memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第66章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ed within the limits above designated； the Inspector of Settlements and Plantations will himself； or； by such subordinate officer as he may appoint； give them a license to settle such island or district； and afford them such assistance as he can to enable them to establish a peaceable agricultural settlement。 The three parties named will subdivide the land； under the supervision of the inspector； among themselves； and such others as may choose to settle near them； so that each family shall have a plot of not more than forty acres of tillable ground； and； when it borders on some water…channel； with not more than eight hundred feet water…front； in the possession of which land the military authorities will afford them protection until such time as they can protect themselves； or until Congress shall regulate their title。 The quartermaster may； on the requisition of the Inspector of Settlements and Plantations； place at the disposal of the inspector one or more of the captured steamers to ply between the settlements and one or more of the commercial points heretofore named； in order to afford the settlers the opportunity to supply their necessary wants； and to sell the products of their land and labor。
4。 Whenever a negro has enlisted in the military service of the United States； be may locate his family in any one of the settlements at pleasure； and acquire a homestead； and all other rights and privileges of a settler； as though present in person。 In like manner； negroes may settle their families and engage on board the gunboats； or in fishing； or in the navigation of the inland waters； without losing any claim to land or other advantages derived from this system。 But no one； unless an actual settler as above defined； or unless absent on Government service； will be entitled to claim any right to land or property in any settlement by virtue of these orders。
5。 In order to carry out this system of settlement； a general officer will be detailed as Inspector of Settlements and Plantations； whose duty it shall be to visit the settlements； to regulate their police and general arrangement； and who will furnish personally to each head of a family； subject to the approval of the President of the United States； a possessory title in writing； giving as near as possible the description of boundaries； and who shall adjust all claims or conflicts that may arise under the same； subject to the like approval； treating such titles altogether as possessory。 The same general offcer will also be charged with the enlistment and organization of the negro recruits； and protecting their interests while absent from their settlements； and will be governed by the rules and regulations prescribed by the War Department for such purposes。
6。 Brigadier…General R。 Saxton is hereby appointed Inspector of Settlements and Plantations； and will at once enter on the performance of his duties。 No change is intended or desired in the settlement now on Beaufort Island； nor will any rights to property heretofore acquired be affected thereby。
By order of Major…General W。 T。 Sherman； L。 M。 DAYTON； Assistant Adjutant…General。
I saw a good deal of the secretary socially； during the time of his visit to Savannah。 He kept his quarters on the revenue…cutter with Simeon Draper； Esq。； which cutter lay at a wharf in the river； but he came very often to my quarters at Mr。 Green's house。 Though appearing robust and strong； he complained a good deal of internal pains； which he said threatened his life； and would compel him soon to quit public office。 He professed to have come from Washington purposely for rest and recreation； and he spoke unreservedly of the bickerings and jealousies at the national capital； of the interminable quarrels of the State Governors about their quotas； and more particularly of the financial troubles that threatened the very existence of the Government itself。 He said that the price of every thing had so risen in comparison with the depreciated money； that there was danger of national bankruptcy； and he appealed to me； as a soldier and patriot； to hurry up matters so as to bring the war to a close。
He left for Port Royal about the 15th of January； and promised to go North without delay； so as to hurry back to me the supplies I had called for； as indispensable for the prosecution of the next stage of the campaign。 I was quite impatient to get off myself； for a city…life had become dull and tame； and we were all anxious to get into the pine…woods again； free from the importunities of rebel women asking for protection； and of the civilians from the North who were coming to Savannah for cotton and all sorts of profit。
On the 18th of January General Slocum was ordered to turn over the city of Savannah to General J。 G。 Foster； commanding the Department of the South； who proposed to retain his own headquarters at Hilton Head； and to occupy Savannah by General Grovers division of the Nineteenth Corps； just arrived from James River； and on the next day； viz。； January 19th； I made the first general orders for the move。
These were substantially to group the right wing of the army at Pocotaligo； already held by the Seventeenth Corps； and the left wing and cavalry at or near Robertsville； in South Carolina。 The army remained substantially the same as during the march from Atlanta； with the exception of a few changes in the commanders of brigades and divisions； the addition of some men who had joined from furlough； and the loss of others from the expiration of their term of service。 My own personal staff remained the same； with the exception that General W。 F。 Barry had rejoined us at Savannah； perfectly recovered from his attack of erysipelas； and continued with us to the end of the war。 Generals Easton and Beckwith remained at Savannah； in charge of their respective depots； with orders to follow and meet us by sea with supplies when we should reach the coast at Wilmington or Newbern； North Carolina。
Of course； I gave out with some ostentation； especially among the rebels； that we were going to Charleston or Augusta； but I had long before made up my mind to waste no time on either； further than to play off on their fears； thus to retain for their protection a force of the enemy which would otherwise concentrate in our front； and make the passage of some of the great rivers that crossed our route more difficult and bloody。
Having accomplished all that seemed necessary； on the 21st of January； with my entire headquarters； officers； clerks； orderlies； etc。； with wagons and horses； I embarked in a steamer for Beaufort； South Carolina； touching at Hilton Head； to see General Foster。 The weather was rainy and bad； but we reached Beaufort safely on the 23d； and found some of General Blair's troops there。 The pink of his corps （Seventeenth） was； however； up on the railroad about Pocotaligo； near the head of Broad River； to which their supplies were carried from Hilton Head by steamboats。 General Hatch's division （of General Foster's command） was still at Coosawhatchie or Tullafinny； where the Charleston & Savannah Railroad crosses the river of that name。 All the country between Beaufort and Pocotaligo was low alluvial land； cut up by an infinite number of salt…water sloughs and freshwater creeks； easily susceptible of defense by a small force； and why the enemy had allowed us to make a lodgment at Pocotaligo so easily I did not understand； unless it resulted from fear or ignorance。 It seemed to me then that the terrible energy they had displayed in the earlier stages of the war was beginning to yield to the slower but more certain industry and discipline of our Northern men。 It was to me manifest that the soldiers and people of the South entertained an undue fear of our Western men； and； like children； they had invented such ghostlike stories of our prowess in Georgia； that they were scared by their own inventions。 Still； this was a power； and I intended to utilize it。 Somehow； our men had got the idea that South Carolina was the cause of all our troubles； her people were the first to fire on Fort Sumter； had been in a great hurry to precipitate the country into civil war； and therefore on them should fall the scourge of war in i
