memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第56章
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ting that the city of Savannah had been found evacuated on the morning of December 21st； and was then in our possession。 General Hardee had crossed the Savannah River by a pontoon…bridge； carrying off his men and light artillery； blowing up his iron…clads and navy…yard； but leaving for us all the heavy guns； stores； cotton； railway… cars； steamboats； and an immense amount of public and private property。 Admiral Dahlgren concluded to go toward a vessel （the Sonoma） of his blockading fleet； which lay at anchor near Beaulieu； and I transferred to the Red Legs； and hastened up the Ogeechee River to Grog's Bridge； whence I rode to my camp that same night。 I there learned that； early on the morning of December 21st； the skirmishers had detected the absence of the enemy； and had occupied his lines simultaneously along their whole extent； but the left flank （Slocum）； especially Geary's division of the Twentieth Corps； claimed to have been the first to reach the heart of the city。
Generals Slocum and Howard moved their headquarters at once into the city； leaving the bulk of their troops in camps outside。 On the morning of December 22d I followed with my own headquarters； and rode down Bull Street to the custom…house； from the roof of which we had an extensive view over the city； the river； and the vast extent of marsh and rice…fields on the South Carolina side。 The navy…yard； and the wreck of the iron…clad ram Savannah； were still smouldering； but all else looked quiet enough。 Turning back； we rode to the Pulaski Hotel； which I had known in years long gone； and found it kept by a Vermont man with a lame leg； who used to be a clerk in the St。 Louis Hotel； New Orleans； and I inquired about the capacity of his hotel for headquarters。 He was very anxious to have us for boarders； but I soon explained to him that we had a full mess equipment along； and that we were not in the habit of paying board； that one wing of the building would suffice for our use； while I would allow him to keep an hotel for the accommodation of officers and gentlemen in the remainder。 I then dispatched an officer to look around for a livery…stable that could accommodate our horses； and； while waiting there； an English gentleman； Mr。 Charles Green； came and said that he had a fine house completely furnished； for which he had no use； and offered it as headquarters。 He explained； moreover； that General Howard had informed him； the day before； that I would want his house for headquarters。 At first I felt strongly disinclined to make use of any private dwelling； lest complaints should arise of damage and lose of furniture； and so expressed myself to Mr。 Green； but； after riding about the city； and finding his house so spacious； so convenient； with large yard and stabling； I accepted his offer； and occupied that house during our stay in Savannah。 He only reserved for himself the use of a couple of rooms above the dining…room； and we had all else； and a most excellent house it was in all respects。
I was disappointed that Hardee had escaped with his army； but on the whole we had reason to be content with the substantial fruits of victory。 The Savannah River was found to be badly obstructed by torpedoes； and by log piers stretched across the channel below the city； which piers were filled with the cobble stones that formerly paved the streets。 Admiral Dahlgren was extremely active； visited me repeatedly in the city； while his fleet still watched Charleston； and all the avenues； for the blockade…runners that infested the coast； which were notoriously owned and managed by Englishmen； who used the island of New Providence （Nassau） as a sort of entrepot。 One of these small blockade…runners came into Savannah after we were in full possession； and the master did not discover his mistake till he came ashore to visit the custom…house。 Of coarse his vessel fell a prize to the navy。 A heavy force was at once set to work to remove the torpedoes and obstructions in the main channel of the river； and； from that time forth； Savannah became the great depot of supply for the troops operating in that quarter。
Meantime； on the 15th and 16th of December； were fought； in front of Nashville； the great battles in which General Thomas so nobly fulfilled his promise to ruin Hood； the details of which are fully given in his own official reports； long…since published。 Rumors of these great victories reached us at Savannah by piecemeal； but his official report came on the 24th of December； with a letter from General Grant； giving in general terms the events up to the 18th； and I wrote at once through my chief of staff； General Webster； to General Thomas； complimenting him in the highest terms。 His brilliant victory at Nashville was necessary to mine at Savannah to make a complete whole； and this fact was perfectly comprehended by Mr。 Lincoln； who recognized it fully in his personal letter of December 26th； hereinbefore quoted at length； and which is also claimed at the time； in my Special Field Order No。 6； of January 8； 1865； here given：
（Special Field Order No。 6。＇
HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OE THE MISSISSIPPI； IN THE FIELD； NEAR SAVANNAH； GEORGIA； January 8； 1864。
The general commanding announces to the troops composing the Military Division of the Mississippi that he has received from the President of the United States； and from Lieutenant…General Grant； letters conveying their high sense and appreciation of the campaign just closed； resulting in the capture of Savannah and the defeat of Hood's army in Tennessee。
In order that all may understand the importance of events； it is proper to revert to the situation of affairs in September laSt。 We held Atlanta； a city of little valve to us； but so important to the enemy that Mr。 Davis； the head of the rebellious faction in the South； visited his army near Palmetto； and commanded it to regain the place and also to ruin and destroy us； by a series of measures which he thought would be effectual。 That army； by a rapid march； gained our railroad near Big Shanty； and afterward about Dalton。 We pursued it； but it moved so rapidly that we could not overtake it； and General Hood led his army successfully far over toward Mississippi； in hope to decoy us out of Georgia。 But we were not thus to be led away by him； and preferred to lead and control events ourselves。 Generals Thomas and Schofield； commanding the departments to our rear； returned to their posts and prepared to decoy General Hood into their meshes； while we came on to complete the original journey。 We quietly and deliberately destroyed Atlanta； and all the railroads which the enemy had used to carry on war against us； occupied his State capital； and then captured his commercial capital； which had been so strongly fortified from the sea as to defy approach from that quarter。 Almost at the moment of our victorious entry into Savannah came the welcome and expected news that our comrades in Tennessee had also fulfilled nobly and well their part； had decoyed General Hood to Nashville and then turned on him； defeating his army thoroughly； capturing all his artillery； great numbers of prisoners； and were still pursuing the fragments down in Alabama。 So complete s success in military operations； extending over half a continent； is an achievement that entitles it to a place in the military history of the world。 The armies serving in Georgia and Tennessee； as well as the local garrisons of Decatur； Bridgeport； Chattanooga； and Murfreesboro'； are alike entitled to the common honors； and each regiment may inscribe on its colors； at pleasure； the word 〃Savannah〃 or 〃Nashville。〃 The general commanding embraces； in the same general success； the operations of the cavalry under Generals Stoneman； Burbridge； and Gillem； that penetrated into Southwest Virginia； and paralyzed the efforts of the enemy to disturb the peace and safety of East Tennessee。 Instead of being put on the defensive； we have at all points assumed the bold offensive； and have completely thwarted the designs of the enemies of our country。
By order of Major…General W。 T。 Sherman； L。 M。 DAYTON； Aide…de…Camp。
Here terminated the 〃March to the Sea；〃 and I only add a few letters； selected out of many； to il
