CHAPTER XL.

SHERMAN'S NEW BASE AT SAVANNAH.—HE PREPARES TO MARCH THROUGH THE CAROLINAS.—GEN. GRANT'S FIRST IDEA TO BRING SHERMAN'S ARMY TO VIRGINIA BY WATEROPENING OF THE CAROLINA CAMPAIGN.-HOWARD'S MOVEMENT TOWARDS CHARLESTONTHE LINE OF THE SALKAHATCHIE TAKEN.-SLOCUM THREATENS AUGUSTA.-JUNCTION OF THE TWO COLUMNS IN THE VICINITY OF THE AUGUSTA AND CHARLESTON RAILROAD. — SCENES OF LICENSE AND PLUNDER ON SHERMAN'S MARCH.-SAVAGE ATROCITIES. THI TRACK OF FIRE. SHERMAN'S BUMMERS."-WHAT WAS thought of THEM IN WASHINGTON.—SHERMAN TURNS HIS COLUMNS ON COLUMBIA.-DISPOSITION OF THE CONFEDERATE

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FORCES BETWEEN AUGUSTA AND CHARLESTON.-WHY COLUMBIA WAS NOT DEFENDED.-
GALLANTRY OF GEN. WADE HAMPTON.-SACK AND DESTRUCTION OF COLUMBIA.-SHER
MAN'S SOLEMN PROMISE TO THE MAYOR.-Robbery and outrage IN THE STREETS.—THI
CATHOLIC CONVENT.-SOME OF THE FEDERAL SOLDIERS TELL OF THE PROPOSED DESTRUO
TION OF THE TOWN.-IT IS FIRED IN TWENTY PLACES.-HORROURS OF THE CONFLAGRA
TION. SCENES OF MISERY AND RUIN.-PROOFS THAT SHERMAN WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THE FIRE.-ARRAY OF EVIDENCE ON THIS SUBJECT.-FALL OF CHARLESTON.-THE CITY
EVACUATED BY HARDEE.-OCCASION OF DELAY BY PRESIDENT DAVIS.-AN EXPLOSION
AND CONFLAGRATION.--APPEARANCE OF THE CITY AFTER FOUR YEARS OF CONFLICT.—
CAPTURE OF FORT FISHER.-FALL OF WILMINGTON. THE ENEMY'S VIEWS OF THE IMPOR-
TANCE OF WILMINGTON.-HOW IT WAS TO BE USED AS ANOTHER BASE OF OPERATIONS
TOWARDS RICHMOND.-ITS CAPTURE AUXILIARY TO SHERMAN'S MOVEMENT.—THE FIRST
EXPEDITION AGAINST IT.-BUTLER'S POWDER-SHIP.-FAILURE OF THE EXPEDITION.-THR
BUTLER-GRANT CONTROVERSY.-SECOND EXPEDITION AGAINST WILMINGTON.-GEN. BRAGG
AGAIN ON THE MILITARY STAGE.-HOW THE ENEMY EFFECTED A LANDING ABOVE FORT
FISHER. WANT OF VIGILANCE ON THE PART OF THE CONFEDERATES.-GEN. HOKE FLANKED
AND RETREATS. THE FORT TAKEN BY ASSAULT.-CO-OPERATION of the ENEMY'S FLEET.
-ITS TERRIBLE FIRE.—GEN. BRAGG EVACUATES WILMINGTON.-GRANT'S INSTRUCTIONS
TO SCHOFIELD TO CO-OPERATE WITH SHERMAN.-THE CAMPAIGN IN NORTH CAROLINA.-
"HERMAN MOVES APPARENTLY TOWARDS CHARlotte, and deflects tO FAYETTEVILLE
-MOVEMENT OF THE CO-OPERATING COLUMNS FROM WILMINGTON AND NEWBERN.-GEN.
BRAGG ENGAGES THE ENEMY NEAR KINSTON.-SUCCESS OF THE CONFEDERATES.-AR-
RIVAL OF SCHOFIELD AND TERRY AT Goldsboro'.-
.-SHERMAN PUSHES ON THERE.-GEN.
JOHNSTON'S COMMAND, AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONFEDERATE FORCES.-HARDER
LOSES TWO-THIRDS OF HIS ARMY BY DESERTIONS.-HE ENGAGES THE ENEMY NEAR
AVERYSKORO', And is compelleED TO FALL BACK. THE ENGAGEMENT AT BENTONVILLE,
~JOHNSTON FIGHTS TWO CORPS OF THE ENEMY AND KILPATRICK'S CAVALRY WITH FOUR

TEEN THOUSAND MEN.-SUCCESS ON THE CONFEDERATE RIGHT.-JOHNSTON HOLDS ITIE .
GROUND AGAINST THE WHOLE OF SHERMAN'S ARMY, AND RETREATS DELIBERATELY TO
SMITHFIELD. SHERMAN'S ARRIVAL AT GOLDSBORO'.-CONFERENCE AT CITY POINT OF
SHERMAN, GRANT AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN.

IN capturing Savannah, Sherman not only obtained a great prize in ordnance and cotton, which, after a fashion somewhat Oriental, he designated as a "Christmas gift" to his master in Washington. He also obtained a position of great military value. From the banks of the Savannah River, he beheld opened before him all the avenues into and through South Carolina, and discovered a new route, reaching to what had now become the last and contracted theatre of war in the Confederacy. The Northern newspapers declared that when Sherman's legions looked across the Savannah to the shores of Carolina, they sent up a "howl of delight.” There was a terrible gladness in the realization of so many hopes and wishes-in seeing the most hated State of the South almost prostrate, and offering the prospect of outrage with impunity.

It had been the first idea of Gen. Grant, anticipating the arrival of Sherman at Savannah, that, after establishing a base on the sea-coast, with necessary garrison to include all his artillery and cavalry, he should come by water to City Point with the remainder of his command, to ensure the capture of Lec's army or to smother it with numbers. But this plan of operations was changed. "On the 18th of December," writes Gen. Grant, "having received information of the defeat and utter rout of Hood's army by Gen. Thomas, and that, owing to the great difficulty of procuring ocean transportation, it would take over two months to transport Sherman's army, and doubting whether he might not contribute as much towards the desired result by operating from where he was, I wrote to him to that effect, and asked him for his views as to what would be best to do. A few days after this I received a communication from Gen. Sherman, of date of 16th of December, acknowledging the receipt of my order of the 6th, and informing me of his preparations to carry it into effect as soon as he could get transportation. Also, that he had expected upon reducing Savannah, instantly to march to Columbia, South Carolina, thence to Raleigh, and thence to report to me; but that this would consume about six weeks' time after the fall of Savannah, whereas by sea he could probably reach me by the middle of January. The confidence he manifested in this letter of being able to march up and join me, pleased me; and, without waiting for a reply to my letter of the 18th, I directed him, on the 28th of Decem ber, to make preparations to start, as he proposed, without delay, to break up the railroads in North and South Carolina, and join the armies operating against Richmond, as soon as he could."

The middle of January saw Sherman's troops actually in motion for the Carolina campaign. His right wing, under Howard, was taken by