memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第61章
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our lines； and conduct themselves as good citizens； or depart in peace。 He will ascertain the names of all who choose to leave Savannah； and report their names and residence to the chief…quartermaster； that measures may be taken to transport them beyond our lines。
4。 Not more than two newspapers will be published in Savannah； their editors and proprietors will be held to the strictest accountability； and will be punished severely； in person and property； for any libelous publication； mischievous matter； premature news； exaggerated statements； or any comments whatever upon the acts of the constituted authorities； they will be held accountable for such articles； even though copied from other papers。
By order of Major…General W。 T。 Sherman；
L。 M。 DAYTON； Aide…de…Camp。
It was estimated that there were about twenty thousand inhabitants in Savannah； all of whom had participated more or less in the war； and had no special claims to our favor； but I regarded the war as rapidly drawing to a close； and it was becoming a political question as to what was to be done with the people of the South； both white and black； when the war was actually over。 I concluded to give them the option to remain or to join their friends in Charleston or Augusta； and so announced in general orders。 The mayor； Dr。 Arnold； was completely 〃subjugated；〃 and； after consulting with him； I authorized him to assemble his City Council to take charge generally of the interests of the people； but warned all who remained that they must be strictly subordinate to the military law； and to the interests of the General Government。 About two hundred persona； mostly the families of men in the Confederate army； prepared to follow the fortunes of their husbands and fathers； and these were sent in a steamboat under a flag of truce； in charge of my aide Captain Audenried； to Charleston harbor； and there delivered to an officer of the Confederate army。 But the great bulk of the inhabitants chose to remain in Savannah； generally behaved with propriety； and good social relations at once arose between them and the army。 Shortly after our occupation of Savannah； a lady was announced at my headquarters by the orderly or sentinel at the front…door； who was ushered into the parlor； and proved to be the wife of General G。 W。 Smith； whom I had known about 1850； when Smith was on duty at West Point。 She was a native of New London； Connecticut； and very handsome。 She began her interview by presenting me a letter from her husband； who then commanded a division of the Georgia militia in the rebel army； which had just quitted Savannah； which letter began； 〃DEAR SHERMAN： The fortunes of war； etc…。； compel me to leave my wife in Savannah； and I beg for her your courteous protection；〃 etc。； etc。 I inquired where she lived； and if anybody was troubling her。 She said she was boarding with a lady whose husband had； in like manner with her own； gone off with Hardee's army； that a part of the house had been taken for the use of Major…General Ward； of Kentucky； that her landlady was approaching her confinement； and was nervous at the noise which the younger staff…officers made at night； etc。 I explained to her that I could give but little personal attention to such matters； and referred her to General Slocum； whose troops occupied the city。 I afterward visited her house； and saw； personally； that she had no reason to complain。 Shortly afterward Mr。 Hardee； a merchant of Savannah； came to me and presented a letter from his brother； the general； to the same effect； alleging that his brother was a civilian； had never taken up arms； and asked of me protection for his family； his cotton； etc。 To him I gave the general assurance that no harm was designed to any of the people of Savannah who would remain quiet and peaceable； but that I could give him no guarantee as to his cotton； for over it I had no absolute control； and yet still later I received a note from the wife of General A。 P。 Stewart （who commanded a corps in Hood's army）； asking me to come to see her。 This I did； and found her to be a native of Cincinnati； Ohio； wanting protection； and who was naturally anxious about the fate of her husband； known to be with General Hood； in Tennessee； retreating before General Thomas。 I remember that I was able to assure her that he had not been killed or captured； up to that date； and think that I advised her； instead of attempting to go in pursuit of her husband； to go to Cincinnati； to her uncle； Judge Storer； there await the issue of events。
Before I had reached Savannah； and daring our stay there； the rebel officers and newspapers represented the conduct of the men of our army as simply infamous； that we respected neither age nor sex； that we burned every thing we came acrossbarns； stables； cotton…gins； and even dwelling…houses； that we ravished the women and killed the men； and perpetrated all manner of outrages on the inhabitants。 Therefore it struck me as strange that Generals Hardee and Smith should commit their； families to our custody； and even bespeak our personal care and attention。 These officers knew well that these reports were exaggerated in the extreme； and yet tacitly assented to these publications； to arouse the drooping energies of the people of the South。
As the division of Major…General John W。 Geary； of the Twentieth Corps； was the first to enter Savannah； that officer was appointed to command the place； or to act as a sort of governor。 He very soon established a good police； maintained admirable order； and I doubt if Savannah； either before or since； has had a better government than during our stay。 The guard…mountings and parades； as well as the greater reviews； became the daily resorts of the ladies； to hear the music of our excellent bands； schools were opened； and the churches every Sunday were well filled with most devout and respectful congregations； stores were reopened； and markets for provisions； meat； wood； etc。； were established； so that each family； regardless of race； color； or opinion； could procure all the necessaries and even luxuries of life； provided they had money。 Of course； many families were actually destitute of this； and to these were issued stores from our own stock of supplies。 I remember to have given to Dr。 Arnold； the mayor； an order for the contents of a large warehouse of rice； which he confided to a committee of gentlemen； who went North （to Boston）； and soon returned with one or more cargoes of flour； hams； sugar； coffee； etc。； for gratuitous distribution； which relieved the most pressing wants until the revival of trade and business enabled the people to provide for themselves。
A lady； whom I had known in former years as Miss Josephine Goodwin； told me that； with a barrel of flour and some sugar which she had received gratuitously from the commissary； she had baked cakes and pies； in the sale of which she realized a profit of fifty…six dollars。
Meantime Colonel Poe had reconnoitred and laid off new lines of parapet； which would enable a comparatively small garrison to hold the place； and a heavy detail of soldiers was put to work thereon； Generals Easton and Beckwith had organized a complete depot of supplies； and； though vessels arrived almost daily with mails end provisions； we were hardly ready to initiate a new and hazardous campaign。 I had not yet received from General Grant or General Halleck any modification of the orders of December 6；1864； to embark my command for Virginia by sea； but on the 2d of January； 1865； General J。 G。 Barnard； United States Engineers； arrived direct from General Grant's headquarters； bearing the following letter； in the general's own handwriting； which； with my answer； is here given：
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNTITED STATES CITY POINT； VIRGINIA； December 27； 1864。
Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN； commanding Military Division of the Mississippi。
GENERAL： Before writing you definite instructions for the next campaign； I wanted to receive your answer to my letter written from Washington。 Your confidence in being able to march up and join this army pleases me； and I believe it can be done。 The effect of such a campaign will be to disorganize the South； and prevent the orga
