanks around, and the present governor of Missouri feU a prisoner
to the enemy on that day. We failed. I waited anxiously for a cooper
ating force inland and below us, but they did not come ; and after I
had made the assault, I learned that the depot at Holly Springs had
been broken up, and that General Grant had sent me word not to at
tempt it. But it was too late. . Nevertheless, although we were unable
to carry it at first, there were other things to be done. The war cov
ered such a vast area, there was plenty to do. I thought of that affair
at Arkansas Post, although others claim it, and they may have it if
they want it. We cleaned them out there, and General Grant then
brought his whole army to Vicksburg ; and you in St. Louis remember
weU that long winter, how we were on the levee, with the water rising
and drowning us like muskrats ; how we were seeking channels through
Deer Creek and Yazoo Pass, and how we finally cut a canal across the
Peninsula in front of Vicksburg.
But all that time the true movement was the original movement,
and everything not approximating to it came nearer the truth. But
we could not make a retrograde movement. Why ? Because your
people of the north were too noisy. We could not take any step
backwards, and for that reason we were forced to run the batteries at
Vicksburg, and make a lodgment on the ridges on some of the bluffs
below Vicksburg. It is said I protested against it. It is folly. I
never protested in my life — never. (Laughter.) On the contrary,
General Grant rested on me probably more responsibility even than
any other commander under him ; for he wrote to me, " I want you to

APPENDIX. 431
move upon Haines's Bluff, to enable me to pass the next fort below —
Grand Gulf. I hate to ask you, because the fervor of the north wiU
accuse you of being rebellious again." (Laughter.) I love Grant for
his kindness. I did make the feint on Haines's Bluff, and by that
means Grant ran the blockade easily to Grand Gulf, and made a lodg^
ment down there, and got his army up on the high plateau in the rear
of Vicksburg, while you people here were beguiled into the belief that
Sherman was again repulsed. But we did not repose confidence in
everybody. Then followed the movement on Jackson, and the 4th of
July placed us in possession of that great stronghold, Vicksburg ; and
then, as Mr. Lincoln said, " the Mississippi went unvexed to the sea."
From that day to this, this war has been virtuaUy and properly set
tled. It was a certainty then. They would have said, " We give up ; "
but Davis would not ratify it, and he had them under good discipline,
and therefore it was necessary to fight again. Then came the affair of
Chickamauga. The army of the Mississippi lying along its banks were
called into a new field of action, and so one morning early I got orders
to go to Chattanooga. I did not know where it was, hardly. (Laugh
ter.) I did not know the road to go there. But I found it, and got
there in time (laughter and cheers) ; and although my men were
shoeless, and the cold an/1 bitter frosts of winter were upon us, yet I
must still go to Knoxville, thirteen miles farther, to relieve Burnside.
That march we made. (A voice — And you got there in time.) Then
winter forced us to lie quiet. During that winter I took a little exer
cise down the river ; but that is of no account.

1943