memoirs of general william t. sherman-2-第67章
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to precipitate the country into civil war； and therefore on them should fall the scourge of war in its worst form。 Taunting messages had also come to us； when in Georgia； to the effect that； when we should reach South Carolina； we would find a people less passive； who would fight us to the bitter end； daring us to come over； etc。； so that I saw and felt that we would not be able longer to restrain our men as we had done in Georgia。
Personally I had many friends in Charleston； to whom I would gladly have extended protection and mercy； but they were beyoud my personal reach； and I would not restrain the army lest its vigor and energy should be impaired； and I had every reason to expect bold and strong resistance at the many broad and deep rivers that lay across our path。
General Foster's Department of the South had been enlarged to embrace the coast of North Carolina； so that the few troops serving there； under the command of General Innis N。 Palmer； at Newbern； became subject to my command。 General A。 H。 Terry held Fort Fisher； and a rumor came that ha had taken the city of Wilmington； but this was premature。 He had about eight thousand men。 General Schofield was also known to be en route from Nashville for North Carolina； with the entire Twenty…third Corps； so that I had every reason to be satisfied that I would receive additional strength as we progressed northward； and before I should need it。
General W。 J。 Hardee commanded the Confederate forces in Charleston； with the Salkiehatchie River as his line of defense。 It was also known that General Beauregard had came from the direction of Tennessee； and had assumed the general command of all the troops designed to resist our progress。
The heavy winter rains had begun early in January； rendered the roads execrable； and the Savannah River became so swollen that it filled its many channels； overflowing the vast extent of rice…fields that lay on the east bank。 This flood delayed our departure two weeks； for it swept away our pontoon…bridge at Savannah； and came near drowning John E。 Smith's division of the Fifteenth Corps； with several heavy trains of wagons that were en route from Savannah to Pocotaligo by the old causeway。
General Slocum had already ferried two of his divisions across the river； when Sister's Ferry； about forty miles above Savannah； was selected for the passage of the rest of his wing and of Kilpatrick's cavalry。 The troops were in motion for that point before I quitted Savannah； and Captain S。 B。 Luce； United States Navy； had reported to me with a gunboat （the Pontiac） and a couple of transports； which I requested him to use in protecting Sister's Ferry during the passage of Slocum's wing； and to facilitate the passage of the troops all he could。 The utmost activity prevailed at all points； but it was manifest we could not get off much before the 1st day of February； so I determined to go in person to Pocotaligo； and there act as though we were bound for Charleston。 On the 24th of January I started from Beaufort with a part of my staff； leaving the rest to follow at leisure； rode across the island to a pontoon…bridge that spanned the channel between it and the main…land； and thence rode by Garden's Corners to a plantation not far from Pocotaligo； occupied by General Blair。 There we found a house； with a majestic avenue of live…oaks； whose limbs had been cut away by the troops for firewood； and desolation marked one of those splendid South Carolina estates where the proprietors formerly had dispensed a hospitality that distinguished the old regime of that proud State。 I slept on the floor of the house； but the night was so bitter cold that I got up by the fire several times； and when it burned low I rekindled it with an old mantel…clock and the wreck of a bedstead which stood in a corner of the roomthe only act of vandalism that I recall done by myself personally during the war。
The next morning I rode to Pocotaligo； and thence reconnoitred our entire line down to Coosawhatchie。 Pocotaligo Fort was on low； alluvial ground； and near it began the sandy pine…land which connected with the firm ground extending inland； constituting the chief reason for its capture at the very first stage of the campaign。 Hatch's division was ordered to that point from Coosawhatchie； and the whole of Howard's right wing was brought near by； ready to start by the 1st of February。 I also reconnoitred the point of the Salkiehatchie River； where the Charleston Railroad crossed it； found the bridge protected by a rebel battery on the farther side； and could see a few men about it； but the stream itself was absolutely impassable； for the whole bottom was overflowed by its Swollen waters to the breadth of a full mile。 Nevertheless； Force's and Mower's divisions of the Seventeenth Corps were kept active； seemingly with the intention to cross over in the direction of Charleston； and thus to keep up the delusion that that city was our immediate 〃objective。〃 Meantime； I had reports from General Slocum of the terrible difficulties he had encountered about Sister's Ferry； where the Savannah River was reported nearly three miles wide； and it seemed for a time almost impossible for him to span it at all with his frail pontoons。 About this time （January 25th）； the weather cleared away bright and cold； and I inferred that the river would soon run down； and enable Slocum to pass the river before February 1st。 One of the divisions of the Fifteenth Corps （Corse's） had also been cut off by the loss of the pontoon…bridge at Savannah； so that General Slocum had with him； not only his own two corps； but Corse's division and Kilpatrick's cavalry； without which it was not prudent for me to inaugurate the campaign。 We therefore rested quietly about Pocotaligo； collecting stores and making final preparations； until the 1st of February； when I learned that the cavalry and two divisions of the Twentieth Corps were fairly across the river； and then gave the necessary orders for the march northward。
Before closing this chapter； I will add a few original letters that bear directly on the subject； and tend to illustrate it
HEADQUARTERS ARMIES OF THE UNITED STATES WASHINGTON； D。 C。 January 21； 1866。
Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN； commanding Military Division of the Mississippi。
GENERAL： Your letters brought by General Barnard were received at City Point； and read with interest。 Not having them with me； however； I cannot say that in this I will be able to satisfy you on all points of recommendation。 As I arrived here at 1 p。m。； and must leave at 6 p。m。； having in the mean time spent over three hours with the secretary and General Halleck； I must be brief。 Before your last request to have Thomas make a campaign into the heart of Alabama； I had ordered Schofield to Annapolis； Maryland； with his corps。 The advance （six thousand） will reach the seaboard by the 23d； the remainder following as rapidly as railroad transportation can be procured from Cincinnati。 The corps numbers over twenty…one thousand men。
Thomas is still left with a sufficient force； surplus to go to Selma under an energetic leader。 He has been telegraphed to； to know whether he could go； and； if so； by which of several routes he would select。 No reply is yet received。 Canby has been ordered to set offensively from the seacoast to the interior； toward Montgomery and Selma。 Thomas's forces will move from the north at an early day； or some of his troops will be sent to Canby。 Without further reenforcement Canby will have a moving column of twenty thousand men。
Fort Fisher； you are aware； has been captured。 We have a force there of eight thousand effective。 At Newbern about half the number。 It is rumored； through deserters； that Wilmington also has fallen。 I am inclined to believe the rumor； because on the 17th we knew the enemy were blowing up their works about Fort Caswell； and that on the 18th Terry moved on Wilmington。
If Wilmington is captured； Schofield will go there。 If not； he will be sent to Newbern。 In either event； all the surplus forces at the two points will move to the interior； toward Goldsboro'； in cooperation with your movements。 From either point； railroad communications can be run
